Craic!

I'm pretty well settled into my new apartment at this point. Is it as nice as the pictures led me to believe? Almost! I figured out how to work most everything here. In Ireland they have switches that you have to flip in order to be able to use the light switches. There are also switches for outlets. There are practically switches for switches! And there is only hot water in the morning, which will definitely be an adjustment for me taking my 2 a.m. showers.

I think the thing that is throwing me the most at this point is how everything functions at school. Things work completely differently here then at home, for instance classes end on November 24, we have a week study break and then exams begin on December 4th, ending December 14th. And if that isn't strange enough for me, we have a two week "grace period" where we find out if we want certain classes and we register for the whole term on September 17th. I feel like I'll hardly be in school at all!

So far I've met mostly American students, the word on the street is that all the other students (non-international students) will be moving in tomorrow. And since we have two empty bedrooms that is most exciting for us! I am hoping they are Irish, but I will be equally satisfied with anyone I think. In any case I'm ready for this big apartment to be filled and for rooms to stop echoing.

Last night was our first group activity with CEA. We went to an event called Trad on the Prom which is boasted to be "Irish Music, Song & Dance at it's Best". I enjoyed it immensely, the performers were some of the most talented people I've ever witnessed. It was "good craic" as my study abroad director would say (pronounced like "crack" but as I've been told numerous times, it has nothing to do with the street drug). I think I have a new found love for the fiddle and I will be visiting itunes shortly.

Today was my last day of orientations, which is an extremely good thing, believe me. Now I just have to figure out this wonky registration process and I'll be all set!

Until next time!