Alive Alive ho!

Barristers, Trad Bands, and Molly Malone

This will be a quick blurb, I've been busy and I apologize for the lack of posts but they will come tomorrow night!! (i think) or maybe this week when i hole up in a cafe on the liffey. I have to say that I am now a true dubliner, i know how to get around the city without a map, walking. Pretty sure I've lost weight from all this walking! One would think with all the drinking I would be gaining it, but nope 3 notches down in the belt, i know hold your applause...its probably the Guinness. Today was the Gay Pride Parade and is the 2nd largest to St Paddys Day parade. So it was amazing. Anyways I will leave you with my favorite Irish song: Galway Girl!

A wee bit 'o scottish fun

"The rose of all the world is not for me I want for my part only the little white rose of scotland that smells sharp and sweet and breaks the heart." 

-Hugh Macdiarmid

This was a poem I found etched on a wall in Scotland and I thought it was quite fitting for wee bonnie scotland. Ok where to start....

The Dublin Airport Debacle:

Dani and I had to arrive at the airport in Dublin by 9am to catch our 10am flight to Glasgow. We did everything right caught the bus in and made it to the airport. However, little did we know that flight at 10am means gates close at 9:30 so by the time we realized this we had 10 minutes to get to our gate. So we started to run to the end of the airport (we were literally at gate 1 and had to get to gate 217). We ran and ended up getting turned around and spit out somewhere when we asked a guard he informed us we would have to go BACK through security AGAIN. Exasperated we politely asked to cut in line and returned to be checked through security from that point we ran through the airport once again barefoot with shoes and belts in hand. BUT we made it with minutes to spare!

Let's Go! Glasgow!
As soon as we landed we walked out and were bombarded by screaming 13 year old girls. We jumped out of the way and asked a nearby person what was going on. Turs out we were standing right next to Louis Walsh a very famous person in the UK. After arriving in Glasgow Dani and I were hungry. With no breakfast in us and a good morning workout under our belt we spotted a burger king and splurged (classy i know). After we felt satisfied we then ventured to see our hostel. With neither of us having ever stayed in a hostel we were very skeptical about what we were getting ourselves into. However, we were amazed by this hostel. It might have well been a hotel. We got our room keys and headed up to the 14 bed girls suite and while Dani showered I met a girl from France who explained she loved Glasgow and was currently trying to find a job in that city. Hostels are so much fun, you meet these people from all over the world that are driven by that same inspiration you have in you--to travel the world. After getting ready we had a few hours to kill before we were to meet my old friend Leigh for dinner.

Louis Walsh

View from the hostel

Dani and I had no real plan for Scotland. We scoff at the touristy things and are more the type to enjoy getting lost in the city and explore the real Glasgow. With that in mind we wandered around the streets ducking in and out of bakeries to get out of the rain. We got some gelatto and found a choir group singing to sit and listen to for a bit. After exploring for a few hours we were picked up by my old friend Leigh who use to be my coach for soccer in the states. He met us with his family and his adorable son Anton (whom I will marry when he comes of age). From there we all went out to a nice dinner at an italian restaurant. After Leigh graciously payed for that amazing meal he took Dani and I out to a bar and we all reminisced and had a great time. He invited another friend out with us and we explored the crazy Glasgow nightlife with one of the best tour guides in town.

After 10 years we reunite!

Beautiful Edinburgh
Its only 11 quid to get to Edinburgh from Glasgow so Dani and I hopped a train and found ourself sitting with this lovely girl from Glasgow who ended up being our own personal tour guide of the city of Edinburgh, she took us everywhere. I really have no words to describe the city except maybe magical as Dani and I are HUGE Harry Potter fans and went to THE cafe JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter in. There we had lunch and pretended to be JK Rowling.

Things I learned while in the Highlands
You wont understand a WORD anyone says
They say "wee" in every sentence
They drink coronas...
Be careful as there is still a lot of religious/gang violence for a country with a no guns policy
the flowers they sell on the street are fake
Pants mean underwear, trowsers means pants
aye kin means i know
Haggus is disgusting but the traditional dish
whiskey is amazing there
more to come when i think of them...

