Champlain College: Caitlin Pateytag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//4762009-05-02T22:13:43ZMovable Type 3.34Leinster vs Munstertag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//476.102162009-05-02T22:01:37Z2009-05-02T22:13:43ZMy friend from Norway, who is currently here on holiday visiting, and I headed out shopping this morning. Today was a big day in the rugby world with the Heineken Cup semi finals game starting around 5:30. The game was...Caitlin Pateytargetx
My friend from Norway, who is currently here on holiday visiting, and I headed out shopping this morning. Today was a big day in the rugby world with the Heineken Cup semi finals game starting around 5:30. The game was at Croke Park, here in Dublin, so hundreds of people roamed the streets as Courtney and I tried to make our way to Pennys for some shopping. A sea of red crowded around us, on their way to the pub to get a good seat for the game.
Leinster is the Province that Dublin is in and is represent by blue while Munster is another Province represented by the dreadful red that was surrounding us as we pushed through the crowds. Unfortunately Munster was called to win the game with a good record proceeding them and although all of the girls studying here in Dublin knew this, we all represented our Province faithfully by buying blue Leinster shirts and heading to the pub to watch the game on the big screens.
The game started off well with Leinster up by 3 to start matched by Munster soon after. Leinster then gained the lead again making there way up to 11 by the half to Munster's 6. The outlook was good and everyone in the pub were in good spirits, clapping happily with the score.
After the half Leinster kept up the fight holding Munster off from scoring with an incredible interception that took the ball all the way down the field. By the end of the game, the score was 25-6 Leinster and Munster was held off for the last 20 minutes or so of the game.
After some celebratory clapping and cheering ringing out from the pub, our group headed out to the store to pick up pizza's for tomorrow and were met by other fans cheering at our Leinster shirts, all in good spirits for the underdogs who had come up and held their own to win the game!
Oh how time flies...tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//476.102152009-05-02T22:00:23Z2009-05-02T22:01:25ZSo I know I need to catch up my blogs so the next few blogs will be catch ups from the past month as all the sudden the month is gone and it's almost time to go home!!!... but I'll...Caitlin Pateytargetx
So I know I need to catch up my blogs so the next few blogs will be catch ups from the past month as all the sudden the month is gone and it's almost time to go home!!!... but I'll start with today: se Leinster versus Munster
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//476.95742009-03-18T15:38:31Z2009-03-18T17:06:54ZAfter my morning excursion at the Today Show, as described in my last blog, I headed out to the now crowded streets of Dublin and made my way down the street like fish in a sardine can, shoulder to shoulder...Caitlin Pateytargetx
I finally found a spot where I could see the parade just through a fence with a green lining tinting my view. I got to see some of the costumes and heard the various bands play but then I decided to head back home for some lunch. I waded through the large crowds of mostly Americans decorated with scarves, hats, and excessive amounts of green clothing and picked up a subway sandwich on my way to St Stephen's Green. I sat on a bench and ate watching groups of teenagers laying on the grass in the sun. I headed home and met up with some of the other girls here who wanted to get some lunch.
Later we headed to the carnival exploring the few rides located right near Marion Square and chose to ride the ferris wheel. We joked around about which color basket we wanted to ride in but we lucked out with the green and rode up high to a beautiful view of the city and found our apartments in the mix of buildings from above.
After the ride we waited in line to get a "softee" or rather a creamy in Vermont terms which was served with a chocolate stick and tasted a lot like whipped cream.
After some dinner we went out to the local bar for a patty's day pint. There were no green, hats or decorations around the place, which was somewhat refreshing. We ended the day the real Irish way, a day off with a pint in our hands.]]>
Today Show... in Ireland??? Oh you know I was there.tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//476.95602009-03-17T15:39:35Z2009-03-17T16:02:45ZI got an email from my mom a few days ago telling me that the Today Show was heading to Dublin for St Patrick's Day! I was, of course, excited and asked her to watch and tell me where they...Caitlin Pateytargetx
For the next two hours the small crowd, of mostly Americans and some other tourists who I had to explain to what the Today Show was, moved back and forth from one set to the other just waiting to get a front row chance. In between the shots Meredith was very friendly taking pictures and talking to people. Al also took some pictures but he just wasn't as friendly as Meredith.
Above is a picture of Meredith trying on some St Patty's day gear with a few of the rugby team members in the crowd.
Eventually I made my way to the front during the section with the Irish step dancers and I crossed my fingers that my mom could see me, moving this way and that making sure I wasn't behind Meredith or Al. I called over Al before they started filming then pushed my camera into the poor flustered kid's hands behind me and asked him to take a picture. I have a feeling he had no idea who Al was and a bit shell shocked at my enthusiasm for anyone to take my picture. So here you go mom... I got to see Al this time!
