American Werewoulfe in Limerick

AWIL's Word of the Week - Dote

2011-06-15T21:42:00.000+01:00

This week's word is 'dote.' 'Dote' means something or someone who is lovely, cute, and/or nice. Usually a term used by females and older people.

Ex. 'He's a dote.'

New Poll: What's Your Favorite City in Ireland?

2011-06-06T14:57:00.000+01:00

There's a new poll - what's your favorite city in Ireland? Vote today!

AWIL's Word of the Week - Muppet

2011-06-01T10:01:00.000+01:00

This week's word is 'muppet.' Not the nicest thing to say to someone, but not necessarily bad either - it's essentially like calling someone a 'fool,' but can have a little bit more endearment to it.

“To Go or not to Go?” Why Everyone Can and Should Study Abroad - from Bootsnall

2011-05-26T16:12:00.000+01:00

I found this great article on bootsnall.com about deciding upon whether or not to study abroad. Enjoy!

“To Go or not to Go?” Why Everyone Can and Should Study Abroad

Whenever I tell someone I am studying abroad, they always respond the same way. They look up at me adoringly, their eyelashes slightly batting and dreamy, and say, “Oh! I’d love to do something like that.”

Normally it’s easy just to respond by saying that it has been a great experience. I’ve learned a lot. Met some great people. Yada, yada, yada. But what I really want to do is shake them by the head and yell, “Then why don’t you stop talking about it and do it!” Too much of life is spent sitting and pondering the adventures of others, when we could easily be out having our own.

This advice is for all of you skeptics out there who invent every reason in the world for why studying abroad just can’t happen for you. I’m here to tell you, scout’s honor, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be packing your bags today.

Here’s why.

Excuse No. 1: Money
The main excuse I always hear is money. Money, money, money. Fortunately for you, I’m not going to lie. Studying abroad, while growing more affordable, can take a hefty chunk out of your wallet. That’s the truth of the matter. The other truth is that it’s worth every penny. While it might not seem like it before you go, studying abroad is definitely worth going in the hole for. There is no better education or experience for the growing soul. You will come back a different person and that’s a guarantee.

Now, being aware of the steep costs, it’s worth saying that there are definitely ways to hop over the big pond without dishing out as much dough. It’s all about scholarships, folks! Check into your home university’s international office and they should be able to give you heaps of information on exchange and study abroad programs. Sometimes home universities even offer scholarships for their students studying at foreign universities. Start asking questions and your counselor is bound to help you find a way to cut corners. Utilize the resources at your disposal. That’s what they’re there for!

In the unfortunate case that your home university doesn’t have an international office or if it’s really, really awful – start surfing the web. There are so many programs out there now, you could spend hours researching the options for just one country. The web is a priceless resource that will help you discover the most affordable programs. Use it! You can find something within your budget if you’re willing to look for it.

Excuse No. 2: Time
Running second only to money is the infamous excuse of “I don’t have time,” or “It doesn’t fit in my schedule.” Clearly, anyone who uses these excuses hasn’t done their homework. The study abroad world has expanded greatly and now has programs ranging from one week to an entire college degree. If you absolutely have to spend the semester at your home university, go over a winter or summer break. These short trips will allow you a dip into the world abroad, while still permitting you to get the credits you need.

Excuse No. 3: Fear
The third excuse you hear, which is often the real reason behind many students’ apprehensions, is the fear of homesickness, loneliness, or simply not having fun. Often students are afraid to admit this, but they shouldn’t be. Moving to a foreign country for any length of time can be emotionally taxing. There’s culture shock, homesickness, and initial loneliness.

When the date for my departure was coming closer, I cried like a little baby. I was horrified that I had made the wrong decision, and I wanted to back out. Fortunately, I didn’t. Part of the study abroad experience is learning to move on and deal with life on your own. Don’t let a little homesickness deter you from doing the greatest things of your life. Pack your pacifier if you have to. I won’t tell. Just go!

No Excuses Left
All that being said, you should have no real excuses left to keep your feet on the ground. The money can be managed, the time is there, and you might be apprehensive, but you will make friends. People can always find ways to talk themselves out of doing great things. Excuses are never few or far between. The pity is, most of the reasons behind the excuses can be dealt with if you’re willing to try. If you’re wavering on the line between taking the plunge or staying planted, do yourself a favor and try something new. There are far more pros than cons to studying abroad, so go out and see the world.

Via: http://toolkit.bootsnall.com/student-travel-guide/study-abroad-guide/to-go-or-not-to-go-why-everyone-can-and-should-study-abroad.html

Top Ten Things To Do While Studying Abroad in Ireland from TopUniversities.com

2011-05-10T18:23:00.000+01:00

The semester is winding down and most students are gearing up to return home! I found this list on topuniversities.com about the Top Ten Things To Do While Studying Abroad in Ireland - how many have you done??

Think Finn McCool and Cúchulainn; James Joyce, Samuel Beckett and W.B Yeats; Catholics and Protestants, Nationalists and Loyalists; hurling, gaelic football and rugby; Guinness, and Bush Mills whiskey; soda bread, potatoes and Irish stew; George Best and Brian O’Driscoll; U2, Thin Lizzy and Boyzone; leprechauns, pots of gold and four leaf clovers. Ireland is a small country whose culture and history has travelled far and wide.

As an undergraduate studying abroad in Ireland you will have plenty of opportunity to experience all aspects of this famous island - and while there are many places and things to see, the highlight of your trip may well be the people you meet and the famous ‘craic’. But just to get you started, Top Universities has come up with the top ten things any undergraduate student should do to get the most out of your time studying abroad in Ireland.

1. Experience Dublin

Nearest universities: Trinity College Dublin; University College DUBLIN; DUBLIN City University; DUBLIN Institute of Technology; GRIFFITH College, Dublin

It’s edgy, sophisticated, urban and dynamic – but most of all, Ireland’s capital city is fun! Its colourful doorways welcome any visitor and student studying abroad, while it’s nightlife lives up to its reputation. From the Guinness Store House to Dublin Zoo, the city’s castle to the Dublin Museum of Writers, not to mention Ireland’s National Gallery, Botanical Gardens, oh and did we mention the National Leprechaun Museum? There’s a reason Dublin has one of the fastest growing populations of any of Europe’s capital cities – choose to study abroad in Dublin, Ireland and it won’t take you long to work out why.

2. Delve into Trinity College and the Book of Kells

Nearest universities: Trinity College Dublin; University College DUBLIN; DUBLIN City University; DUBLIN Institute of Technology; GRIFFITH College, Dublin

Placed at number 43 in the 2009 QS World University Rankings, and with famous alumni including Jonathon Swift, Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett, Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s top-performing university. It also places in the top 100 of Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Life Sciences and Biomedicine, as well as in the top 150 for Engineering and IT. But it’s not just the quality of its undergraduate degrees that attracts so many people to its campus. Trinity College Dublin is also home to the Book of Kells. Written around the year 800AD, the Book of Kells is both an immaculately preserved ancient Celtic relic and a beautifully illustrated manuscript of the world, and it’s showcased here in Trinity College’s Old Library.

3. Photograph Belfast's murals

It may be the capital city of Northern Ireland and therefore technically in another country, but Belfast is just a short drive over the border and definitely worth a visit during your time studying abroad in Ireland. Belfast has a history of political instability, and this history is beautifully illustrated in murals around West Belfast. Known as “The Writing on the Walls” they depict politics, freedom and loyalty as well as pay homage to sports stars, Northern Ireland achievements (the Titanic) and, of course, football. Be sure to take in the rest of this relatively young city though - (it was granted city status by Queen Victoria in 1888) - a lot has happened in its short lifetime.

4. Bestride the Giant’s Causeway

While you’re in Northern Ireland, head to the northeast coast to explore the fourth greatest natural wonder in the United Kingdom. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Nature Reserve, the Giant’s Causeway is a sightseer’s paradise. Walk on, over and around this basalt wonderland of (mainly) hexagonal columns, watch the waves crash against the rocks, or marvel at the sheer size of the cliffs. Explore The Honeycomb, The Wishing Chair, The Giant's Granny, Lord Antrim's Parlour, The King and his Nobles, The Keystone, The Chimney Pots, The Fan, The Punchbowl - these natural stepping stones are Northern Ireland’s most popular tourist destination.

5. Surf the west coast

It may not have the warmest climate but don’t let that stop you from hitting the waves off Ireland’s west coast - there’s some great surf up that way and in fact, the world surf championships were held in Donegal a number of years ago. It’s all to do with the funnel-shape of Donegal Bay which increases the size of the swell – for surfers, that’s good news!

Even if you’re not into surfing, with its rolling sand dunes, secluded coves and shallow bays, the Donegal coast is home to some of the most picturesque sandy beaches you’ll find anywhere - though it can’t quite lay claim to the tropical weather of the Caribbean! With lush countryside, nature reserves, golf courses and friendly locals, County Donegal is a favourite destination for many a tourist, so take time out from your studies and get some west coast sea air into you.

Did you know? Though it’s geographically in Northern Ireland and part of the province of Ulster, Donegal is officially part of the Republic of Ireland.

6. Participate in the revel that is St Patrick's Day

It’s celebrated almost everywhere in the world but do we really know why once a year in March we start talking in bad Irish accents, dress up in green and consume pints of Guinness? St Patrick’s Day, on the 17th of March, is a public holiday for the Irish, all in commemoration and celebration of Saint Patrick himself, the principal champion of Irish Christianity. Nowadays Ireland boasts a week-long festival in honour of St Patrick, which also allows the country to showcase its culture, sense of fun and tourist attractions to the world. Whether or not you can handle a week of Irish festivities – they certainly know how to party – join in the celebrations, attempt an Irish jig, and experience St Patrick’s Day as it should be spent... in Ireland!