P.S I love you

Dear Ireland,

Why are you so amazing?

Sincerely,

Alyssa

I am currently lounging outside at the University of College Dublin Campus and it is truly beautiful today. But then again when isnt it beautiful? Even when it rains it is magical or maybe the right word is mystical.

Shot from where I am writing this!

SO the next 2 blogs I will be crafting separately to explain my amazing weekend getaways. The first
post following will describe all about my trip across ireland to the wet coast. (Dublin is on the East coast). Then after that I will describe my journey to the Highlands of Scotland where i visited Glasgow AND Edinburgh.

Cheers!

Things I've learned so far while living in Dublin

-cheers means thank you. use it often.
-expect rain, cherish the sun.
-bring an umbrella everywhere, don't let the sun fool you.
-bring an extra jacket.
-always have a change of clothes while your out.
-when going to work everyone wears their running shoes (aka runners as they call them here). never wear sandals you will end up how i am currently with 5 blisters per foot.
-Sorry is "excuse me," if you say excuse me everyone knows you are american.
-when planning a night out start off going to a pub for a nice dinner, music, and a drink. when that closes move to the nearest bar (usually across the street) then when that closes go to the clubs.
-some places close to the public (ie close all blinds and doors because it is past time allocated to sell liquor) while you are in there and allow you to stay and continue drinking if you keep the noise low.
-temple bar raises their drink prices every half hour. watch that tab.
-drink tea with milk
-tea time is usually at 9am and again at 11am. lunch is at 1pm.
-everything is a pint never a glass

So far these have become very valuable life lessons.

Sorry I have been away with the faeries...

Away with the faeries is a saying here that means not attentive, off in their own little world. Dublin has caught me off guard and swept me off my feet. I more so came to Dublin because of the program criteria but, now I firmly believe everyone should come to the beautiful country of Ireland in their lifetime.

I have never met such amazing and friendly people.

Ok so in the past few days much has happened. I started working at the four courts. Below is an excerpt for my internship journal of my first day at the courts with my amazing barrister Martin:

As I ventured off in Ireland alone for the first time to met with my barrister I found myself lost. Now how does one get lost finding a building so big and beautiful? Well I figured the old towering building would magically open the double doors at the front. Of course there is a back public entrance. I then found myself in the four courts at the law library. Martin and I met over coffee and swapped stories. I asked him about the court systems in Ireland. He explained the current problem the Supreme Court is having with a backlog of cases. He explained that there is a proposal to change it to much like the US system where the supreme court must order a writ of ceritorari.

As I commented about the surprising amount of young barristers he told me that currently it is really too easy to become a barrister in Ireland as well as a solicitor with a huge abundance of them (which I related to the US). Additionally, he explained the rise of malpractice suits against solicitors in particular and the fall of insurance companies representing them. I asked him how that would impact the barristers and he told me that the individuals seeking suit would then go after the barristers because of the lack of money in the solicitors.

After our enlightening discussion we headed upstairs to a small packed courtroom, I’ve never even seen such a courtroom. With probably about 50 people or more. All the cases seemed to be settling. Additionally, it seemed like less of a show than in the US. The whole proceeding was very quiet. The judge mumbled names of cases and I sat puzzled as I wondered how the barristers even heard the name of their cases. They would basically say one word and the case was over.

Martin took me downstairs to explain his case he just settled. It was about a property boundary line. The parties were arguing over a four foot plot of land they had their garden on. He found it quite humorous and laughed as he showed me the pictures taken and where the arguments lay showing me pictures of trees and fences that the parties thought marked the boundary.

