Wait... We actually have to STUDY in STUDY Abroad????

Hey Everybody!!!!
So nothing to eventful occurred this weekend or so far this week. We (meaning Caitlin, Mary Jo, Jacqui and I) stayed in Limerick all weekend. We stayed around campus for most of the weekend and Jacqui and I are (for the most part) finally completely recovered from our illnesses. We took a mini trip to the big mall we had yet to visit. One thing that we did learn on this trip was that the Irish have no concept of pedestrian traffic flow in malls. We frantically hopped from shop to shop trying to avoid mom's laden with kids and trollies and swerved around massive groups of teenagers huddled in the middle of the walkways.
This week has been pretty tame so far (all of the two days in...). We keep forgetting that there is a study component to studying abroad. Mary Jo and I have frantically been trying to research the differences between Lutheranism and Calvinism for our history papers due on Thursday. Our priorities may be what some call out of whack... but we just call it fun!
Of course, we've got a busy weekend planned for Halloween! We're going to Dublin on Thursday to meet up with one of Mary Jo's friends from Syracuse and hopefully to see one of my friends from camp!

Just  some random pictures of the girls I've been traveling around with! The top is me & Mary Jo and the next is Mary Jo and Caitlin!

Till next time!
With love, from Ireland!
Biff

Abby Comes to Limerick & Galway (We're all caught up after this one!)

So this post will finally get us caught up to present week!

WEEK 6:
After being away from Limerick for 3 weekends in a row, Jacqui & I decided it may be a good idea to calm down a bit and stay in Limerick for the weekend. Unfortunately we were minus one of the three stooges, as Mary Jo was off to Madrid to see friends. However, it turns out Abby Dennis was free to come up to Limerick that weekend! It was so nice to have someone from home around! Now for those of you who don't know who Abby is... you should. We've been the best of friends ever since our kindergarten classes (Abby was in a.m. while I was in p.m.) combined for a field trip and we were sat next to each other on the bus. Who'd have thought that those two little girls on the bus would be sharing a wild weekend together in Ireland 15 YEARS later??? (Side note: I can't believe I'm old enough to be able to say that....)
Abby brought up some friends from Cork and Jacqui and I had our own mini-adventure trying to pick them up from the bus station. But all in all it was a very relaxed weekend filled with old memories of Abby's Starwars obsession and our awkward middle school years together.

Unfortunately for me and Jacqui, taking a break from travels gave our bodies some time to catch up with us. Jacqui ended up with tonsillitis and covered in hives (an interesting sight from what I've heard!). I on the other hand ended up with something along the lines of strep and confined myself to my room for a few days - good news is that I'm almost caught up on The Big Bang Theory because of it! But alas after both receiving a good dose of antibiotics and other various medications, I'm happy to say that we are both back in working order and ready to go!

WEEK 7: 

Lucky for us those meds kicked in so quickly because whether we liked it or not we were off to Galway for the weekend along with Mary Jo and Caitlin! Luckily the bus ride to Galway is only about an hour and a half. Mary Jo tried to acquaint Caitlin to traveling with us while Jacqui and I had our own private dance party in our corner of the bus (people were probably staring but hey we were having a blast!). When we arrived in Galway we grabbed a cab and made it to our B&B in lovely, oceanside Salthill - only a short walk from Galway city centre. 

All a bit peckish, we headed to a small pub for some snacks followed by one of our favorite activities - SHOPPING! Galway city centre is really amazing. It's all pedestrian zoned and there are street musicians and human statues all along the way. We grabbed dinner and a couple drinks in a pub called The Skeff. And we had an unexpected guest! Our friend Joe had planned on going up north for the weekend somehow ended up in Galway instead. So, he met up with us - it was grand. Now The Skeff looked like an ordinary pub but the inside was amazing! 

And that's just the upstairs! The bathroom was even cooler! With most of us recovering from one malady or another, we decided to call it an early evening and headed back to the B&B. Of course, once we arrived at the B&B our plans were thwarted! All four of us were laying in bed when Jacqui decided to break out the demon voice! So, like any rational adults, we all joined in! Our early night turned into us laughing and discussing everything from politics to boys until nearly 3 am. Apparently 20 year old girls still act like 12 year olds at a slumber party every once in a while. 

The next morning we got a bit of a late start. Unfortunately we were too late to do any of the big activities like go to Connemara, so we stayed around Galway city centre and took a bus tour of the whole city. After being nearly decapitated by branches on our tour we headed to Salthill and the promenade. We walked along side the beach and found a nice pub to have dinner. Imagine my surprise when I saw Blue Moon on the drink menu! Don't get me wrong, I'm loving my Smithwick's and Guinness, but I just had to get a Blue Moon for a little taste of home!

After dinner, we decided to go sit on the rocks by the ocean. It was so peaceful and definitely one of those experiences you never forget! 

We left pretty early in the morning as all of us had work to get done - after all we are here for school right? We keep forgetting that part! Galway is an amazing city & we are all in agreement that it was one of our favorite weekends so far!

As for right now, I'm sitting at my desk quietly procrastinating writing my Sociology paper. However, today I did find a gem at the grocery store! 

