My First Few Days

Hiii everyone!
I have arrived safely as you know and my living space is right in the center and heart of Dublin.
The city is beautiful and amazing. It is so different here compared to home in so many ways. Some of the differences are very subtle while others are quite noticable.
Here's some slang and differences :)
- Chips = crisps - Fries = chips - Shrimp = prawns - Excuse me = sorry
- Cheers = thanks - Craic (crack) - Means good time/fun
- Half-two/three = two thirty, three thirty, etc.
- The service here in restaurants is much slower and the waiters/waitresses do not introduce themselves or go out of the way to be friendly. Typically you would not tip a waiter/waitress, bartender, etc. unless you have had exceptional service. Colum, our student guide, says we should let him know if we find exceptional service anywhere as he has not found it anywhere in Dublin in 3 years.
- There is no organization to the street system and the roads wind all around the city. Painted on the streets right before you step is"Look Left" or "Look Right" because it is always different and no one knows which way the traffic is coming from; not to mention the drivers are crazy and pedestrians do NOT have the right of way anywhere.

There is so much I want to write but I can not think of everything right now! I'll keep posting as I think of more things.

I arrived in Dublin at 7:45 am on the 9th where I was greeted at the airport by Colum, a very friendly study abroad advisor originally from Cork. After waiting an hour or so for another boy named Hal to arrive we were transported to our accommodations. We were thrilled to learn we would be staying right in the center of Dublin just minutes from the very popular Temple Bar and Grafton Street (Grafton street reminds me a lot of New York with many stores lining either side). Many of the streets are cobble stone and the buildings are absolutely beautiful. Every single building has its own character and so much detail in it. I don't even have words to describe how beautiful it is. Draw a picture of Dublin in your mind with cobble stone roads, beautiful architecture, pubs on every corner. That is exactly what Dublin is. I am in love with this city already.
Once I arrived at my living space I lugged my two bags up 4 flights of winding stairs that were approximately 2 feet wide. My room has 2 bunk beds in it and 4 closet spaces. Unlike home there are no desks with chairs and places to plug into the internet; there are no massive dressers with huge drawers; there are no outlets in the bathroom. Currently I have 11 apartment-mates, all American, who are all really friendly but very different and each person brings something unique to the group. On Tuesday 5 of us will be traveling around Ireland while the other 7 head off to Italy for 10 days. Once everyone returns 7 new students will arrive to live with us. In the apartment there are about 10 rooms that each of us are staying in with either one or two roommates. On the first and second floors there are kitchens with a washer and dryer and a shared common room with a couch, television, and tables with chairs. At first it seemed awful to not have internet in our rooms and the ability to text every five seconds but I have come to appreciate it. The group spends a lot more time together in the common area because of it and the dynamic between us is awesome so far.
Our first day here we took some time to get aquainted with one another, unpack our suitcases, and run explore the city a bit. Later that night we went to our first pub called The Long Stone where we each tried a Guinness and watched a rugby match on the overhead tvs. The pub is a way of life in Ireland; many people go there right after work and have "good craic" until late into the night, only to wake up the next day and start all over again. Drinking is seen as a means of socialiazing rather than a reason to get drunk and party. The Guinness wasn't bad but reminded me a lot of black coffee. It doesn't taste like any beer from the states, including the Guinness sold there. It's much more smooth and seemed more like a meal than a drink. Holy crap...I'm in Ireland!
On our second day we woke up and set off to see our school which is a 15 minute walk from where we are staying. The school is set up in a few old Irish houses, one of which used to be home to Oscar Wilde. Right across the street there is said to be a beautiful park which I have yet to explore. After a brief orientation meeting Colum lead us all over the city to show us where the cheapest stores for food and basic needs were located. Colum said goodbye and left us to explore the city for a bit. Eager to find cheap food the group set off to one of the grocery stores named Tesco where the groceries are very cheap and you bring anything you can to carry them home. (I'm thinking of bringing a suitcase next time!)
Later that night we set out for our first excursion into Dublin on our own. Everyone agreed on Temple Bar which is located only a few minutes from where we live. Temple Bar is an entire area in the city that has many pubs, stores, restaurants, and is a huge tourist attraction. The actual Temple Bar itself is the pub we ended up setting off to. Although the drinks were over priced and there was only approximatley 3 Irish people in the entire place, the atmosphere was incredible. There were several bars inside the actual bar with high tables all over. People were packed like sardines inside and the air smelled of smoke and beer. (You are allowed to smoke in certain sections because some areas of the pub are open-air.) After getting a beer (Carlsberg which is an English beer and a lot lighter than Guinness) the group began to seek out a place to chat. It was absolutley amazing inside. I turned around and behind me three guys from Sweden and fresh out of the military introduced themselves. The two I met were named Yentz and Oloff. A few others were talking to two Irish guys named Cully and David and, after receiving a beer from them (yes mom, I made sure I saw them take it from the bar and no it was not just a random drink they handed me), I felt some one behind me bump into me. When I turned to see who it was I was greeted by five girls from San Diego, two of whom were studying in Spain I believe. A friend from my group named Jill (who also goes to UNH but just met each other for the first time) needed another drink so we headed over to one of the bars. Andy, one of the guys from the group introduced us to two girls from Brazil and when I turned around I was greeted by one of my apartment-mates, Pam, who then introduced me to three guys from Germany. When I returned to the group with Jill we met a really nice guy from California and two other women who were on holiday from Ohio. I could not believe everything that was going on around me. I'm in Ireland and I just met people from all over the world. This was incredible. Even now as I think about it I do not have any words for what it felt like. Everyone was so nice and so willing to share stories. A lot of what was said was lost in translation between the many languages being spoken but when things were lost because of the language barrier everyone knew to simply give a smile and raise their glass instead. It was the most indescribable, amazing feeling to be in a place where so many cultures from all over the world were meeting and sharing drinks together.
After a long night at the Temple Bar I wanted nothing more than to pass out in my bed...but my lovely roommate Miranda, or maybe it was me..., locked both our keys in the room. At approximately 5 o'clock in the morning and after making PB & J for everyone I passed out in Emily and Cathy's room, only to wake up again for 10:45 to walk forty minutes in the rain to get my free pint of Guinness at the Guinness Factory. Needless to say the girls and I all graciously handed our pints off to the guys. The night was amazing and I am still in awe with how friendly and nice everyone has been so far. I can not wait to explore the city more and learn about the culture here.
I promise to have pictures posted as soon as I can but I forgot both my webcam and my camera connector at home...cheers to me. I miss everyone so much and although I am 'avin the time of me life 'ere in Ireland, dere truly is no place like home. I love you all with all of my heart and miss you that much more!! <3

Slainte (it is a form of cheers and blessing meaning "good health"),
Sam