Did you know? The colour originally associated with St Patrick was blue but over the years it has changed to green.

7. Head south and explore Cork

Nearest universities: University College CORK

Tripe, a dish made from various animal stomachs, is one of Cork’s traditional foods, but we’re pretty sure that if you choose to visit Ireland’s second largest city, you’ll be able to get a feel for the place without having to consume any of that! However, if you’re game – why not? Those with a weaker constitution, or perhaps just good taste, may wish to spend their time in Cork visiting the Red Abbey, walking down St Patrick’s Street, photographing the city’s Georgian architecture, listening to music in the Cork Opera House, or getting some retail therapy in at the English market. It’s the perfect place for a weekend getaway.

8. Get off the mainland and experience the Aran Islands

If you haven’t already realised, “Top o’ the morning to ya” isn’t actually Irish. The original Irish language is Gaelic, and it’s very different indeed. If you want to say “Good morning”, try getting your tongue round “Maidin mhaith”, or “Dia dhuit ar maidin”. If you want to hear what Gaelic really sounds like, get off the mainland and head to the Aran Islands. These islands are known for their cultural and linguistic heritage – all native Aran Islanders are bilingual in English and Gaelic. Catch the ferry, hire a bike and begin exploring the outdoor museums, cliff climbing, castles, lighthouses, surfing, beaches and craft villages - you’ll forget those assignment deadlines as soon as you arrive.

Did you know? The three Aran Islands are called Inis Mor Island (the big island), Inis Meain Island (the middle island), and Inis Oirr Island (the east island).

9. Enjoy a summer of festivals in Galway

Nearest universities: National University of Ireland, GALWAY

It calls itself the festival capital of Ireland, and with a calendar of events that celebrates everything from oysters to jazz music, horse racing to literature, it’s probably quite true. Ireland’s third largest and fastest growing city, situated on the west coast of the country, is home to The Galway Oyster Festival held each year in September, which in 2000 the Sunday Times described as “one of the 12 greatest shows on earth”.

Two months earlier is the Galway Arts Festival, which attracts over 100,000 people every year, and then there’s the Cuirt Literature Festival, the Baboro International Arts Festival for Children, the Connemara Marathon and the famous Galway Races. They all take place in the summer, and are all brilliant!

10. Experience the winter solstice at Newgrange Megalithic Passage Tomb

Nearest universities: ATHLONE Institute of Technology;National University of Ireland MAYNOOTH; Trinity College Dublin; University College DUBLIN; DUBLIN City University; DUBLIN Institute of Technology;GRIFFITH College, Dublin

Older than the Giza Pyramids of Egypt, older still than Stonehenge, the Newgrange Megalithic Passage Tombis one of the world’s most famous pre-historic sites. Made up of a series of passage tombs, Newgrange is perhaps best known for the shaft of sunlight that reaches the chamber floor on the shortest day of the year. Experiencing the winter solstice is chosen by lottery but visit the Newgrange site and your guided tour will include a re-enactment of the sun appearing in the chamber at sunrise that first took place some 5,000 years ago. Now that’s a history lesson worth writing home about!

Once you’ve finished those

1. Kiss the Blarney Stone.
2. Walk over the Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge.
3. Listen to some traditional Irish music in Johnnie Fox's, Ireland’s highest pub.
4. Sip the world’s finest pint of the ‘black stuff’ at the original Guinness Brewery in Dublin.
5. Give coasteering a go, although be aware, it’s not for the faint hearted.

(From http://www.topuniversities.com/ireland/top-ten-things-do-while-studying-abroad-ireland)

AWIL's Word of the Week - Gaff

2011-05-04T20:10:00.002+01:00

This week's word is 'gaff.' Now, I will freely admit I had absolutely no idea what this meant when I first heard it! The word 'gaff' in Ireland means your house/home. I don't know the origins of it, but it's said all the time in Ireland!

Ex. Where is your gaff? - It's in Thomond Village in UL.

That dreaded time of year...final exam time!

2011-05-01T15:06:00.000+01:00

Final exams are looming, with the official exam period beginning tomorrow at the University of Limerick.
Here are some tips on completing exams in Ireland/at UL:

Bring your UL ID! You'll need this to be able to take your exam and will need to show it at all times during the exam. Exams here are very official and you will not be able to take them without your ID!
Look at the past exam papers for sample questions. Some will most likely be on your exam! (Link: https://sharepoint.ul.ie/SiteDirectory/Students/exampapers/default.aspx - Log-In with your computer ID and password)
Be sure to bring plenty of pens with you and go to the bathroom prior to the exam because you cannot go to your backpack or leave during the exam! (Backpacks are left in a common area so don't bring any valuables!)
Check and make sure what items your lecturer allows in the exam, i.e. calculator, dictionary - this should be on your course outline, SULIS/Moodle or an email from your lecturer.
Eat before, get a good nights sleep bring water and breath! Exams are stressful enough without any added pressure!

Good Luck!

AWIL's Word of the Week - Banjaxed

2011-04-27T12:05:00.002+01:00

Sorry for the lack of posting I had an emergency and had to go to the US for a bit, but I'm back!

This week's AWIL word is 'banjaxed.' It essentially means broken.

Example: I can't give you a lift to work today because my car is banjaxed.

AWIL's Word of the Week - Gas

2011-04-12T19:03:00.004+01:00

This week's word is 'gas.' In Ireland gas doesn't just refer to flatulence (ahem!), it also can mean something completely different. When you say someone or something's 'gas' or that someone is a 'gas man/woman,' it means they or something is funny.

Ex. 'That's gas!' or 'You're a gas man!"

Only in Ireland can you call someone a gas man and it be a good thing!

New Poll!

2011-04-12T09:39:00.003+01:00

I just created a new poll, where do you want to visit while you're abroad?

Let me know!

Passport to Paris

2011-04-09T22:34:00.000+01:00

I know I promised this entry ages ago, but masters work has been piling up and I didn't get a chance, but here it is now, the post about my trip to Paris!

I again did a trip with WSA (Weekend Student Adventures) and again it did not disappoint! Paris was absolutely amazing and my group and I had an amazing time. As you'll see, we pretty much did everything you could hope to do in Paris! You might get a bit tired, but you won't leave with any regrets wishing you'd been able to fit another attraction in!

First things first, the commute! I got my flights via www.skyscanner.net. I highly recommend this site as it finds you the cheapest flights available. To get to Paris I flew Aer Arann to Manchester, followed by Air France to Paris (Charles de Gaul). Much easier than flying into Beauvais as there isn't an hour and a half bus trip to actually get to Paris from the airport! The group was staying St. Christopher's Hostel, which was a very cool place and it caters to a study abroad crowd.

(Crepe de Grand Marnier et Sucre)

(Escargot! Pretty tasty!)

On Friday, we went to the Latin Quarter, saw Notre Dame, went to the Eiffel Tower (and I was cursed by a gypsy twice!), followed by bike tour around Paris, and a boat cruise on the Seine. The bike tour was a very cool way to see Paris and it also let me act out my Final Stage of Le Tour de France dream, but as it was a bit long, I'd only recommend it if you're in somewhat okay shape!

(Group Shot during a break in the bike ride!)

On the Saturday, we went to the Louvre, where we saw the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, etc, then onto the Champs Elysees, Moulin Rouge, Bastille, and the Sacre Coeur.

(Beautiful shot of the Louvre)

(Mona Lisa!)

(Amazing Parisian meal - Quiche Lorraine, Macaroons and Wine!)

Sunday was my last day and I pretty much had to head straight Charles de Gaul airport. Words cannot describe this airport. It had metro lines and escalators in glass tubes so the place looked like a gerbil's cage!

Going to Paris was an absolute dream of mine and it was everything I hoped it to be and more. If you ever get the chance to visit while you're studying abroad, or really any chance at all!, I'd highly recommend it. Its a beautiful city, so much to do and see and it has amazing food! What more could you want!

Ireland Unveils Certificate of Irish Lineage from IrishFireside.com

2011-04-01T13:43:00.000+01:00

Taken from www.irishfireside.com - One of the funniest things I've read today.

Ireland intends to connect with the 70 million people worldwide who claim Irish heritage through a new program called the Certificate of Irish Lineage. The new certification provides individuals with Irish ancestry an opportunity to celebrate their Irish-ness with a government-sanctioned initiative designed especially for those who do not qualify for Irish citizenship or dual citizenship.

In an announcement Friday morning, Irish Taoiseach Enda Kelly welcomed applicants to the new program, “The Irish have been scattered around the globe. Today, we reach out a hand of friendship to our long-lost brothers and sisters by recognizing the Irish who do not live on the auld sod.”

Kelly unveiled a tiered program that not only considers an applicant’s Irish heritage, but also their potential tourism spending capacity and internet influence. “We worked closely with a team of consultants to design a scheme that aligns with Tourism Ireland’s social networking initiatives and visitor goals. As a result, we feel the Certificate of Irish Lineage will create excitement for Irish travel and increase the number of people who set up their own Irish village in our new IrelandTown Facebook game.”

Points for Irish Heritage

Certificates are awarded on a point system that allows applicants to earn credit for Irish heritage, dying their hair red, giving their children and pets Irish names, applying for the interactive online game “Irish Diaspora’s Got Talent,” and many other options. The program also offers “Indulgence Points” which allow applicants who lack Irish heritage to purchase points using their Visa or Mastercard or procure points by posting approved messages on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

“We understand many non-Irish would like participate, so ‘Indulgence Points’ have always been a vital part of the program,” said Niall Gibbons, chief executive for Tourism Ireland. “We’re expecting the program to be extremely popular in areas with a strong desire to connect with Ireland such as the United States, Canada, and China.”

