Costa Rica Livin’

“Pura Vida!” a typical saying in Costa Rica that all locals use on the daily translated to “Pure Life”. It’s used to say hello, goodbye, how are you and everything in between. However, Pura Vida to Costa Ricans (Ticos) is so much more than just a saying, it’s their way of life. Being in Costa Rica for over a month now has really shown me what “Pura Vida” really is. Ticos take one day at a time, they are in no rush to get to places, no time lines, no meetings with friends/family that they want to rush through. They take things at an easy pace and value what’s in front of them; they have a simple way of looking at life.

I live la Pura Vida by venturing out into Costa Rica.

Two weekends ago we ventured onto one of our program excursions that took place in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica which is on the Caribbean part of the country, very close to Panama.map-destino-puertoviejo

Where we ate delicious coconut rice, stayed in a hotel with hammocks right outside our doors and where we were able to snorkel and see some pretty amazing things underwater, including a shark and squid!

FullSizeRender (15)

I do have to say though that my favorite part of Puerto Viejo had to be the sunrise. A few of my friends and I decided to rent bikes the night before and bike to the next beach over, Cocles, where the sunrise was supposed to be amazing. We got up at 4:30am Sunday morning to and started our 15 minute bike ride. While we were riding over, we began to notice that what was once pitch black was beginning to have hints of orange and pink hues so we peddled as fast as we could to witness this. Although there were clouds in the sky, the sunrise was still breathtaking. I would definitely do it all over again and perhaps wake up even earlier to be there right when it barely starts.

FullSizeRender (16)

This past weekend we went on our other program excursion, but this time we went to the Pacific side of the country; Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Or how Ticos like to call it, “Tamagringo”. Tamarindo was a very touristy place, nice resorts and restaurants. Tamarindo is said to be the best place for surfers to catch some great waves.

We stayed in probably one of the nicest hotels that we have stayed at while in Costa Rica.FullSizeRender (17)

It was amazing. I’m a sucker for a good sunset, so when I was told that the best sunsets were seen on this side of the country, I had to get a front row seat at the beach. And I was not disappointed. At 5:28pm on the dot, the sky turned into this incredible pink/orangy hue and it was absolutely mesmerizing. I could have stared at it all day if I was able to do so. IMG_8013

While I have enjoyed visiting many of the beaches that Costa Rica has to offer, I do have to say that I enjoy the time that I spend at home with my host family. One of the things that I enjoy most is teaching them of my own culture. Being Mexican in a Latin country isn’t all that different, but the differences that are there, I have been able to share with them just like when they share their Costa Rican culture with me. Ticos are wonderful people and Costa Rica is a wonderful country that I cannot wait to explore some more.

 

Pura Vida!

 

Internship in Costa Rica

While being in Costa Rica has been nothing short of an amazing experience, it’s not all fun and games. I’m an intern at a local foundation (Fundacion Rahab) that is dedicated to serving women, men and their families that have been victims of the sex trade industry. In Costa Rica, prostitution is legal and there are no legal forms/laws that protect these women, Fundacion Rahab is a resource that they are able to utilize to get back on their feet and get out of that life style. Being part of Fundacion Rahab has been an amazing opportunity that has allowed to me to see the other side of palm trees, beaches, and the occasional monkey roaming around. I’ve been able to see a different part of Costa Rica that many people don’t even know exists. It’s pretty amazing what happens when you immerse yourself in the community and without doing an internship I would have never discovered this other side to San Jose, Costa Rica.

Being an intern I’ve been able to read case files for women that have gone through the organization and I’ve also been able to work the kids at the onsite day care. And let me tell you, run around little kids is no easy job. My first day at the daycare, I was exhausted, at that point in time I realized the tremendous amount of body, mind, and soul that daycare givers give to these children and it was amazing.

FullSizeRender (14)

This is Mateo. My little friend that I made while working at the daycare at Fundacion Rahab. He was adorable and had the sweetest smile I have ever seen.

My next post will be adventure updates, until then!

Week 4 London 2k15

Hello all,

Are you alright? Here in London that is another way to say “How are you?” and it is incredibly confusing. I have been here for a little over a month now and I still have not gotten used to this saying. Every time someone greets me in this way (which happens a lot) I usually stare at them for a while and then stumble to figure out what I am supposed to say. Do I say yes? Do I say I am good? I have asked people who use the expression and they tell me that either of those options are fine, but I still stutter. It is the one thing I am not sure I will ever get used to in the three months I am here.

