Things We Saw Today (a verbal review)

We started the day waiting outside our apartment with all of the other EUSA kids. We took our first Irish bus ride into the city (O'Connell Street) and walked what seemed like forever until we arrived to the EUSA offices. We spent the morning doing orientation stuff (really just talking about what to expect and what is expected of us). Then we (the Berry kids) set off to find Trinity College. We did a brief walk around the campus and we got some help with our student cards from a very Irish man.

Then we went to Grafton Street which was a lot like being at Disney World as Kelly commented. The roads are closed off so there are people everywhere and tons of shops and many flower stands with "beautiful, lush, and fragrant flowers for rock bottom prices," says Duncan. We lost a colleague along the way, but hopefully he'll make his way back soon.

Then we went to the big bus station to purchase our bus and rail passes for the next month (it's a small fortune). Then we chased down a bus to get home. We weren't sure where to get off, but we made it okay. None of the bus stops have street names on them, so it's really just your best guess as to where to get off. There were also a lot of little boys going home from school... spitting on the floor and cursing. Irish people are funny so far. We saw an old man mowing his lawn in a suit too. There are also many dogs frolicking about the sidewalks... most of them quite squatty and alone. They seem happy though.

The best sight of today... was our luggage! It made it today, so that was grand.

The sun does not set until about 11 or so here, so that is interesting. We were told it rises around 3:30 in the morning, but we were dead asleep at that point. The adjustment to Irish time has been pretty easy (partially due to our messed up flight schedule) but we're still pretty tired- though nothing that a good sleep wouldn't set straight.

So far our experience has been much like being in the States, except the traffic is worse and you get a view of the traffic from one flight up. Also, we saw a billboard for a CONVERTIBLE FOCUS. Now that's amazing. And if you think the advertising is risque in the States, wow... you need to come here.

Tomorrow we have plans to try to find where we will be working which will consist of traveling down Dublin's coast. Hopefully there will be many good pictures (and maybe even some with us in them.)

-Duncan and Whitney

P.S. Sorry the pictures are crooked, I was trying to take them as quickly as possible because I don't want to look like a tourist (even though I am.)