Danielle the football fanatic.

Everyone in Ireland is a football fanatic- in fact, the entire WORLD is crazy about football. Every child owns a soccer ball and knows how to play. You see them in droves, each kicking a ball. It doesn't matter if they're playing in their yard, playing an actual game, or just walking to school-they're all kicking soccer balls! Why this sport has not caught on in the States like it has in the rest of the world is really quite surprising. While millions watch the Superbowl....billions watch the World Cup. Almost every night since I've been here there is a football match on tv.

They actually have a neat system with all the local pubs in town. Together they sit down and divide up the games so that each game gets played each night at a different bar. This allows each team's fans to enjoy the game all together. I, personally, am rooting for Italy. I intend to pick up an Italy jersey when I visit there in a few weeks. Of course my first pick was the States, but after watching them fall to Ghana last week, I decided to go with Italy as my second choice. Ireland didn't qualify for the world cup this year to mine and the rest of the country's disappointment. They actually have a really funny McDonald's commercial about it. It goes: "Ireland didn't qualify for the world cup this year...but Togo did....Feeling unfulfilled? Have a big mac..." he he he. It always makes me laugh.

All this football fun is contagious. I now understand a game that I've never even really thought about before and I'm loving it. I have now probably watched more football games (soccer) than American football games, lol. I secretly rejoiced with the rest of Ireland when England was eliminated Saturday (The Irish love to see the English defeated). =) Now, on to the rest of the games. Go Italy!!

Danielle on Pubs, Pints, and Shopping

Now that I have been here for almost a week I am starting to set into a more "normal" routine. I usually wake up at 8am, attend class from 9-11, go for a run along the river then eat lunch and do homework from 1-3. After all that the fun begins. Most of my afternoons have been filled with the title above. Shopping on Shop Street is such a fun and different experience from shopping in the States. The streets are cobblestone and very narrow. Everything from tiny cars to gigantic buses speed along at shocking rates of speed-how more people are not hit by cars here I do not know. Many of the streets are pedestrian only, especially in the city center, and are filled with colourful boutiques, delicious smelling cafes, street vendors, and performers. Today I saw a band of accordian players jamming away outside a local pub while couples danced in the street around them. There are also solo guitar and fiddle players aplenty, as well as mimes and performers who will act as a robot for a few coins. You rarely go more than half a block before running into another musician. Their music mingles together with hustle bustle of the crowd that makes the city centre very charming.

Each night my friend Amanda and I search out a new place for dinner. Often our friend Matthew joins us and the three of us try out the menus at area restaurants and pubs. Today I ate a place called the Spud House. As you can probably deduct from the name, their menu consisted entirely of potatos....pizza potatos, garlic chicken potato, or if you're boring like me the classic broccoli and cheese potato, lol. It has been my favorite dinner so far. Seriously. (The Irish aren't exactly known for their cuisine...)

Almost every night ends at one of the many pubs around town. The pubs are everywhere here and all have the dark wooden character one would expect from such a venue. Some we have frequented include The King's Head, Taaffes, The Quays, Scheffs, and Monroe's. We have many, many, many more to explore. My new favorite beer is Smithwick's (pronounced Smiticks by the Irish). Each night ends with at least one pint of this robust darker brew. Every night tradiitonal Irish music is played in several pubs in town. Galway is known for its art and music and this is being celebrated even more now as the Galway Arts Festival approaches. The current performances are known as the "Galway Sessions" and include several artists every night of the week. I love the Irish music with its fiddles and bodrans. I have listened to so much Irish music this past week that I even have a few favorite songs! I just can't get enough!

Tomorrow I am taking a ferry to the Aran Islands where I will purchase my woolen sweater (you are supposed to buy it on the island). I intend to explore the island by bike so I am hoping for pleasant and dry weather (of which we have seen very little!). I will be sure to post again soon!

Danielle in Ireland.

Hello, all!

I have safely arrived in Ireland! The voyage was long but I must say that keeping myself awake for nearly 36 hours was the best idea EVER as I had a wonderful night sleep last night and am now successfully adjusted to the local time. All of my roommates have also arrived and they are all very nice. Two are from Hamline and one from California. The California roommate fits the California stereotype perfectly. She is blonde, athletic, and very tan. She and her partner have just started their own outdoor outfitting company. One of the two Hamline girls looks just like Julie from highschool. The resemblance is striking. The final roommate looks very Irish w/ red hair and freckles. She will fit in marvelously. Aside from my roomates, I have met a handful of other people as well. A few of us will be heading out for an adventure in town in just a couple hours. One of the girls is named Amanda and looks and talks just like Kyle's Amanda. She wears Boston Red Socks apparel from head to toe every day, lol. It is almost creepy in their resemblance, but at least that's one name I won't forget.

My housing in Corrib village is a little bit of a disappointment. When I read my housing description aloud to Trista back in grand forks she remarked, "That doesn't sound like school housing....you're going to a celebrity rehab center!" Well, a celebrity rehab center it is NOT. It is just like any other crappy student housing and smells a bit like a Hotel 6 where the musty smell of cigarette smoke has infused itself into the walls. For reference I am inserting the link to the corrib village description. Just cut and paste this link to see what I'm talking about: http://www.nesl.edu/summer/corrib05.htm However, now that I have adjusted, this place isn't too bad. In fact it's even nice. It's just not the magical land of Corrib Village that was described online, but now that I have gotten over my initial disappointment, I think I like it. Additionally, I lucked out with drawing the largest and nicest room in my apartment. I have a double bed, tv, and my own bathroom w/ shower. There is also a handy heater in my bathroom to turn on while I shower making the bathroom warm and toasty which is very pleasant in the cool mornings. My three roommates and I share a full kitchen w/ dishwasher, stove, oven, microwave, toaster, fridge, and coffee pot as well as a living room w/furniture, TV, and VCR. Today I am going to pick up some groceries. They have a little place here that sells breakfast each morning for 5 Euro. It was a major let down though as they only offered toast and cereal. Rip off.

Tonight at 6 I have orientation and tomorrow at 9 am I start my classes. I am looking forward to my trip into the city center this afternoon. =) I will be sure to keep posting my adventures as they arise. I hope everyone is well at home!