Werewolves of London

Mood-Sick 

Listening to-Warren Zevon - Werewolves Of London 

Clubbing in London.

My mind races with the trains passing through each station. The speed in which this city functions at is overwhelming. San Francisco and Dublin are small golden peas of a cities compared to London.

If you have never traveled alone I suggest it with everything. Although I spent a lot of time with a friend I also got to explore a bit on my own. You can never truly feel alone in a city of strangers.

The art of comprehending the tube and train system deserves it's own Place as a sport in the Olympics. San Francisco was nothing but a video game simulation compared to the volume and complexity of the subways here. 

This city has a glow of age to it. Like a proud mother of her children. The glowing queen is a picturesque representation of the streets of London. 

The more I travel and see, the more insignificant I feel. A feeling in which I cherish and bask in. Walking through a museum filled with volumes of collections of the creations of humankind has made me feel younger and more optimistic then ever. You cannot help but feel life and everything around you passing like frames of a movie. 

I am thankful for the adventure away from Dublin and the company of someone who romanticizes San Francisco as much as I do. Being here makes me homesick for everywhere at once but so content with the ground my feet walk on. Every bed feels like home and a cozy nights rest can be found where you seek it. 

This short trip makes me truly realize how I am in the beginning of a truly great adventure. 

The feelings I have that surge through me in moments can never be replicated but can only be topped. We danced all night at a gay club, feeding off the energy of the crowd. Everyone in their own world of glamor and delusion. Our movements felt like screams powered by the energy of chaos. 

In each new place is a new adventure, filled with new stories I shall never forget. 

From Dublin, With Love

Mood-Relaxed 

                                             Listening-I Cover the Waterfront, Billie Holiday 

There is so much constant beauty around me that it is hard to capture it in any way. I know I should have updated this long ago, but the wonders of a new place have distracted me. It is a whole new world being in a place that has such a long history. Coming from a country with only a few hundred years of it. 

School has begun and is just as fantastic as I could have imagined. I am so lucky to be surrounded by such intelligent people from all over the world, not just my professors but my peers also. I am excited to be surrounded by such a mix of people. It makes what I am studying feel that much more relevant. 

Time is passing by very quickly. The weekends are quiet around my flat because most of the other tenants go home for the weekend. The silence in comparison to the bustling energy of the week is deafening at times. 

There is always a reason to celebrate and go out here and the streets at night are filled with chaos. The culture of going to pubs is the key social aspect. Although the city is small in comparison to many we are used to in the states it feels as if it were the most metropolitan place on earth and filled with a constant heartbeat of energy. 

I thought that after living in San Francisco for years nothing could surprise me or shock me, but this city has done so more then I could imagine. In Dublin there is a such a large underground culture. The vintage shops and the strange places I find myself welcome at here are fantastic. 

One of my new favorite shops

The culture shock has set in though. Some things are so different it would amaze you. From the way the light switches work, to the way we speak the same language. Sometimes I just smile and nod when someone is talking to me as I hate looking stupid and not understanding what they are saying.  I do not really miss the states at all. Although I do miss some key things like the nice weather. It does rain a lot here, but it is as expected when moving to Ireland. I miss my friends and family of course, but that is only normal. I do miss some of the foods and things I am used to having around but I am adjusting without them. You don't really miss the food or things until you sit down and talk/think about it.


Soon I am going to be traveling around Ireland and Europe a little bit more. Next weekend I hope to see the north and Belfast. Then in two weeks I am headed to London for an extended weekend holiday. I am so lucky to be able to explore and adventure here. This is an opportunity I would have never imagined, and yet I am here. I am excited to see where else this takes me. Even just looking into the school I am attending and the notable attendees is so exciting, especially for what I am studying. Heads of state, notable justices, and international organization founders have all studied here.


Hopefully I get better at updating here. I am sure I have left out a million things because there is so much to say. Now I must get to some studying. That is, after all, why I am here.

The Wanderlust

I feel more at ease here in Dublin then I have ever felt back in the states.
No one is in a hurry here. Everyone takes their time and really seems to enjoy and appreciate everything. 

I now know what it feels like to be foreign somewhere. Everyone loves talking to you when they realize you are an American. It is incredibly endearing. I must look lost a lot. People are always asking me if I need help. I can only laugh this off, because of course, I usually am lost. 

I am starting to enjoy tea and also starting to get why it's such a thing here. Just the ritual of sitting and talking or sitting and relaxing is a wonderful practice. 

I have not been anxious here. It's an amazing and liberating feeling. I have also never been uncomfortable here. 
I am learning to love walking a lot and have no fear of getting lost. Walking around here at night is normal and safe. The cold doesn't bother me much either. Although it is much colder then I am used to, I almost enjoy it. It makes the air somehow fresher. 

The people are so trusting too. People don't act like there is someone always out to get them like we do in the states. People don't run by you and try to steal your phone. People openly leave them on tables and walk away without worry.

