Weekend Rambles

Guess what I was social this weekend. That's a big deal for a recently immigrated introvert.

I have a friend at my church who is from Virginia but lives in Galway. She started a American Women in Galway Group. She is moving back to Virgina this week because of work related things. Saturday was this group's good-bye dinner for her. I originally was a bit skeptical about this group. I mean, I just didn't want to go to dinner and hear people compare America to Ireland.

 But I liked this woman and wanted to say good-bye to her.
Also I wanted to talk to some adults.
Thirdly I had a friend going who offered me a ride. I mean you've got to try stuff.

Anyway. I spent Saturday in Galway and then caught a ride with my friend up to a small village called Oranmore.

Well, we got lost. Oranmore is tiny. Let me further explain. We got lost not in the meandering, wrong turn kind of way. No, we drove through Oranmore without finding the restaurant. We turned around and drove back through. Still without finding anything. We asked for directions. Got them. Searched for parking. Continued searching for parking. Found parking. Hoofed it to where the restaurant was. Walked past the place it was supposed to be. Turned around walked back. Then we saw a sign... and a car with the restaurant's name on it. Oops. But we found it. And it was a great group. I am glad I'm with them.

But this weekend I took my camera with me to church so while I was waiting for the bus afterwards I could take pictures of Galway.

The above is the Irish way of saying "Americans, don't put your used gum on our beautiful city for crying out loud."

So I'm going to learn bone carving. I read about this place online, I found it Saturday, went in and talked to the girl. She learned bone carving when she was living in New Zealand, its a big thing down there. Anyway. She came back and did her homework, turns out it was really big here until the Medieval times when it died out. So she's found her nook, bringing it back to Ireland. She offers classes.

Eyre Square, Kennedy Park inside.

Another view.

The front of the square. Modern art sculpture decked out all fancy.

Closer view at decorated modern art. Usually it is bronze. For whatever reason it was covered in a  festive costume this week-end.

The shop I really need to stop going into... it's torture!!!!!!!!

Shop street, street muscians, artists, tourists and shoppers.

The enterance to the week-end market. Didn't got inside to take photos because it is always packed.

More Shop Street.

Walk by the river.

Another view.

The last time I was on this walk it was like our second night in Ireland and we were looking for a pub with my Brit Lit Buds. Also you can see Nun's Island in the back round. It's the one with the dome top.

Stream on other side.

Flowers growing out of embankment wall.

Pretty ivy.

More.

More.

More.

More.

More.

More.

There you go, I know you were wondering the name of the river.

Getting close the end of the walk.

Arch.

Nun's Island Cathedral. It is surrounded by the river, hence the name. I haven't got inside yet. But I like walking by it.

Trying to get a good shot for you guys, but it's really too big for my slightly short self to get good shot.

Another side. Pics don't really do it justice.

These last two shots are of the town theatre, where I plan to be spending a lot of time and money. But they have a great season coming up!!!

Here you go.

Galway

This weekend I went to Galway. Galway is the county where I live (The USA has states, the Irish have counties). However, Galway is also the name of the main city here. I went to the city this weekend, as I was already in the county. 

I slept in past my family. Something I can do on Saturdays so I relish it. No that I mind waking up with them, but it's nice to just mix things up. When I finally hauled my body out of bed I went down stairs and had a breakfast of fruit with my family (the family I live with, not the one I was born to.) The little girl took all my grapes.

Then I headed off to Galway.

The adventures began when the bus parked in a place I did not recognize at all. Okay I have never taken the bus into town before, but I have taken it back from the city back to Loughrea and this stop was not the one I meet the bus at. But I knew it was Galway because I had recognized landmarks on the way in. So I got off the bus, knowing I was in Galway, but not knowing where I was in the city. So I picked a direction and started walking. Then I actually came to The Square and knew where I was!!!!
I traded in the last of American currency from a tourist info. place across the square. Then I made my way to shop street. I bought a pay as you go mobile for emergencies. Then I went to Butler's Chocolates and got a hot chocolate, the free truffle that comes with the purchase of a hot chocolate, and my aunt a box of chocolates.

I then realized I wandered into bookshops... bad idea when you are trying-- badly-- to save money. BUT I DIDN'T BUY ANY BOOKS!!!!!! That's a big deal for me.

Then to torture myself further I searched for the bead shop I'd seen two years ago when I'd been here last. Making jewelry is one of my loves. I also found the hostel I'd stayed at then, so that was kinda sweet and nostalgic... But you know, kinda not much to do when revisiting a hostel, besides be glad you're not sleeping there again.

