blog (9/10) either way Dr. C
Class: This week in class we had two new teachers come and teach us different parts of the Irish way of life. A woman named Kelly, who owns the music store in Spiddal, came to show us how to play traditional Irish music on a tin whistle. It is very similar to the recorder which we all learned how to play in the 5th grade. We learned that a traditional Irish Jig is in 6/8 tempo and goes along to the beat of rashers and sausages and that the traditional reel was in 4/4 and had the beat to double decker. I found it extremely interesting because now when I listen to Irish music, I can tell the difference between jigs and reels! A few of us decided to learn extra songs on our own so if any of my friends are in the mood to watch Titanic and want to hear the penny whistle solo from my heart will go on, now I can play it! At the very least if I get stuck and need to make some quick cash, as long as I have a fancy hat, I can be a minimally talented street performer!
The second teacher that came to visit taught us about the ocean tides and their correlation to the moon, sun and time of day. In science class in the past I have learned how the orbit of the sun and moon can affect the sea but I've never actually lived close enough to an Ocean for it to affect me. I have noticed that when I walk to Spiddal, sometimes the tide is much farther out than at other times. It was very cool to find out why and to be able to note it while we walk past. He also brought in several types of seaweed for us to play with and identify. Things like that simply don't exist back home so getting to actually handle and identify seaweed was really fun.
The second teacher that came to visit taught us about the ocean tides and their correlation to the moon, sun and time of day. In science class in the past I have learned how the orbit of the sun and moon can affect the sea but I've never actually lived close enough to an Ocean for it to affect me. I have noticed that when I walk to Spiddal, sometimes the tide is much farther out than at other times. It was very cool to find out why and to be able to note it while we walk past. He also brought in several types of seaweed for us to play with and identify. Things like that simply don't exist back home so getting to actually handle and identify seaweed was really fun.
Homework: At this point I feel it is important to make known that just because you are studying abroad, it doesn't mean that the homework will be easy or that you won't have homework at all. This week we had a stupid amount of homework and it really took a toll. We had a History essay due as well as several readings, we also had several readings for literature as well as blogs and trip reports due. I wish I had remembered to bring my books along with me on our weekend trip to Dublin. The bus rides are actually fairly long from place to place and would have been a good time to get ahead. I would suggest bringing them and reading on the bus so you don't get home from a long weekend away and realize that your homework load is almost unmanageable!
Hostels: Several times throughout my stay in Ireland I have stayed in hostels. A hostel is basically a hotel except that many people, from all over, stay in the same place. Many times when you book a hostel you will be in a room with people you don't know. They generally have breakdowns between all girl rooms, all boy rooms, and mixed rooms. Most hostels have a storage place for your luggage so bringing a lock would be a good idea so you can lock up your valuables when you aren't there. Hostelworld.com has been a great help in finding and booking hostels. If you stay in a hostel instead of a hotel you will save yourself a lot of money as well. Be careful though. In a hotel you can sometimes bring an extra person in and it won't be a big deal, however in a hostel they always have a front door man and unless you can prove you are staying there, you will be kicked out. Make sure that you book for the correct amount of people and don't try to sneak anyone in or you may find yourself out looking for another place to stay! If you know a foreign language this may also be a good time to put your language to use. While staying in a hostel recently, I met some people who lived in Barcelona. Most of them didn't speak any English. I have taken several years of Spanish and although I was a little rusty, we were able to communicate back and forth. If you know even a little bit of a foreign language and plan on staying in a hostel, you should brush up before you come, you never know who you may meet!!
Over Easter weekend, my room mate Alyssa and I stayed in a hostel in Galway named Saavoys. It's less than a year old and it is one of the best hostels i've stayed in. If you find yourself stuck in Spiddal for a weekend I would absolutely recommend getting a lift into Galway and staying there for the weekend instead.
Hostels: Several times throughout my stay in Ireland I have stayed in hostels. A hostel is basically a hotel except that many people, from all over, stay in the same place. Many times when you book a hostel you will be in a room with people you don't know. They generally have breakdowns between all girl rooms, all boy rooms, and mixed rooms. Most hostels have a storage place for your luggage so bringing a lock would be a good idea so you can lock up your valuables when you aren't there. Hostelworld.com has been a great help in finding and booking hostels. If you stay in a hostel instead of a hotel you will save yourself a lot of money as well. Be careful though. In a hotel you can sometimes bring an extra person in and it won't be a big deal, however in a hostel they always have a front door man and unless you can prove you are staying there, you will be kicked out. Make sure that you book for the correct amount of people and don't try to sneak anyone in or you may find yourself out looking for another place to stay! If you know a foreign language this may also be a good time to put your language to use. While staying in a hostel recently, I met some people who lived in Barcelona. Most of them didn't speak any English. I have taken several years of Spanish and although I was a little rusty, we were able to communicate back and forth. If you know even a little bit of a foreign language and plan on staying in a hostel, you should brush up before you come, you never know who you may meet!!
Over Easter weekend, my room mate Alyssa and I stayed in a hostel in Galway named Saavoys. It's less than a year old and it is one of the best hostels i've stayed in. If you find yourself stuck in Spiddal for a weekend I would absolutely recommend getting a lift into Galway and staying there for the weekend instead.
Easter Weekend Galway:
In the last 5 years, Galway has begun hosting a food festival each year. It runs from Thursday until Monday around Easter Weekend. They have several activities each day including different beer and wine tastings, tours of areas around Galway, and selected restaurants put on traditional Irish foods. Naturally as I'm sure you've seen throughout my blogs, my room mate and I generally try to find the best food around and give it a try. Three restaurants I would suggest include Route 66 for their amazing burgers and fries, The Front Door for their traditional Irish stews and potatoes as well as their amazing coffee selections, and the Dail Bar for their atmosphere and pricing. If you are around Galway on Easter weekend you will not be bored or disappointed! Friends! - We ended the weekend by discovering the city with our new friend Paul. We walked the streets and strolled along the waterside. It is nice to have someone familiar with the area show you around! We even found a few pubs that were off the beaten path including Sally Longs which, again, if you like a down to earth atmosphere with great people, I would absolutely recommend. The beer is also some of the cheapest I've found in Galway. In all, as my time in Ireland wraps up, I'm sad to have to start saying goodbye to the many friends I've met here as well as knowing I'm going back to a place where I won't be able to see the ocean every day. I am excited to see my friends and family back home however and hopefully take a hot shower!