So Far So Good

So how has life been these first 9 days? Short answer: very good!

It doesn't feel like 9 days have passed already... times seems to be flying by, which is - I suppose - a really good thing. At Trinity everything seems to work out just great with the courses, it's only ETH that might not give me credit, but who cares ;-). *** aside: as I passed all the exams, I don't really need the points anyway, but it would certainly help***

I feel at ease here in Dublin:

The weather doesn't bother me too much, just bought a nice coat that is also a bit waterproof and I always carry my umbrella with me... As for the cold - yes it is really really cold here already - nothing many clothes can't take care of. And if the sun comes out, you appreciate it all the more. About the weather and Dubliners... If you walk around the streets feeling really cold, even tough you wear 2 t-shirts, a pullover and a jumper there's unbelievable things you can see... I actually saw a lot of people walking around in flip flop, shorts and t-shirts and there were a couple of women wearing summer dresses, and all this just because the sun was shining a little :-). You really have to admire these Irish people! Or you can think they're crazy ;-). I haven't decided yet.

The people are generally very friendly! I already got to talk to many people of all ages and it was always interesting. What I feel here is that people seem very interested in foreigners, they ask a lot of questions and listen attentively to what you have to tell them. So I am quite in paradise here :-). Also it is very easy to talk to people at university and if you don't know your way everyone seems quite happy to help. Naturally not all is perfect, not even in Ireland ;-). When it comes to getting on the Luas people seem to forget about politeness very fast... But Fionnula told me about a trick she is using to avoid the Luas problem and it's really simple :-). Due to copyright issues I'm not going to say how it works *grin*, but it makes my life soooo much easier.

The language is just cute here. I especially love it if people say things like: "Let's meet at half 3" or "I'm 33 years old"... some of my former English teachers would actually freak out if they would hear it... So I'm thirty-three years old actually sounds like "I'm turty-tree years old"... Yes, they do like their trees here :-). One extremely peculiar thing *very sarcastic* is that they have tons of slang words for drunk here... very funny that is!

The city is just lovable, as long as you don't have to drive in a car - I think. There's some very nice, big parks (haven't been to one of them yet tough), there's nice shopping areas where cars are not allowed and it's pretty much all within walking distance. Also there are many buildings that look very nice. One thing I find is quite extreme here is the number of beggars. There's beggars on every bridge over the Liffey and pretty much on every corner. Also women with babies which I find quite unhealthy for the babies in this weather. But I guess there's beggars in every city and I already got used to "not really seeing them" and walking past.

The traffic doesn't concern me too much, but there's certainly some points worth mentioning. My room goes out to Herberton Road, which is a 2 lane road and cars drive by at all hours of the day. In the beginning it seemed really loud, but I got used to it pretty fast and now I don't even notice it anymore if I don't pay attention. As I pedestrian I lived a little dangerous the first 1 or 2 days... Yes, it is quite weird to suddenly have to look to the - wait gotta think... - right side first when crossing the road! What makes this all the more confusing is that from Abbey Street (the Luas stop I get out) to Trinity College there's loads of one way systems, so the "right first rule" doesn't apply always. Yes, there's traffic lights on every crossing, but they are programmed in a really dumb way! So if you'd actually respect them it would probably take me about 15 minutes instead of 5 to get to TCD. Everyone, yes EVERYONE walks when the light is red. Some are more adventurous than others (or seem to have a death wish) and just run across (or ziczac through the cars) others - like me - have figured out the signal system and know when it's safe to walk. Actually the later hour it is the more couragous or stupid people seem to get *I wonder why...*.

The men are... Lol, if you expect some great analysis of Irish men you are in the wrong place... They are all different, some good looking, some not, some thin, some not, some blond, ... you get the point. And most of them don't have red hair and freckles ;-).

So that's it for today! On Monday uni finally starts... But due to a death of a member of staff from the School of Business I'm only gonna have lessons from 10-11 and from 15-16, so I get to go swimming in-between, yay :-).

Something to make you all jealous: I take 40 KP and I only have: 23 lessons a week and I NEVER start before 10 :-) AND I got Friday morning off completely... Yes this is paradise!