More on Saint Patrick's day tomorrow after the whole day is through!]]>
I've got the travel bug, but it's being treatedtag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//476.94352009-03-08T12:45:13Z2009-03-17T20:21:28ZSo I have not been blogging the past few weeks and I am very sorry for that... but it was for good reason. I have been flying in and out of Dublin on the weekends to various locations and even...Caitlin Pateytargetx
We rushed to our Bed and Breakfast (which we got at the price of a hostel), and met up with the owner who let us in. We were a little shocked when she started speaking Spanish to us. Cassie and I turned to Lindsay, who took Spanish in high school, but we were all confused as to what she was telling us. We continued to nod our heads and smile and eventually settled in our room with private bathroom, half kitchen, and dining area. We spent the next two days wandering around Bruges and exploring the most beautiful town I have ever seen.
On Valentines day we headed back into Brussels for a day's worth of sites and a romantic dinner for three. After seeing the peeing boy and the peeing girl, grand place and much more we settled in at our hostel for a game of gin rummy. That night we slept in a long room lined with bunk beds holding 14 people, 11 of them complete strangers including a boy from Brazil who was studying in London and had perfected his English by watching episodes of Friends. The next morning we caught a very early flight back to Dublin after we somehow made it through to mob of people checking out and caught a train to the airport.
Usually, after a trip like that, you'd want to rest and recover so that is what we did. The next weekend was spent enjoying Dublin and taking time to walk down Grafton and go out to O'Brien's for a pint with the locals, but then it was time to gear up again. After celebrating my 21st birthday on Friday I headed to the airport early Saturday morning to pick up my boyfriend, Sean. I was a bit starry eyed but I managed to retrieve him and get him back to the apartments with enough time to pack up and head out to Northern Ireland for the weekend. Almost all of the Champlain Dublin abroader's climbed onto a tour bus for a weekend of countryside, and history.
Our first stop was Belfast where we took a political tour of the city and had a chance to see the murals and the wall that still divides the city including the gates that continue to close every night. Later that day we headed off to our first castle stop and took a tour followed by a drive through the countryside on the way to our hostel where we crashed for the night.
To Be Continued... (I need to clean up after a weekend in Paris) and pictures to come later because I can only upload them at the academic center....]]>
Typical Dublin Daytag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//476.92052009-02-19T17:32:26Z2009-02-19T17:44:17ZYesterday, after my science class, I headed out to Gerards, a local sandwich place. I bought myself a delicious sandwich with coleslaw and some other veggies on it, as coleslaw is always an option at a sandwich bar here! I...Caitlin Pateytargetx
Yesterday, after my science class, I headed out to Gerards, a local sandwich place. I bought myself a delicious sandwich with coleslaw and some other veggies on it, as coleslaw is always an option at a sandwich bar here! I walked the short distance over to St Stephen's Green and found myself an empty park bench. I sat down enjoying watching children sticking their hands in the fountains, reaching their hands up making it just far enough to get their fingers wet. I watched pigeons flapping around and flirting with one another. One would puff out its colorful neck while the other one cooed and walking slowly away. Underneath a Chinese architectural shelter I saw a group warming up to do Tai Chi, stretching out and practicing the motions.
Around 12:30, the business men and women as well as the school children walked through the center of the park in packs, headed home or out for lunch. This happens everyday around the same time and the streets are full with lunch goers and Grafton Street is full and hard to find a path down without following the crowds. You can forget about walking fast, because people are at a medium pace, fast enough to get somewhere, slow enough to enjoy the walk.
After lunch I went to the Chester Beatty Library for class to view the exhibits there. We all enjoyed hot chocolate and coffee afterward and discussed our travel plans. After a quick stop at Dunnes for some last minute grocery shopping, we headed home. Usually we cut through St Stephen's green to get back home, but as soon as the sun starts going down the gates close to the park and it is easier to take the back roads, which have become fairly familiar by now.
Dublin has become very familiar and the consistencies are comforting. After each weekend that I'm away, I can't wait to get back home to Dublin.
How I used to love the airport...tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//476.89842009-02-06T17:53:58Z2009-02-06T21:32:19ZThe first time I flew by myself, I was flying down to Ft Lauderdale to meet a friend. The excitement and freedom of checking in on the automated kiosks and the thrill of de-metal-ing yourself before going through customs.. while...Caitlin Pateytargetx
The first time I flew by myself, I was flying down to Ft Lauderdale to meet a friend. The excitement and freedom of checking in on the automated kiosks and the thrill of de-metal-ing yourself before going through customs.. while waiting in line and walking at the same time, (a talent that has since been perfected), was all I needed for a little adventure in my life. I would make sure to always choose a window seat so that i could look out over the earth and see big patches of field and baseball diamond dirt. I would see mountains, lakes, rivers, and oceans. It was all so intriguing.