I then waited in the lobby of the law library as he ran to change into his robe and wigs. The amount of people that swarmed and ran around was massive and the running up and down the stairs seemed but a daily routine. The next case he had me watch was a case about a car crash, a repudiation of contract by the insurance companies, an issue of jurisdiction with the crash  happening in  Ireland but the individuals injured being from England as well as the insurance companies. Overall, I was very interested in seeing the many jurisdictional problems the court faced.

After this I went and saw a play at Trinity of Romeo and Juliet. It was outside and freezing (like 40 degrees status) but amazing of course. Below I added a few photo from it:

Micah sword fighting in Trinity college

The group (aka the cali girls with the North Carolina kids)

The view of Trinity from my seat

After it rained there was a rainbow!

Romeo & Juliet

 Yesterday we set out to the Wicklow or as they say here "Wicklah" for a craic (which means great time). We also went to Glendalough and learned all about the irish celtic origins and st patrick. We had a nice lunch at glacial lakes. More importantly we got to see the houses of Bono, Daniel Day Lewis, Enya,  Gerard Butler and the filming sets of PS I love you, the Tudors, Leap Year, and Braveheart. We finished off the day by tossing around a nice bottle of Jameson. (and you wonder why I love Dublin?)

Leap Year Set

PS I Love You Bridge

Guinness Lake

Finally, Last night I hit up the one and only Temple bar to meet all the Europeans having their Bachelor Parties or here they call them "Stag" Parties. Dublin is basically Europe's Vegas. Anyways met some Scottish lads and had a great time!

Me with the groom and best man (brothers Connolly!)

Welcome to the Real World-Dublin

Been here two days and it's like its a completely different world. I call this post the real world post because essentially it is about a bunch of 20 something year old strangers living, working, and partying together. I'm rooming with kids from South Carolina, Texas, Boston, Detroit, Maryland, Idaho, Oklahoma, Jersey (I'm aware I'm switching from states to cities but bear with my unreasonableness)...It's really crazy how different people are just from these states and all the accents ESPECIALLY the people from South Carolina, talk about a southern drawl. There are only 2 other girls in the program from Cali, one from Berkeley the other went to Irvine with me...small world.

Also, it stays light here from 5am till 10pm. Still not use to it,

Synopsis of Day 1: Arrived, went grocery shopping then headed to The Brazen Head (The oldest pub in Dublin est.1198).

Synopsis of Day 2:  Class, Christ Church Cathedral, Saint Patricks Cathedral, Trinity College, dinner at O'Niels with my first ever Guinness in Ireland, then drinking at the Hairy Lemon.

Anyways, to the fun stuff: PICTURES

The View Flying into Dublin

My taxi driver wanted me to take a picture of "my first irishman" (note he was actually driving...)

Where I work-The four Courts

The Brazen Head

My Dorm room

Proper Irish Meal at O'Niels

More to come soon! It's sunny today, but if I have learned anything about Dublin it can be stormy one hour and sunny the next...

Dublin!

I finally made it here. This is going to be a very short post because I am exhausted from traveling but Dublin is AMAZING.

I want to move here. More news to come shortly when I actually get sleep.

Not one of my better ideas...

So this whole no sleep so i can sleep easier on the plane seemed like a good idea initially but now i feel completely dysfunctional. I havent slept in over 24 hours and I am pretty sure these advil pms will probably put me in a coma...i dont even think they are necessary. T minus 30 mins until boarding.

Ill be in London by 7am and Dublin by noon. Sucky layover in Londontown but, better safe than sorry.

See you on the other side.

Packing

The finished product

I severely dislike packing. However, I think I've finished...at 2:37 am. (see the lovely finished product below). Yeah...I'm trying to get on Ireland time as its 10:37 am there so I am going to just sleep on the plane in the morning. 

I'm heading to the airport at 6am...overall I think I have everything. Trying to figure out what is necessary for a whole 2 months is basically like Sophie's Choice for me. 

Anyways off to download some music for the ipod and just kill time until 6am.  

Binx didn't want me to go...

I'm sure I'll be giving you another airport update once I get settled (hopefully early enough) at SF