First few days...

Well, I finally have Internet so I can update everyone on my first few days in Ireland. Getting here was a bit exciting, as my flight was 1.5 hours late leaving Chicago and when I arrived in Newark I had to exit security, take a tram to a different terminal and go through security AGAIN. I made my flight with 8 minutes to spare. The flight to Ireland was long, but when we came down through the clouds the first thing I saw from the plane was green fields, cows, and sheep. The landscape is breathtaking. Everywhere you look is GREEN, there are stone fences lining the roads and pastures. It is still odd to drive on the "wrong side" of the very narrow roads.
We took a taxi (A VW van) to Moloney's B&B where Mrs. Kay Moloney was our host. She has a beautiful house and made us tea and toast when we arrived. We went into town for an early dinner and had two restaurants to chose from. We ate at the Oadwood Inn and the cheapest thing we could find was a hamburger that coast 14 euros (this is about 19 US dollars). I also had my first pint of Guinness here :)
We went to bed very early and Kay made us a huge breakfast of eggs, bacon, (which is not like bacon in the US) fresh fruit and yogurt, toast, homemade jam, and tea.
We packed up and headed back to the airport to meet the rest of the group and took a coach bus up to Galway. We are staying at Corrib Village, which is off campus housing. We went into town and eventually found a market to buy some food at. I bought some bread, yougurt, apples and oatmeal and spent about 35 US dollars. My money is going to be gone very quickly! After dinner we went back into town and went to a pub called Au Paucan. Here I had my fist Baulmers, an Irish hard cider. It was delicious! There was a live Irish Session (a traditional band) playing and a cricket team from England at the pub. The men on the team were 35-65 years old and quickly asked us if we were Americans. We mingled with them for the evening and took a cab home.
This morning we had our first class at NUIG (national University of Ireland, Galway). After class I explored the campus with Kelsey and then returned home to attempt to get my Internet to work. I was the only person in our program who could not connect to the internet. I spent over 6 hours today trying to get help and walking to the campus' computer help desk. Finally, I used some one's phone and was able to call DELL. They were able to resolve the problem. Kelsey and I went for a run along the COrrib River and saw many men fishing for salmon in the river. Tonight we are going into the City Centre to a pub that will have Irish dance lessons. Should be fun!
I'll write more when I have time.

Well...I have finally decided to create a blog to document the adventures of my summer study abroad trip to Ireland. I have never "blogged" before and am not much of a writer, but many people have asked me to consider starting a blog so they can read about my trip. I figure it will provide an easy way to keep in contact with the many people that I am going to miss while I am gone in addition to providing efficient communication. So here it goes...


I leave in two days for what people have been telling me will be the "greatest adventure of my life." I have to say that this summer will be very different from my last few summers, which consisted of working at the paper mill, spending time with family and friends, and working out. I do not have a summer job, working out may consist of nightly walks to local pubs, and I will be spending my time with friends that I have yet to meet (:

I am beyond excited and a bit apprehensive. I have never flown anywhere in the United States solo, let alone across an ocean to a different continent. As I pack my suitcases (which are already jammed full and likely over the weight limit) I am trying to imagine what my life will be like on the Emerald Isle. I really have no idea what to expect, other than what Miss Cory Cooper has told me about from her trip last year. I am arriving a day earlier than the rest of the group (thank you Office of International Ed. for posting the WRONG date of arrival! ) A friend and I will be staying at a B&B in Shannon on Saturday night and then meeting up with the rest of the group on Sunday.
wish me luck as I finish packing, say my goodbyes, and travel 4000 miles away from home!