I was ready for that excitement again as I prepared to fly to Dublin, flying into Newark for a layover first. I arrived at the airport and they quickly swept me onto an earlier flight because of bad conditions. I walked through security with not one person ahead or behind me and I made it to the gate in time to adjust my bag and board the plane. This is was about the time that I started to dislike airports. Still a bit excited, I found my window seat and sat down next to two very nice ladies, but the rest of the plane was practically empty. Once situated in our squished row I looked out the window for a quick glance. There it was, the ever dreaded wing. I was disappointed. I sat on that plane for about 45 minutes to an hour before we started taxiing the runway for takeoff and a little over an hour or so later, after peeking through the window in front of me where the wing wasn't abstracting my vision, I was in Newark.
I enjoyed a $4.00 bottle of water and a delicious sandwich while waiting for my flight to leave, at this point already delayed about 20 minutes. Everyone scrambled to the line with their carry-ons askew from trying to entertain themselves, once the announcements for boarding started. After taxiing the runway for close to two hours, we departed. I arrived safely in Dublin with a greeting from a chauffeur and Stephen, the head of the program here.
I still seemed to be OK with airports at this point as two other girls and I booked our flights to various European destinations. After the first trip last weekend, I was even ready to take on the airport again this weekend until... dun dun dun
We took the 14 euro (return) bus to the airport, made our way through security, got a slightly expensive sandwich and water, and sat and waited with a slight pity for all of those other flyers whose flights seemed to be switching to canceled on the big screens. We waited.
and we waited.
And then we checked the screen, just to make sure. And sure enough, there it was in small innocent white letters, the word that would cause us the rest of the day, our feet, our minds, and our money. CANCELED. We could not believe that a flight to Barcelona would be canceled. With the small portion of little money that I have left sitting in my pocket, I slowly came to realize just how much we had lost. We were directed to a long, which seemed short at first, but ended up being about 4 hours line. During this time we went through the fazes:
Faze 1: hahaha ohhh that stinks maybe there is another flight or we'll just go home whateverr
Faze 2: hmmm I don't think we're going to get another flight out, we'll just get our money back.
Faze 3: wow this line is long let's play a game
Faze 4: It has been 2 hours, we're so not getting there let's call the hostel and cancel, costing us the first night (18euro each)
Faze 5: Wow we paid 14 euro each for the bus and 18 euro each for the hostel ughh that's 32 euro... this really really stinks and ensue frustration.
Faze 6: lady behind us on the phone with ryanair figures out that she will not be refunded for return flight as THAT flight hasn't been canceled.... begin anger and add on another 25 euro to the tab of lost money
Faze 7: Finally make it to the counter after 4 hours to recieve a piece of paper with a fax number on it, find out that we could fly out sunday and fly back sunday, and that Madrid is booked... even though we did not ask about it, the lady felt the need to tell us 4 times.
Faze 8: mope all the way home
After we made it back home and dropped our stuff, we ranted, got our emotions out... as I am doing now a bit...
and then we went to Porter House and got the best fish and chips I have ever tasted, which made everything ok in the end... well for the most part.
Next weekend, our romantic valentines weekend away in Bruges and Brussels, will be a test of my love for the airport. I might have anger and hatred toward Ryanair but we'll be flying Aer lingus from now on, so I can't hate the airport too much! :)
Nice, France... A test of my Frenchtag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//476.89292009-02-03T21:58:41Z2009-02-03T23:12:13ZThis past weekend I had the chance to journey to Nice, France with two lovely ladies, Cassie and Lindsay. We left our apartments at 8am headed for the Aircoach stop on Lower Leeson Street, a block or so up from...Caitlin Pateytargetx
As we started our descent we were greeted with incredible views of an oceanside city. I was a bit nervous, as it looked like we were landing on the ocean, but a strip of runway appeared our of nowhere. We got off the plane to find ourselves surrounded by palm trees and sun. Once we found our way out of the airport, warmish air surrounded us and we found the bus that we were supposed to take.
The bus took us to the train station which was very close to our hostel. This hostel was basically a hotel where we had a private room with a bathroom and big french doors leading to a balcony. We spent the first day exploring our new surroundings and finding that the French don't really eat out for lunch. We walked out onto the main strip which was filled with pedestrians, big stores, cafe's, and a metro running up and down the middle. After we found some food we headed down to the water for a feel of the Mediterranean and some time to watch the waves. We watched the sunset over the city and the lights turn on down the strip. It was breathtaking.
