The Good Ol’ Days

In the last few weeks, I have been a bit of a travel bug, mixing in studies whenever possible. Towards the end of a study abroad semester, there are three prominent thoughts/feelings. You want to be sure that you end up doing well in your classes, which is difficult to gauge because there is no formal grading system. Irish students do not even know what numerical value corresponds with each letter grade; this can make things a bit confusing. Secondly, you think about the things that you still really want to experience and you try to squeeze them in to your remaining time. And lastly, you really anticipate being home for Christmas!

Writing this post, I cannot believe I only have two weeks left here in Ireland. It’s really a surreal feeling after being here for the last sixteen weeks. It’s strange to think that the people who you have lived with and become good friends with will probably never be seen again. It’s strange to think that nearly 100% of my grade in all five classes will accrue in just five days time. It’s strange to think that I will be graduating in three weeks. It’s incredibly strange to think there could very well be snow on the ground at the end of a nine-hour flight!

This past weekend I went to Rome, the one city that I had to see before ending my studies abroad. Rome is truly an indescribable city with a history unlike any other. It’s difficult to walk down the cobbled streets and not think of citizens wandering around in togas, or a debate in the forum, or worship in the Pantheon, or competitions in the Coliseum. The birthplace of arguably one of the most infamous empires in history, the launchpad of Christianity, and I was still able to fill my water bottle up from the same fountains, supplied by the same aqueducts created by engineering genius thousands of years ago. Incredible and indescribable to be sure.

Of course when you visit a city like Rome especially, with an incredible history, you cannot dismiss the fact that there is a present day Rome as well, different from its past. The few days we spent in Rome there was a train strike. After talking to some of the locals, we found out that this was a pretty common occurrence. There would be a strike of some sort about every week. The locals seemed very nonchalant about the whole thing and looked at us like we had three eyeballs for thinking it was anything out of the ordinary. One person even went on to say that the train union didn’t even go on a proper strike typically. If they threatened to be on strike until 9p.m., the strike would last until 5p.m. at the latest. It then occurred to me that I had never considered what a “proper strike” was. I consider them all to be a pretty big deal!

This among other things led me to believe that the Rome of today is vastly different conceptually and ideologically than what it once was. I keep trying to play connect the dots with what Rome and Italy used to be and what it is now, but cannot seem to make ends meet. This may be one of those things that baffles me for quite some time…

Munster vs Northampton

The unexpected always seems to happen (to state the obvious) when you’re not expecting it. This past week I was working away on my studies when the international office at the University of Limerick sent out an email stating that the first four respondents with the correct answer to the question, “Who is Munster’s team captain?” would receive a pair of tickets to the first round of competition in the acclaimed Heineken Cup.

I have been dying to go to a rugby match since I first stepped foot on the soil of the Emerald Isle so I responded as quickly as possible, hoping that the luck of the Irish might be with me! “Paul O’ Connell”. Send. Moments later, I was notified that I had been one of the first four responders and would have the opportunity to attend the Munster match versus Northampton (UK). I could hardly believe my bout of luck!

The timing was right, I did not have weekend plans for Saturday yet. The place was right, downtown Limerick at the famous Thomond Park Stadium, the venue heavily responsible for making Limerick the 2011 European City of Sport. The competition was right, Northampton was in the final game of the European Cup last year and was guaranteed to give Munster all they could handle in the Heineken Cup (one of the favorite brews of Ireland). And of course, the price couldn’t be more right,

free!

The match did not disappoint to say the least. Our “seats” were standing on the concrete steps directly behind the goal in which Munster drove towards in the second half. The entire match was a grind. Neither team was ever more than seven points ahead of the other. At the half, Munster led 17-13. This lead was short-lived as the Northampton Saints scored a try soon after the commencement of the second half. The score eventually came to 21-20 Northampton.

Regular time expired with the score still at 21-20 Northampton. Approximately four minutes allotted for stoppage time was all that remained in the fixture, four minutes for Munster to produce points. It seemed as if every person held their breath for the next three and a half minutes. The referee signaled the final play of the match. After a series of pitches, a player on the back lines of the Munster team executed a drop kick from about forty yards out. It had the distance, but was off-center. The ball barely inched inside the left upright. Three points, Munster! The crowd went wild as the final score of the match came to 23-21 Munster.

The celebration continued in town after the match; it was great to share the experience with thousands of Munster fans! Catching one of the last buses out-of-town, we met six girls from Finland who were in town for the night. We struck up a conversation with the girls and quickly discovered how different schooling and the resulting tax codes were in our respective countries. The conversation was very natural although our backgrounds were noticeably different.