On another note, I am feeling so much better. I have finally made friends! I am so happy. This past week went really well. Classes are still slow, but I am powering through. My favorite class is the one I am taking online through WOU because it actually keeps me somewhat busy.

On Saturday me and a few other internationals went to Windsor Castle. It was really beautiful and it was a lovely day so that made it even nicer. The weather has been wonderful since I have been here. It has only rained about 3 times in the entire past month. I am shocked, but not keeping my hopes up. It is starting to get colder and I am sure the rain will settle in soon.

I had plans to go to Brighton on Sunday, but the  tube was delayed and I missed my train. It was too expensive to by another ticket at the train station so I went home and went back to bed. It was quite upsetting and will hopefully be the first and last time that ever happens. Now I know to be REALLY early just in case. I was thankful it was only a day trip I missed and not a flight out of the country. That would have been much worse.

Overall, I am feeling much better and am looking forward to my first trip out of the country coming up here in a few weeks.

Cheers, Mackenzie

20151010_115021858_iOS

Windsor Castle

20151009_162028000_iOS

Friends!! (At Whiteland’s formal dinner)

Germany week 1-6(Introduction and Playing Catch up)

Hallo! Let me my introduce myself, my name is Josseline and I am studying in Konstanz, Germany located on the Bodensee. I actually started my adventure in September (Sorry! Sarah) but I didn’t realize how much I was going to get caught up in the moment. I guess once you get older it is harder to get used to a new routine. I found my second time in Germany ten times more difficult to adjust then it was just four years ago. However, just because it was hard to adjust did not mean I was not having the time of my life. My first week in Germany was probably already one of the most memorable I will ever have. The day before I departed for Germany, I remember looking at my countdown app on my phone and trying to maintain a normal heart rate, but the same thing can be said when I left the Airport in Stuttgart. So far this has been a recurring theme. It’s a difficult process not to romanticize the concept of studying abroad. I wanted it to be the most magical amazing adventure that I would have in my entire life, and so far it has felt that way.
Despite my accelerated heart rate I finally get to the youth hostel in Tübingen and its funny when you realize that the large group of strangers you met in May are going to be your new lifelong friends. By the end of my first night in Tübingen, I was proud that I knew the names of my entire group. The anxiety continues, as I do not know what to expect from the staff. I have met them before but it’s always different when you get to see them in action. I got to interact with Silvia and Sarah, and right off the bat they were so helpful and understanding that I felt like I was safe. When you are thousands of miles away from home in a country with bad Wi-Fi: this is important. Before you know it Monday arrives, and you prepare yourself to meet your new home for the next 11 months. There goes my heart rate again.
After settling into my new Wohnung the second week hits you and you begin to build a routine for yourself. One begins grocery shopping and trying to make plans with other people that you hardly know. It is overwhelming, but at the same time it’s a sensation of enlightenment. You are a United Nations meeting on an everyday basis. I have already met influential individuals that make me want to be a better person. These interaction have already made me question everything that I stand for and start being more compassionate towards people. I have to reevaluate all my political standing, morals, and emotions.
After the third week the only time my heart rate rises out of anxiety is when I have an exam in class. That reminds me: I have the coolest class in the entire intensive course. During this time I realize that Konstanz treats their international students well. They care, and they try to make your transition easy as possible. This is important especially with German bureaucracy. German Bureaucracy can be a novel on its own: I mean that literally and metaphorically. Week 4 has ended, and all I can say is that now my heart rate speeds up for school, interacting with my new friends, and whenever I have a successful conversation in German. I do believe now that this heart rate is actually excitement than anxiety and as I enter my first free week in October I make plans to go to Oktoberfest in Munich with my new friends. Currently I am on my last week of break before I begin attending normal classes at Konstanz University. Now that I was able to give a brief summary of my first month I do have journal entries that I will type up and let you guys know how I am currently doing and how I was doing in the beginning of September.

Lisa goes to Ireland week 4/5

I’ve struggled with the motivation to sit at my computer and write about the last couple weeks, simply because nothing terribly exciting has happened.

It’s persumed that you’re going to have so many crazy adventures and experiences while you’re abroad and some weeks just aren’t excting-some weeks are normal.