That night we went to a restaurant on the market street down by the water. We dined on pizza, water (which came in a vase like bottle), and a bottle of wine recommended by our rather attractive English speaking waiter. For desert we enjoyed crepes filled with either chocolate or Nutella, which were so delicious, and laughed about the magnetism of our utensils to the table. That night we went back to the hostel and watched CNN, the only English channel on the TV.
Our second day in France started bright and early. We geared up and headed toward the water again and stopped for some delicious breakfast to go. I tested my french out, as I did a few times, and was excited to be understood. I had a Pain au Chocolate, which was basically a croissant with chocolate pieces in it. Once down by the water we headed up the stairs that led to the top of a large hill/mountain/park. We spent the morning climbing up to see beautiful panoramic views and some old ruins.
After the hike we hit up the public market which was located on a street completely dedicated to this daily market, filled with flowers, foods, and other goods. We bought ourself a baguette, a slice of brie, and a focaccia type of bread with peppers on top. We brought our 5 euro feast down to the water and watched the waves, enjoying our finds.
That afternoon we headed back and found ourselves on a pedestrian street, famous for its shops. We found a jewelry store where you had to take a number to get assistance, but everything was fairly cheap and I ended up getting a pair of earrings and fake pearls for 3 euro total. After a long day of walking we went back to the hostel and rested for an hour or so before going back out to a Lebanese restaurant for dinner. After another delicious meal we went to a gelato stand that we had found earlier that day and walked home trying to forget the cold while devouring the gelato.
The next morning we woke up and packed up our stuff. We checked out of the hostel and headed in search for more Pain au Chocolate. The place that we went to the day before was closed, but we ended up finding some at the market, where we went to get another baguette, more brie, and another focaccia for lunch that day. We visited the beach one last time and ate our breakfast before journeying to find the Russian Cathedral. We hiked past the train station, backpacks weighing us down, and finally made it to the beautiful Cathedral where we quickly took a few pictures, ran inside, observed, and quickly walked back to the train station to catch our bus to the airport.
We made it safely home and spent the evening relaxing. Nice was beautiful and it was a very relaxing weekend. It made me really excited for our next trip to Barcelona this coming weekend where I will get to see me best best best friend from home who is studying in Spain. It also gave me a chance to speak a little French, which made me want to finish learning it and allowed me to view a new culture, which is always very intriguing and very exciting.
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The Comforts of Hometag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//476.88072009-01-27T14:25:55Z2009-01-27T14:38:42ZOne major thing about leaving the comforts of home is the food. You don't realize until your gone how attached to your food and food sources you are. I didn't think I'd ever find myself missing Shaws, but here I...Caitlin Pateytargetx
One major thing about leaving the comforts of home is the food. You don't realize until your gone how attached to your food and food sources you are. I didn't think I'd ever find myself missing Shaws, but here I am lost in food departments located in the basement of clothing stores wondering where the heck the tofu is, mind you I'm almost positive that tofu does not exist in Ireland. I find myself craving dark chocolate, mostly because that's the only thing that is exactly the same and... well it's chocolate, enough said.
When I get back I am VERY excited for my mother's kitchen where there is a snack cabinet and plenty of ingredients. This comes with the territory of living in apartment anywhere, though, because you never want to splurge the extra 5 dollars for brown sugar or spices. I am also ready for some Panera, Wings over Burlington, Boloco, City Market sandwiches, and GOOD vegetarian food. I don't think they believe in vegetarians here.. they must just not exist.
After being abroad in Montreal, though, I know that when I get back I will be craving foods from here. There is an AMAZING vegetarian Thai food place right near the Academic Center in Montreal that I just couldn't get enough of. I'm sure I'll be craving the best cod fish and chips when I get back, but wont be able to satisfy that craving fully because it's just SO good here. Also, the best bean burger of my life is from Burger King, although I haven't had fast food in years, I find myself wandering in there once in a while. It is just that good and probably the only vegetarian sandwich in town.
Other comforts are the ability to do laundry without wondering if your clothes will dry fully, being able to use a cell phone to call home and friends at home, and my own bed. No matter where you go, you will always miss something, but eventually you get used to it all and you find yourself calling another place home.
The Weathertag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//476.86592009-01-19T17:19:40Z2009-01-19T19:01:15ZThe weather in Dublin is the most unpredictable thing I have ever encountered. This morning, as I was walking to class, I found myself fairly warm in a thick sweater and boots with no gloves of hat or anything. I...Caitlin Pateytargetx
The rain, however, has only caught me a few times as it is usually the temperature that catches me off guard. Two days ago a group of us went to Malahide to see Malahide Castle. We got two for one tickets for the castle tour and took the train for about 5 euro round trip, which made for the perfect day trip. The weather was beautiful all morning as we toured the castle with a somewhat odd voice system to guide us along and give us the history and information about it. It almost felt like someone was watching us as the doors would open by themselves to allow us into the next rooms.
