The past few days have been incredibly busy! I was telling
the girls here that if we were only on a weeklong vacation, I would feel 100%
satisfied with what we’ve seen and done thus far. Saturday we had a scheduled
event for us that our program put together—a walking tour of Dublin. It wasn’t
just any walking tour though…it was a ghost stories themed one! We strolled by
many historic sites including the castle, the Catholic and Protestant churches,
and the city hall. Our guide told us tales of beheadings and brutal killings
that had taken place hundreds of years ago in the very spots we stood. He said
that if we walk there at night, we can still hear the screams…
Whether or not we believed it is up to us, but I’d rather be
safe than sorry. Don’t haunt me, spirits! I BELIEVE!
After the tour was over, we were set free to do whatever we
chose. The group decided to go get some lunch at our new favorite spot—Marks &
Sparks. It’s a glorified grocery store with plenty of premade sandwiches,
salads, and snacks. Imagine The Fresh Market or a store similar. We brought our
lunch to a park and all of us took an hour long nap. Oh, to be carefree!
For dinner that night, we decided to be fancy and try out a
restaurant that had been recommended to us more than once: Mulligans. It was
just as delicious as everyone said! The presentation was also adorable—the menu
came glued into an old antique book. A little tea candle was placed in the
center of our table, along with a single flower in a vase. Very cute feel,
overall! Also, I liked the place even more when, after finding out that it was
reservation only, the host still let us sit down and eat with the condition
that we give the table back in one hour. We were up for the challenge, and it
was a delicious sixty minutes! I got pork with a potatoe, carrot, and pea mash.
It sounded much more elegant on the menu though, and I’m kicking myself for not
taking a picture of the page I ordered from!
On Sunday, we had an entire day so we figured we would take
the chance to be complete tourists and hit the Guinness Factory. It was 13
euros for students, and we all thought it was worth every penny. I loved the
factory, getting to experience the whole process, and also getting the opportunity
to understand why this beer is so central to their economic success. It really
is what Dublin is known for! Also, the beer making process is surprisingly
complex. Check out the pictures for more information on that, as I’m not even
sure I absorbed all the details.
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| Making my own pint! |
The beer itself was……….interesting. Not my fave. Kinda
bitter. I’ll stick with light beer and just get made fun of by the locals, I
suppose.
When we got back, we decided to hit the hay early. Our
internships started the next morning—this morning—and we wanted to get
our rest. We all had to be on site by 9. We each have different placements
according to our majors, so we parted ways and set off on our own for the first
time. I was surprised by how instantly alone I felt when I left them! Walking
through the city solo, I could see how culture shock might affect you. This is especially
so if you went to a foreign place with no friends. Luckily, I shook off the
urge to run back home and I made the 35 minute journey to my hotel! To get
there, I walk about 8 minutes, board the tram for around 20, and then walk for
another 5. After roughly 15 minutes on the tram though, I heard an announcement
warning us to get off if our stops were further ahead. I hopped off a little
confused, and asked a man next to me what I had done wrong. I showed him the
map I had printed, and it clearly stated to ride the tram for two more stops!
He explained that the tram I boarded went in a different direction, and told me
the proper one to get on for next time. He then proceeded to walk me all the
way to my internship site! Along the journey, he told me he has two daughters
studying in the states. He was so kind that I marveled after he left about just
how giving Irish people are. They are servants to their peers and they expect
nothing in return. It’s a beautiful thing.
Anyway, I made it to the hotel very early, in the hopes that
I would impress my managers there. I ended up waiting an hour and a half
because of a miscommunication. It’s okay though, because they knew what time I
had arrived. :)
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| #SelfiesOfEurope |
During the day, I was told that I would henceforth be
working half the day in the restaurant and half the day in sales. I appreciate
this schedule, because at least I will have a change in atmosphere midday. I
was given a handbook and a uniform, and told to get to work on a small project
online. Something I quickly noticed was that keyboards in Ireland are set up a
little differently than we are used to! The symbols are not in the same place.
For example, the @ sign is where the “ sign is. I was laughing at myself,
because I’m sure I haven’t had to hunt and peck since middle school or earlier.
Just all part of the learning curve, right?
Another thing I learned (and am psyched about!) is that
staff members have access to Club Vitae, which is the hotel spa. It has a
fitness room, a pool, a Jacuzzi, a sauna, and a salon. I’m so excited to have
this perk, as I can now go work out when I finish my shifts! They even have a
locker room equipped with showers. It is a four star hotel, after all. :)
At the end of the day, I got to meet the hotel’s manager,
Conor. He was, say it with me, the nicest man. Of course. He asked me why I
came to Ireland, and I told him it was to further my career and also to learn a
little bit about my heritage. He asked what my surname was, and I told him that
my mom’s maiden name is O’Daniel. He laughed, knowing just which part of
Ireland that name would have originated. He then said he would provide me with
a two night stay and accommodations for dinner with his hotel chain just so I
could visit the town. I was stunned, and thanked him up and down! He said, “No,
thank you. Thanks for wanting to come to Ireland so much that you paid to be
here.” It was such an awesome conversation, I’m still smiling about it. And of
course, don’t forget to picture all of that being said in his amazing accent.
When I left the hotel, I began my commute back home, which
includes a walk over the Samuel Beckett Bridge that crosses the River Liffey.
As I began to cross, I saw five teenage boys in wetsuits climbing up the wall
and diving into the river. It was the most bizarre thing! I couldn’t take a
picture, for fear of them or their friends seeing me, but wow… I guess that’s
what trouble makers around here do for fun? There were girls with speakers
playing music and giggling behind them, and I just got the feeling it probably wasn’t
allowed. It was definitely an interesting sight. I couldn’t help thinking the
whole time how gross the river water was, though! Whatever floats your boat, I
guess. Ba da ch.
Now, I am home for the night. I just cooked a little bit so
that I will have ease in the morning for breakfast. I made a quiche and also
hard boiled some eggs! I’m my mom’s daughter, so Celsius or not, crockpot or
not, grill or not, I will still find my way around a kitchen. Although, I won’t
lie, I really miss the Foreman.
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| Told ya it was Celsius! |
Thanks for reading, friends. Go to the beach for me!
Xox
Alyssa
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