Heavenly Ireland

by Stella Ostrander


Cead Mille Failte

Here's to share my first-time adventures in Cork, Ireland.
I'm doing my Junior-Year Student Abroad Program here studying sociology and such things.

In Irish, Cead Mille Failte means "A Hundred Thousand Welcomes!!!"

Day One

Day 1 of Cork has officially ended, and I am exhausted. actually this has been a 2-day deal because of difference in time zones (between Ireland and USA). oh so glad I have my own shower and that I don't have to queue up for one or anything. we are split up between two houses and I've met the other housemates, they seem to be very nice, also from the US, in september we'll be getting a guy from France for a bit it seems.

we came out of Shannon before sunrise and it was raining, but later on it cleared up and shone and we saw a rainbow! Ive seen swans here instead of ducks, and lots of sheep and geese. when the sun shines suddenly all those shades of green start popping out...

Cork is adorable, its like how Georgetown wanted to be, but didn't quite get it. all these little shops, multicolored, little pubs adverstising Murphy's, guinness, or beemish on the doors. oh and I have been informed that there really isnt a whole list of "Irish food" beyond a full list of uses for potatoes, meat, oh and stew- although no one really eats it anymore it seems. I probably will be in that happy minority however because with the insane capriciousness of the weather, stew sounds very good to me. along with tea. tommorrow is orientation for Early Start so I guess i'll finally start to see what it is exactly that i have gotten myself into!

An Spailpin Fanac rocks my Irish lovin socks!

You dont have to be able to pronounce it, but this pub thats parked across the street from the Beamish brewery is just perfect! Live music most nights, and not only live, but you sit practically on the musicians, and other ppl there randomly start up singing etc! sooo cool! most of us in the two houses went last night and it was a fun bonding time. I'm going to miss our other american girls when they leave after this semester! why can't they stay for the full year? :( So yeah so far Cork is shaping out just brilliantly!
And Bodhran is another cute little pub as well. oh yes and the English Market is a wonderful place, all the food is fresh and soo much cheaper than at TESCO - the butchers are carving the meat while your there. its all practically mooing. the food here is so much better for you - almost no preservatives and for once the healthy orgo food isnt the most expensive! in fact the whole country seems to have a big thing about being organic. fine by me, my soup i've been living on for the past couple of days (made from scratch thank you!) has been great! oh and the bread! the scones! you must get the scones- got some grand scones today at the market!

we're all getting a wonderful amount of exercise by walking all around town, so the fact that i live on bread and potatoes should be balanced out... oh any good recipes for leeks anyone? i got a bunch today...

It hasn't really rained in a couple days and today especialy the weather is just gorgeous! a wonderful way to start out the new school term! oh and there is this adorable little kitten who sits in the window of a low flat thats on our way to school! i so want to buy cat treats and go to the owner and trade the food for a chance to pet the kitten. i miss having a cat sooo much! mew! so yes Cork, European city of culture 2005 by the way, is wonderful! and now the work begins...

We won!!!!!

Woot! we won the Guinness All Ireland Hurling Championship against Galway!

It was an amazing game, won by 5 points, the teams were neck and neck the whole way through, almost getting point for point, it was great to watch! Went to the Old Oak to watch the game with everyone else and the joy that went through there when we won.. one area looked like WYD with the big waving Cork flags and ppl dancing and singing- and that was just in the pub. The pubs are going to be wild tonight! Tommorrow there is a welcome home parade for the team and the homecoming also held at teh Old Oak, tonight is going to bed early, doing laundry etc, and tommorrow is more hurling stuff! So proud to be running around in my Cork polo- sporting the mighty red. WE DID IT! GO REBELS, THREE YEARS IN A ROW!

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