The three tiers of the program have been underwritten by the luxury brands of Waterford Crystal, Newbridge Silver, and KMG Killarney Plastics. Several additional companies have signed on as sponsors to offer discounts and special offers to those who qualify for the program. “We’re especially excited about the involvement of KMS Killarney Plastics who will producing the official Certificate of Irish Lineage name badge that participants will proudly wear while visiting Ireland,” Gibbons said.

Three Tiers of Irish Lineage

The Certificate of Irish Lineage offers three levels of membership, each with its own requirements and benefits.

KMG Killarney Plastics Level – Plastic Paddies

Administration Fee: €150
This level is reserved for anyone who celebrates St Patrick’s Day. Participants in this class receive a lovely KMS Killarney Plastics shamrock luggage tag and €5 off Collision Damage Waiver insurance from the Irish car rental provider of their choice (a .08% savings!).

Newbridge Silver Level – Ties to the Past

Administration Fee: €725
Especially designed for applicants with confirmed Irish heritage, the Newbridge Silver Level requires at least one certified genealogical link to Ireland or 50 Indulgence Points. Those awarded this classification will enjoy a Newbridge Silver paperclip, a RyanAir-approved carry-on bag (holding just under 7kg of luggage), and a one-day pass to the Barack Obama shrine in Moneygall, County Offaly.

Waterford Crystal Level – More Irish than the Irish Themselves

Administration Fee: €1,200
Offering the highest level of bragging rights, members in this category must exhibit ample tourism spending potential. Those awarded this classification will receive a limited edition Waterford Crystal “Celtic Teardrop” pebble, a free pillow upgrade at participating accommodations in Ireland, and automatic enrollment in the newly created Adopt-an-Irish-Bank program.

Special Offers Available to ALL Levels of Membership

A €450 voucher for frozen foods from Dunne’s Stores
50% Off a weekend getaway at all NAMA-owned hotels
Buy one get one free holy water from the Shrine at Knock
Free Irish rain spa treatment with every mini-hail exfoliation scrub at any of Ireland’s blue flag beaches
One complimentary class at the Michael Flatfoot School of Dance
Your choice of Eau de Turf or Parfume du Sheep at Airport Duty Free Shops
Two Blarney Castle Elevator Passes
Free American-style Ketchup at all Supermac’s locations

Enrollment for the Certificate of Irish Lineage begins April 1, 2011.

AWIL's Word of the Week - Good Luck

2011-03-30T19:10:00.000+01:00

Sorry about the lack of posting as of late, but I had to take another travel hiatus, with trips to Dublin and Belfast!

This week's word of the week is 'Good Luck.' Now obviously in Ireland, this can be simply wishing someone luck, but there is an additional usage. Many use this as a way of saying goodbye and often shorten it to g'luck!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T05:43:00.000Z

Lá fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh! (Happy St Patrick's Day everyone as Gaeilge) St Patrick's Day is the feast day of St Patrick, a national holiday in Ireland and a huge holiday across the globe due to the Irish diaspora. He brought Christianity to Ireland and drove the snakes (or heathens, whichever!) out!

Hope everyone has a great day wherever you celebrate it, in Ireland or abroad!

AWIL's Word of the Week - Runners

2011-03-16T21:06:00.000Z

Sorry for the lack of posts last week, I was in Paris (post to follow!). This week's word is 'runners.' I think most places in the English speaking world have different words for this, in the UK it's trainers and in the US sneakers and tennis shoes. Well, in Ireland its 'runners' (or by some 'tackies').

GoOverseas.com Top Blog

2011-03-09T09:20:00.002Z

Hi everyone, exciting news as I just received word that my blog is now featured as one of the Top Blogs on GoOverseas.com!! I even get a badge to go on my site! Thanks for all of your support!

Check it out here: http://www.gooverseas.com/study-abroad-blogs

Study Abroad Apps

2011-03-05T14:52:00.000Z

Studying abroad now or just love a good app? Check out this website for 70 great apps that'll help you during your time abroad, whether it be traveling or just getting around! With maps, translators, subway maps, attractions and organizers - this site has a concise list of any app you could possibly need!

Thanks to Bachelors Degrees Online for the tip!

Website: http://www.bachelorsdegreeonline.com/blog/2010/70-seriously-awesome-iphone-apps-for-college-students-abroad/

AWIL's Word of the Week - Quid

2011-03-02T10:00:00.001Z

This week's word of the week is 'quid.' I couldn't find anything definitive on its origins except that it originates in the UK, but it's used to refer to or replace the word 'euro' or in the UK 'pound.' As Ireland used to be a part of the British empire and used the Irish punt (pound) until 2002, it's only natural that monetary slang be similar. It's like the usage of 'buck' as slang for dollar.

Ex. The pint is 5 quid.

Pancake Tuesday

2011-02-27T12:41:00.004Z

If you're in Ireland at the moment, you might have noticed that there are lots of specials for pancake batter, pans and syrups out right now. Or you might have heard someone talk about Pancake or "Shrove" Tuesday, but not known what they were talking about.

Like Mardis Gras (Fat Tuesday), Pancake (or Shrove) Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday. It was a custom to get rid of all the households eggs, sugar, butter, etc before Lent started the next day. It's a little bit tamer than say Mardis Gras, but, in my opinion, much tastier!

Pancake Tuesday is March 8th this year, so start getting ready now! In Ireland they use not just maple syrup, but fruit syrups, jams, nutella(!), honey, lemon juice (?), and loads of other toppings, so try a few new ones this year!

[Note to people in Ireland now, Irish pancakes tend to be a bit thinner, like crepes, rather than what we're used to!]

AWIL's Word of the Week - Grand

2011-02-23T22:03:00.001Z

This weeks word is grand. No hidden meaning here, means the same thing in Ireland as it does else where - but it's the usage here that's different. Grand is used in Ireland constantly, for moods, how things are, taste, etc!

Examples:

'How are you?' 'Grand!'
'Will all of our suitcases fit in the cab?' 'Ah sure it'll be grand!'

Bucket List

2011-02-20T21:09:00.000Z

Bucket list, like the film depicts, its literally a list of things you want to do before you 'kick the bucket.' For a lot of study abroad-ers, living/visiting Ireland and other sites around Europe are all major components of their bucket lists. I've heard a lot of talk about bucket lists lately so I thought I'd share mine.

Live Abroad [x]
Be on TV [x]
Volunteer in Africa
Run a marathon
See the northern lights in Lapland
Visit all of the continents

North America [x]
Europe [x]
South America
Africa
Asia
Australia

Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Visit Tasmania
Climb Croagh Patrick
Work for an NGO
Write a newspaper column
Ski the Alps
Experience le joie de vivre in Paris
Visit Moscow and St. Petersburg
See the Great Wall of China
See the Pyramids of Giza
Become fluent/conversational in 6 languages

English [x]
Spanish [x]
Portuguese [kinda x]
French [working on it]
Irish [working on it]
Need another – thinking Chinese or Arabic?

Go to North Korea
Go backpacking across Southeast Asia
Experience pura vida en Costa Rica
Fly first class [x]
Go on safari
Ride the Trans-Siberian Railroad
Visit Israel and Jordan
Attend mass in Vatican City [x]
Go to carnival in Rio de Janeiro
Eat poutine in Canada [x]
Swim in the 3 major oceans

Atlantic [x] (Both sides!)
Pacific [x]
Indian

Visit Salzburg for the Sound of Music experience [ie watch the film and frolic in the Alps]
Make a difference

What's yours?

Rain

2011-02-18T03:14:00.001Z

One common conception of Ireland is that it is always raining. It's not a misconception per se, as it does rain a lot, but I would argue not to the extent of what many think. Rain is import to Ireland though, it's what keeps it green (or Emerald some might say)!

Depending on where in the country you are the rain levels vary. Dublin (in the east), tends to get far less rain than in the west (Limerick, Galway, Cork, etc)

If you ever watched or read Angela's Ashes, you'd think all it ever did was rain in Limerick. While this is obviously not the case, most days of the year have a quick shower or two - but days long spans of torrential downpours happens very less frequently.

My advice? Have a long jacket (doesn't need to be water-proof) for the winter months and a light rain jacket for the spring/summer/autumn months. This keeps your clothes (and you!) dry from any unexpected rain and try to carry an umbrella at all times (even though most Irish don't!)

In terms of good weather for holidays, the most pleasant months tend to be late May/early June and September!

This week's AWIL's Word of the Week is brought to you by the letter "H"

2011-02-16T13:45:00.000Z

This week's Word of the Week post reminds me a lot of an episode of Sesame Street, as this week's word (letter actually) is "H". In Ireland, the letter "H" is not pronounced "ay-ch" as it is in most English speaking countries, it is pronounced "hay-ch"

So if you were saying HR (like human resources) you'd say "hay-ch R"

A Salute to Jameson!

2011-02-12T14:00:00.003Z

Most people attribute Guinness to Ireland, but my favorite Irish drink is Jameson whiskey. As a celiac I can't drink beers/stouts and Jameson is certified gluten-free so its a great choice for me!

Jameson was founded by John Jameson in 1780 and its one of the original 6 Dublin Whiskeys. It still retains its original recipe and method of triple distillation. Its production has moved to Cork, but the original distillery is open for visitors in Dublin, as is the Cork Distillery. It holds the position of top Irish whiskey in the world, selling over 30 million bottles a year.

While some people drink Jameson straight or with a bit of water and ice, I prefer it with a mixer. Two of my favorites are Cranberry & Jameson and Apple & Jameson.

Enjoy some Jameson today, sláinte!

AWIL's Word of the Week - Banter

2011-02-09T18:51:00.000Z

This Word of the Week is banter. It's something you definitely encounter in Ireland and a word you'll hear a lot. To explain it plainly, banter is witty and good natured conversation.