I feel like I’m settled in am finally “home”. I’ve learned how to take the bus on my own, how to use public transportation, where the best places are to get groceries, and most importantly, I’ve found my favorite pubs.

Classes are going well. I find that classes here are significantly easier than back home.  As an education major, the sole purpose for me to come to Ireland was to learn about their academic system and I feel like I’ve acheived that goal. The downside however to classes being so easy, is the lack of motivation I have to actually study.

I guess when I pictured myself studying abroad, I imagined that I’d have tons of friends, crazy stories, adventures, parties etc. I imagined it never being a dull moment and much to my surprise, that’s not the case. I’m an introvert learned extrovert who doesn’t drink. I enjoy my solitute and staying in on the weekends. Lately I’ve been torn between being in Ireland and wanting to go out and experience new things, but also wanting to stay in, in the comfort of my “home” and just relax. I don’t want to look back at my time here and have regrets because I didn’t do anything. I guess this experience just wasn’t how I pictured it.

Homesickness has also taken a bit of a toll on me. There have been so many changes back home and it’s hard not being there. I feel as though my life is changing, yet I’m half way around the world and there’e nothing I can do about it.  Though I’m thankful for this experience and am excited to be here, I’m equally excited to be home.

I wish I had more to report on, but that’s all for now.

Dublin, Ireland – Week 3: Homesickness sets in

Week 3 : Homesickness sets in

This week was rough for classes, insofar as I felt behind in them even if I had no work to be done, and felt generally not in the right mindset for school. I’m getting back into it now though and I think next week will be better.

I realized some things during my classes this week too, primarily that the students are remarkably similar to home, and just as if not more generally apathetic towards learning. In every class, of 20 or 200 people, many students are on their phones and this has become extremely distracting and frustrating for me. I haven’t got much else to say about it, other than I’ll have to focus on staying even more engaged in the lectures myself if I’m going to get what I need out of them, because it doesn’t seem to be bothering anyone else. Classes are otherwise very similar to home and involve roughly the same amount of lecture, discussion, and group work, and I’m at least thankful I don’t have to adjust to a dramatically different system of teaching.

This week DCU had clubs and societies days and Nathaniel and I perused the over 100 booths to see what we might be interested in. This was important for me, because I’ve been told from several different sources and my own experience in school, that getting involved positively influences your college experience, especially abroad. I know this will probably be my best avenue for meeting and connecting with local students, which is one of my big goals here. I may have a bit of social anxiety about it, but I don’t want that to stop me from joining some of these societies. So, I’ve started out with Book society, which I joined with Nathaniel, and Harry Potter society. I had to pay to join so I hope that’ll keep me invested in actually going. Things start to happen next week so I’m excited about that. Nathaniel also joined the Drama society, so I’m glad we each have our own thing to do and be forced to spend some time apart, because I’m sure it’ll be good for our social lives.

I started to have some weird homesick feelings this week that were different than what I expected I’d feel. At one point I would think about the fun things I’d been doing in terms of, oh I can’t wait to be home next week and tell everyone about this. And then I’d remember I’m not going home yet, but maybe wished I were. I’ve done so much and it’s only been a few weeks and it feels in a way just like a fun and short vacation. Time to wrap it up and head home. And part of me is okay with that and excited to be on a plane again, because I think traveling is kind of fun. Then I’ve been getting excited, thinking, wow, if this is all I’ve done in two weeks think of what I can do in three months! And especially once I’ve met some people, it’ll be fun in a whole new way. Then I worry it’ll go by too fast, the whole thing will be over before I know it and I’ll be so sad, after all, I’m only here three months. Then I think about my friends, my family, and my three year old nephew Kole, who is changing all the time, and think there’s no way I can do this, three months is so long! And so it goes in circles. It’s since passed, but this was strange for me. It may be an indicator that I’ll have some new feelings here that I hadn’t anticipated.
I got a bit homesick this week for other reasons too. Last week was new student week and that got me missing PLUS Team. I was on it last year and had applied to be a returner this year and had to drop out to pursue this study abroad opportunity. That was hard to do, PLUS team was really important to me and I made some great friends from it, some of whom returned to it this year. I thought about them all a lot during the week, mainly how much fun they’re having and how exhausted they must be. I still haven’t been able to talk to most of my family at home and when I have it’s been through email, and even though I never planned to keep in constant contact because I’d be so busy, I expected to connect with them more by now. That’s especially hard because so many people studying here have had family already come and visit them and I’m just a bit bummed that my family are unable to make that trip. Then, the shooting in Roseburg happened yesterday, and that was hard. It stirred up a lot of feelings and I’ve been both sad and frustrated since I heard, which has made it more difficult to focus on my experience here, especially when it’s made Irish news as well. I don’t want to forget about it, but I need to not let it bother me too much. I’ve been struggling with all of that this week.

