It's Crazy Night in the Apartments

Tonight it seems like everyone in my apartment building decided to get together under my window and yell and drink. One of my suitemates, Emer, is being called from several different and quite inebriated people. And it's only 10:50--the party's just starting! I feel like I'm living a hive of bees.

The two Irish girls who live with me were saying the other day that whenever they watch shows about alcoholism, they just laugh because the whole country of Ireland seems to meet the criteria for being drunk. They say that those experts better not ever study the Irish, cause they'd all be institutionalized! Based on what I hear from outside, my doubts about this theory are slightly smaller.

Anyway, today was day 9 in Ireland and it was good! We had our weekly API meeting tonight, and Finn, the director, warned us all that we are probably about to fall into the lowest part of our trip, the part where most students become slightly depressed and think that taking this trip is the worst mistake they've ever made. She says that by February we should all be out of this slump. But (knock on wood) I don't think I've gotten to that point of being sad yet. Sure, I miss everyone...but not any worse than when I went to URI for the first time. I guess I've never really been homesick, and here it isn't any different (yet). Even if I'm home alone when everyone's partying, like tonight, I seem to be able to get along okay. I guess that's good. But if you feel like emailing or talking on the webcam, that's perfectly welcome!

I'm worried already (I'm always worried about something, so here's this week's item) about getting everything done here that I would like, so I made a list of ten things that I must do before I leave. Here goes:

1. See Stonehenge.
2. Learn Irish--and be able to use it to understand the street signs.
3. Meet Martha and Jack, my cousins in the U.K.
4. Visit Skara Brae.
5. Explore 5 medieval castles.
6. Learn 10 traditional Irish recipes.
7. Kiss the Blarney Stone.
8. Have a full conversation using an Irish accent.
9. Spend one day walking around a city just sightseeing and buying souvenirs. (Surprisingly, as simple as this one sounds, I haven't done it yet.)
10. Travel to at least 5 other countries.

I hope they are all doable. Any other suggestions? I've got a whole list of places I'd like to visit in Ireland, England, and Scotland, but we'll see how much time I have to do everything, especially if I want to pass this semester--with good grades!

As for school: if I get the schedule I want...I have no classes on Fridays! Which would make for lovely three-day trips, except my two main friends do have classes. But still. It'll be nice to have a day off, especially if I have to spend a lot of time in the library here and need more time to study.

We were actually thinking about renting a car to travel around Ireland, since I can drive standard (very few of the cars around here are automatic), but it turns out you have to be 21 to do so. Can't say I'm too sad that I don't have to learn to drive stick left-handed. I've got enough troubles with first gear when everything is on the correct side.

I made a budget before coming here so I wouldn't spend too much and not have enough money for trips and stuff. Last week I went 50 Euros over ($75), so I promised myself this morning that I would spend as little as possible this week to make up for it. Two hours later, I was buying a book and some candy at Dunnes. Aah! And tomorrow I'm going grocery shopping. Oh well. I guess it could be a lot worse--like if I were constantly buying alcohol and clothes for clubbing. Cough cough...all my suitemates...

Ooh--I thought of another something funny today that is different in Ireland. Instead of calling the police, "police," they are called the Garda. I think it must be the Irish version. I'll probably find out in my language class--so stay tuned folks!

That's all for now--the kids seem to have quieted down outside (translation: have migrated to the pubs), so I think I'll go do look at some URI classes for next fall. It's never to early to plan!

Good night. :)