Miles of Irish Smiles for Golden Happy Hours: 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.'