Hello all!
I had a fantasitc St. Patty's Day! Probably the best day I've had here! My friend Rob came into town Monday night, so I took him out to Temple Bar which was fun, he loved it. The next day we did the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour around the city which was great, we went to the Guiness Factory, showed him around St. Stephen's Green, Grafton Street, O'Connell Street, and we went to the oldest Victorian style bar in Dublin. At the top of the Guiness Factory there is a circular room with windows surrounding it where you get your free pint, but the views of the city from the top were spectacular, I didn't think Dubin would look so beautiful like it did from up high. The next day was St. Patty's Day and it was a blast! I went to the parade with some friends, the parade was hard too see because it was so crowded but it was still fun and the atmosphere was great. After the parade me and a friend met up with my host family and we all went to a couple of pubs and everyone was celebrating and just having a good time all day. Later on me and my friend went out to the pubs and ended up going out to a night club and staying out pretty late but I had so much fun. Definitely couldn't have asked for a better St. Patty's Day in Dublin!! This weekend I'm going to Galway and to the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands, I'm really looking forward to it since I haven't done much traveling around Ireland!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
St. Patty's Week
So it's officially St. Patty's Day Week! Sorry that I have been so terrible at updating this blog, it's been over a month since my last post. Since then I've been doing just fine, I've adjusted very well. I went to Belfast for my birthday weekend and up to the Giant's Causeway. It was really cool, I've always wanted to see the Causeway, and Belfast was neat, the history there is so interesting, there is still a wall that divides the city and the communities into the Irish and Protestant neighborhoods, tensions are not as high as they were a few years ago but it is still not 100% at peace and there is always the slight chance for something to errupt. Since then I've stayed around Dublin I took a day trip to Howth one day, it's a little fishing village outside the city and it was a great place, the seals were my favorite part! I also have spent days just walking around the city and taking picture around St. Stephen's Green and Merrion Square Park, and I went to Kilmainham Jail today, and again I found all the history there so interesting. I've gotten back into the habit of going running, so after work I'll go running at Sandymount Beach, and the tide is out so I'll run all along the sand with the sun setting, it is beautiful. My host familiy is still awesome, I've been having a great time with them, and my internship is still going great as well. So I've just been working, running and exploring the city when I can! I'm excited for St. Patty's Day here. The festivities started yesterday night and continue this weekend and up until actual St. Patty's Day on Wednesday, but there are already a lot of tourists running around in their ridiculous hats and beards, but I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and just having a good time! I have a friend coming to visit Europe for spring break he's stopping into Dublin for a day so I'm looking forward to seeing someone from home! The festival here is supposed to be great too! They shut down the streets and its just packed with people, but the whole day should be a blast!
Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!!!!!!!!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Starting My Internship
I have now completed my first week of my internship at the Clarion Hotel where I am working in the Human Resources. The hotel is very close to the apartments, its about a 10-15 minute walk, and I've learned to wear sneakers and changed into dress shoes at work so that my nice shoes don't go ruined in the rain and I can walk faster!
My first day on Tuesday went well, I met my boss Patrick the HR Manager, who is also the only member in the department. The hotel is staffed with right around 100 people, so it is not huge, but a good size, still small enough you see many of the same friendly faces throughout the day. I went on a tour of the hotel which was very impressive, and work in the office the rest of the day. Since Patrick is the only HR staff member, I help him out with whatever jobs he has for me. He is very good at explaining everything along the way about HR and how it all relates, and also explained that this week I would be doing more parts of the tedious office work than usual so I can learn how to do it, and will be involved in more hands on work later on. For the most part I did filing, payroll, putting together employee starter packs and training material, and attended a meeting with Patrick on Wednesday. Monday we will be meeting with a new employee and going through the starter pack and paper work so that soon I will be able to do this with new employees on my own. Overall I had a great first week. Everyone has been so friendly and welcoming, and once again I am being well taken care of at the hotel.
Tomorrow, me and the Sophie the other student that is currently living with us until Sunday are taking a day trip to Bray to see the gardens at Powerscourt, Bray is about a 25 minute train ride south. Our plan is to check out the gardens and then the shore along Bray, and if we have time the aquarium, but I will most likely save that for another day. Also in the evening tomorrow I am meeting with other students just like me doing internships in Dublin through the InterNational program. I am really looking forward to meeting other students, or at least people closer to my and I hope I will make some friends! I'm sure karaokee will follow with my host family!
Today also I was looking into travel options for after my internship. I am staying an extra week to travel and I have started looking into flights and rail passes. Right now I am looking into a 5 day pass that includes, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, and Greece. I have really been wanting to go to Slovenia and Montenegro, and now Greece since it is included in the pass, if I have time Bulgaria would be cool too! So that is something exciting I am starting to look into! As for Ireland I wanted to see the Cliffs of Moher and Giant's Causeway. Travel within Dublin, even Europe for the matter is relatively cheap compared to the states. There are tours that include travel and guides for both places for good prices and I am looking into those. Also Lorraine wants to take me to Kilarney and a few other places around the country, so I am looking forward to that as well! A trip to the Guinness Brewery is in the near future, along with checking more of the city here and there throughout my 3 months!
One thing I learned today:
Canteen is referring to the staff break room....not something you get water from!
