Gone With the Wind

WOW!

So now that I am actually in Dublin i can write my first blog post! It has been a crazy few days since i first arrived here on monday but it feels like I have been here much longer than that. I am still getting settled in and adjusting from the changes that come from living in a different country for the first time but I am pretty sure I will be adjusting to certain things for awhile. These past few days have been pretty much filled with orientation events and meeting new people and trying to squeeze in as many things as possible.

Since I am living on the campus of UCD and it is about 3 miles from the city center, it requires that I take a bus to go down there, since we have had alot of things going on on campus the past few days I haven't even had a chance to spend much time in the city center exploring but I am not worried because I know there will be alot more time for that.

The first full day I was here they took us on a trip to Ikea to buy things for our apartments, its pretty ridiculous that they don't come with anything in them considering that we are all international students, but whatever. I picked up a few basics things that I would need to survive the next four months like hangers and dishes and a pillow but obviously I was on a mission to spend as little money as possible. Luckily they were also having a charity sale on campus where I was able to get a blow dryer and some other basic needs. I keep thinking that some of these things I wont need but then I remember I will be here for a long time so it is best just to invest in such things.

I also invested in a bike! It was 125 euro which I thought was a good deal and I thought would be a worthwhile investment to help me explore. However things are a bit difficult with the bike because bikers have to ride on the street which is the opposite side as the US, which makes me a little confused and nervous. When I bought my bike I rode it back to my apartment and tried to lock it only to realize that I had lost my key along the way! I had to ride back in my path (but on the other side of the road) trying to find it and luckily I did. This is the first time that I felt overwhelmed by living in another country even though this is something that could totally happen in the US. I was lucky that it all worked out though, maybe it is the luck of the Irish. I can only hope my bike will still be in its parking spot when I return to it.

Okay well I am getting a little bored of writing this blog post so I will wrap it up. But overall my experience here even though its only been a few days has been grand (an Irish term)! I have been meeting alot of people, mostly Americans and some other international ones which has been cool! The Irish students don't come back until Monday when classes start but I am excited to hopefully meet some of them. I cant wait to explore the city more and see different things.

 Tommrrow I am going on an open bus tour of Dublin, then the next day to the Guinness Factory! Oh by the way I did try my first Guinness and it was actually pretty decent! Although I dont think I have quite the love for it that others do. Anywho on Sunday I will be taking a hiking trip to Hoath (I think thats what it is called but I actually keep forgetting, yikes) which is a seaside fishing village! I am pretty excited for that.

Oh another thing! The Rain! I must mention the rain because before I arrived I had my worries about the rain but it really is not that bad! It pretty much rains everyday at some point but I am trying to become adjusted to it because I cannot let the rain stop my adventures. (Also my lost key biking incident happened in the rain which made it pretty discouraging, lol).

 The Courtyard of my residence.

My room and my bed

Okay well thats all for now I skipped out on alot of things so sorry!!
xoxo
-A