It’s been experiences such as these that I have cherished in my studies abroad. The unexpected conversations and the unexpected experiences are what have made the experience itself irreplaceable.

It’s all About Timing

Through various conversations I’ve had with Irish people, adults and students alike, I’ve come to realize that Ireland is at one of their defining moments in history. I’ve heard from several people that Ireland ten years ago would not recognize the Ireland of today. The country has changed drastically, and the “Celtic tiger” period (a time of strong economic growth) has dramatically transitioned into a time of insecurity about the direction and future of the country. This anxiety can be noticed rather clearly in students completing their fourth year of college here.

To give you an example, a few weeks ago I was in a lecture with about three hundred fourth year Irish students titled “Ireland in the Wold Economy”. The lecturer was discussing the pros and cons of having a strong history of emigration as a security blanket during times of high unemployment. While emigration is beneficial for people to relocate to find work, it also poses a threat to the countries future by means of “brain drain”, a.k.a., newly educated people leaving an area and not investing their talents there. The lecturer then posed a question out of pure curiosity, clearly the answer he got was not what he expected.

He asked for students who planned on emigrating upon completing their studies at the University of Limerick to raise their hands. “Most of the class raised their hands”, said Mr. Darragh Flannery, our lecturer, to An Focal. He took a picture of the class which then caught the attention of several newspapers.

I remember myself feeling the same sort of surprise when I saw the hands of just about every student around me raising their hand. I couldn’t imagine if that same thing had happened at Purdue, imagining many of my friends essentially moving thousands of miles away, and most likely I would be included in that figure. It is one thing to want to move and travel because it is exciting to do so, but the feeling of having to do so would detract from the anticipation.

This past weekend, I went with a few friends to Doolin, a small village off the west coast of Ireland. We met a family there who was traveling from Sweden to see one of the famous caves near town. It was at the cave entrance that we met the family. I was speaking with a woman who had inquired where we were from and how long we would be in Ireland- most of the typical questions. She also had mentioned that her brother had to emigrate to find work and ended up moving to America where he was now trying to get citizenship. She then went on to explain that no matter how bad things got, she could not see herself moving thousands of miles away from her home.

At that time I felt very empathetic for the woman. She clearly knew that her decision to stay might in fact bring about hard times for her and her family, but the thought of leaving her home was more compromising than any discomfort she knew she would feel for a period of time. Her blank face had a way of purveying a great deal of emotion. These experiences have had an impact on me. I truly realize how fortunate I am to not have to think about moving away to find a career, although, if I wanted to, the option is there.

The Changing Seasons…

Oftentimes, when reflecting to write these blog posts, I inevitably find myself comparing my experiences here to those I have had in the US.

In reality just about everything is different to some extent, from the oven being controlled in Celsius to views on foreign policy. The former was a pretty easy adjustment and came only at the expense of a few extra crispy meals. The latter spectrum of differences is one that I will probably always be surprised by. The ones based on reason.

To contextualize these thoughts, I will present to you an extremely gruesome time in the history of our humanity. Not because I find the subject amusing to talk about, but because it was the topic of discussion in a class I had yesterday, the Rwandan genocide. As can be likened to many horrible events in history, the people who bear the memory want nothing more but to heal from their wounds, and in some cases erase the tragedy from their past.

I do not wish to once again delve into a very spirited issue, but to point out the nature of conversation as I have witnessed it many times not only here, but in the states. An uncomprehendable situation presents itself, how could so many people die in so little time, at the hand of their fellow man? Then the seemingly more uncomprehensible question of, what could have been done about it , also ensues.

Something, yes. But what? How many people actually know the answer to these questions?

To be honest, I really can’t say what the right answer should have been. I know very little of the details of the subject as a whole, but may still know more than most people.

The real moral of this experience for me is to be at least somewhat knowledgeable of events that pave the way for atrocities, such as genocide. What are the sentiments in the region of the hostile people prior to? What has caused a somewhat stable environment to implode before the rest of the world knew there was a problem? Is there an effective way to prevent and end such events?

One person could probably never come up with the single solution. I can’t help but to think that a basic knowledge of the history of these atrocities, maintained throughout time, could be useful in preventing tragedies, like genocide, from happening in the future.

An Irish Drought?

The country doesn’t quite know what to do with itself right now. By the Irish nativist perspective, the country is in a severe drought! But really, all embellishments aside, it hasn’t rained in the last week and a half. What’s more is that it’s actually been sunny for the most part! Whilst my Irish counterparts are a bit bewildered by the long periods of sunshine, I have found this anecdote to the states to be a welcomed addition to my experience since the last blog post.

