Dublin and the arrival training: day one

It's 12.40 at night. I'm in the Marino Institute of Education for my on arrival training. Dublin it is. We have free internet here. Great stuff. No Irish students, as it is a holiday. Only us, EVSers. Just back from the pub (it's monday evening, so they close early). First day here was ok. Although I think the training is gonna be a bit boring for the rest. First "night"activity was bowling. Not really Irish. First time I did it. And......beat all they others (think I'm a natural talent) But the people are nice.

Spend the weekend in Cahir with Ruth and her French friend Alex. It's a bit akward to write about it today, cause Ruth is sitting next to me. But I definitely had a great time. A wild night in the pub. Just a local one. Was great fun. Met some nice people (sometimes it is indeed an advantage to live in a one-horse town, as it is really easy to meet other people). For the first time I experienced the "closing-pub-time" with the national anthem. I read about it in a lot of tourist guides and stuff, but never experienced it myself. But they did indeed in Cahir. And they were really serious about it. 't Was definitely not for the tourist. Around one o clock every one stood up and with their hands on their back when they started singing. Even the most drunk people looked well enough to do so. Great experience. Most people left afterwards, but I think it was already four when we did as well. Through a side entrance, after one of the girls watched if there were no guarda passing. Really funny.

The moving thing to Cork went quite well. Only living there for one short week, but I already start to feel at home there. Live with other international people. The Norwegian one is a bit weird, euh....yes nerd...but the others are nice. One girl from Canada. We spend Saint Patrick's day together. And Ruth and Alex came to Cork as well. Was a bit dissapointed about the Parade. But the athmosphere in the pubs was great. I always thought my name was boring, but as I always got compliments from Irish people (boys) because of my name, I don't have another choice than just start liking it myself. Hihihi.

So far for now. Not really sober at the moment. As soon as I have some time, I'll put some other pictures on the net. Hope to hear you all soon (especially the Leuven Kliek was a bit quite so far).

Saskia

Pictures of Belfast

I managed to get my pictures of Belfast online. If you click following link, you normally would be able to see them: http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=129i7fn7.nybw94j&x=1&y=g0j4sf.

Hope you like them. Looking forward hearing from you all.

saskia

Fourth Irish Sunday

The fourth Sunday I spend in Ireland is nearly finished. Another great day it was. Think it was nearly fifteen degrees, no wind, blue sky and loads of sunshine. Just can’t get over it. This is the fourth time that I’m in Ireland and despite all the ‘bad weather warnings’, I always had pretty good weather. Am starting to believe that it is just me. Because so far, the weather gods are definitely with me.

Julia and I went to Killarney today. It’s a funny thing, those Sunday trips. I stay in bed late, take my time to shower, have breakfast and than there is Julia proposing to drive somewhere. Killarney it was today. As she has some serious troubles with her hips and back, she most of time stays in the car. To enjoy her music and read a bit in the biography of Bill Clinton she got from her son Michael. So she just dropped me of at one of the entrances of Killarney National Park. Up to me to discover and explore. Reminds me always of my previous holidays in Ireland, travelling on my own through the country. And especially when the sun is shining as it was today, it isn’t hard to get in a holiday mood. It was really a pity I didn’t had a camera. Last weekend I borrowed the one from my office. But didn’t think about it this weekend. A shame. Killarney National Park is just amazing. Impressive. Walked to the waterfall. Nice walk. I only spend a short time in Killarney today, but I’m definitely coming back during the holidays. There is a nice hiking and cycling path around Kerry (the Ring of Kerry it’s called) and I definitely want to check it out. So if someone of you guys felt called to accompany me on a ‘couple-of-days-hiking-trip’, know you’re definitely welcome.

I have other big news for you all. Finally found a place to live in Cork City Centre. It’s a house about ten minutes outside the city centre. On a hill. I have to share it with four other people. A guy from Norway, one from Scotland and another from France and a girl from Canada. Only met the Norwegian and the Scottish one last Saturday. They looked all right. The house looked nice as well. My room is really small, but there is spacious kitchen (with washing machine and dryer, microwave). Besides there is a dining room and a sitting area with television and video. There even is a small garden, so we can have barbeque in the summer. Have to pay 65 euro a week plus bills for electricity and gas. Not too bad for Cork City. Although I definitely have to find a part time job for the weekends, as I’m only getting 115 euro a week from the Energy Agency. Ireland is amazingly expensive. Anyway, mail, post-packages (Belgian chocolate: the darker the better!!!!) and the latest gossips can be send to:

Saskia Van Goethem

Saint Luke’s

7 Mount View Terrace

Ballyhooly Road

Cork City

County Cork

Ireland.

I’m moving in next Monday (the 14th), so that I can spend Paddy’s day in the big city. Looking forward to it. Although I’ll miss Julia. ‘Cause she really took care of me those first weeks. I wanted to buy her that book on Eastenders, but looks like it is sold out in every bookshop in town. Gonna buy here some ‘Winning Street’ scratch cards. She loves watching that lottery game on television and it’s always more exciting watching a game if there is maybe a very small chance that you possibly have the prospect to win something. Or not.

It’s late now. I need some sleep. Here you all soon. Enjoy the week.

Saskia