THE FINAL COUNTDOWN...Derry, Iron & Wine , and seasonal affected disorder

All I have been hearing in my head the last week has been the lyrics to the Final Countdown...like the part that sings "IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!" I need that out of my head, because every other minute it's this:

All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go
I'm standing here outside your door (Dunaras student accommadation)
I hate to wake you (roommate) up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breaking
It's early morn
The taxi's waiting
Hes blowing his horn (calling my Irish cell)
Already I'm so lonesome
I could die

So kiss me and smile for me (little leprechauns)
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
cause I'm leaving on a jet plane (Aer Lingus Airbus)
Don't know when Ill be back again
Oh babe (Galway), I hate to go

Sometimes I feel a little sick over it.

Sorry for the blogger delay, but this has actual been a hectic week. Last weekend I visited my friend Kyle from high school in Derry where she goes to school - and is graduating soon! In Europe college is only 3 years. Then I had a final Tuesday, Wednesday, and a paper to write that I need to hand in tomorrow. Wow who can believe it. I actually did so much work this week that I went out Friday in Derry and that not again until the other night..in other words, a week in between being in a pub. It's the closest I will come to detox in Ireland, I think.

Derry was fun. It is a medieval city with walls all around it, which we walked. The cannons are still intact in many places, and the walk is quite lovely. What is crazy in Derry is that the separation between the Unionists and Nationalists is still pretty clear. On one side of the wall, you can see the "waterside" where the Protestants live. Some neighborhood streets are painted in red, white and blue and Union Jacks are EVERYWHERE. Then you walk around the wall a little more and can see the "bogside" where the Catholics live, and where I was staying. There, part of the neighborhoods are painted with orange, white and green on the sidewalks. Kyle told me she was once in the waterside neighborhood for a school event with friends - with her "Southern" friends - and they got bottlecaps thrown at them. Derry is where Bloody Sunday took place, after all, is what she said. Two of her friends told me separately to not wander around Derry by myself, just in case. AH. Sunday we went to the Giant's Causeway. It's a World Heritage Site where all of the rocks are pentagon or octagon shapes, from a volcanic eruptions eons ago. Apparently on a clear day, you can see Scotland! Obviously, it wasn't a clear day when we were there. It was very beautiful, though. Very special. And there are many legends about the giants who made the causeway. Apparently the Giants on either side, one in Ireland and one in Scotland, had a fight, so the Irish giant (forgot his name!) scooped up mud to throw at him and voila! the causeway. It was beautiful. It was incredible to be in another country, really, but still in Ireland. The Northern Ireland accent is very tricky, I felt bad because my cab driver to the bus station was asking me question and I had to say "Excuse me?" at least 3x in the 7 minute cab ride. Whoops. It was so worth going though, and the 5 hours each way on the bus = optimum study time for my philosophy exam.

I had 2 exams this week, philosophy and Northern Ireland politics. Luckily, Kyle's friend Fiona told me all about Northern Ireland on a walk back from the pub one night, so that helped me catch up. I am a class crammer, that's for sure. Anyway, both went well. I went to the Claddagh by Galway Bay after philosophy and got sandwiches and a farmers tan with some of the other Fairfielders. What a fabulous day.

Also, no one in Ireland celebrates Cinco de Mayo. A lot of people don't even know what it is! But never fear, we Americans set the Dunaras population straight. The Corona was totally wiped from Dunnes that day, I had to get San Miguel instead, because the boys had bought it all. Never fear, pseudo-Mexicans are here! Feliz Cinco de Mayo.

Last night, Iron and Wine came in concert to Galway at the Blackbox Theater. I love it, Dad hates it, Mom likes it. It was a CLASS concert, absolutely incredible live. It was cool, I'm old enough to take beer into a concert now! I don't think they expected an encore either, because I have never clapped so long before the band reappeared onstage and then only half of them came back. He seemed pretty surprised and was really grateful for the applause AND that people were standing and dancing. I'm so lucky, I've seen 3 awesome concerts this semester. Wow. Anyway, they're kind of an indie folk sound, very relaxing, if I listen to it while I'm driving I'm likely to fall asleep. Check them out! http://ironandwine.com
Anyway, I think today might be a day to start packing. I had my last doughnut from the fried doughnut man at the market. I had my last Friday and Saturday in Galway. I had my last ride on my bike last week, it's returned. I probably rented my last movie in iTunes. (Thank goodness, they gouge you so bad). Somehow I have to figure out how to get gifts back to the United States without breaking them. Let's see, when I see you next, I'll probably talk to you about living in a risk society and the modern conservative view, because that's what I'm about to finish my paper on. Or how a chair is a Communist relationship.

Lots of love. One post to go. See you this weekend, or in 3 weekends. Cheers.

Finals Begin. Dum dum dum daaaaa

Who wants to take a final when it looks like THIS out?


not me!

Unfortunately, finals start today. I've already handed in papers for two classes and have 3 exams to sit plus 1 more paper (with no word length OR due date, so that's last). I have to leave in an hour to catch the bus because lecture finals are in the community center or the Racetrack. In order to get there, you have to pay 3 euro to take the bus to your mandatory final. These Irish are connivers...not even Fairfield stoops that low! I've been studying for a few days and am surprised at how well I know the end of the 100 Years War (although don't ask me about the beginning or the middle of it) and am definitely ready for history. Philosophy and Northern Ireland politics are next week - one week at a time!

This weekend I'm going to visit my friend from home, Kyle, in Derry. That should be lots of fun especially because I haven't gone to the north of Ireland or Northern Ireland at all yet. That is my last trip outside of Galway until I take the bus to Shannon Airport on the 15th. Yikes! Two weeks from Thursday!

Yesterday we had our Fairfield "farewell meal" and went to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park for a medieval banquet. Although no Medieval Times, this was definitely fun. We ended up at the table right next to the king! Who got really into his voluntary surprise role by the end of the night..I think maybe he had too much of the free flowing wine and mead? We had to eat with our hands and drink our soup; unlike Medieval Times we got the benefit of a "dagger" (steak knife that was made in Brazil). I really just felt so barbaric stabbing my food and eating it off the end of the knife. It was a little too Errol Flynn-Robin Hood for me. The castle is very cool and the entertainment was medieval ballads, Irish songs and ended with 'Danny boy,' of course. One of the madrigals they sang I sang in high school! There was a bagpiper outside at the end in full bagpiper attire - I didn't know bagpipers had attire but they do including big fluffy hats - which was interesting, and once my friend did some step dancing to it, you kind of forgot it sounded like fighting cats. In general, a grand evening.