californiatocork - Tumblr blog

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they made a worm out of the water [which was Etain] which was on the floor of the house, and then made a purple fly of that worm, which was the size of a man's head, and the most beautiful in the land

The Wooing of Etain

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I haven’t been keeping this blog up at all whoops, so I’m gonna try and just write out my thoughts/experiences for the first two weeks of school.

So far it’s all been pretty awesome. Orientation was fun and my housemates are super cool and friendly, though they’re all Americans too and it’d be kind of cool to be living with non-Americans. I’m glad we get along though. The apartment itself is cool, I’m really loving having my own bathroom even though the shower is tiny. My room itself is much bigger than I’m used to but I miss my posters. The kitchen is kind of tiny but it works okay for the four of us.

My classes are super interesting, I’m loving everything I’m learning about, it’s all so cool. The only downside of classes here is that the grading system isn’t at all spread out like I’m used to. All of my classes are either 100% of the grade lies on one project, or 20% is on one mid-semester exam and 80% is on the final exam. It’s kind of terrifying to have the exams matter so heavily, but being shy I’m glad participation is much less of a thing than it is in America. The work seems a lot more self-led and attendance isn’t noted.

I knew food was going to be an issue for me, and there are definitely negatives and positives to it here. There’s lots of fried stuff which is awesome, overall the restaurants are really cool. So going out to eat is fine, my main problem is with what I can make for myself. I have like four things (frozen pizza, canned chili, boxed mac’n’cheese, and pasta) I cook for myself all the time when I’m at college normally, but two of those things don’t exist here (chili and boxed mac’n’cheese). Also there’s no ranch, which I usually put on everything, so that’s sad. I think I’ll survive though, I’ll just be eating a LOT of plain pasta.

Another food thing is that candy is everywhere here! I thought Americans loved their sweets but man, it’s like Halloween every day around here with their candy aisles. They have good candy too, especially the chocolate, their main chocolate distributor is Cadbury which is so delicious.

The past few days I went to two events, one for the Feminist’s Society and one for the LGBT Society and they were both so much fun! Everyone seems really nice and welcoming, I think I’ll especially make friends in the LGBT Soc (unsurprising since that’s how I found my friends at UOP too). I’m really excited to get to know more people and to do more things and generally have an awesome time while I’m here!

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St. Finbarre's Cathedral

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I looked at pics of this building for over a year and finally I got to take my own picture of it!!!

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I like this map from the flight here

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So apparently there's people buried on our campus

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There's a bird sanctuary like a 20min walk away and they have black swans, it's so cool

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This is the view from my window (it's been surprisingly dry and sunny) :)

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A list of things I’ve noticed during my first three days here:

the food is great (which is saying something since I’m horribly picky) but also everywhere has nachos (not great ones) which is kinda weird

the accents aren’t hard at all and sound really pretty

everyone smokes, the smell and the butts are everywhere

the walk to the city centre from my dorm is great, the walk back is up a steep hill and it sucks

my school campus is gorgeous and from the sounds of it classes are really easy

the heating in my apartment/room is ineffective and this country is fucking cold

people will park anywhere I stg and they drive so fast I’m glad I don’t drive because that’d scare the shit out of me

people are generally very friendly and nice

Dealz is love, Dealz is life

there’s like no grocery stores? there’s little gas-station-market type things but nothing like Safeway-esque

my apartment/room is really big overall which is great but it’s down a weird series of corridors and the fridge is tiny

I keep thinking “things are so cheap here!” and then remembering that’s cause value of the American dollar has fucking tanked

my phone won’t take a SIM card which means no Irish number/data plan which sucks, so I can only use my phone if I have WiFi

I miss my cats

I had to download a VPN service so I can watch American Netflix

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I'm finally actually here, after 22 hours of travel and 14 hours of sleep I'm ready for my first day actually out and about in Cork. First order of business: find somewhere to eat because everything is closed Sundays. Second: see if I can check into my dorms or if those are closed too.

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Welp, I'm officially on my way. Only 22 hours until I land in Cork!

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I should be pleased that packing was easier than I thought, but it actually kinda weirds me out that I can fit everything I need for my life in the next six months into a suitcase and a computer bag

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Mom: So what will you miss most when you go abroad?

Me: The cats.

Mom: Okay... and?

Me: Avocados.

Mom: And???

Me:....

Me: Oh! Family, of course.