A request to the Icelandic volcano

Dear Eyjafjallajökull,

I know that you have been under a lot of pressure for a very long time and I am glad that you have finally been able to blow off some steam. Everyone needs a good meltdown or explosion once in a while.

However, it would make my life much easier at the moment if you would just calm down and take a nice deep breath. I have been keeping an eye on you for a while and hoping that you didn't get too rowdy. When you erupt and send your hot ash into the air it affects not only the people of Iceland but the people of the rest of Europe as well. The ash that you shoot high into the air solidifies into tiny crystals once it is in the atmosphere. These crystals then get sucked into jet engines and when this happens, the extreme heat from the combustion within the engine causes the crystals to melt just like glass. Then the molten crystals clog said engines and cause them to shut down mid-flight. See, I understand what happens and how it happens so I will not complain about flights being cancelled because it is something that is out of my control.

You see, I have a final tomorrow at 9:00 AM. I have to get my two very heavy suitcases and one not-so-heavy box to the post office right after. I need to be on a bus and in Dublin by 6:00 PM. Don't worry, you are not messing this part of my plans up, but I am becoming a bit distressed because as of right now, the Glasgow-Prestwick airport is closed, and this is where I am supposed to be arriving on Wednesday evening. I am becoming conflicted over whether or not I should go ahead and cancel my flight and hop on a ferry and then a train/bus or if I should just wait it out. Also, if I cancel my flight, I won't need to ship the box with half of my clothes in it to Erin's flat because I wouldn't have to worry about meeting Ryanair's strict 10 kg cabin baggage policy.

Do you see how this is troubling me? I am not blaming you nor am I judging you. Temper tantrums happen (believe me-I perfected them.) However, I would be forever grateful if you would calm down just a bit so that flights in Irish and UK airspace can resume by Tuesday.

Thank you,

Sarah

::walks in and blows dust off of blog:: Sorry for neglecting to write anything for a very long time. I have been either very busy or doing nothing at all these past few weeks (mostly been busy, though.)

Erin and two of her friends from Strathclyde visited about a month ago and we spent a few days trekking around Ireland, visiting Cork, a little village right outside of Limerick city called Adare, and finally Dublin-which was AWESOME.

We went to the Dublin Writers Museum, which had student admission (always a plus) and get this-the audio tour was included in admission! That doesn't happen often, so it was pretty cool. Part of the script was an actual recording of James Joyce reading some of his work-how awesome is that? I listened to that track three times.

We also went to the National Gallery of Ireland. Sadly, the rest of the national museums (such as the museum of Irish history, which has Granuaille O'Malley's wedding chalice) were all closed for renovation or something. Bummer! However I plan on going back and spending the night in Dublin before I fly out of Scotland, so hopefully I can spend the early morning and afternoon at the museums. Thankfully my flight doesn't leave until that evening.

After Erin, Victoria, and Patricia got up that Sunday morning and left the hostel to get to the airport at 6:30 AM, I decided to visit Powerscourt House and Gardens in Wicklow. I love gardens, I love old houses, and Celtic Woman may or may not have had an influence in my decision to visit. Just sayin'. In order to get there I had to take the commuter train, also know as the DART, out to Bray and catch a bus to Enniskerry. Once I arrived in Bray I saw that the next bus wouldn't be coming for another hour so I decided to take a walk around the village and boy am I glad I did! Bray is a nice little seaside village not too far south of Dublin. It was such a nice place and I'm sure that a holiday there would me most relaxing. I was really lucky that the weather was so nice. It was nice and warm, and by warm I mean I was able to roll up the sleeves of my undershirt and even out my flip flops on! I enjoyed a 99 cone, took plenty of pictures with Jesus and Cocky, and fought off my mermaid instincts that were screaming 'WATER-MUST SWIM!!!!'