Some examples are: "We were just having a bit of banter" (Just having a good natured conversation) or "Any banter?" (Similar to 'any craic?' - It just means any news or anything interesting going on)

AWIL's Word of the Week - Immersion

2011-02-02T08:51:00.000Z

I've mentioned this week's word in a previous post, but I felt that it deserved its own post. This week's word is 'immersion,' which is a hot water heater. As most houses in the US, Canada, etc just have hot water on hand, in Ireland you have to turn on the immersion, wait 20-40 minutes and then take a hot shower! Some houses have an electric shower, but its usually only one shower in the house.

Des Bishop, one of my favorite Irish-American comedians, has one of his most famous bits on the immersion. Watch the video here.

Happy New Semester!

2011-02-01T16:20:00.000Z

Another new semester begins! My last in fact, tear! The busyness of getting ready for a new semester of college and starting it has cut into my blogging time, but never fear I'm back! I plan on blogging at LEAST twice a week for the rest of the semester.

One change this semester is that my Word of the Week will be switched from Monday to Wednesday, as my Mondays are quite hectic now.

I hope all of the new study abroad students are settling in well! I met most of you at Orientation, but for those I haven't met yet, welcome!

What are everyone's plans for the semester (besides study!)? I want to travel more, both in Ireland and abroad! Let me know what you'll be up to and I'll be happy to answer any questions!

One big UL news item is the Dalai Lama is coming to UL in April! I for one definitely want to get a ticket. Powers at be, help me out!

AWIL's Word of the Week - [Insert Day Here] Week

2011-01-24T09:21:00.000Z

The inspiration for this post comes from a conversation I had with some new Canadian study abroad students about Irish slang.

In Ireland, rather than saying 'next Monday,' referring to the Monday of next week, they say 'Monday week.' Kinda makes sense, but like a lot of AWIL's Word of the Weeks - a little confusing at first!

Flying on the cheap

2011-01-23T17:16:00.001Z

Most people when they study abroad want to travel. That's a given, I mean, when are you ever going to get this opportunity again? As students, however, we're not made of money and have to find ways of getting places inexpensively!

In Ireland, you obviously have to fly to get to mainland Europe and Britain (unless you take a ferry but thats for a different blog post!) Most people use RyanAir. Similar to SouthWest Airlines in the US, it's cheap and a barebones service, but it gets you from Point A to Point B. Some of the pitfalls of using RyanAir are the hidden charges that hike up your fee and the airport could be an hour away from your actual destination, which adds more expenses to your trip in bus or train fares. Another option is Aer Lingus. It's Ireland's national airline and also has loads of cheap flights across Europe. It can seem a bit more expensive than RyanAir on paper, but in my experience it's well worth it. It brings you to the major airport (which cuts down on expenses), no hidden fees and is very comfortable and accommodating.

AWIL's Word of the Week - Post

2011-01-17T18:34:00.000Z

This week's word is 'post.' It is used the same as 'mail' is. This is a more obvious one because of the universal 'post office,' but in Ireland you wouldn't say 'put it in the mail' or 'I got this in the mail,' you would say 'put it in the post' or 'I got this in the post.'

For future reference, Irish mail/post boxes are green and the official mail/post company is An Post (which also is the sponsor for Ireland's cycling team!)

AWIL's Word of the Week - Jumper

2011-01-10T17:32:00.003Z

This week's word is 'jumper.' Not to be confused with a girl's dress as it means in American English, jumper means a sweater or knit shirt. A little confusing at first, but a good one to remember!

Tea

2011-01-08T15:37:00.004Z

Tea is a huge part of Irish culture. Everyone will have a certain brand they like (usually Barry's or Lyons), way they like their tea, etc. People will have it at all times of the day, but normally around 11AM, 3PM and after dinner. The tea is usually accompanied by a digestive biscuit of sorts. People call over just to have a cuppa (cup of tea) and you should always be ready with some tea and biscuits for when you have friends over!

AWIL's Word of the Week - Zebra Crossing

2011-01-03T07:47:00.002Z

This week's word of the week is 'zebra crossing.' (With zebra pronounced zeh-bra, rather than zee-bra) This one can be a bit confusing the first time you hear it, but is pretty self explanatory after. A 'zebra crossing' is a cross walk or pedestrian crossing. Kind of funny to hear, but makes sense!

AWIL's Word of the Week - A Full Irish

2010-12-27T17:42:00.003Z

This week's Word of the Week is 'A Full Irish'.' Also known as a 'full breakfast,' 'fry,' or 'fry up,' 'A Full Irish' is the traditional breakfast in Ireland and is a must for anyone in Ireland, regardless of length of stay, is to have this amazing breakfast. Typically consists of eggs, rashers, sausage, white and black pudding, mushrooms, tomatoes, hash brown, toast and, of course, a cup of tea. It can sometimes have beans, chips, soda bread, pancakes, etc - depending on where you get the breakfast.

Whether you get it in restaurant or cook it yourself - this is a must for everyone to try at least once!

Christmas Card

2010-12-22T14:31:00.002Z

Still haven't sent out a Christmas card yet? Try one of the Irish themed e-cards from IrishAbroad.com! From whimsical to traditional, there's bound to be an e-card there to suit you. Me? I'm sending the 'Have a Joycian Christmas.'

Check them out here: http://www.irishabroad.com/Postcards/PCType.asp?CardType=Christmas

Horse Outside - The Rubberbandits for Christmas Number 1

2010-12-21T16:31:00.004Z

As mentioned in my post yesterday, the Christmas Number 1 is huge in Ireland. This year its between X-Factor and the Rubberbandits. The Rubberbandits are Limerick based, you'll be supporting a local group! Still at a very close margin, so if you're in Ireland pick up the Horse Outside single at HMV or buy online (details below)

Check out http://www.therubberbandits.com/ for info on how to buy online!

[Warning: song is meant for a mature audience]

Passports

2010-12-21T16:13:00.004Z

I was shocked to read that only 22% of Americans have a passport! In this increasingly globalized world its so important to have one! After all how are you going to study abroad without it? Pass the message on to your parents and family as well so they can visit!

Click here for more info and application forms - don't delay, apply today!

Christmas in Ireland: Pudding, Mince Pies, Crackers and a Fairytale of New York?

2010-12-20T16:56:00.005Z

Christmas is rapidly approaching and with it is AWIL's second Christmas themed blog. You might be wondering, how different can an Irish Christmas be to what many Americans or others around the world deem "traditional"? Well if the title of this entry is any indication - it can be very different.

First off: Christmas as Gaeilge (in Irish) is 'Nollaig' (pronounced null-ig) To wish someone a Happy/Merry Christmas in Irish its - Nollaig Shona Duit! Replace Duit with Daoibh if to more than one person. (Pronounced null-eg huna dit/d-ee-v)

The food staples for an Irish Christmas are:

Mince pies - small pie with chopped and cooked dried fruit or bought mince meat filling
Pudding - like a fruit cake, which is typically made from plum or dried fruits and made weeks in advance as it has a very long cooking time. Served warm with some flambéed brandy over the top!
Turkey and ham dinner - rather than choosing between the two meats, an Irish Christmas has both along with the normal fix-ins of mashed potato, stuffing, vegetables, etc!

A popular thing to have at the Christmas dinner are crackers and not the edible kind. They're cylinders with pulleys on both sides that "crack" open loudly and have a small toy, jokes and a paper crown in them. (You might have heard of them from Harry Potter)

Think everyone gives Santa milk and cookies? Well in Ireland, its traditional to leave Santa a Guinness, mince pies and, of course, a carrot for the reindeer.

As Ireland is a predominantly Christian and Catholic nation, going to midnight mass is a popular Christmas tradition.

If you've ever watched 'Love Actually,' you're familiar with the concept of the Christmas Number 1. Its the most popular song in the week following up to Christmas, and is a very big deal. It's typically a Christmas themed song, but it doesn't have to be (Case in point: this years pick for number 1!). One of the most popular Irish Christmas songs is "A Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues, and was 1987's Christmas number 1.

I hope everyone has a happy holiday season and whether you're in Ireland or elsewhere, add some of these Irish Christmas traditions to your repertoire for the craic!

Nollaig Shona Daoibh!

AWIL's Word of the Week - St. Stephen's Day

2010-12-20T16:13:00.004Z

Its nearly Christmas - and this week's word of the week is 'St. Stephen's Day.' Essentially, its the 26th of December, better known as the day after Christmas. In Irish it is Lá Fhéile Stiofán and it officially commemorates St. Stephen, who is said to be the first Christian martyr. In Britain, the Commonwealth, and a few other European countries they also celebrate the day after Christmas, but call it "Boxing Day."

Traditionally in Ireland, it is also referred to as the "Day of the Wren" and people would hunt for the wren, capture it and then parade from house to house with it, singing and dancing. This tradition is not practiced as much anymore, but can still be found in some of the more rural areas.

Here's a traditional St. Stephen's Day song, 'The Wren' played by the Clancy Brothers: click here

Stay tuned for another Irish Christmas themed post coming soon!

AWIL's Word of the Week - Hoover

2010-12-13T16:02:00.004Z

Today's AWIL word of the week is 'hoover.' Both a noun and a verb in the Irish vernacular, it can be used interchangeably with 'vacuum.' Its kind of funny to say (at least I think), but if you let 'vacuum' slip be prepared to be given a funny look, followed by 'em it's called a hoover.'

(an actual hoover)

Gluten Free en Roma

2010-12-10T14:34:00.005Z

Going to Rome, I was really excited about the prospect of being able to eat gluten free pizza and pasta, as much online led me to believe that Rome was a kind of 'gluten-free paradise.' While it was more understanding than some places I've been, it was in no way as accommodating as you might find written online.

