My Room

I finally uploaded the pictures of my room so that I can post them online!  I am in a house and on each of the three floors there are seven individual ensuite rooms and a communal kitchen.  Luckily, I am on the opposite side of the floor from the kitchen.  I am on the second floor of the house and face out onto Pearse Street - it makes for great people watching!  The kitchen is a very small galley kitchen with a refrigerator about the size of a freezer in the States.  There is hardly enough room for each of us to put a couple items in - and I am pretty sure some are hogging the space more than others.  An example, one of the people keeps a pot of leftovers in the fridge rather than putting it into smaller containers...  I think the food and kitchen is the only challenging part of my living arrangement.  The other six people on the floor are very nice and easy to get along with - in fact, we are having a floor dinner tomorrow night.

This picture shows the view from the door of my room towards desk and window.

This picture shows right side of my desk and corner next to it - the solid block of wood on the right side of the picture is my bed.

My train compartment bed and attached closet.

My sitting area...

And my world's smallest bathroom!

Well that is the room! :)

Culture Night at the National Library

On Friday night it was Culture Night in Dublin.  I was feeling a bit under the weather but could not miss the opportunity to see the National Library.  I took a guided tour of the Reading Room and the Yeats exhibit currently housed at the library.  The Reading Room was absolutely incredible to see, and because it was Culture Night I was allowed to take pictures!

Isn't it beautiful?  I can just imagine Joyce sitting at one of the study desks.

And I find my own for all the studying I will need to be doing!
I was thrilled to find out that I can get a reader's card and use the library and reading room at any time it is open.  I will also have access to all the books, manuscripts, etc. in their collection!  I just about shrieked from excitement!

The whole library itself is beautiful, and I remember almost non of what the guide said because I was too focused getting a reader's card and seeing Joyce's manuscripts.  They even have a first edition of Ulysses that you can examine virtually in an exhibit.

I had an absolutely amazing evening in nerd heaven!  I can't wait to go back for more!!


Oh and here is the infamous 'prick with the stick'!

All this picture needs is me next to him with a shirt that says 'James Joyce is my homeboy' and a umbrella to lean on! :)  My goal is to make some form of that picture happen before I leave.

Joyce in Wax

This picture was taken of me and James Joyce at the Wax Museum near campus.
I think it perfectly reflects my relationship with Joyce: I am happy and he looks like a grump! :)

In between all my Joycean escapades, I have been very busy.  My suitcases are finally unpacked and put away on the top of my train compartment bed.  Pictures of the room to come soon - it needs a few finishing touches.

I had an orientation meeting for my program on Friday afternoon.  It was great to meet the people in my program - it is a small group.  We found out that the building we are in for the Irish Writing program (and we share it with Creative Writing program) is the actual home Oscar Wilde was born in!  My future cohort is fun and diverse although I am the oldest (besides the token older grandfatherly gentleman).  I cannot wait to start class.  On Tuesday I begin with Perspectives in Irish Writing and then conclude with a class I will be probably be auditing called The Poet and Poetry: Yeats, MacNeice, and Heaney.  I actually want to have homework!  What a nerd! :)

Almost two weeks

I have been in Ireland for almost two weeks.  I have seen a lot but not nearly as much as I want to see in my year here.  I am settled into my dorm room finally - although it was described as 'Hurricane Jessica' by one friend!  I look forward to organizing and nesting.  I will take pictures and post them once it is all complete.
A couple of my adventures:  I stopped and spoke to a Romanian bus driver about how the bus system in Dublin works.  He clearly did not know what to make of my bold approach and was surprisingly unhelpful in educating me about the bus system! :)  My mom and I had some fun while she was here - that is when we weren't in bed with horrible jet lag or sick.  She is my inspiration!  I got to see Barbara and Stephen (Rach's parents) today.  I shared my room and a nice meal with them - it was great to be able to show off my new home, I felt like a real Dubliner!  I think the best thing so far is the statue of James Joyce on O'Connell Street which I found out the locals refer to as 'the prick with the stick' because he is standing with his cane!!! I plan to pose next to it leaning gently on my tall pink umbrella - and I will definitely post that picture.
I have my first orientation for my academic program tomorrow, and I cannot wait to get started!

P.S. Happy Arthur Guinness Day!

Made it to Dublin

I arrived in my new city early Sunday morning and had no trouble clearing customs in under 2 minutes.  The customs officer told me I had too much information for him! :)  Overly prepared as always!

We caught a cab to the hotel with my three suitcases and backpack with a hilarious cab driver.  He told us where to get the best local fish and chips among other gems of information.  He was just as friendly as I have heard the Irish to be!

The city is fun and easy to navigate on foot, and my legs are exhausted!  I found great shopping and most important I found the biggest bookstore in Dublin where I picked up some of my books for school today!! So exciting!

More to come including pictures of my first days in the city.

Tomorrow I move into my residence room on campus - sure to be an adventure.  Although I did buy bubble colored lights on a string (like Xmas lights) to decorate the room.

Housing

Pearse Street Campus Room

In my last post I described the long agonizing wait to hear about my housing situation at Trinity.  Well I finally heard - at first I was told I did not get a room on campus and was extremely disappointed!  But the fates were on my side because the next day I found out it was all a mistake and in fact I had been granted a wonderful single room with my own private bathroom on Pearse Street on campus!! :)  I am extremely excited to see the room and move in.
My address (including for mail) will be:

49.2.04

Pearse St

Trinity College

Dublin 2

IRELAND

On another note, there is only about a week left before I depart on my journey!  I am excited and nervous!

T-minus 5 weeks

Well the time is quickly approaching for my departure to Ireland!  And of course I am well into my preparations (because I wouldn't be myself if I wasn't).  I have been reading for some of my courses in order to get a head start on some of the work.  Afterall, I am quite a slow reader. :)  Vertue Rewarded and Castle Rackrent have provided me with hours of interesting reading.  I am currently moving on to the poetry of Jonathan Swift which I am excited to read!
In addition to my reading, I am trying to organize an appropriate wardrobe and limit the amount of "stuff" I am compelled to bring along with me when I go abroad.
The toughest part of prep is waiting to hear about my housing assignment!!  I cannot wait to know where I will be living and begin to envision and plan my room design.
In the meantime, I am enjoying my time with Andrew and supporting him while he finishes his thesis.