Yesterday I walked around the city center. Looking at shops and enjoying company of a friend. I must admit I am not taking as many pictures as people back home would probably like. I am too selfish in my enjoyment of these first moments. Everything is so fresh and new to me I don't want to share them.

Harp Bridge over the Iffy

 

Protest we stumbled upon in the North Side

I do hope I don't eat so poorly my entire time out here. It's hard not to try all the food though. Stopped at a chipper and got chips and chicken for dinner. I could barley eat any of it, it was so greasy. Although very delicious.

Chips!

Today is my last day before class starts and I have to get down to business again. At least before next weekend. I have four day weekends and am planning to travel as much as possible. Hopefully I can find someone to travel with. 

I decided to walk around the area I am temporarily staying in today. Just enjoying the air and the parks. I stopped and got tea and a pastry in a small shop. Everything is just so fresh and delicious here. 

Tea and a Cream Cake. The cream cake was amazing. 

Dublin is slowly writing it's name on my heart. 

Until next time, 

Cheers. 

All Along the Banks of the Royal Canal

You know the feeling when you are parched of thirst, and it then begins to rain?
That is what Ireland is like. When you need something, it comes to you here.

I think I am in love with this country. The people have an optimism that is lost to many Americans. Everyone is so helpful and lovely.

It has taken me a few days to update because of how much I have been doing. On Friday I got to explore campus for the first time. It its very beautiful there. There are two large lakes in the middle of campus where these HUGE swans reside. They are very mean creatures too. It is very funny to see people avoiding them.

I got all of my classes and also found permanent housing on campus! I move there next Saturday. I get my own bedroom in an apartment with 5 other people.

Friday night I had my first night out to the pubs. I met up with a friend who lives here. It was a blast. Found an old Rockabilly bar where I fit in quite well at. We went to a few other pubs, but I honestly didn't pay much attention to their names. In one pub we went into, there was a man playing an acoustic guitar singing pop hits. Everyone in the bar was drunk and singing along with him, which was very fun. Overall it was a very grand time. I am pretty sure I drank enough pints for an entire year.

On Saturday I had booked a tour with my school to go explore the city. Turns out we were only going to the Guinness Storehouse and Croak Park. I was very tired and maybe a bit hungover. But I pulled myself together as best as I could and went on the trip. The Guinness Storehouse was great, the food there was amazing. I also made friends with some nursing students from the midwest who were studying abroad for the semester. They were quite nice people and it was nice to meet them.

My schedule is still really off and I am sleeping at strange times, but I will adjust eventually.

Dublin has been good to me.

Tomorrow I will explore the city some more.

Rocky Road to Dublin

Mood:Chilly 
Listening to: Sometimes I Just Go For it- The Used

The last month of my life has been spent selling, storing and packing everything I own. I was accepted into a Masters Program at UCD in Dublin, Ireland. It has always been a dream of mine to come to Ireland and now I had a chance to do it.

This will be my way to update everyone. Hopefully I will have the time to write at least weekly.

So where to begin, I have been saying my goodbyes to people for the last month. It hasn't been nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be. I am leaving everyone, but people will still be around and doing well when I come back.

Goodbye Bonfire on My last Night

Empty Room 

Now After packing up and saying my goodbyes I began my 15 hour traveling adventure to get to Dublin. I got very lucky and made friends with the ticket counter lady on my first flight and got upgraded for free. Nice big seats, a whole row to myself, and an open bar. 

I spent most of the flight sleeping, drinking, and watching movies one of the easier long hauls I have had to take. Then we began landing in London. I looked out the window and saw this. I was already excited and nothing felt real yet.

 In London it was raining when we landed.

Finally after landing we got to the terminal. Whoever built this airport is a jerk. there are literally signs telling you the amount of time it will take you to walk to your gate. Mine was 35, a 35 minute walk through a foreign airport. So after this 35 minute walk, carrying two bags, and three security check points later. I got to my terminal and badly made my flight to Dublin. This was a quick and very empty hour flight. 

Finally I had made it. It was just as Green as I expected. More walking through airports was required and then I collected my luggage and went to find a Taxi. I apparently found the most eccentric driver in the whole city. The man was making jokes about the government and Americans. It was an interesting drive. He also got lost many times on our way. Finally I made it to my hosts home. 

She has been wonderful to me so far. She made sure I got fed and settled in. After talking with her for a bit and having some tea and biscuits I went to my room to shower, unpack, and sleep. 

I am writing this post after having slept for 12 hours. It is around 7:30AM and still pitch black outside. This sun doesn't rise here until about 8:30AM or later in the winter time. Today I begin learning the transportation system to campus. Try to get my phone service up, and go out to the pub with my one friend here so far.  It's about 38 degrees and raining here, so time to bundle up. 

So far Ireland has been warm and kind to me. Hopefully it continues. 

Cheers, and until next time.