only the beginning . . .

hello! I have arrived safely in Dublin after many trials/tribulations/tummyaches. the flights were pretty uneventful, the first one was jam-packed but only lasted one hour. I made a friend, David, on this flight (a.k.a. the person sitting beside me wouldn't shut up) but he had some very helpful tips for traveling. I also learned that those who say 'chew gum or die on flights' are completely correct. they should also say 'bring gallons and gallons of water because you will be thirstier than a grape vine in the sahara.' when I arrived in Newark, New Jersey, to catch the connecting flight, I was pretty hungry. I had a few options but for some ridiculous reason decided to have a chicken sandwich from McDonald's. nicely enough, it was on a whole wheat bun, but still gave me a stomach ache. I waited for a couple of hours in the terminal to board the flight to dublin and spent my remaining cash on sandwich/water/pack of gum. the waiting area was pretty vacant when I arrived, save for a family of about twelve returning to Ireland. they were all wearing track suits and sports shoes, drinking bottles of coke, and shouting at each other. something tells me that they are the irish counterpart to the american redneck. haha. there was another irish family too, a mum and dad with five boys and one girl who was the youngest. the boy who sat beside me insisted on showing me his new gameboy, and his name was Kieran (kee-ay-run if you ask his mum). he also introduced me to his big brother Stephen who was quite pleased with his new iPod purchase. I suppose that with the strength of the Euro, it's nice to shop in America. on the flight we were provided a meal, and Steph was totally correct in saying that airplane food is GREAT! chicken and pasta with broccoli and roasted red peppers! then again at 7 am we were provided coffee, tea, and croissants with jam. I took Jenny's advice and snagged the airplane blanket, as I would have frozen to death without it. I don't care what anyone says, I am wearing pajamas and a parka the next time I take a flight.

upon arrival, I became quite ill. I think that's the only reason I wasn't given a rough time at customs, as the man behind the booth had hassled the people before me but let me through quickly upon seeing my incredibly green pallor. success! I phoned up the representative at the school and he instructed me to find transport to the city centre. I wandered outside, bewildered and exhausted, but after asking a vested man about cathal brugha (pronounced calla-brouh) was hurriedly shuttled off on a bus after being ribbed about being an obvious tourist. right away I noticed the good humour of the locals here, from the porters to the bus drivers. I spotted the school easily and lugged my stuff off the bus and into the marble lobby of the tourism campus building. I wonder now how I ever survived without a mule? I was greeted right away by a porter who took my bags, and a sweet little lady behind a counter (in the staff quarters where I waited for Gerard) had me cozied up in a plush chair with a hot cup of coffee in my hands within minutes. come to think of it, I haven't been anywhere yet where someone hasn't offered me a coffee or tea. after touring the campus, I figured out a bus to my boarding house and settled into a cafe for another coffee and some sort of jam-filled thing while I waited. the ladies at this shop were fantastic, putting my luggage in a closet while I ate and teaching me the difference between black coffee and white coffee.

I ended up catching the wrong bus to the other end of the avenue that my boarding house is on, but it was such a bright, sunny day that I didn't mind the walk (although my shoulders mind now from pulling my luggage uphill) it's been above freezing all day and actually very sunny, although most folks are telling me it's colder than average. I can handle that! no more toronto 20-below windchill!! YESSSSS! I'm worried that this will be the only sun I see for a while though, as the weather is calling for drizzle and clouds for the rest of the week. I'm in a bungalow-style house in Churchtown with a lady named Hilda. she is incredibly quick with the tea, I don't even catch her making it before there's a mug the temperature of the sun in my hands. oh and Heather, I've finally witnessed the light-speed kettles. holy mackinaw! there are two Korean girls at the house right now who are quite young and don't say much. the French girls staying upstairs are on holiday out of town this weekend, and an American girl is arriving soon. side note, I overheard two businessmen on my flight commenting on their visit to the "rather slow state of Pennsylvania" and had to chuckle. slow in "both senses of the word"! there is also a little boy, the son of the proprietor, living here and he likes to watch Saved by the Bell. he has a cat named Perdy and a big collie named Bailey who is one of the friendliest animals I have ever met. by the way thanks Heather for the slippers, I'd be dying without them! my room is warm and has a nice radiator and thick duvets, (DOO-vays if you're asking Hilda) but the floors are cold and the house is a little drafty. I sat down for dinner around six, Hilda had prepared fresh tortellini with vegetable marinara. she also set out a raspberry cream pastry for after dinner. I had turned my back for a second to wash my hands, but when I returned to the table realized that the pastry was gone. I was the only one eating dinner, and Hilda had stepped out for some errands. then I spotted two paw prints on the seat of my chair, and rounded the corner to find Bailey licking her chops and looking incredibly guilty. I suppose the score is now Bailey 1, me 0.

that's all for now, kids! I'm tired. and I want a pastry.