I wandered through the market. Eventually buying Sushi for lunch. Yes, Sushi in a Irish market.

While eating the sushi I realized I was near Nun's island. I meandered toward it. Oh, Nun's Island is a cathedral, it's surrounded by a water. Hence, island.

Then I was exhausted, even though it doesn't look like much here. But before I caught the bus I went to the theatre. Just to look. And to get a nice thick program outlining their summer season. They have got some great stuff on!!! I'm so excited!!

Oh, then I finally got home and had Thai curry for dinner. So it was kinda a multi- culture day.

Here's the deal. I am battling a cold and so, I will post pictures and write a brief description.

This is the view from my window... well sort of. I took the shot standing outside the front door. Anyway in the shot you can sorta see the gorgeous ancient churches I can see from my window every day. You may commence with your jealousy. 

 

In the town I live, Loughrea (pronounced Lock-Ray) there is little off to the side walk in between houses and a church yard. It is called The Walks. The following pics are from there. It's very relaxing if you are by yourself. Or, if you are with toddlers its the perfect place to fly like an airplane. 

 View of Loughrea from edge of The Walks.

Yep, its pretty great.

Here is the thing.

I am in possession of an English degree. I minored in theatre. I probably would have done it the other way around but the school I attended only had a theatre education major. Which is great if you wanted to go into education.
But I didn't want that path per-say.

You are probably asking (well if you have bothered to read to this point) what this abstract personal musing has to do with Ireland.

Okay I'm currently in Ireland because 1. It's awesome!!!! 2. I am a post-grad with an English major and a theatre minor. Au Pairing seemed like a good idea until I decide what I really want to do when I grow up. 3. I like kids, usually better than adults. So this seemed like a good idea.


Anyway. As someone with my background in my current situation...1.  I analyze the plot of every children's book/ children's show I read/ watch. That's a lot. 2. I get really into character when I read out loud. 3. I never learned proper breath support. My voice is sore at the end of story time. Granted story time varies... Yesterday it may or may not have been about six hours.


So. Here is my new favorite children's book. http://www.amazon.com/Again-Emily-Gravett/dp/0230745369/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1339191017&sr=8-3




It's about a baby dragon who wants his favorite book read over and over again before bed-time.  Mommy dragon is tired!!!!
Guys this is conflict.

The plot is structured as follows: Cedric begs Mommy to read. She does. The next page is a bit of his story. When she finishes Cedric holds up the book and says "Again?" Then Mommy dragon reads the story again. But she changes it every time mommy reads it again!



 Guys this is master story telling. A conflict that can be related to by both the children and whoever is reading/buying the story. --This is the girl who read We're Going on a Lion Hunt today just to mix things up. Yeah, ironically they found a bear at the end. Uncanny.

So, again is a great example of story telling. Good characters, good conflict, charming pictures, rhyme-meter and just enough dramatic irony at the end to keep English geeks happy.

Today when I was reading this the drama side kicked in. I had gotten to the part where the protagonist was frustrated, probably right at #3 complication right before climax!! And the little boy I care for was like "Ma-E-son don't read so loud, shhh." I've finally gone so far that someone told me to pull back. Yes, if only Hyrum Conrad could see me now. ;)

Okay my mother today said that everything I told her sounds charming.Charming implies quaint. It's not really that. Charming is something I equate with kitchens decorated with hens and roosters.

Not that my mother meant that in the least. Truthfully I think my mom's right. I find everything here pretty great. Somethings are different. But here are somethings to give perspective. This isn't a decorated kitchen.

1. Cat calls. Yeah I got cat-called in the USA a lot too. Ironically it pisses me off just as much in an Irish Accent as it did before. It's just creepy.

2. Ireland doesn't really do steaming hot showers. Anyone who has ever lived with me will know that I love hot water. As former roommates will attest it's not really worth going in for a shower unless I've been finished for a good, hmmm hour?? Yeah I like to use it all.

Anyway in Ireland energy cost a lot. Most the Irish get past this by just not really paying for it. Like not paying for the energy to heat water.

 Don't get me wrong the shower itself is not bad. It's even comfortable. It's just not scalding as I'm used to.

The hard part is getting out. Because that's cold. I have it down to a pretty fine art of jumping out of the shower, drying off, getting dressed and making a mad dash to under my blankets in about a minute flat.