Some other things from the week: I’m getting more comfortable crossing the street like people who live here, trusting my own judgment, I’m making an Austrian friend, the beautiful weather will soon be gone so I need to get myself outside more to enjoy it, I need to stop buying so many clothes or I won’t have any way to take them home and might spend all my money, I’ve been craving a diner like Dennys where I can get every breakfast food, but that doesn’t exist here.

IMG_9005

The theatre (the Helix) on campus is very nice, and has a cafe and a great view of campus.

IMG_9009

There a lot of great trees on campus and I love trees!

IMG_9047

The river Liffey

IMG_9014

One night we went out and saw Arthur Miller’s “A View From The Bridge.” It was excellent! One of the best shows I’ve ever seen!

IMG_9021

The Gate theatre, Dublin.

IMG_9024

The set of “A View from the Bridge,” a Brooklyn dock in the 1950’s.

IMG_9055

A night on the town. Bruxelles bar and restaurant.

IMG_9043

One day I went shopping and picked some flowers on my walk home. A final reminder of summer as the weather starts to cool off here and the leaves begin to fall. I’m excited about the changing seasons, it’s just as beautiful here as home!

 

Free Museum Sunday!

This week we learned that during the first Sunday of every month most museums have free entry! The downside to this is that the lines to get in are also very long, and it was raining like crazy, but we were determined! During the course of a Sunday I managed to see the David, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Boboli Gardens (all for free!). I must say that while the museums were an incredible experience, the gardens were my favorite. I didn’t realize how much I had started to miss Oregon’s fresh air and greenery! I got some lovely pictures at the gardens and intend to go back soon before it starts getting too cold. I also had a delicious dinner at my Italian family’s house, ate a delicious salad at the school restaurant, and had a weekly “family dinner night” with friends! Overall it was a very well rounded week, though I have so many more museums yet to see! Here are some pictures to sum up the week, I took so many pictures at the museums, so these are only a few from each location!

Ciao for now!

-Alexis

IMG_2889IMG_2957IMG_2938IMG_2916IMG_2770IMG_2690IMG_2807IMG_2767IMG_2699IMG_2712IMG_2802IMG_2959IMG_2962IMG_2969IMG_2687

Second week of classes

Definitely not a great blogger!

It is currently the middle of the third week of classes but this blog post will be about the second week.

Finally got my time-table all sorted out and I am taking Linguistics, Philosophy of Religion and French. I think it will be an interesting but challenging term, particularly with linguistics and philosophy. I only have classes two days a week which is definitely different from academic life at WOU but I quite like it, just means you have more time for homework and studying. I also like not starting before 9am 🙂

As school work hadn’t really started coming yet, I had a good relaxing Thursday. Friday was one of flat mates birthdays and we went to the Westfield shopping centre then out to dinner followed of course by BOP, the event that happens every Friday on campus.

I also started kickboxing which is hard and very strenuous but will be so worth it! 🙂

More to come very soon as I was late with this post.

XX

Ecuador Update: Week 2

Even though only a week has passed, it feels like at least 3. Every day is so jam-packed that it’s hard to remember everything that has happened. Unfortunately, the reason I finally have the time to blog about my experiences is because at the moment I’m in bed with a stomach bug. It could have been the food, but I’ve had it since Sunday morning.

Thursday we went around La Ronda where I took pictures of the amazing architecture. We toured churches, got food, and went Salsa dancing. Shakira would probably be disappointed in my moves, but we had a lot of fun. There’s something liberating about trying new things in a new country…especially when you know the people here will probably never see you again so it really doesn’t matter if you look stupid 🙂

laronda2   laronda4

laronda3laronda1

Also, this is not an elephant ear people. This is a giant empanada with cheese on the inside and sugar on the outside. And yes, I had hot chocolate too.

laronda5

This weekend we traveled north of Quito to Otavalo, Cochasqui, Ibarra, and Cotocachi. (I’m not promising that those are spelled right).