Once the tour was over we visited the gift shop and then headed back through the park with beautiful trees lined with vines and perfect green fields; I later found out that the mysterious brilliance of the green was most likely due to the random bits of rain that we were to encounter that afternoon. We made it into town by direction of a couple, who were very friendly locals, and to the restaurant we planned to eat lunch at, which had the BEST fish and chips so far, is actually owned by U2 and is recommended by the locals.
When we left the restaurant, it started to rain. It wasn't pouring out, but the wind whipped the rain into your face and made it very difficult to walk back to the train station. When we got back the rain and wind was worse and we made our way home in hopes that our heat was on high and our sweatpants would be in the clean pile.
I'm learning to deal with the weather, though, and it's typically between 40 and 50 Fahrenheit. For all of those in New England right now and to my friends and family deep in the snow, stay warm or head to the slopes, but to Grandma and Grandpa, Nana and Papa, the Kuells, and anyone else down in the warmth of the south... I am still jealous of your weather!
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Exploringtag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//476.86052009-01-16T00:32:16Z2009-01-19T17:19:28ZI've made it through my first week of classes and I'm glad to say that I'm still excited about classes this semester. In most, if not all, of my classes we'll be doing field trips throughout Dublin and surrounding areas,...Caitlin Pateytargetx
I've made it through my first week of classes and I'm glad to say that I'm still excited about classes this semester. In most, if not all, of my classes we'll be doing field trips throughout Dublin and surrounding areas, which not only allow me to learn about where I'm living, but also allow me to explore with personal tour guides!
Last night was karaoke at a local spot on Grafton Street and a group of us headed over there and ended up presenting a great rendition of 'I Will Survive' to a clapping audience. Everyone loved the "American's" and were very friendly to us. This has been a common theme thus far as everyone has been very friendly, kind, and welcoming to us.
As for the rest of Europe, we'll find out how friendly everyone is soon! Two other girls and I have booked our flights and hostels for two weekends. The first weekend we are headed to Nice, France for a weekend get away to see some of France that is not the typical tourist central of Paris, although we may be visiting there later. The second weekend we are headed to Barcelona, Spain to explore the area and see a bit of Spain.
We're also planning on exploring Ireland while we are here. This saturday I think we are going castle hunting via bus and we all are planning to head to cork at some point to see the Blarney stone. Next thursday, the Champlain staff has planned a trip to a dog racing place, which is a major part of the culture here. The dogs here are much healthier and they have more strict regulations as to the health of the racing dogs.
I'm so excited to be able to spend the next 4 months exploring and traveling Europe and the UK and can't wait to bring that all back with me.
First day of classestag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//476.85802009-01-13T14:38:44Z2009-01-13T14:50:13ZWe started our classes on Monday and I attended my first science and my first history class. I am taking an environmental lab science where we will be exploring Dublin and its outskirts for field work. Our first class went...Caitlin Pateytargetx
We started our classes on Monday and I attended my first science and my first history class. I am taking an environmental lab science where we will be exploring Dublin and its outskirts for field work. Our first class went very well with a lecture on the history of the earth and an explanation of expectations and trips that we will be taking.
I am really excited for the field trips that will allow us to get hands on and learn more about our surroundings here in Ireland. This is something that we rarely do in Burlington because most classes are classroom based. This is one of the major differences of traveling to foreign places and studying in foreign places. When I leave I will have learned a large amount of new information as opposed to re-learning the history of America and world civilizations that we have been taught about for years or the practices. My history class will also be doing trips and our first one will be on Monday to walk around St Stephen's green as well as Baggot Street to get a closer look at each place and the ways they fit into Dublin's social history.
Last night a few of us went out to find notebooks and go grocery shopping. I filled my bag with canned goods, frozen vegetables, and more sustainable food and ended up not spending too much. The more I walk around the city, the more I feel comfortable here in getting around, although I never walk alone at night. This isn't something I just do in Dublin, though, this is something I do in Burlington, I did in Montreal, and am now doing in Dublin. You never know what could happen and it's always better to be safe even in seemingly safe places.