Although I had not mentioned it to you last week, a friend and I were considering jumping on a plane and heading to London. Spontaneity has since gotten the best of us and we will be hopping on a plane in approximately 40 hours. This is my first “big” trip since traveling to the Emerald Isle four weeks ago. Although the flight is only two hours long, the anticipation has been successfully distracting me from just about every form of productivity in the last week. I’ve sort of been that person in conversation who can’t help but to bring up redundant topics. The culture. The history. Our “Motherland”. This might show that I’m a novice, or maybe just uncultured. Fortunately, my housemates and other Irish friends have been more than willing to give me their two cents of advice on the mecca of the United Kingdom.

The truth of the matter is that experiencing different countries and their eclectic stories is the reason I chose to study abroad, and in particular, chose to travel in Europe. I hope to soak up as much of the ambiance as possible, and to have some good details to report  to you all next week!

US vs Ireland, in Ireland’s Backyard

This past week has been action packed to say the least! At this time last post (or thereabouts), I was beginning to grasp the pub-centered Irish culture, and how in particular, sports played a huge role in the composition of relationships amongst the Irish people.

Two weekends ago, I ventured down to Tralee, Co. Kerry, with my housemate Linda and her friend Grainne, to celebrate Linda’s 21st with her family. Without going into great detail, I will just tell you that the Irish do not kid around on their 21st birthday! Linda’s extended family, neighborhood, and friends from all over Ireland were in attendance! Before the celebration began, one of Linda’s friends brought to my attention that Ireland would be playing the United States in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday morning at 7a.m. Being as it is a sin to miss your country compete in a rugby match in Ireland, many of us found ourselves crowded around the television Sunday morning after a rather late night. I never imagined that I would be the lone American representative in a room full of Irish people, watching the two countries compete! Fifteen or so of my new best Irish friends were sure to mention to me that the Americans didn’t stand a chance against the much maligned Irish Rugby team. Since my knowledge of rugby is pretty negligible, I was willing to believe just about everything they told me… I did, however, get a sense of pride and satisfaction that the match was a 3-0 gridlock for a considerable portion of time. “We should be destroying them,” I heard more than a few times throughout the match from my Irish counterparts.

Although America did end up losing to the Irish, the experience of watching the match in their midst is one I will not soon forget.

Ahh yes, the pubs!

I have now been in Limerick for a week after spending a few days in Dublin last week. It’s amazing to see how much can transpire after just seven days time!

Classes officially started on Monday and essentially end on December 5th, followed by two weeks of final exams. I must say that I don’t mind the brevity of the semester one bit! I was a bit taken a back at first with how different some of the classes were from those at Purdue. At Purdue, most students are accustomed to continual assessment, taking exams every few weeks and submitting assignments in between. Here it is not uncommon to have 100% of the grade come from the culmination of one final exam. To some, the idea of only being required to show up for the final sounds like a great idea…

After reality and reason set in, the truth of the matter is that a significant amount of pressure rides  on the final exam and hours and hours of self-motivated independent study must ensue prior to walking into your all-essay final exams. Unfortunately, they don’t believe in multiple choice over here.

Now, up to this time, I have been misleading you all into thinking that I would be talking about pubs… I promise you, that was an accident!

For many years, the Irish have been the people that you could find in the pubs, whether it be during a war or on a Sunday. The stigma has been strong and unwavering (perhaps because it is based on truth!).

Being here for the short amount of time that I have, I’m really starting to realize the significance the pubs (or Public House) play in the culture here. Every discussion of relevance seems to come about at the pubs. And I do mean “every”! From politics, to banking, to farming, to family, to school, to sports, all of it happens over a pint… or several. Out of the list, I would be remiss if I didn’t highlight the importance of sports. More to come next week!

Hello from Ireland!

I have been in the emerald country for a week now. Although many might think of  America and Ireland as being similar, the truth is rather the opposite. One stereotype does however hold very well over here and that is that the Irish are extremely hospitable and welcoming! This simple fact certainly helps to ease the assumed degree of homesickness that comes with traveling to a country that is thousands of miles away from loved ones.

As for the University of Limerick, I already love what I see! There are thousands of students who can’t wait to meet us and get to know us. On top of that, the campus is beautiful! Pictures really don’t describe the scene! Another great thing about Limerick is its strong tradition of athletics. The gym here is home to the largest pool in Europe and the facilities accommodate Olympic athletes training for future events, pretty cool!

Hopefully you have a very small taste of what the transition from America to Ireland has been like, more to come after classes commence next week!

Bye for now,

-Katie