First we stopped in Cochasqui, where we got to chill with some alpaca’s and see pre-incan ruins. We also stood at the highest point in the middle of the world, so you could say we were slightly out of breath.

Our guide spoke only in Spanish (obviously) so I didn’t pick up everything he was saying. But the trip was well worth while and I enjoyed witnessing remnants of a history so long ago.

12109027_10153614721374400_3605504773413994336_n[1]

DCIM100GOPRO

In Otavalo they have one of largest hand-crafts markets in South America. You can find everything from Alpaca fur scarves, blankets, and sweaters (alpacas are not harmed by the way), to jewelry, baked goods, pottery, instruments, paintings, etc.

It was here that I found out that I have a gift for haggling down prices in Spanish. I think this is due to me not understanding the majority of what they’re telling me, so I feel no pressure or guilt from requesting outrageously low prices. I also know I’ll be here a while, so I don’t feel pressured to buy anything that very moment because I know the opportunity will present itself again, and I have no problem walking away — which REALLY gets them to drop the price. 🙂

12065581_10153614563929400_3078353359473495218_n[1]12032935_10153614563254400_2846786584969726243_n[1]

I ended up getting a handmade alpaca blanket for $11, a handmade alpaca sweater for $15, and a hand painted oil painting (just barely able to fit in my suitcase) for $25. I still have my eye on some painted bowls and a small vase that seems to be pretty common, but I’m holding out for a deal.

Otavalo also has an animal trade/market in the mornings, which I was able to go see. It wasn’t the easiest thing in the world, especially considering I JUST gave up vegetarianism (and plan on going back to that after I leave here), but it was a good experience to have.

chickscows

It was not uncommon to see animals tightly packed in small spaces, often sitting on top of each other. Most people were walking around with bags of live chickens (multiple in just one bag that is tied off without holes). This was somewhat uncomfortable because you could hear them squak and see the bag move. We also saw live pigs dragged by their feet.

I had to remind myself that the factory “farms” in the US are just as bad, if not worse, as far as treatment. And from what I can tell, most of these animals grew up in a healthy/nicer environment then the one they were presently being sold in. I don’t consider this a negative experience, just a learning opportunity. It would be hard to treat an animal as your pet if it was your livelihood or your dinner.

Otavalo and the surrounding areas were a good reminder of the poverty that many people face in this country. It was a bit of a reality check after visiting the beautiful streets of La Ronda with cathedrals filled from head to toe with real gold.

While in Otavalo, we visited a rescued bird sanctuary. There were amazing species to look at, and tons of owls, which I loved. There was also a fantastic view of the mountains that you’re continually surrounded by if you live pretty much anywhere in Ecuador. The tall mountains and beautiful cloud cover are a constant occurrence.

DCIM100GOPRO

Otavalo, Ecuador

12107024_10153614573874400_2640896381645714574_n[1]

Oh, and as we left there were some random cows in the road.

DCIM100GOPRO

Cows

We also got to hike to a waterfall called the Cascada de Peguche. Here you could see lots of couples showing their affection (PDA is a much more common occurence here. These people just seem to be very passionate in general. I think its kinda cute). You could also crawl through tunnels made in the rocks (terrifying by the way) to little spots behind the waterfall that you wouldn’t be able to walk to.

 

DCIM100GOPRO

Cascada de Peguche

DCIM100GOPRO

A few miles away we got to visit a stone solar calendar and a small market with food and crafts. So here is a picture of me, and not of the calendar or the food or crafts. haha woops.

12088255_10153614569209400_8059290104358279886_n[2]

Yesterday, Monday the 5th, was the first day that we started work. I went to the preschool, Rebecca went to a women’s service clinic, and Lauren went to a dental office. (I’ll be going to the hospitals in 4 weeks)

While I was at the preschool there was some miscommunication with the teacher. As in, as soon as I got there she left me alone with the classroom of kids for the entire time. She didn’t even come back when class was over, and I had to send them off with people that I hope to goodness are their caregivers. Luckily, they had wifi so I could use a translator on my ipod if I needed to say something I was unsure of. The nice thing is, kids speak slower and have pretty simple sentences, so I understood them better than I do adults here. But if there was ever a time when I didn’t understand them, smiling and nodding did the trick. I think for the most part they were just telling me stories about siblings and pets 🙂

ninos 3(sorry she is upside down, for some reason the pictures of the kiddos wont all turn)