Me with Molly Malone!
Updated photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2650132&id=13747907&l=4ace24bb4c
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2652600&id=13747907&l=d5e2422785
Sunday, January 31, 2010
First Two Days in Dublin
Hello all!
I arrived safely into Dublin at 9:30 am on Saturday, the flight over was great I had a row to myself and actually slept, and customs was a breeze they only asked how long I would be in the country! After arriving, I met David from Global Experiences and he took me to a cab which drove me right to my host family's apartment. The place is great, it is right on the River Liffey, and I have a view from my room which is also great! I am living with Lorraine and Wally, both have been so welcoming and friendly, you all do not need to be worried, I am being very well taken care of and well fed, the Irish sure do love food...and beer, I feel very comfortable and safe here as well, it is not a big, crazy bustling city, everyone is very laid back, and want to be sure I have a good time. After unpacking, showering, and having a wonderful lunch, Lorraine and Wally took me across the river and walked me past the Clarion Hotel where I will be working for my internship, it is a 10 minute walk from the apartment and I can take a bus if I want also, another 5-10 minute walk and we are right at the city center, we had quick walk around the city and then headed back to the apartment, I took a nap as I was tired from the trip and the time difference. Later on we had dinner and headed out to a pub, we started out at one which was very comfortable and quaint with cushioned chairs, lamps, and wallpaper on the walls, what you'd think of as a typical Irish pub, it was all local and older folk in there, then we headed to a pub inside a hotel, which was a little more modern and was a good mix of locals and people vacationing at the hotel, we ended up at the last pub which was more in a hidden part of the city, it was also your more typical local irish pub but with karaoke! It was a blast, even after the music was done people would start up a song, its great how laidback and carefree the Irish, they definitely know how to have a good time! And yes they love their beer!! All in all I couldn't have asked for a better day!
Today I slept in and me and Lorraine headed to Grafton St. to pick up a few things and showed me around the St. Stephen's Green shopping center and a little bit of Trinity College and the entrance to St. Stephen's Green Park. After heading back I relaxed most the rest of the day, later on Lorainne's children and grandchild came over for dinner and it was great meeting them, and since dinner have just been hanging out and relaxing! Tomorrow I have my orientation with Global Experiences, just sort of an Introduction to Dublin and Irish Culture, and general information if something should happen, but good information to know. Like I said no need to worry I am well taken care of, I am enjoying myself and being safe! I am looking forward to a great three months!
Here is a link for my photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2650132&id=13747907&l=4ace24bb4c
I arrived safely into Dublin at 9:30 am on Saturday, the flight over was great I had a row to myself and actually slept, and customs was a breeze they only asked how long I would be in the country! After arriving, I met David from Global Experiences and he took me to a cab which drove me right to my host family's apartment. The place is great, it is right on the River Liffey, and I have a view from my room which is also great! I am living with Lorraine and Wally, both have been so welcoming and friendly, you all do not need to be worried, I am being very well taken care of and well fed, the Irish sure do love food...and beer, I feel very comfortable and safe here as well, it is not a big, crazy bustling city, everyone is very laid back, and want to be sure I have a good time. After unpacking, showering, and having a wonderful lunch, Lorraine and Wally took me across the river and walked me past the Clarion Hotel where I will be working for my internship, it is a 10 minute walk from the apartment and I can take a bus if I want also, another 5-10 minute walk and we are right at the city center, we had quick walk around the city and then headed back to the apartment, I took a nap as I was tired from the trip and the time difference. Later on we had dinner and headed out to a pub, we started out at one which was very comfortable and quaint with cushioned chairs, lamps, and wallpaper on the walls, what you'd think of as a typical Irish pub, it was all local and older folk in there, then we headed to a pub inside a hotel, which was a little more modern and was a good mix of locals and people vacationing at the hotel, we ended up at the last pub which was more in a hidden part of the city, it was also your more typical local irish pub but with karaoke! It was a blast, even after the music was done people would start up a song, its great how laidback and carefree the Irish, they definitely know how to have a good time! And yes they love their beer!! All in all I couldn't have asked for a better day!
Today I slept in and me and Lorraine headed to Grafton St. to pick up a few things and showed me around the St. Stephen's Green shopping center and a little bit of Trinity College and the entrance to St. Stephen's Green Park. After heading back I relaxed most the rest of the day, later on Lorainne's children and grandchild came over for dinner and it was great meeting them, and since dinner have just been hanging out and relaxing! Tomorrow I have my orientation with Global Experiences, just sort of an Introduction to Dublin and Irish Culture, and general information if something should happen, but good information to know. Like I said no need to worry I am well taken care of, I am enjoying myself and being safe! I am looking forward to a great three months!
Here is a link for my photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2650132&id=13747907&l=4ace24bb4c
Friday, January 22, 2010
T-Minus 7 Days
This is my first post for my blog site I will be updating during my stay in Ireland. A lot of you have asked to keep you updated and post pictures so this will be the best way to do it for everyone. As of today I will leave in 7 days, I can't believe it's so close, the time flew by as the departure date came closer. I will be home in a few days with my family and will officially begin packing for my trip! As I am wrapping things up before I leave it's starting to sink in that I will really be in Ireland in a week, I can not wait!
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