Powerscourt was GORGEOUS. I didn't tour the house (broke college student on limited funds and I was also on a time schedule) but I did walk around the gardens. GORGEOUS. The Great Sugarloaf Mountain, rolling lawns, and of course, dead camera batteries. Bummer, but no big deal. I actually found myself humming 'The Call' as I walked back towards the gate to leave.

Now for the not as fun and adventurous part: exams. I have known since the beginning of the semester here that all of my exams are essay form, every single one of them. Regardless of how well I know the subject I ALWAYS run out of time on essay questions (it even happened when I took my AP US History exam back in 11th grade. Didn't keep me from passing, but still.) I had my first exam earlier this week and guess what happened as I rounded the final leg of my second essay question? Yeup. I ran out of time. I did exactly what the professors have advised us to do. I read each question once and as I did wrote down any words that came to mind. I looked back after I read and decided which two would be my best option. I spent about ten minutes per question with a little brainstorming. Nope. Didn't work. This is where I get a little nervous because I don't have the safety net of multiple choice, fill in the blank, or short answer question. Two hours is not a lot of time to write 1,000+ words! I had plans to go back to Wicklow yesterday but I decided that staying home and studying would probably be in my best interest.

Another intimidating part of the exam is how you actually take them. Think about that scene in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix when all of our favorite Hogwarts students are sitting in those long rows in the Great Hall taking their O.W.L.s. And yes, I just went there. Yeup-take away the wands and Dolores Umbridge and that is pretty much how exams are given here. Three or four lectures together in one huge room, rows of desks with 30 or 40 people in them, monitors walking around, periodically stopping people to check their ID number. Normally I don't feel intimidation from my surroundings, but this had me thrown for a bit of a loop.

However, this is when I do my best to remind myself that I am smart, I do know my stuff, and that all I technically need to do is pass in order to receive proper credit. One exam down, three to go. I CAN DO EET!

Photos for your enjoyment.

A Familiar Face

Erin is coming tomorrow!!! My friend who is spending her semester at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow is on her spring break this week and is coming to visit me here in Limerick. We plan to go around Limerick on Tuesday and visit the Hunt Museum, King John's Castle, a few other other sights. We're taking a day trip or two during the rest of the week and then we're going to Dublin for the weekend-exciting stuff.

The coolest part to me is seeing a familiar face!

Hiya! Don't worry folks, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, but I had two weeks of being pretty darn busy followed by this week which has been a week of being pretty darn lazy. I had a few papers due in the two weeks before Easter Break.

I had been working on one of them for the past six weeks and even though I had 2/3 of it done, it felt like there was a few grains of sand stuck in the gears and that things couldn't fall into place until I got them out. Once everything started melding together nicely I felt SO relieved. This paper was for European Society and Governance. The topic I chose out of the list of possibilities was to argue in what ways popular leisure culture posed challenges to European social order from 1918 up until the 1980's, with the option of selecting one decade and discussing it. I ended up writing about lax sexual morals, trash literature, fashion, Boy Scouts/Girl Guides of Britain versus the Hitler Youth in Germany, and also on youth opposition in Germany, akaSwingjugend or 'Swing Kids.' I focused on how these problems in both countries threatened regeneration of population, how the two youth organizations sought to counter the shift in family focus caused by new trends, and how leisure culture played a hand in rebellion/opposition. It was one of those papers that you turn in and you feel like you just handed over your kid or something. I feel VERY good about it.

My other paper was for my music and dance class. I chose to write on the tradition of séan-nos singing, which if you have never heard I highly suggest you look out for some examples and listen. Heck, I'll make it easy for you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhyWXnyykds&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBmWqxUF7LI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSjyv0wvna0&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiaFDoDirdE&feature=related

This song tradition is basically solo, unaccompanied, very ornamented, etc. It goes WAY beyond this little description, but it is something that is truly Irish and some of the most beautiful singing I have EVER heard.