 

 

 

 

 

Being on the playground with these kids is terrifying. First, they all wear the same uniform and are the same height and skin tone. And I didn’t know all their names. So trying to keep track of everyone was exhausting. Especially when the playground is 3 levels from the school being built on a hill.

ninos

Second, the equipment on this playground I’m sure has long since been banned in the US. Old mary-go-rounds, rusty teeter-totters, wooden structures with nails sticking out. And third, the way they played almost gave me a heart attack. 3 students would lay on the slide while one up climbed over them (stepping on their backs) and another tried to slide down them (running into the one climbing up) and from what I can tell, the goal was to knock the other person OFF THE SLIDE. There’s no photo of this because I was too busy tearing my hair out.

When this kind of play was happening, I would look around to other students and teachers, who didn’t seem at all phased, or were doing the exact same thing. I made the decision to not step in, because I didn’t know if this was just a cultural difference. The US schools do tend to be extra paranoid, so maybe I’ve just been engrained like that. And maybe this kind of play is what creates the type of driving the adults seem to partake in here 😉

In the end, no one got hurt (not even a scratch–maybe we need to relax a little in the US), I shuffled them off to the bus or parents, and went on my way to Spanish class. After talking to my director about the teacher leaving, she called the lady and we got the situation straightened out. Today was MUCH better, but only for the hour that I was there…considering I slightly ruined the fun day by throwing up and having to go home…not sure how she explained that one.

Other things I’ve noticed:

-Money is not nearly as private of a matter here than it is in the US. It seems to be very casual to ask people what they make. I’m constantly asked by teachers or even cab drivers how much I’m paying to learn here. I just try and avoid the questions because I don’t want to put myself in a vulnerable position, seen as a wealthy American girl traveling alone in a foreign country. I’m sure they are just genuinely curious. However, the minimum wage here is like $1.50 an hour so I’m sure anything I told them would sound extravagant.

-Everyone is so relaxed. Like relaxed to the point that it gives me anxiety. Whenever I ask a question people laugh and go “tranquila” which basically means chill out. So I must come across very stressed. Haha but everyone is also very nice, warm, and welcoming. And if they don’t know an answer to your questions, they will try to find another way to help. (When I got sick out of town, the lady who managed the hostal we were staying in brought me a homemade electrolyte drink with lemon and sugar and salt and some other stuff. She even checked in on me. so sweet.

-All the advertisements are of white people. Most with light hair. Which I find to be just SO odd when literally no native here is remotely light skinned. It makes me sad that as humans we’re fixated on unreachable beauty standards. And it makes me even more sad that in a nation that is SO BEAUTIFUL, with gorgeous people, they’re constantly told through media that they need to idealize western culture/people and are pressured to be like them. Even the bathroom passes for the girls and boys in school had blonde-haired, blue-eyed children. I can’t imagine how it feels to be out-casted, even when you’re the majority!

That’s it for awhile, I’m going to try and sleep off this darn stomach bug. Chao from Ecuador!

DCIM100GOPRO12118774_10153614546189400_2084638202957427262_n[1]

 

Dublin, Ireland – Week 1: Why Can’t I Sleep Like a Normal Human?

From my first journal entry in Ireland:

