Are We There Yet?: 2011/09/26

Hello blog!

Going into my third week here in Belfast, I realized that I should potentially update the internet on my current living status: I'm alive. Don't worry, not dead yet. I'm settled into my quaint, incredibly not private flat with some awesome flatmates. School technically begins today and it's wonderfully sunny with blue skies outside. While the move was stressful beyond belief at times, it was worth it in every way imaginable. At least, I'll keep telling myself that for the moment. I might change my mind once I'm overwhelmed with studies, reading, and writing. But between you, me, and the rest of the world, I highly doubt that. ;)

So Tanith, you've been in Belfast for two weeks? What the hell have you been doing?

A lot.

To be frank, all my days seem to be blurring together. I'm looking forward to having an actual schedule and a set pace to my life. I arrived on a rainy Tuesday, found out one of my bags was broken by TSA, and felt terrible whenever someone offered to help me with it (as it dragged and scrapped on the ground.), mostly because I knew how heavy it was and how obnoxious it worked with only one wheel. Despite unnecessary complications, I made it to my house with all my stuff and slept like a rock the whole night through. The whole week was spent listening to different talks about the university itself, the services they offer to all their students (particularly the international students. We did arrive a week before everyone else, after all.) such as consoling, learning help, faith advice, available security on and off campus, where the gym is, etc.

The school also had different events going on to welcome international students. After introducing myself to my flatmates (with a smile and an intimidating "I'm Tanith! :D" shouted their way), we went to a free dinner together. The start of a friendship, I think. Thursday night, we went on the school-sponsored pub crawl. There were so many students; we had to be split into smaller groups. My group went to three different pubs: Kelly's Cellars (the second oldest pub in Belfast), The Garrick, and McCracken's. We stayed at McCracken's. They had a live band and we crowded the dance floor. Irish drinking songs were never more fun. Friday, they had an Irish stew buffet and a Ceili. I learned some traditional dance! For each dance, they asked people from different countries to come up and demonstrate the dance in front of everyone. America got the Virginia Reel. As my dance partner said best: "I came all the way from America to dance the Virginia Reel." Line dancing + barn dancing = Virginia Reel. It was still a ton of fun. I felt incredibly small next to my giant of a partner. I barely reached his shoulders. hahaha. Part of the dance requires you to go under an arch created by the line - poor guy had to work at that.

Saturday, I experienced the marvel that is IKEA for the first time. That store... I can't properly express how much I love it. Not to mention, the guy at the till gave me three bars that I must go to while I'm here. Networking, I'm working on it. In the evening, a bunch of students went to a hockey game. Belfast Giants vs. Edinburgh Capitals. Man, the Giants creamed the Capitals. I could see why they are ranked #2 in the UK. Very aggressive, winning is what they want. But as a result of that, the game itself was rather boring since the Capitals wore their defeatist mantle until the last period (should have been in the game from the beginning). Hell, I didn't even know that Ireland had hockey.

We had awesome seats too!

Week two consisted mostly of me registering with class, getting verified to study, so forth and so on. I finished everything on Monday and Tuesday, so the rest of the week was mine! I went to a bunch of student events in the evening. One included a "Pudding Party." Now, I got obnoxiously excited for pudding. As it turns out, pudding isn't even a dessert in Ireland. In fact, pudding means dessert. All the sweets we tried are collectively called pudding. So confusing. Now I'm determined to make pudding at some point while I'm here.

The 22nd of September is apparently Arthur's Day. This is a big deal (sorta?) - Arthur Guinness supposedly bottled his first stout on 1759/09/22. Every year now, on the 22nd at 17:59 (5:59pm for those non-military time folk), there's a toast to Arthur for inventing Guinness stout. Our block had a "pub crawl" (we went to two bars) to celebrate. I was expecting more, so I found myself a bit disappointed. The bar was hushed and a rather reserved "To Arthur!" was said before everyone returned to their business. Anti-climatic to the max. That said, I had a lot of fun with my neighbors and flatmates. I mean, it's not every day that you can "I've celebrated Arthur's Day in Ireland."

Guinness tastes so much better in Ireland than it does in the States. It's still like drinking a meal, but it just tastes better.

Last Saturday was very special though (not that everything up to this point hasn't been a good time). Over 200 students went to the Giants' Causeway and Dunluce Castle. /swoon. It's incredibly different to describe my experience there. Thoughts of undergrad lectures ran through my head as I just soaked everything up like a sponge. I walked on a lava beach, climbed pillars of basalt, and listened the the waves crashing into the shore. It's a place that everyone should visit if they have the chance. Same with Dunluce Castle. A ruined 15th century chateaux sitting upon the cliffs overlooking the sea - it's incredibly to walk through and touch. So much history in one place. I tripped on the stairs going into the tower. Silly me forgot that stairs weren't standardized back then. Luckily, I saved myself and my camera. It was a very full day and one that I won't forget for a very long time.