One aspect where the reality was true to what was written, was the farmacias. I especially would recommend the one by Termini Station on Via Palestro (the entire basement is filled with gf food!) Every farmacia does have gluten free foods, albeit in varying levels, but you will always at least find a bit of bread, pasta and biscotti.

In terms of restaurants, saying senza glutine or sono celiaco(a) does not work as well as you'd hope. Like going to English speaking restaurants, some people do not know what gluten or celiac means, nor would they know what food you can or cannot eat. Some restaurants were very accommodating, but very plain as they don't want to hurt you. I guess its better safe than sorry, but kind of disappointing to eat salads most of the time. Miscellanea by the Pantheon made GF pasta that I brought with me and was one of the best meals I had in Italy. At breakfast, as well, I was able to bring my own bread and they made me egg sandwiches with it. Not ideal, but better than nothing!

I wasn't able to find any of the restaurants on this website, maybe some of them have closed, I don't know, but even with a GPS they were impossible to find and most were (said to be at least) well off the beaten track and nowhere near a metro station.

Conrads supermarket (there's one in Termini) had a great gluten free bread and pasta section AND also had an area with gluten free cakes and pies! I tried their tiramisu and it was delicious!

While eating gluten free in Rome wasn't as easy as I hoped, it was possible, which you can't say about everywhere. Just be patient and you'll find nice delicious Italian food to eat (try the caprese salad - naturally GF!) and most gelato (bar the kind with cookies in it) is gluten free so eat away!

AWIL's Word of the Week - Elevenses

2010-12-06T20:12:00.004Z

Not strictly an Irish term (it gets used frequently in the UK as well), but gets said enough to cause a bit of confusion for foreigners - elevenses refers to a morning snack time/morning tea break (often at 11AM) often consisting of tea/coffee and a small meal to tie you over for lunch. If you ever wonder why the Stables gets full of UL staff around 10:30/11 - this is why! (Also elevenses is a great nutri-grain bar that comes in chocolate and raisin - I highly recommend it!)

Vacanze Romane

2010-12-01T11:52:00.008Z

One of the best things about studying abroad in Europe is the availability of traveling. With rowing I haven't really been able to make the most of this, so I decided to change all that and for Thanksgiving weekend I headed to Rome, Italy.

Rather than do it all on my own, I decided to travel with a tour company called WSA (Weekend Student Adventures) and I'm so happy I did. It was all inclusive (bar flights and one or two meals), but a steal at €150 (approx. $200)!

It was a manageable size group of about 15 people and the tour guide/CEO of WSA, Andy. Its mainly geared towards Americans studying abroad for a semester or two in Europe, however the Rome trip had a Canadian and an Irishman on it, so its not exclusionary.

We stayed at the Yellow Hostel, which was a really fun and funky hostel right by Termini Station (which made travel within Rome so much easier as its the main hub of ground transport in the city) The rooms were immaculate and it was en suite for 6 person rooms, which was a definite plus!

Most of the group got into Rome on Thursday and even though the tour officially started on Friday morning, Andy met up with all of us and we headed out for dinner at Miscellanea by the Pantheon and then on to the Irish pub Scholars for some drinks and music (Bob Marley cover band oddly enough!)

On Friday, the weekend officially started and our first day was spent at the Vatican. We toured the Vatican Museum, saw the Sistine Chapel and St. Peters. I then nipped off for a quick trip to the Office of US Visitors to the Vatican to pick up my (free!) tickets for Vespers with the Pope on Saturday night. We had another dinner at Miscellanea, where I was totally taken care of gluten free wise, with a delicious caprese salad, gluten free pasta (that I brought) and lemon gelato served in a frozen lemon! We then capped off the night by going for gelato by the Campo de Fiori, on the way checking out the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps.

Saturday we did the 'Caesar Shuffle,' doing a tour of the Coliseum and Roman Forums. We had a great tour guide, Francesca, who really made ancient Rome come alive for us. After the tour, I set off for the Vatican to go to Vespers with the Pope! The lines were enormous, security was crazy and by the time I got inside there was only standing room left, but it was an amazing experience I wouldn't trade for the world. There was another dinner with the group that night, but I was too exhausted from the busyness of the day and decided to head back to the hostel instead.

Sunday was the last day of Rome, which was ended nicely with mimosas, compliments of the Andy! If you're studying abroad and want a structured way to see the sights of a locale in one weekend, I would highly recommend WSA. Even though its still a fledgling operation, Andy is very knowledgeable and organized (it helps his dad is travel guru Rick Steves). WSA has a personal touch to it not found in most tours, Andy is young so he's more like one of the group rather than a chaperone. Also, the price is right with prices around €150-€250, which is super affordable and you get hostel, food, transport, entrance to tourist destinations plus guides.

Check out http://www.wsaeurope.com/ for more info!

Thanksgiving

2010-11-22T09:25:00.003Z

This week is Thanksgiving, and it can be a little odd being away from home for it. I know I really only realized how much I enjoyed celebrating Thanksgiving when I wasn't able to!! Luckily, there's lots of ways to celebrate it while you're studying at UL, from the dinner available in the Sports Bar to parties with friends. Even if you don't care/support the holiday, its still a nice way to get together with friends and enjoy a nice meal.

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving (well, as much as you can without pumpkin pie!)

AWIL's Word of the Week - Crisps/Taytos

2010-11-15T10:26:00.003Z

This week's word of the week is crisps/taytos. Most know that fries are referred to here as "chips," but most don't know what to call what the American's call "chips." In Ireland, what American's call "chips" are called "crisps" or "taytos." Taytos is in reference to the popular brand of crisps/chips, which incidentally invented the idea of flavored chips with the cheese and onion flavor. Before leaving Ireland I highly recommend trying the cheese and onion flavor and prawn cocktail (don't dismiss it because it sounds odd having a seafood flavored chip - they're great)

AWIL's Word of the Week - Giving out

2010-11-08T10:24:00.005Z

This week's word of the week is a phrase most will probably hear at one point or another during their stay in Ireland (frequency depending on how annoying you are!)

Giving out means to scold/complain/criticize something or some one.

Ex. 'I heard you were giving out about me yesterday.' or 'He would not stop giving out today!'

Snape is constantly giving out!

AWIL's Word of the Week - Samhain

2010-10-25T09:24:00.002+01:00

This week's word of the week is the last Irish word/phrase of the month and its very topical! It's Samhain/Oíche Shamhna/Oíche Samhain (Samhain pronounced sauw-in, shamhna -hauw-nah and oíche - eee-ha) or as you'd know it - Halloween. You might get told left and right that celebrating Halloween is 'so American,' but in fact Halloween originated in Ireland!

Samhain is the end of summer and the Celtic year and is from the 31st of October to 1 November. Oíche Shamhna/Oíche Samhain literally means night of Samhain. It was an in between time of the year, when spirits mixed freely with the living. In Celtic tradition there was a big harvest, feast and bonfires. Additionally, the tradition of dressing up (called fancy dress in Ireland) and carving pumpkins (well in Ireland, turnips), called samhnag.

So everyone, enjoy your Halloween celebrations this week - well as much as you can without candy corn and pumpkin products! (Is it just me or does everyone miss pumpkin flavored food/drinks and candy corn. I can't get over the incredible lack of pumpkin products here. Where I'm from you can barely buy any food this time of year without it being pumpkin flavored! I bought a pumpkin today just so I can attempt a pumpkin pie, I'm so desperate for some pumpkiny goodness!!)

Oh how I miss you...

Do you like my new look? Waistcoats are so today

2010-10-22T22:51:00.001+01:00

This Thursday I went to see Fight Like Apes (FLA or FLApes) in the Stables. Fight Like Apes are an Irish band, from Dublin, and it was such a fun, high octane concert. It was a treat for any FLApes fan, playing all the best tunes from both their 2008 album and their new one, especially my personal favourite, Lend Me Your Face! It was an event put on by the Student's Union, so the price was right at only 5 euro!

I highly recommend checking out the SU website for events around campus (Follow on Facebook here). The SU puts on great ents around campus and are very budget friendly so really take advantage of these events!!

AWIL's Word of the Week - Garda

2010-10-18T13:49:00.004+01:00

This weeks AWIL word of the week is 'Garda.' Short for 'An Garda Síochána,' it translates to guardians (of the peace) and are Ireland's police force. They are typically unarmed, however there are a few armed squads in the country.

Also referred to as 'gardaí' (gar-dee), guards

Des Bishop

2010-10-16T10:13:00.010+01:00

One of my favourite memories of when I first got to Ireland was learning about the comedian Des Bishop. Bishop is a Irish-American comedian from New York who moved to Ireland when he was 14 to go to boarding school. He rose to fame performing about the differences between Irish and American culture and his experiences with them. One of his most famous acts is his work regarding the "Immersion" (hot water heater) Video here. (So funny and I can definitely relate to it now that I'm living in a house with an immersion! I no longer take for granted the luxury of an electric shower!)

With the fame from this he went on to do documentaries for RTÉ, experience life on the minimum wage (The Des Bishop Work Experience), comedy workshops to low-income areas (Joy in the Hood) and one of my personal favourites, In the Name of the Fada, where he went to the Connemara Gaeltacht and learned Irish for a year. (You can buy some of these on the RTÉ website or Amazon)

He also has DVD's available of his stand-up gigs (see purchase links above) from over the years. He's accessible to Irish people, but also any American who's spent any time in Ireland can relate to his stand-up material especially.

If you're in the US now, he's doing shows in New York at the moment and will be back in Ireland for a full tour very soon for his new show 'My Dad was Nearly James Bond.' He's doing a gig at the University Concert Hall on the 18th of February. This new show is really universal, not just geared towards Irish people, it has had very successful runs in Scotland and America. (Case in point my family saw him in Boston in September and loved it!) I highly recommend seeing him live, I went to see the 'Tongues' show in Limerick with my family on Thanksgiving 2007 and we loved it, he's great in person.