Dublin Orientation Weekendtag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//476.85482009-01-10T19:51:19Z2009-01-13T14:38:35ZThis past weekend we had orientation for the Dublin program and it was a success! We had a weekend full of exploring, good food, and good fun. After recovering from jet lag a group of us wandered the city to...Caitlin Pateytargetx
After a good nights sleep we took another walk around the streets to see what we happend upon. We walked around until some of us were lost but made our way back in time to meet in the lobby for a walk to the academic center. The academic center is about a five to ten minute walk from the apartments. We were greeted by Lilly and Stephen and followed by Tom who introduced themselves and gave us the basics of the campus and Dublin.
That night we headed down to Porter House in the Temple Bar district where we all enjoyed delicious food including the fish and chips that I chose for my meal. Our group of 30 or so took over the top floor of the restaurant and the room was filled with excitement and conversation. Dinner was a good time to talk to people that we knew of, but hadn't really ever gotten to know and bond as a group. After dinner we went to a place that had live traditional Irish music. The music was awesome and it gave us a chance to all hang out and get a bit of culture under our belts.
After a good nights sleep, we met at the academic center for breakfast and some useful information. A Garda, or police officer, came to talk to us about safety in Dublin and gave us some advice about how to act at ATMs, how skimming works, pick pockets, general safety in numbers, and so on. After the Garda, we dicussed classes, professors, and policies.
Later that day we went on a historic tour of Dublin. This was a good chance to get a background for personal use or even for the history courses. The tour guide brought us to the old parliament, which is now the Bank of Ireland, where we got to see the House of Lords a well as the old cannons that were used to ward off mobs. The tour continued through Trinity College and then to the Temple Bar district. Underneath our very feet were the ruins of the medieval era and all around us was evidence of old buildings. We ended at what I believe was City Hall which was beautiful.
We broke up from there and explored a bit of the north end of the city and then met back up at the spire which is a large pointed pole type of statue that extends high into the sky. Stephen, Lilly and Tom then led us on a tour of the north end to give us a good idea of the resources there. We ended at a great little Chinese place called Asian noodles. The food was delicious and after we ate we all broke up to find our way back home. Slowly but surely they brought us farther away from our apartments and left us to find our way home. This was one of the most helpful things because it helped us all get a general idea of the city and how to get around.
The last day of orientation we spent the morning talking about the best ways to travel along with some good hints on where to go. After this info session we headed to Howth, a small fishing town north of Dublin. We spent the day walking up to the cliffs, looking at incredible views, and taking many many pictures. Most of us allowed ourselves to get lost on the back roads of this small town and find our way back as to see the most that we could. We spent the majority of the day there and were left to find our way back via train when we pleased. I finished up my day there with two friends and some fish and chips.
This orientation weekend was incredible and I feel very 'orientated' now. We've been given Sunday to chill out, explore, and prepare for our classes. Classes start tomorrow and I'm very excited to get started.]]>
Welcome to Dublintag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//476.85312009-01-07T13:30:02Z2009-01-08T10:45:34ZYesterday I packed up the rest of my things and headed to the airport. After saying my goodbyes I headed through security and with a last wave to my Mom and boyfriend I headed off on my journey. They quickly...Caitlin Pateytargetx
Yesterday I packed up the rest of my things and headed to the airport. After saying my goodbyes I headed through security and with a last wave to my Mom and boyfriend I headed off on my journey. They quickly boarded the plane, which had been an earlier plane than the one I had intended to take, and we set off to Newark with less than a half an hour delay. My journey had certainly begun, but not as I expected it to.
When we finally boarded after my three hour layover, we taxied the runway for another hour. Eventually, I was off to Dublin between two travelers, one I believed to be Irish and the other English.
My first sign that I wasn't in the US anymore was as they served dinner on the flight and I ripped apart my bread with my hands, after all what good is a knife when you have fingers, and then watched the English girl next to me sit up straight and cut her roll with a butter knife. Then I watched the burly Irish man cut his the same way. I was a little embarrassed with crumbs sprinkled on me but I quickly swept them off.
After a long, long, 6 hour unsleeping flight I found myself in Dublin. I didn't get much sleep on the plane because of the child crying in the next seat, but I got a good 20 minutes in. I was met at the airport by Stephen, the head of Champlain College Dublin, and a driver.
After gathering everyone together, grabbing some euros from the ATM, the five of us who had been on that flight loaded up into two cars. After my bags were in the trunk I watched Stephen walk to what I believed to be the driver's side door and wondered why he would be driving when we had a driver. Shortly after getting into the car I remembered the driving switch in Ireland and the UK which was also a little odd driving down the road.
After a drive through Dublin we pulled up to my new home. I was met by the head resident who helped me get to my room and make sure I was all set and knew how to use the heat.
I unpacked my bags and have found myself fighting sleep for the past few hours. The jet lag is getting to me but eventually we've got to seek out toilet paper and some food so hopefully I will make it until at least 7 before falling asleep.
