Open Mic Night

Last day of classes! Woo hoo. Feels good...but kind of weird--a bit like my empty week when I first came here, except now I know my way around and have tests to study for. And trips to plan.

My day started out very early, since I went to the college before my 9 a.m. to print out my two papers and some tickets that I purchased yesterday. Between classes, I turned in the essays, so now I'm officially done with four of my six classes. Kind of crazy.

During Irish class, Daithi (the instructor) overheard Courtney and I talking about our trip to Scotland, and he taught us how to say hello, how are you, and thank you in Scots Gaelic. Maybe we'll actually use that when we get there--who knows?

Afterward, I walked to the tourist office and met with a very unhelpful woman who just told me everything I'd already found out online. Ugh. After I sat around all day, watched Mulan, and went to my API meeting, I talked to the API director about my second Scotland trip, and she was actually helpful and very encouraging. So far everything I've planned is correct, and she gave me a bunch of advice about traveling alone, plus reminded me that her phone is on 24 hours a day, no matter what.

Finally, after three weeks of staying-at-home-ness, I went out with a group of API kids to an Open Mic night in the cellar of the pub called The Cellar. Miriam sang and played guitar, along with other performers, and an Irish friend of ours named Shane played kazoo in his first band, then sang in a second one. It was interesting, to say the least. One man tried telling Hitler jokes, another usually plays on the streets for tips, and this one guy even did an acoustic rendition of Lady Gaga. Oh Ireland...

I'm quite tired and slightly cranky, as you might have noticed, so I'll go to sleep now and hopefully write a better post tomorrow. Night.