Check out more videos here on his website

Some of my favourite stand-up moments from him:

An Modh Coinniolach!

First episode of the Des Bishop Work Experience

Jump Around as Gaeilge

AWIL's Word of the Week - Cupán Tae

2010-10-11T10:00:00.004+01:00

In keeping with October's theme of featuring Irish(Gaeilge) words used in everyday language, this week's word is 'cupán tae.' (Pronounced cup-ahn tay) Fairly straight forward, it means cup of tea. This might be one of the easier Irish phrases to decipher, but its an important one to know as it gets said alot.

*Bonus word to go with cupán tae is siúcra (pronounced shru-krah), which means sugar.*

(I'm more of a Lyons tea girl myself, but I thought this was a nice photo)

Getting Sick While You're Abroad

2010-10-09T13:03:00.003+01:00

When you're anywhere for an extended period of time, chances are you will encounter some form of sickness during that time. If you're like me, you get sick a lot so here's some tips and Irish equivalents of over the counter medicine.

Rest - Its easy to stay active because you don't want to miss anything, but you'll just end up staying sicker for longer - so stay in for that extra night or two!
Visit the Student Health Center (C Block, Floor M of the Main Building) - Its free, really helpful and they'll give you samples of medicine and prescriptions if need be.
Asking a pharmacist at the pharmacy can be very helpful as well if you don't want to go to the doctor - they're trained and will be able to point you in the right direction if you tell them your symptoms
Calling home and asking for advice same as you would if you weren't away. Its hard to be sick without your support system there to help, but talking it over with family and friends back home does help.
Above all, take care of yourself and listen to your body. If you don't feel right, do something about it rather than let it get worse - you'll thank yourself later.
Remember that your temperature will be taken in Celsius so either bring a thermometer from home or have a converter ready (most phones or apps on your computer can do this)

Some equivalents of medicine in Ireland

Panadol/Paracetemol - Tylenol and acitominophen
Sudafed/Sinutab - Sudafed (Sinutab is the same thing just less expensive)
Benylin - Variations same as Nyquil/Dayquil/Bendryl
Motillium - general antiacid

AWIL's Word of the Week - An Focal

2010-10-04T10:01:00.003+01:00

For the month of October, the weekly word of the week blog will be a little bit different. I will be featuring a word in Irish that's typically used in normal conversation in Ireland. This can be a bit confusing to people who've never studied the Irish language to hear it tossed into conversations, so for the next few weeks I'll be featuring Irish words so everyone can be a little less confused!

This weeks word is 'an focal'. This means 'the word' in Irish. While its not exactly an Irish word that's used very often in speech, it is the name of UL's student newspaper and many foreign students don't know what it means.

AWIL's Word of the Week - Half {Insert hour here}

2010-09-27T07:49:00.004+01:00

This week's AWIL word of the week is 'half {insert hour},' thanks to my cousin Rob for the suggestion! This refers to the way in which the Irish say 'half past' or for example 5:30. They do say both of the previous statements, but they're more inclined to say 'half-five.' (Also when telling someone what time it is and its (ex.) 6:45 - Irish do not say 'quarter of,' no one will know what you're saying if you say this)

To Arthur!

2010-09-23T11:46:00.005+01:00

The clever marketing tool of Arthur's Day, created last year to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Guinness, is happening again this year, today, the 23rd of September. Guinness is the quintessential Irish drink, so while you're in Ireland you might as well celebrate it! Dolan's in Limerick is heading up Limerick's celebrations, with a river cruise, music and of course Guinness! Check out http://www.dolanspub.com/ for more info. In Dublin, concerts will be happening across town at St Stephen's Gate, Vicar St, Olympia Theatre, The Academy and The Village, featuring acts such as Snow Patrol, Slow Club, The Script. Cork and Galway also have concerts at The Savoy and Folan's Quay respectively, featuring Paolo Nutini, David Gray and Newton Faulkner. For a little more history watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgu_R0H49bQ&feature=fvsr

So this evening at 17:59 (the year Guinness was founded) drink a pint of the black stuff (I'll be drinking it in spirit as being coeliac I can't drink Guinness)

AWIL's Word of the Week - Off License

2010-09-20T09:06:00.003+01:00

This week's AWIL Word of the Week is 'off license.' This one can be kind of confusing when you first hear it, but its one most students will remember! Its a shop where you can buy alcohol, as in a liquor store or package store (if you're from New England). Sometimes referred to as an 'offy,' its called an off license because the items you buy are to be consumed off the premises (whereas an on license is a pub or club).

AWIL's Word of the Week - So

2010-09-13T10:12:00.003+01:00

This week's word of the week is 'so.' As in American English, the word 'so' is used quite often in Ireland, but not in the way you would expect. In the US, 'so' is used more so at the beginning of a sentence or used as a transition word. (ex. So, I went back to the store yesterday...) In Ireland they use 'so' sometimes like this, but not as much. Instead, 'so' is used frequently at the end of sentences, often for emphasis.

Ex. Well, lets go, so.

I could run a marathon if I wanted, so I could.

Homesick? How to beat the blues

2010-09-12T21:35:00.002+01:00

Exercise. The University Arena is an amazing facility with nearly anything you could want fitness wise. Don't like the gym? There's running trails all around Castletroy and a runnining group that leaves the Arena every Monday night at 6PM. Other than that? Join a sports club on campus, you'll make friends and get your mind off of things! Can't beat endorphins!

Skype. I'm a big supporter of Skype. In my opinion you really can't beat it! Free calls home will help cure anyone's homesickness! All you need is a mic and a webcam if you'd like and you're good to go! Your laptop might even have one built in!

Meet up with friends for a bit of food, drink and banter at the Stables or Javas

Trouble making friends? Check out the International Society's socials to meet fellow internationals or try joining a club or society on campus. Joining a club or soc is a guaranteed insta-friends situation!

Still feeling blue? There's counselors available and there is the Connect, which offers friendly support to students.

Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day. Stay positive, make an effort to get out and you will make friends.

AWIL's Word of the Week - Your Man/Your One

2010-09-06T08:23:00.001+01:00

After a brief hiatus due to Master's orientation, food poisoning and general busyness – AWIL's Word of the Week is back!

This week with an Irish classic: 'Your man' or 'Your one.' If you're like me hearing this will inevitably get “Here Comes Your Man” by the Pixies stuck in your head for days on end! This phrase has nothing to do with your connection to the person in question, but is more of a general way of referring to a person, if you can't remember their name, etc. 'Your man' is when you are referencing a male and 'Your one' is when referencing a female.

Examples: 'Who's your man over there?' 'Did you go out with your one yesterday?'

I've gotten to Limerick...what now?

2010-08-28T15:19:00.003+01:00

Many new international students have just gotten to UL, here are a few tips for your first couple of days.

Bus: The 308/308A goes from UL to Limerick City every 15 minutes, Monday-Saturday and every 20 minutes on Sunday afternoon. Getting into the City Centre opens you up to many options.

1) Shopping in Limerick City

2) Getting the 304 to Raheen to the Crescent Shopping Centre

3) The bus and train station, where you can hop a bus to the airport,

Galway, Dublin, Cork, etc or a train to Dublin.

Shuttle: There is a shuttle from the Stables a couple times an hour to the Parkway Shopping Centre. Equipped with a Dunnes Store and many other shops in its locality, its a very cost efficient and easy way to get all of your shopping done and supplies for when you first arrive.

Shopping: As stated above, there's lots of shopping in Limerick City and the Crescent Shopping Centre. However if you want to do some major shopping I suggest hopping a bus to Dublin or even Cork for bigger selection and a wider variety of shops. [Or if budget is no option - Oxford Street in London!]

Orientation: I highly recommend attending EVERY part of orientation. Don't skimp on the tour to register early, it's not where you pick your classes and trust me you'll need a comprehensive tour to know your way around UL. Your orientation group will also help you know a few more people at UL right off the bat who are in a similar situation to you.

Go out, have fun and SLEEP!: I suggest a trip to the Stables followed by the Lodge to get the 'true' UL experience! You'll get to know these places well during your time here!

Quick tip on jet lag: Once you arrive, try to immediately stick to the present time, i.e. go to bed at 10 PM (or what have you) and get up at 9Am to get into the groove. If you stay up too late and wake up too late you'll really be sabotaging yourself with adjusting.

AWIL's Word of the Week - Yoke

2010-08-23T17:35:00.003+01:00

This 'weeks AWIL WOW is 'yoke.'

Not this

Or this

Yoke in Ireland is a generic word for 'thing' and can be used interchangeably.

Examples include: Hand me that yoke or What's that yoke over there?

Have a word you like featured? Email/facebook/twitter or comment it!

Limerick's Top Tourist Spots and Things To Do

2010-08-11T01:16:00.001+01:00

Limerick has a rich history and has many prime tourist spots to choose from. Here's a list of spots to check out with friends and family!

King John's Castle

King John's Castle is in the Medieval section of Limerick.
It began as apart of a Viking settlement in the 900s, then transfered to the Anglo-Normans.
Its most famous battle was the Seige of Limerick in 1642
You can go all through out the castle and there is also a short film to watch about the history of the castle

St. Mary's Cathedral

St Mary's Cathedral is an Anglican Church and is in the same area as King John's Castle.
It was founded in 1158 and originally was a Catholic Church, but was transferred to the Church of Ireland/England after the English take over.