“I could have talked about going to Ireland, dreamed about it, even planned it and backed out. But I didn’t just think about it or talk about it. I’m there (here), right now, and it’s scary and unbelievable and exhilarating and I’m doing it, and that’s the best part.”
My first week in Ireland was filled with tiny inconveniences, minor confusions, physical orientation, physical exhaustion, and luckily, no doubt or regrets about what I’m doing here. Nathaniel and I arrived late Saturday afternoon, September 12 and Sunday was for rehabilitation and relaxation, though we went with our roommate Zach to a shopping centre (of which there are many) to buy a few things like towels, for the apartment. We learned a few things on our short trip. We started to learn how to use the city bus transit with lots of help from the Dublin Bus app and realised just how necessary coin purses may be here since European currency involves a lot of coins. There are 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins, as well as 1 and 2 euro coins. So far, 2, 5, 10 and 20 cents all seem fairly useless, much like our U.S. penny. Malls seem very much the same as in the U.S. and nothing there struck me as overtly unusual or unique.
We did find an American 50’s style diner that we ate at (not very exotic for our first foreign meal I realise). There we heard only American music, and we came to find over the next week that American music is pretty much what you hear no matter where you go, mall, restaurant, pub, taxi, etc. Also, this diner, Eddie Rockets, is also not a single unique restaurant as I first suspected. They are everywhere, I’ve seen probably twenty in Dublin since.
We also got our first lesson in tipping in Ireland, which we hadn’t thought about yet, though I knew tipping practices varied in Europe. We left on our table what we’d consider at home to be a reasonable tip, but were surprised when the staff seemed so shocked by it and wondered whether we meant to leave so much money behind. We later looked up tip etiquette in Ireland online to see what was said about restaurant and taxi tipping. Neither is common, but rounding up taxi fare a euro or two will not usually be met with any argument.
Tipping instigated my first real cultural reflection about the U.S. and how it’s sad and strange that we have so many jobs where people rely on tips because their pay is not sufficient for their work. It’s just one of the many factors that result from “poverty-wages” in the U.S.
On Monday we toured Dublin with our program coordinator, John, and the other ten or so people studying at DCU from the U.S. through CIS abroad. He pointed out many of the good areas for shopping and dining, which bus stops we’ll use often, which areas are “sketchy” or “dodgy” at night and where we should “taxi in, taxi out,” (of which there are many, being a large city), and of course, all the neat places we should check out, the more touristy sites. This included The Guinness Storehouse (which we already, or rather Nathaniel already planned for us to visit), Trinity college, St. Stephens Green, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and more.
After our tour, which got me excited for exploring the city, we had our introduction at Dublin City University. Throughout the week they held some events to, much like New Student Week at WOU, get us acquainted with the campus, each other, and student life at DCU. Orientation was not rigorous and I didn’t end up meeting anyone new during the week, but I did start to get used to the campus, which is small and even more condensed than Westerns, but very modern, and it is only a five minute walk from our apartments, very handy.
During the week Nathaniel and I explored a bit, found some shopping centres, went to our first pub The Back Page and had our first pints of Guinness, watched The Visit at a movie theater close by, saw our first play “Vernon God Little” at the Mill theatre–the Irish/Texan accents were quite amusing– toured the Guinness storehouse and had our pints in the Gravity bar overlooking Dublin and it was beautiful.
Unfortunately, we didn’t do or see as much as we might have liked that first week, partly because we slept for most of it. It was difficult to get our bodies used to the time difference and caught up on the sleep we’d lost. Every day we’d plan to get up by a decent hour, maybe by 8 or 9am, but found it almost physically impossible to wake up earlier than 11. This is an aspect of traveling I’d considered before, but one that I never thought could be such a interference. Besides that, our power went off every night in our apartment which meant important navigational devices would not get charged and we’d have no hot water for showers, I waited to do laundry and then the laundry room was out of commission for the better part of a week, and then we learned that buses don’t always come when they are supposed to. Luckily those were the biggest issues we faced here, but at the same time we were dealing with some difficult news from home we got the day after we arrived, which I won’t discuss, but definitely made the start of our adventure more psychologically challenging.
Some things I learned from this first week were: making friends will be difficult and I’ll have to learn how to put myself out there more, I have to use the crosswalk signals because I don’t trust myself to look in the right direction for cars when crossing, there is no root beer in this country so I’ll have to do without for three months, Dublin is a city I think I could really like, despite not really liking cities ever, and classes and schoolwork are going to be hard to do because I only want to explore.
Ireland is new and different, but I’m fairly comfortable already and I’m so excited for my time here.

12067275_10203545008425284_658383167_n

Streets of Dublin

12092570_10207597076025970_391826919_n

The Spire on O’Connell street

12092609_10207597076385979_1572767476_n

First pint at The Back Page

12080706_10207597078066021_629708386_n

The set of “Vernon God Little” at the Mill theatre

12083789_10207597077386004_564584577_n

On DCU campus

12071711_10207597078706037_658884822_n

At the Guinness storehouse, Nathaniel’s favorite place

12081585_10207597195268951_2011354752_n

In the Gravity bar overlooking Dublin from the Guinness storehouse