Our Surroundings

We havn't posted in a while because we're having trouble viewing our own blog... grrr.. that problem still isn't fixed but at least you all can see and read what we're up to.


We had the craic (please refer to blog #1 for information on this excellent phrase) this weekend! The most talked about rugby game was being played on Saturday. Ireland v. England in Croke park (which has historically ONLY held matches of Gaelic sports- Hurling and Gaelic football) and was named after the Archbishop Croke. It’s a big deal for them to allow rugby to be played there after Bloody Sunday in 1920. One of the biggest controversies was over the British singing “God Save the Queen” There was a lot of buzz about this going around and we couldn’t wait to be apart of it. We got some info about some good places to watch the match and the #1 places was the King’s Head which is where we watched the match the first weekend we were here and we wanted to check out a new place. We went to the Skeff Bar on Eyre Square PLENTY early- we were told to get there 2-3 hours early because of the crowd of people that will be there. We got there at “half 2” (2:30) and the game didn’t start till half 5!! We had lots of nibbling and drinking to do. We kept ourselves merry watching the Scotland v. Italy rugby match before hand- Italy spanked ‘em!! GO ITALY! By half 4 the place started to fill up, all the seats were taken and people started to crowd around any inch of a table that was slightly open. A friendly bloke found a stool and sat next to us and he wound up being our personal rugby informant- very helpful and VERY enthusiastic about the game! During the game there were cheers abounding, shouts of joy and songs to go along with just about every good thing that happened to Ireland, or bad thing that happened to England. We couldn’t quite understand what they were singing except for this one where they kept singing “Cheerio” to the tune of “stars and stripes forever” as we know it. Well it was a great victory for all Irish with a 43-13 win! People were crowding the streets with Irish flags, cheering and talking only and all about the match! It was unbelievable!

Sunday turned out to be so beautiful so we spent all day just biking and walking along the shoreline and the "sea" as they call the bay. We checked out some wind surfers who looked like they were taking a beating from the gusts the Ocean brings in. The shore line changes so quickly from being boardwalky to rugged to farmlandy all within about 2 miles. We found a driving range to keep up our golfing skills, a trailor park and some mini cliffs which you can see in the pictures to the right. We had a great time finding our own way around, but welcomed some advice from a worm scavenger (people pay 1 Euro per worm for fishing!! geez!) on how to best to get to the cliff we eventually walked along. It was a beautiful albeit grayish view out to sea from there but so very refreshing to be at the water after 3 years of landlocked life in Atlanta.


We trekked back to the sea this weekend as well and continued on to Barna Woods. It had a very green, almost rainforesty feel to it. We walked into the trees and we instantly were struck by the contrast of the deep browns of the mud and wet bark to the rich green of the moss on just about ever living and non-living surface you could see. The moss covered almost every rock, and there were tons of them, so it looked like fuzzy little aliens in hiding just waiting to pop up and scramble around. We were definitely reminded of Lord of the Rings scenery.



We were foiled by the weather Sunday. We had planned our first day trip to the Cliffs of Moher. We researche the bus schedule and had everything checked up on. When i woke up on Sunday to the sounds of rain smashing up against our window by gusts of wind that must have been about 40 mph, i thought of Michael and i standing at the edge of the Cliffs, which have no railings, and imaging being uprooted by the wind and tumbling the 300 m. to the picturesque sea below and thinking... hmm.. i think this isn't the ideal day for this trip. We sadly lay in bed thinking of what else we could do today. Time passed to when we should have gotten on the bus and wouldn't you know it about 5 minutes later the sun was so bright our room was filled with it and the curtains were closed! The weather here is as moody as a high school girl with PMS. We learned our lesson and are not letting the weather change our plans next weekend!

The house that we're living in is now full. We have a new flat mate, Paddy. He's a friendly bloke and will be living up stairs. I'm glad that we like everyone that we're living with. Even the cats here are more friendly, we have one that comes around and dispite the sneezing fits that could ensue, i can't help petting her beautiful striped fur. She's nudges your hand when you stop petting and lays her head in your lap in total relaxation like a dog. I think thats why i like her so much.


I'm slowly getting more and more confident at work. Having a student given to me for the last 2 weeks of his placement helped a bit since he knows more about the system than i do. Its a symbiotic relationship really- i teach him about treatments and documentation and he teaches me about the practical things about the hospital and the irish health system.
Michael has 2 more interviews this week, both of which seem more promising than the last few. Friday he went on a day long "second interview" for a sales position. He went door to door with the sales woman. They were selling products like Desperate Housewife board games, craptastic game boy wanna-be's and make up kits. The products were all knowingly poorly made and just about useless. His hours would have been half 7 to half 7! We decided he'd have to sell his soul to do this job with a clear conscience. He didn't take the job. Hopefully these next 2 jobs will not require a sold soul, keep your fingers crossed.

Let us know if you get Skype- we'd love to talk!