Bunratty

Bunratty is a little outside of Limerick, but is accessible easily by the 343 Shannon Airport bus.
Like King John's Castle, it also has Viking origins, but the castle was built in 1270
Its been kept a bit more authentic than King John's, so watch out for the windy narrow stairs!
There is a folk park adjacent to the castle and an old time pub called Durty Nelly's, built in 1620
There's also a medieval style banquet at the Castle, its a little pricey, but well worth it!

Angela's Ashes Tour

If you're a fan of the book or movie, the Angela's Ashes tour is a cool thing to do
A walking tour, it brings you around all of Frank McCourt's childhood haunts, made famous by his book Angela's Ashes
Angela's Ashes was a controversial book to most natives of Limerick because of its poor portrayal of the city, but its something any fan of the book would enjoy

Check out a match in Thomond Park or the GAA grounds

Seeing a rugby, hurling or Gaelic football match is a great way to get immersed into Irish culture
Check out the websites of Thomond Park and the Limerick GAA for more details on upcoming matches
Or alternatively, go to a pub for a big match like Flannerys, Clohesseys or Nancy Blake's

Dolan's

Check out Dolan's to see a traditional Irish pub and some Irish music céilís on select nights
Additionally, Dolan's also has concerts regularly featuring a wide variety of artists

Check out Limerick's Tourist Office for deals, souvenirs and more information!

AWIL's word of the week was absent again this week because I was traveling, but it will be back again next week! I know many are prepping to come over to Ireland now (as am I!), so if you have any questions, email me at american.werewoulfe.in.limerick@gmail.com or tweet orfacebook me!

AWIL's Word of the Week - Gobshite

2010-08-01T23:22:00.004+01:00

After a brief hiatus because of traveling, AWIL's word of the week is making its glorious comeback this week!

This week's word is a little vulgar (but not so much in Ireland) and a favourite of mine - gobshite. A combo of the Irish word "gob" meaning mouth and "shite" (shit), gobshite is someone who basically talks "shite" all the time. Essentially a person who talks a lot but never really says anything of value or truth. It can also be someone who is being rude or a jerk.

Facebook Page!

2010-07-27T17:06:00.004+01:00

Well everyone, I'm really getting into the whole web 2.0 thing, now I've made a facebook page for my blog! Same with Twitter, I'll be posting new blogs here, answering questions and posting tid bits of info! Make sure to follow and forward it on to friends and anyone you know who'll be studying abroad!

Here's the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Werewoulfe-in-Limerick/113681748683116?ref=ts#!/pages/American-Werewoulfe-in-Limerick/113681748683116?v=wall&ref=ts

Meg

Ps, AWIL's word of the week was MIA yesterday because I was traveling from Ireland to the US, but it'll be back next week!

Joining the Twitterverse!

2010-07-23T22:23:00.005+01:00

Well I decided to become trendy (well I suppose trendier as blogs are apparently quite hip these days) and make a twitter to go along with my blog. I'll post my new entries, put up little tid-bits of advice and answer questions. I'll still use my email to answer big questions (if I haven't gotten back to you, don't worry I will - things have been hectic!!), but twitter can be used now for small scale queries.

Here's my page: https://twitter.com/awolimerick

Be sure to follow and tell your friends!!

Meg

AWIL's Word of the Week - Shift

2010-07-19T11:03:00.003+01:00

This week's word of the week is a funny one and you'll most definitely hear it when you're in Ireland. It's 'shift.' Shift colloquially means in Ireland 'kiss.' Its more of a word for the younger generation though.

Some examples are: 'I shifted him/her.' or 'Did ya get the shift?'

Two people getting the shift AND promoting the Irish language!

AWIL's word of the week: class

2010-07-12T09:45:00.001+01:00

This week's word is 'class.' Nope, nothing to do with school, class in Ireland roughly means cool, great, awesome, etc. As with AWIL's previous words of the week, this one is very popular and you'll find it slipping into your everyday speech before you know it!

Some examples of usage are: 'That's so class!' or 'You're going out tonight? Class!'

Have a word you'd like featured? Comment or email american.werewoulfe.in.limerick@gmail.com!

Summer Checklist

2010-07-09T09:53:00.001+01:00

Going Abroad this September? Here's a few pieces of advice:

1) Save, save, save!

With just a semester or year in Ireland you'll want to see and do as much as you can.
While the euro and dollar exchange is more favourable these days, saving as much money as you can will only benefit you.
Travel, shopping, food, etc - it all adds up and you don't want to be begging your parents for money come December or maxing out a credit card!

2) Pick up a journal

I highly recommend bringing a journal with you so you can record your times abroad. It'll be a nice keepsake to look back on and you'll be kicking yourself if you don't!

3) Adapters

Obviously you can buy adapters here, but it doesn't hurt to come over with one or two to get set up.
When you're all groggy and jet-lagged that first day, you'll be happy you can plug in your computer without having to run to the shop first!

4) Weather gear

Everyone knows it rains in Ireland, this is pretty much a given.
The weather here is very fickle, it can be gorgeous out one minute and pouring rain the next.
I suggest coming over with an umbrella, light rain jacket and water-proof winter jacket/ski-jacket. You'll end up carrying the umbrella with you always, using the light jacket September/October (Or March/April/May) and the heavy one November/December (Or January/February)

5) Let your bank and credit card provider know you're going abroad

This is a must-do.
If you start making loads of purchases and ATM withdrawals abroad the bank/credit card provider thinks its fraud and shuts down your account.
Letting your bank know is really simple. Just go into your local branch or call them, and let them know you're going abroad (they might ask you to specify countries you'll visit) and they'll put a note on your account.
I also recommend putting a parent or someone else you trust on your account just in case you need some emergency money or you need someone to handle your account back home.

6) Finalize details - flight, accommodation, classes

Book your flight or finding out the details of your flight is clearly important. Make sure your parents have your itinerary and if you're booking your flight on your own, make sure it's in the right time bracket to get the bus pick-up at the airport from the International Office.
If you're accommodation is not pre-booked for you, book it ASAP and print the email of confirmation so you'll know where to go when you arrive and you'll have all the details ready.
If you're worried about classes transferring back, have more than you need verified by your home college so you'll have a bit of choice when you get to UL. You won't know exactly what classes are offered/being run until you get here so it's best, if you're worried, to get a few extra endorsed before you go.

Limerick's Top Tourist Spots and Things To Do

2010-07-07T10:34:00.007+01:00

Limerick has a rich history and has many prime tourist spots to choose from. Here's a list of spots to check out with friends and family!

King John's Castle

King John's Castle is in the Medieval section of Limerick.
It began as apart of a Viking settlement in the 900s, then transfered to the Anglo-Normans.
Its most famous battle was the Seige of Limerick in 1642
You can go all through out the castle and there is also a short film to watch about the history of the castle

St. Mary's Cathedral

St Mary's Cathedral is an Anglican Church and is in the same area as King John's Castle.
It was founded in 1158 and originally was a Catholic Church, but was transferred to the Church of Ireland/England after the English take over.

Bunratty

Bunratty is a little outside of Limerick, but is accessible easily by the 343 Shannon Airport bus.
Like King John's Castle, it also has Viking origins, but the castle was built in 1270
Its been kept a bit more authentic than King John's, so watch out for the windy narrow stairs!
There is a folk park adjacent to the castle and an old time pub called Durty Nelly's, built in 1620
There's also a medieval style banquet at the Castle, its a little pricey, but well worth it!

Angela's Ashes Tour

If you're a fan of the book or movie, the Angela's Ashes tour is a cool thing to do
A walking tour, it brings you around all of Frank McCourt's childhood haunts, made famous by his book Angela's Ashes
Angela's Ashes was a controversial book to most natives of Limerick because of its poor portrayal of the city, but its something any fan of the book would enjoy

Check out a match in Thomond Park or the GAA grounds

Seeing a rugby, hurling or Gaelic football match is a great way to get immersed into Irish culture
Check out the websites of Thomond Park and the Limerick GAA for more details on upcoming matches
Or alternatively, go to a pub for a big match like Flannerys, Clohesseys or Nancy Blake's

Dolan's

Check out Dolan's to see a traditional Irish pub and some Irish music céilís on select nights
Additionally, Dolan's also has concerts regularly featuring a wide variety of artists

Check out Limerick's Tourist Office for deals, souvenirs and more information!

AWIL's word of the week: The ubiquitous 'like'

2010-07-05T12:07:00.003+01:00

Today's word of the week is 'like.' Ah the word like! First popularized by Valley Girls, like is now a staple in American speech. As in 'Like oh my gosh!'

In Ireland they use 'like' as well, but not the same way. It's a place holder within a sentence and has no meaning, like in America, but not in the same part of the sentence. In Ireland the word like is used at the end of a statement and believe me everyone does it.

Some examples of this are: 'you know, like' and 'I don't know what you're saying, like'

Its oddly catchy and you'll find yourself saying it before you know it (like)!

Comment or email (american.werewoulfe.in.limerick@gmail.com) if you have a word or phrase you want featured!

A 4th of July Quandry

2010-07-03T07:45:00.004+01:00

Confused and away from my native land, I wander the streets of Limerick in red, white and blue in search of a 4th of July celebration.

Studying at UL Full Time

2010-07-02T10:22:00.007+01:00

The price of going to college in America has recently come to my attention again as my younger brother Tim is beginning to look into colleges. For one year at a standard private college, not even an Ivy like Harvard, the cost is roughly $50,000 a year (tuition and housing). This is mind boggling to me and I can't imagine how someone can pay that for four years or end up with $200,000+ in debt after college.

At the University of Limerick (UL), I'm so removed from this because the price of fees here is much less expensive. For one, the tuition fee for one year at UL averages around 11,500 euro (it varies per major/course) and it has not gone up for the past four years. Housing on campus ranges from 3,500-4,100 euro and is even cheaper off campus. All in all with airfare, food, etc you're looking in the range of $20,000 - $25,000 for the whole year. For me this was comparable to going to my state college!