3. Traffic. Irish traffic is just comical. Basically people all just kinda go where they want and figure everyone else will worry about everyone else. While I used to live in Rexburg, where they completely ignore traffic laws and just sit there in cars, smiling tightly at the other person to go. Then the other person waves at them. This continues for like six minutes.

In Ireland they don't care.  I was walking in town today and I saw no joke like six cars trying to all race each other to the three way street (all going different ways, yes six cars, three way intersection all going different directions). This resulted in them all slamming on the breaks and a traffic jam.

Oh, they also park on the side-walks,  walk in front of traffic, jay walk. They also will inform a traffic cop. that they will move from the spot they are illegally parked in-- usually designated for a bus-- that they will only be two more minutes while their friend finishes shopping or while their pizza is cooked. Meanwhile bus just waits, with all traffic backed up behind it. The bus comes frequently so this is interesting to say the least.


4. The dead cat I walked past today. Lying there stiff as a board and obviously placed right by the sidewalk, I guess that was better than leaving the poor thing in the street. Still it wasn't pleasant.

5. I forgot bags when I went shopping. Now this was my fault so it's not really not charming. In fact it wasn't so bad as I live right by the shop.
But like any American I forget that pretty much anywhere else in the world you bring your own shopping bags. But then they don't think it's odd when you shove the lot into your purse. Well, so long as you've paid for it.

6. My goal to start actually doing my hair? Yeah the voltage difference will probably fry my supper amazing designer curling iron that I love but still don't know how to use. Meh. I guess my little sister will be happy.

7. Ditto to my electric toothbrush.

8. Read the above posts. I hate sounding American. Not my accent. I've mostly gotten over how odd that sounds. But sounding spoiled and like my life is so hard.

But lest you think I'm actually bothered by any of the above in a real way, today I skipped out of the house to do some shopping and Loreena McKennitt came on. It was perfect, the afternoon was still really early and the hills and stone walls around  covered with moss and ivy were amazing.

I indulged in wide smile to a girl in passing. Her returning look told me she found me nuts.

But freezing after showers and all I'm still find it pretty great here. Yep.

So today I was happily going about work, taking care of kids, talking to kids, playing kids, keeping kid's from getting run down by cars ect.. We looked for bugs, picked "lovely" flowers, I got the little girl to go on the slide by herself and all that before lunch.

In the midst of all this  I started speaking in an Irish accent.

 Only a couple words, especially ones I say to the children or their parents say frequently. Then I was playing toys with the little boy and we were playing tools. I picked up the hammer and asked him what we should do and he said "Ma-E-son it's not 'hammer'" (the way I say it, with a hard, emphasis going down "A") . "It's 'hammer'". "(soft a and emphasis going up.)

 His mom was like "Everyone talks different, Madison's okay." But I'm just impressed he got it.
Oh, and I went for a long walk with the family. Or as the little girl calls it a "lovely walk. Want to go on a lovely walk Ma-E-son?" And we got ice cream and looked at cows. On our way back the family took me though the town "walks". Which was this path by the river with rock walls, bridges, ivy and moss everywhere. I have to go back and get pictures. The parents showed me what Irish nettle looks like and told me that the only real treatment was Duck Weed which grows right by it. The little boy heard the instructions and was concerned I'd actually hurt myself on the nettle and went ahead and picked some Duck Weed for me just in case.

So a pretty fun day.  

Guys I'm finally here. In the Emerald Isle.
This morning at like five in the morning as we flew in the sun was just rising. That made the sea look pink. If that wasn't amazing enough I saw Ireland just rise up out of no where on the horizon. We flew in over the Shannon river. So while I'm planning on going back there, even if I don't that's already one thing off my bucket list.
But seriously guys, I was just so happy as we flew over the island and I remembered that Ireland was one of the most beautiful places on earth.
I haven't been so happy about a place in a really long time.

As we exited the plane I saw some tourists stopping to take pictures outside the window. And I thought "I did that last time I was here. But now I'm not a tourist. I live here. Well, that and my camera is packed in my checked baggage which I don't yet have."

Then I cleared Immigration and the woman told me "You're going to be an Au Pair? Well, you're the first girl I've met who did it right."As I handed her my visa. Yeah, that made me pretty proud. 

I got my baggage then went out. Guess what, my ride was right there!! She's the great mom of the kids
 I'll be watching. As we pulled out of the Air Port she said "Ready for your adventure??" Yep.

I did a lot with the family today and saw a bit of the village. But I'm wicked tired and I just wanna see  what British TV I can scrounge up on demand and go to sleep.