Happy Holidaystag:blogs.targetx.com,2008:/champlain/CaitlinPatey//476.84072008-12-16T22:34:59Z2008-12-16T22:46:59ZI am almost done with my exams!! I have 3 exams today and I have already completed two of them and so I am finished with Marketing, Drawing, and Publication Design. Tonight I have my final for World Civilizations I...Caitlin Pateytargetx
I am almost done with my exams!! I have 3 exams today and I have already completed two of them and so I am finished with Marketing, Drawing, and Publication Design. Tonight I have my final for World Civilizations I and then Typography is tomorrow. This past week has been filled with tons of work, studying, and trying to fit in seeing friends before I leave.
On Sunday I went to a holiday potluck where I got to spend time with an amazing group of people who are mostly involved in service and action on campus through the Center for Service and Civic Engagement. We celebrated the holidays by seeing old friends, eating delicious food, telling stories, and catching up. Kyle Dodson, the head of the Center, was kind enough to invite us all to his house to celebrate around his Christmas tree.
We also did a yankee swap, which I had surprisingly never done before. It was very entertaining watching the prizes get taken multiple times from other people. I ended up with a grab bag of goodies from my friend Katie who themed the bag on her semester in Belize last year. Inside was a gossip magazine, which she claims to have read multiple times while in Belize, a bottle of water, since they couldn't drink tap water, a small souvenir that said Central America on it, sunscreen, a deck of cards, crayons, and a banana.
It was really nice to see a lot of my friends in one place before I left but I'll be spending the end of this week trying to see other friends while finishing up school and packing up my apartment. I am excited to go home and see my friends there, but I'm sad to have to leave other friends here in Burlington while I journey through Europe during my semester in Dublin. Most importantly, I am just excited to put this semester behind me and have nothing left on my To Do list, besides Christmas shopping!
I finally found a spot where I could see the parade just through a fence with a green lining tinting my view. I got to see some of the costumes and heard the various bands play but then I decided to head back home for some lunch. I waded through the large crowds of mostly Americans decorated with scarves, hats, and excessive amounts of green clothing and picked up a subway sandwich on my way to St Stephen's Green. I sat on a bench and ate watching groups of teenagers laying on the grass in the sun. I headed home and met up with some of the other girls here who wanted to get some lunch.
Later we headed to the carnival exploring the few rides located right near Marion Square and chose to ride the ferris wheel. We joked around about which color basket we wanted to ride in but we lucked out with the green and rode up high to a beautiful view of the city and found our apartments in the mix of buildings from above.
After the ride we waited in line to get a "softee" or rather a creamy in Vermont terms which was served with a chocolate stick and tasted a lot like whipped cream.
After some dinner we went out to the local bar for a patty's day pint. There were no green, hats or decorations around the place, which was somewhat refreshing. We ended the day the real Irish way, a day off with a pint in our hands.]]>
Above is a picture of Meredith trying on some St Patty's day gear with a few of the rugby team members in the crowd.
Eventually I made my way to the front during the section with the Irish step dancers and I crossed my fingers that my mom could see me, moving this way and that making sure I wasn't behind Meredith or Al. I called over Al before they started filming then pushed my camera into the poor flustered kid's hands behind me and asked him to take a picture. I have a feeling he had no idea who Al was and a bit shell shocked at my enthusiasm for anyone to take my picture. So here you go mom... I got to see Al this time!
More on Saint Patrick's day tomorrow after the whole day is through!]]>
On Valentines day we headed back into Brussels for a day's worth of sites and a romantic dinner for three. After seeing the peeing boy and the peeing girl, grand place and much more we settled in at our hostel for a game of gin rummy. That night we slept in a long room lined with bunk beds holding 14 people, 11 of them complete strangers including a boy from Brazil who was studying in London and had perfected his English by watching episodes of Friends. The next morning we caught a very early flight back to Dublin after we somehow made it through to mob of people checking out and caught a train to the airport.
Usually, after a trip like that, you'd want to rest and recover so that is what we did. The next weekend was spent enjoying Dublin and taking time to walk down Grafton and go out to O'Brien's for a pint with the locals, but then it was time to gear up again. After celebrating my 21st birthday on Friday I headed to the airport early Saturday morning to pick up my boyfriend, Sean. I was a bit starry eyed but I managed to retrieve him and get him back to the apartments with enough time to pack up and head out to Northern Ireland for the weekend. Almost all of the Champlain Dublin abroader's climbed onto a tour bus for a weekend of countryside, and history.
Our first stop was Belfast where we took a political tour of the city and had a chance to see the murals and the wall that still divides the city including the gates that continue to close every night. Later that day we headed off to our first castle stop and took a tour followed by a drive through the countryside on the way to our hostel where we crashed for the night.
