Day 32 (stolen from Facebook)
Day 33 (stolen from Facebook)
Day 34: Not too much spectacularly exciting. Class, long break, class, grocery store run, paper writing, TA stuff. Not gonna lie, though - feel like I was rocking the history paper tonight, though.
I did just about give myself a heart attack, though....I was walking over to Dunnes, and slid my wallet in my back pocket. No problem - done this many times. I know it's a bad habit, especially with pickpockets, but I'm always aware of what's happening around me, consistently checking my pocket, and I can also feel it there, so I would notice if it was gone, right? Well, that last theory was disproved today....I was standing in the middle of Dunnes, and absentmindedly checked my pocket. Nothing. Little alarm bells go off. I check every pocket, I shake out my sweatshirt, stare at my hands for a solid three seconds to make sure I'm not holding it (it's happened)....nothing. Oh, crud. I run out of the store, looking at the ground as I go. I retrace my route, which hadn't been the most direct from the apartments. Finally, I see a little square of yellow up ahead....There, lying in the center of the median on the busy road, was my wallet. I snatched it up and did a happy dance in front of rush hour traffic and sent up a million thankful prayers as I noted that driver's license, debit card, credit card, NUIG ID, apartment keycard, and 100 euros were all still there. Yeah. Don't keep your important stuff all in one place....especially your back pocket. At least my passport wasn't with it....
Other note of the day: I need to get myself an alarm clock. I've been using the cheap little phone CEA gave me, but it keeps failing - whether turning itself off randomly sometime in the night, simply not going off, whatever. Thus far, the 8 or 9 times it's happened, I've lucked out - I've woken up on my own (even when I definitely shouldn't have) just in time to get where I needed to be; God looking out for me. But I'm a little nervous regarding trains, planes, and ferries next week....so yeah. I need that.
Day 35: A bit of work, class, a bit more work at the library, a fascinating seminar on Northern Ireland, wandering into town, more work. My day.
The seminar....I had no idea that things in Northern Ireland were that terrible. Seriously. I remember hearing a little about the conflict - I was eleven years old when the Good Friday agreement was signed, and a lot of the hostilities ended - but the stories the professor (my history prof - I've mentioned him previously) told us about growing up there....wow. And this is very recent history - he's only 40. Anyways. If anyone wants to hear more, would love to discuss it....it's incredible.
It was a beautiful and sunny afternoon - and, in fact, the first time I've actually gotten too warm outside. I went to town and did some shopping (INCLUDING getting a battery-operated alarm clock at the 2 euro store, which, in American money, would be the $3.20 store....which just makes me smile).
I get to see this almost every day....that's the Cathedral in the distance.
Just another normal view in Galway.
And then....paper-writing time again! Oh, and I opened up the bottle of apple juice I got at the market on Saturday morning. We're talking fresh, pure apple juice, bottled at Irish apple farms and nothing added. No sugar, no preservatives. It's just....apples. I don't usually like apple juice anymore all that much, to be honest, but this is delicious. Good study aid. : ) Anyways. Feeling like I'm rocking it again. Just about done. So I'm going to go finish that now, and then work more on my society paper.
Day 36: Class, paper-writing, class, paper-writing. How repetitive does that sound? However....I continued to rock the history paper. Just a bit of editing, and it's done. And I'm satisfied with it. I want to declare war on Britain. But I'm happy with my paper. One thing at a time. : )
Tonight was "The New Electric Ballroom," a play showing at the Galway Arts Festival. It was....well, I'm going to be honest: pretty awful. The college paid for the tickets, which was great, really, and I was so excited to go to the theatre. But the play was pretty bad. Oh, and Hannah? Remember our "but they can't do that"/"oh, but it's Europe" conversation? Applies to plays, too. Why did I sit in the middle of the second row? Yeah....
At The King's Head after the play....yeah, the sign has a little portrait of Charles I. Hmmm....
The other end of the table....and Ally again, hehe. : )
The pub - popular spot in Galway. And yep, pub life spills onto the streets.
Speaking of the streets of Galway....ya never know what you'll see on them, day or night. Like fire dancers. And semi-drunk people holding glasses aloft and dancing with them....
Day 37: One class, and time to finish these papers!
There was a luncheon in honor of the 25th anniversary of NUIG's Irish Studies summer programme, and the U.S. ambassador showed up. The food was also tasty, plentiful, and free - three good factors. : )
Taco night at Sam's, too....which was lovely.
Oh, and I would also like to give a shout-out to the phone conversations/emails that have made my life the last couple of days. : )
Day 38: First of all....happy birthday, Dad!
Second of all....welcome to theaters, Bruce!
Third of all....yeah. I turned in my papers and went to one session for each course. I do actually feel like I rocked my history paper, and society....well, I finished it. : ) I think I put a wee bit more energy into rocking the first one. Anyways. I'll be incommunicado for the next few days, because I'm leaving for Dublin in a couple hours! Ooh, and we're taking a train - which means I can cross #9 - "Take a trip on a train." City transportation, i.e. the Chicago Metra, London Underground, New York Subway, etc. doesn't count.
Oh, and any chance Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands, was once its own country? Eh, probably not....too bad, or I could've crossed off #21 - "Bike across a country." I kinda wanted to do a bit bigger country than that, anyway.... : )
Quick recap for this trip, regarding the Croak List:
- #6 - "Trace family tree." (this is pretty well underway, but a lot of work ahead!)
- #9 - "Take a trip on a train."
- #28 - "Hang out in an Irish pub with a pint of Guinness."
- #37 - "Learn Celtic dancing." (okay, that one still needs work, but at least I've started!)
- #47 - "See a play in London's West End."
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