It could be said that they were a waste of 3 euro, but I couldn't resist buying them! I now have a little piece of home on my desk - not to mention a bit of sunshine amongst all the rain! 

Till next post,

With love from Ireland!

Biff

Weeks 3 - 5

So I was going to cover weeks 3 to 7 in one post, but that seems a bit much. So, I'll stick to 3 - 5 for now!
Week 3:
During week three, we finally all got settled into classes. Yes, we actually do have to go to school here... I keep forgetting that bit. The weekend came soon enough though! Mary Jo, Jacqui, and I went on an all weekend hiking trip with the OPC for the weekend. We stayed in a tiny town called Doolin with about 60 other students. Saturday morning we hiked from Doolin up to the Cliffs of Moher. The hike ending up being about 7 miles and we ended up within feet of horses and cows as we walked along the cliffs. The cliffs of Moher were amazing!

On Sunday we went walking around the Burren and did some rock climbing. The weather finally cleared up for us and we spent a nice sunny day on the rocks. 

We had a lot of fun (despite the creepy hostile roommate) but we were glad to get back to Limerick where we had our own hot showers and beds. 

Week 4:
We went to classes again blah blah blah - WEEKEND! This weekend was hands-down my favorite so far! Jacqui, Mary-Jo and I made our way to Dingle for the weekend! We all had some trouble getting out of bed to catch our early bus, but once we saw Dingle our fatigue immediately faded! Dingle is the small ocean side town that so many of immediately think of when someone says 'Ireland.' All the buildings are bright colors and the streets are narrow and made of stone. The whole town is picturesque to say the least!

We shopped around the first day and peaked in and out of little stores as we dodged the rain. The next morning, we went horseback riding on the beach. Apart from my horse being afraid of plastic bags and a small run in with a dog, it went pretty well... At least the scenery was amazing! 

Afterward, we walked around the beaches and caught some traditional music at one of the pubs in town. Despite giant swells, we went on a harbor tour as well. There were a couple moments where Jacqui and I thought we may lose Mary-Jo to the waves and she'd become food for Fungi the dolphin. 

However, we all returned in one piece with amazing memories of what is sure to remain one of our favorite spots in the world.

Week 5:

For the weekend of week 5, Mary-Jo, Jacqui and I headed out from Limerick on yet another adventure. We went to the Ring of Kerry for the weekend. We didn't strike out on our own this weekend, we went with a group of students from Limerick and Cork. The weather wasn't too great for us, but we still had a lot of fun! We meet some more great kids from Limerick and saw some really amazing sights. We also learned some traditional Irish dances, got our bus stuck in the mud, and witnessed the beginning of a half marathon. Oh, and we found out that Jacqui will be a great crazy sheep woman!

It was interesting going out with such a big group. We all agree that we'd rather go out on our own, but we're happy we went - as I mentioned we met some more great friends and it ended up being a great trip!

Till next post,
With Love from Ireland!

Better Late than Never... Weeks 1&2

So I've decided to copy Tom and start a blog of all you guys back home who may want to read it and see some pictures. I've been in Ireland for over a month now. Over the next couple of days, I'm going to try to put together a post for each week or two that has passed. Then when I get caught up, I'll start doing blogs every week or so.
So week one was interesting. Jet lag and being the only one moved into my apartment for a bit made me a bit homesick (sad to say). However, I got into contact with the other 2 girls from Syracuse and my flat mates started moving in and the homesickness quickly dissipated! We spent our first week really just going around Limerick, discovering the city centre etc. Of course we had a couple Guinness to celebrate the occasion. And I must say Guinness over here is wayyyyy better than at home (and it's cheaper than a Bud Light). But don't worry - drinking isn't the ONLY thing we do here.
Classes started at the beginning of the second week. After two weeks of 'shopping around' for classes, I enrolled in English, History, Sociology, and a history of Music & Dance class.
Limerick is a pretty interesting place. I mean I saw a castle on my way from the airport to University of Limerick. The city centre is pretty busy with lots of shops, restaurants, clubs, and pubs. But UL is a bit outside the city... 

These are only a few of the cows that chill outside my bedroom window. I'm seriously contemplating stealing one of the babies though! They're so cute! So, Mom if you're up for a pet cow let me know...

Apparently in Ireland, kids go home from uni on the weekends. Some just go home, others have to work on family farms/in family pubs etc. (of course this leaves big party days for Tuesday and Thursday.... a bit strange). But it also means it's dead here on the weekends. 

So for weekend two we decided to get out of Limerick for at least a day and we went on a day hike in Kerry with the OPC (outdoor pursuits club). It was so beautiful and lots of fun (or great craic as we've been told to say). We did a pretty easy hill walk/hike - I think it ended up being about 9 miles. It was so pretty. We started in really random spot between towns, walked some roads and trails, went up a fairly large hill, and ended in a very cute town and what was at the end of our walk - A PUB OF COURSE! So the whole lot of us grabbed seats in the pub and took a rest and then went onto the beach. By the time we got back to Limerick we were shattered but we pulled ourselves together, grabbed quick showers, and got together for a little 'family dinner.'

The first two weeks were fanstastic and it only gets better from there!

Till next post!

With love, from Ireland!