To Be Continued... (I need to clean up after a weekend in Paris) and pictures to come later because I can only upload them at the academic center....]]>
That night we went to a restaurant on the market street down by the water. We dined on pizza, water (which came in a vase like bottle), and a bottle of wine recommended by our rather attractive English speaking waiter. For desert we enjoyed crepes filled with either chocolate or Nutella, which were so delicious, and laughed about the magnetism of our utensils to the table. That night we went back to the hostel and watched CNN, the only English channel on the TV.
Our second day in France started bright and early. We geared up and headed toward the water again and stopped for some delicious breakfast to go. I tested my french out, as I did a few times, and was excited to be understood. I had a Pain au Chocolate, which was basically a croissant with chocolate pieces in it. Once down by the water we headed up the stairs that led to the top of a large hill/mountain/park. We spent the morning climbing up to see beautiful panoramic views and some old ruins.
After the hike we hit up the public market which was located on a street completely dedicated to this daily market, filled with flowers, foods, and other goods. We bought ourself a baguette, a slice of brie, and a focaccia type of bread with peppers on top. We brought our 5 euro feast down to the water and watched the waves, enjoying our finds.
That afternoon we headed back and found ourselves on a pedestrian street, famous for its shops. We found a jewelry store where you had to take a number to get assistance, but everything was fairly cheap and I ended up getting a pair of earrings and fake pearls for 3 euro total. After a long day of walking we went back to the hostel and rested for an hour or so before going back out to a Lebanese restaurant for dinner. After another delicious meal we went to a gelato stand that we had found earlier that day and walked home trying to forget the cold while devouring the gelato.
The next morning we woke up and packed up our stuff. We checked out of the hostel and headed in search for more Pain au Chocolate. The place that we went to the day before was closed, but we ended up finding some at the market, where we went to get another baguette, more brie, and another focaccia for lunch that day. We visited the beach one last time and ate our breakfast before journeying to find the Russian Cathedral. We hiked past the train station, backpacks weighing us down, and finally made it to the beautiful Cathedral where we quickly took a few pictures, ran inside, observed, and quickly walked back to the train station to catch our bus to the airport.
We made it safely home and spent the evening relaxing. Nice was beautiful and it was a very relaxing weekend. It made me really excited for our next trip to Barcelona this coming weekend where I will get to see me best best best friend from home who is studying in Spain. It also gave me a chance to speak a little French, which made me want to finish learning it and allowed me to view a new culture, which is always very intriguing and very exciting.
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Once the tour was over we visited the gift shop and then headed back through the park with beautiful trees lined with vines and perfect green fields; I later found out that the mysterious brilliance of the green was most likely due to the random bits of rain that we were to encounter that afternoon. We made it into town by direction of a couple, who were very friendly locals, and to the restaurant we planned to eat lunch at, which had the BEST fish and chips so far, is actually owned by U2 and is recommended by the locals.
When we left the restaurant, it started to rain. It wasn't pouring out, but the wind whipped the rain into your face and made it very difficult to walk back to the train station. When we got back the rain and wind was worse and we made our way home in hopes that our heat was on high and our sweatpants would be in the clean pile.
I'm learning to deal with the weather, though, and it's typically between 40 and 50 Fahrenheit. For all of those in New England right now and to my friends and family deep in the snow, stay warm or head to the slopes, but to Grandma and Grandpa, Nana and Papa, the Kuells, and anyone else down in the warmth of the south... I am still jealous of your weather!
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We broke up from there and explored a bit of the north end of the city and then met back up at the spire which is a large pointed pole type of statue that extends high into the sky. Stephen, Lilly and Tom then led us on a tour of the north end to give us a good idea of the resources there. We ended at a great little Chinese place called Asian noodles. The food was delicious and after we ate we all broke up to find our way back home. Slowly but surely they brought us farther away from our apartments and left us to find our way home. This was one of the most helpful things because it helped us all get a general idea of the city and how to get around.
The last day of orientation we spent the morning talking about the best ways to travel along with some good hints on where to go. After this info session we headed to Howth, a small fishing town north of Dublin. We spent the day walking up to the cliffs, looking at incredible views, and taking many many pictures. Most of us allowed ourselves to get lost on the back roads of this small town and find our way back as to see the most that we could. We spent the majority of the day there and were left to find our way back via train when we pleased. I finished up my day there with two friends and some fish and chips.
This orientation weekend was incredible and I feel very 'orientated' now. We've been given Sunday to chill out, explore, and prepare for our classes. Classes start tomorrow and I'm very excited to get started.]]>