I only have been in Ireland for 8 days, but it already feels like I have been here a month.
My
week began with three classes on Monday- Fermented Foods, Diet and
Health, and Labor Economics. Fermented Foods is a small 4th level
course composed of all graduating food science majors. Like Penn State
food science, all of the students know one another. Food Science kids
must be universally awesome, because they have all been incredibly
accepting and patient with me. We have already begun group work, so I
am getting to know a few of them pretty well. Currently, we are making a
presentation on microbial metabolism in the brewing process.
Diet
and Health is a pretty typical large lecture class. Most of the girls
from Fermented Foods are in that class as well, so I have people to with
whom to walk and sit. Econ was pretty dry, but I'm optimistic...
Monday
was "Black Monday" (yes, there is a relation to MLK day, but it's what
they call it...). It's basically an Irish day-long. Conveniently, there
is a student bar located on campus. I got a Bulmers- a delicious hard
cider-with a friend before Econ. I have never been tipsy in class
before, so it was an experience.
That night, we got a party bus to a nightclub called
Alchemy in the City Centre. One of the guys on my floor is a promoter there, so we were
able to get in for half price. The club was fun, but it was extremely
crowded. Black Monday is pretty popular.
I don't have any pictures from that night which is probably a good thing...hot. sweaty. mess.
Many of the pubs close early here, so we make it a
point to hang out in someone's room after we get home. This usually
means none of us will go to sleep until after 4 or 5. Sometimes this
part of the night is more fun than being out in the city because we are
able to talk to everyone rather than yelling over loud music.
Last
night we went to a bar called the Porter House in Dublin. Later, we
somehow ended up in a secret upstairs bar full of older people, also known as the VIP room. Let me make something clear: I LOVE
old people; they are my bread and butter at the bars. Needless to say, it
was a successful night. I may have also gotten a job offer from a prominent businessman in the food science industry...it was
grand.
Also worth mentioning, there was chandelier over the bar, and the
wallpaper was 100% velvet ...total class. We stopped at McDonald's for
some snacks before heading home. Some things never change...
I'm drinking too much, not eating or sleeping enough,
and am having more fun than I thought was possible. A few times, as I
am walking to class or to the store, I stop and try to take in every
single detail; I love it here.