That's about it in terms of happenings. I got a package from my parents, meaning I FINALLY got the newest Celtic Woman CD and DVD, which I have been (patiently) waiting for since they came out in JANUARY!!!! I've watched the DVD twice now and transferred the CD to my iPod the second I opened it. They also sent me Girl Scout cookies, Peeps, two little coloring books, along with a few other little things. One of the best parts of the whole box was a skirt that I forgot to bring with me when I came here. When I took it out of the box I realized that it smelled like home and I sat on the bed sniffing away happily for at least five minutes!

Even though this week is my Easter Break, I actually haven't gone anywhere like other people here who have jetted off to London, Rome, wherever, but there is a reason for that-ERIN IS COMING TO VISIT ME NEXT WEEK! Erin is a good friend from back home (she will also be my roommate next year in the French House) who is studying at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow this semester. She is coming to Limerick and bring a friend of hers (maybe two) and we are going to tour around Limerick and also go to Tipperary and visit Cashel and then we are going to Dublin over the weekend. It will be so nice to see a familiar face who also happens to be a dear friend!

Let me also say that the weather here has been insane the past few days, toeing the line of being schizophrenic. Two days ago it rained three times, snowed twice, and sleet fell twice with two patches of sunshine in between...all in a span of four hours. And we all thought that South Carolina had indecisive weather!

And here are a few snapshots to tide you guys over (don't worry-I'll have PLENTY after next weekend!)

Random piece of happy

According to one of my professors, summer is now officially on the way. He said he knows this because the rain has started. While the last two weeks have been suspiciously sunny, if the last two days have been an indication of anything, the wet season is upon us. Not that I mind, though-it has actually been warmer the last few days as well. I even walked back to Thomond after class wearing a short sleeved t-shirt and get this-NO JACKET! This was the first time my arms have seen sunlight in weeks, and I'm certain that I have grown quite pale because I noticed just the other day that the skin on my arms matches the skin on my stomach. Not cool.

However, not all weather here is dreary (keep in mind that I actually enjoy rainy days) and rain often brings out awesome things-like rainbows! I was just sitting here at my desk a few minutes ago with my window propped open and the blinds pulled to the side when I looked up and saw this:

Not bad, eh? Then as quickly as it showed up, it disappeared again. Ireland, I love you!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Yes, that day many people have waited for is finally upon us. Parades are happening, people are having a good time in city centre, and of all days, my body chooses today to not be cooperative.

I'm not dying or even sick for that matter, I just don't feel all that hot today. My stomach feels weird like it usually does when I'm in the early stage of the 24 hour stomach bug that loves me so much. I'm hoping this will pass over, which I'm going to be positive and say that it will.

Not that I'm upset or anything, really. Parades and stuff like that equals crowds and chaos. I am going to enjoy the day off from class resting, straightening up my room, and later when I (hopefully) feel 100% great, I'm going to take a nice leisurely stroll down by the river.

I do have some sort of plans though, don't worry. I plan on sticking around and hanging out with some of my housemates and their friends tonight-yay!

Getting giddy over here!

Easter Break is fast approaching and I have plans and ideas practically coming out of my ears. My friend Erin (who is currently at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow) is coming, along with two of her friends, to visit me here in Limerick and we are looking to spend the week trekking around Ireland. The possibilities are exciting and quite numerous. Either way, it looks like Dublin is almost certainly in our future!

Also, I had an amazing weekend last week. I went to a concert here at UL and had the chance to meet Orlagh Fallon from Celtic Woman (thanks again, Kelli!) Things are moving along at a nice pace. However, I have three papers due in the next three weeks (don't worry, I have started on them, but none are close to finished) and I can feel the impending doom bearing down. Maybe if I get all of them done more than one of two days before they are due I can avoid the panic. BAHAHAHA-what will I think of next? A consistent season from the Gamecocks?

Picture update. This includes picture of me and Orlagh, a view from the window of my new dorm, my new dorm, one of the many swans that live around here. I named him(?) Kevin.