"Look at your life. Look at your choices."

It's refreshing that college students everywhere watch too many youtube videos, will eat anything if it's free, facebook the people in the next room, and wait to do laundry until they have no clean underwear left. The video that prompted this comment (and the post title) is Sassy Gay Friend: Romeo and Juliet. Who doesn't love a modern interpretation of some Shakespeare?!

10/4-10/10
I'm really beginning to settle in here. I've checked out books from the library, stolen enough posters from the walls of pubs that my walls aren't completely bare, and established a weekly taco Tuesday tradition with Ruby. Technically I guess, it's burrito Tuesday but regardless it's a delicious routine. This week was especially wonderful because it was followed by my first and only choral society meeting! I decided to swallow my nerves and make the trek to school at 7 to participate in the weekly choir practice. It seemed pretty normal when I first walked in, it was a warm room full with the dull murmur of 50 some college students talking about absolutely nothing. The music was on the front counter and was some Christian tune and "You've Got a Friend In Me" from Toy Story. I sat towards the top in the sopranos section with Ruby, even though I think Justin Beiber's voice is higher than mine so I'm probably an alto. But I definitely wasn't calm, cool, and collected enough to separate and sit in a different section!

Like all things Irish, the practice was much less organized than even the least structured meeting in the United States. I'm not saying that the Irish characteristic of disorganization is bad, in a way it's really refreshing not to have some agenda that must be followed. The only problem with this practices disorganization is that the room was really hot, I had to go to the bathroom, and seats in the Hogwart's esque building were less than comfortable.

After practice I headed over to my friend's for some cans (see the party edition of the Irish dictionary below) and ended up party hoping and meeting a bunch of Irish students, hence the realization that every college student share some common interests. The next day some friends and I had another family dinner (fish tacos this time--yum!!) and watched Glee, a show that I have come to appreciate after the Irish TV I have been watching. The British Isles are not famous for their high quality television, don't even get me started on X-Factor. Simon's gone soft, that's all I have to say on the subject!

Irish Dictionary: Party Terms
The shift- making out.
Gaff- house.
Cans-pint sized cans of beer/cider.
Lad(s)-guy(s)
Pain in me hole- pain in the ass
What's the story-what are you up to/where are you
"What's the story, lad? Ye comin' ta my gaff for cans."
"Quit being a pain in me hole. I'm gettin' the shift tanight."


Other than Glee, family dinner, and choir practice it was a pretty uneventful week full of lectures and going out to the usual pubs. Each have their own personality, the usual stops are outlined below!
The Star- on the edge of the city center, so it's usually a first stop for a 3 euro pint! Very American though, usually not full. Beautiful bartender that wear sweatpants to serve drinks. Not my favorite place, but it was a good place to celebrate Arthur's Day!
The Washington Inn (the wash)- Plays bad '90s music, crowded, almost always full of men.
An Brog- Only good after 11 or so because it's a late bar (open until 2 am!) Definitely a spot for college kids, but definitely a good time. Usually playing fun music to dance to (MGMT, the Strokes, the Beatles, ACDC, Patti Smith, random selection).
The Quad- Clientele seem to be students in their final year that have grown up enough to wear real clothes out! Good for a chill pint.

Friday morning (10/8) I woke up much earlier than I wanted to and boarded a bus with my fellow IFSA Butler students and drove 6 hours up to Killary for the annual adventure weekend! It was not nearly as exciting as it sounds. Definitely more of a learning experience. First thing I learned? I'm so glad I am not studying in Limerick. University of Limerick has maybe 1/16 the charm of Cork. Second thing I learned? I am so blessed.

Killary Bay courtesy of google

After snoozing on the bus we arrived at Killary Adventure Company which is in the middle of nowhere and is just gorgeous. We stayed in dorm type rooms with all the IFSA students from across Ireland and basically had a weekend of good dining hall food and feeling awkward. I am really glad I did the Early Start Program and that I am in Cork, but I realized how doing these two things through Butler skewed my experience. First, although my early start group consists of really nice people, none of them and I had the strongest connection and we have become "opportunistic friends," meaning that when everyone else around are strangers, we stick together. Second, after attempting to branch out a little I discovered that IFSA students at every other school live with Irish students. I love my roommates, but I do go to school in the United States and happen to live with Americans at school at home!

Although it was an awkward weekend, I did get to do some cool things. Saturday morning I started out doing a high ropes course challenge thing, which I was super pumped about because there is nothing I love more than team building at high altitudes. But this was unlike any high ropes experience I had ever had. Me and the nine boys who were in my group didn't even introduce ourselves. It's a strange feeling to push your limits doing these challenges without the usual chorus of "Woohoo! Yeah, Abby, you got this!" or other encouraging statements. I have to say doing a ropes course silently definitely removes 3/4 of the experience.

Following the high ropes course was laser combat! Laser combat was unlike any laser tag I have done before. Instead of being inside a dark battlefield with a blacklight, we were given camo clothes and directed to a battlefield that easily could have been the set for any war movie. I take pride in my ability to dominate at laser tag, but I really failed to bring my A-game for this battle. Probably because I was thrown off my the fact that my teammates were all male and experienced fake soldiers and because as soon as the starting whistle was blown and my team hit the deck I got a mild (and terrifying) taste of what battle would actually feel like.

I was uncomfortable to say the least, but I didn't "die" and my team beat the cliquey "Team Galway!" (Very satisfying). The low point of my combat experience happened after the battle was over and we were heading in to celebrate our victory. During my strut in  I stepped on what I thought was a little muddy ground but ended up being a bog. While I narrowly escaped fully face planting I did manage to sink waist-deep into mud only to require my bro-y teammate to come and help pull me out of the mud. I tried to shake it off and accept that I was by far the most bad ass and dedicated member of my team but mostly it just was VERY EMBARRASSING.

After scraping the mud off of my pants, being hosed down, and then showering I recovered over lunch. In the afternoon I decided to stay away from potentially muddy activities and signed up for gorge walking and sea kayaking. It was crazy windy and the water was rough so kayaking was more of a workout than a leisure activity, but the instructor was cute and we jumped off cliffs so it turned out to be all good. Gorge walking, on the other hand, was one of the most amazing things I've ever done. Definitely the highlight of the weekend. Although it was extremely un-environmentally friendly (sorry, ODS) it was so cool. We walked up a creek from the end to the source, climbing over waterfalls, wading through deep pools, and basically just frolicking in the creek. I felt like I was in Avatar or Fern Gully, I'm such a water baby that I had the time of my life.

That evening was surprisingly wild despite the draining day. Once everyone had thawed and taken a power nap we all began playing various card games and teaching our program leaders American drinking games. Yes, our program chaperones. This weekend really was like the twilight zone. The evening only gets weirder. Around 10 the main even started and we all were herded into the dining room for the disco! In the corner was the DJ who looked about 75, but kept spinning the newest jams so there were no complaints. Next to DJ Maturity the "bros" from my laser combat team could be found dancing on a table to "Single Ladies" by Beyonce. It was great fun but too weird.

The rest of the weekend was a little more normal. In the morning I did a different ropes course (better, but still not at OPC level) and a giant swing with my fellow early starters. After lunch we headed home and I did a much needed load of laundry (see picture of my pants if ya don't believe me!)