Among the benefits of attending UL is a great education with an internationally recognized degree and the ability to live abroad and travel whilst you do it! Many courses at UL also have a mandatory ERASMUS (study abroad) program and co-op program which enables you to get nine months of work experience before you leave college. This is invaluable when you graduate and begin looking for jobs.

I highly recommend high school students to consider UL and even if you're coming over for a semester, don't think you can't transfer in! Find a course/major you like and that correlates with the work you've done previously and talk to the head of the course and the International Office to see how you might transfer in. I did this and it was definitely worth it! Want to finish out your degree in the US then come back? Do a Masters or PhD! I'm doing a masters this year and again the price is just so much less than in the US, I couldn't fathom doing it anywhere else!!

More Exciting News for AWIL!

2010-06-29T15:54:00.004+01:00

Even though my blog has only existed for a little over a week, a lot of exciting things have happened with it. The first was University of Limerick's International Education Division put it on their website and now the blog gets hundreds of hits per day. Now I just received word that AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study) will now be featuring it in their July newsletter! It's all very exciting and I can't wait to see what else is in store!

Thanks for all your support and be sure to follow my blog!

Meg

I don't like Mondays! (Tell me why?)

2010-06-28T10:04:00.001+01:00

Monday's are the worst even in the summertime, so to lighten it up I thought I'd begin a weekly entry on Irish slang words. A new word each Monday to lighten up your day and a chance to improve (maybe improve is a bit strong, widen?) your vocabulary.

I'd thought we'd start the first entry of this with a classic: 'craic.'

Craic (or crack) loosely meaning fun, entertainment, etc. It's a difficult word to describe, more something you have to experience. Origin is unclear, some says its from English or Scots Gaelic and has been Gaelicised into 'craic.'

A couple of examples of ways to use 'craic':

What's the craic? (What's up?)

Come out, it'll be great craic! (Come out, it'll be great fun/a great time!)

Here is a video of an STA Traveler, experiencing the craic for herself in Ireland, the video is entitled 'Ireland I go for the craic!'

Irish or spent time in Ireland already? Comment or email me (american.werewoulfe.in.limerick@gmail.com) your favourite quintessential Irish word or phrase and I'll feature it in the coming weeks!

Copper & Spice

2010-06-27T14:17:00.007+01:00

Referring back to Thursday's entry on food allergies, I have coeliac disease and like to eat at allergy friendly restaurants for peace of mind. There's nothing worse than clandestine gluten in your meal, making you feel sick as your leaving and much worse the next day!

Copper & Spice is one of my favourite restaurants in terms of food and their accommodating nature. Last night I went out to dinner there and had a great experience yet again. The decor is really cute and the menu's extensive, you could go all the time and never get bored!

I opted for the starter, main, dessert and drink for 24.50. For my starter I had the aloo tikki, vegetable pakora and tandoori chicken. But first the complimentary poppadoms!

For my main I had the Saag Ghost .

For my dessert I had the sorbet.

Happy Meg and still gluten free!!

One week blogiversary!

2010-06-27T08:36:00.002+01:00

It's now my one week blogiversary! In just one week I'm so happy with how everything is shaping up! My blog is now featured on UL's International Education Division website, which is so amazing! I'm really happy to be able to help my fellow internationals. Please let anyone you know who is looking into studying abroad know about this blog. While a lot is Limerick and UL specific, I think it could help students get to know what the study abroad experience is like. For my first week I wanted to write an entry every day, but from now on I am going to write around twice a week.

Hope you're enjoying it and please remember to follow the blog!

Meg

Food Allergies Abroad

2010-06-23T14:27:00.009+01:00

Going abroad with food allergies can be a daunting task. Being able to find food to cater to your specific allergy, dining out, etc can be a very scary prospect that I know all too well. I am a celiac (coeliac) and I've had some difficulties of course, but for the most part it has been very easy to keep to my diet.

Superquinn, Tescos and Dunnes all have gluten free sections that also have dairy/lactose-free goods. Soymilk can be found in the same supermarkets. For more harder to get or specialty items, there are two convenient health food shops in the area, one in Arthurs Quay by Tesco and the other in the Superquinn shopping centre. These two shops sell nearly everything you could possibly want in terms of allergy friendly foodstuffs and goods, and are at reasonable prices.

Dining out can be scary, but I've found many restaurants that cater to allergies very well. Here are five of my favourite allergy friendly restaurants:

1) Ciaráns: Right beside Dromroe Village, this is a great vegetarian and vegan restaurant, with a seasonal menu that changes daily! They advertise that they'll cater to any food allergy, just let the server know! Open for breakfast and lunch.

2) Delish: Two convenient spots, located in town on Thomas St and in Castletroy by the flagpoles of UL. They offer gluten free scones, cookies and can make any of their sandwiches gluten free with their fabulous g-free bread. They also have lots of veggie options and offer soy milk for their extensive specialty coffee menu.

3) The Sage Café: Located on Catherine St in town. Open for breakfast and lunch, they offer a wide variety of healthy and natural options, and cater for coeliacs, vegetarians and lactose intolerants. It can be a bit pricy, but well worth the money.

4) Copper & Spice: Two nearby spots, located on Cornmarket Row in town and in nearby Annacotty. Copper & Spice is a great Indian and Asian style restaurant that is so allergy and food preference friendly, its amazing! Each item is denoted with a W or V (wheat free and vegetarian) and the wheat free is nearly always gluten free as well! They also have amazing deals, like starter, main, dessert and a drink all for under 25 euro!

5) Chocolat: Located on O'Connell St. This is a personal favourite of mine, it's a really eclectic menu, with something to suit every taste. Each coeliac item on the menu has a (C) next to it and there's great variety. Lots of veggie and dairy free options as well! They also do great deals, before 7PM, starter, main and tea/coffee for 15.50 and after 7PM starter, main and dessert for 19.50!

International Education Division Recognition

2010-06-23T08:18:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone, thanks for all of your support in these early days of my blog. Even though my blog is still in its infancy, I've just received word that the International Education Division at UL wants to feature it on their website! I'm really excited about this and so happy that my blog will now be used to help my fellow international students at UL! I've created an email to go with the blog, so if there are any questions feel free to email or leave a comment! Be sure to follow my blog (Click follow on the upper right hand corner)!

Email: american.werewoulfe.in.limerick@gmail.com

Gaeilge

2010-06-20T21:13:00.001+01:00

Gaeilge or Irish (some refer to it incorrectly as 'Gaelic') is Ireland's first and official language, with English officially being its second language. As any visitor to Ireland knows, the Irish language is everywhere on signage, but is not widely spoken in much of the country.

The Irish language entered its decline during the English's colonization of Ireland and the Great Famine (An Gorta Mór), which lasted from 1845-1851. Prior to this, Irish was the main language of the island, with a very rich and illustrious history. Irish was the first vernacular language used in educated circles and is the oldest literary language in the world. (Reading How the Irish Saved Civilization can shed more light on this topic.)

The last vestage of the Irish language as a daily spoken language is the Gaeltacht or Irish speaking area. These areas are typically coastal on the west of Ireland, in Cork, Kerry, Galway, Mayo, Donegal, Waterford and Meath. Fellow American, comedian Des Bishop, did a show in 2008 called In the Name of the Fada, on his journey learning Irish in the Galway (Connemara) Gaeltacht. It's an interesting TV program and you can see Irish Gaeltacht living not only in Connemara, but in the whole of the country.

Since the birth of the Irish Republic, an attempt at the revival of the Irish language has also occurred. It is a required language all through out primary and secondary education and for the NUI colleges, one must have satisfactory Irish to be admitted. While many claim that this 'revival' has been unsuccessful, there have been obvious strides in the language. Case in point - in 1851 only 21.9% spoke/know Irish, in 2006 this percentage had risen to 41.9%. (Ó Murchú, 2008) Much more can be done with the language and reforms should occur in the educational system, but it should not be deemed a failure just yet.

My experience with the Irish language has been pleasant, unlike many of my Irish peers who loathe the language from their school days. I took three classes at UL in Irish and now have a good basic command of the language. I also wrote my FYP (Final Year Project) on the Irish language, entitled 'Irish Language: Public Attitudes and Language Planning.' In my time in Ireland I have visited two Gaeltacht areas in Kerry, Dunquin (Dún Chaoin) and Ballinskelligs (Baile na Sceilge).

If you are starting a semester, year, full degree, what have you - I highly recommend taking at least one class of Irish. UL has many excellent opportunities to learn Irish, there are beginner classes for students to take as a part of your course work or alternatively there are night classes for a small fee. The classes typically include a trip to the Gaeltacht to practice your Irish, but you can visit the Gaeltacht on your own to practice your Irish. Additionally there is Seomra na Gaeilge, an Irish language common room, on the ground floor of the Languages Building, in which you can have a cup of tea, some biscuits and have an outlet to speak Irish. Each year there is Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish Week), in which there are many Irish medium activities occurring at UL and across Ireland. Irish words or phrases are typically thrown into conversation, so it will help your understanding of what people are saying and can impress your Irish friends as well!

Click here to see comedian Des Bishop perform House of Pain's 'Jump Around' as Gaeilge!

(Ó Murchú, H. More Facts About Irish, 2008)

5 Things to Remember Before You Go

2010-06-20T21:12:00.001+01:00

5. You really don't need to pack that much. Seriously don't.

You'll be able to do laundry and you'll end up buying so much whilst you're over, you'll be kicking yourself when you go home.
Comfortable clothes, a few going out outfits and some weather specific gear and you'll be fine. (umbrella, umbrella, umbrella!)
Do not bring an extra suitcase just of shoes. Speaking from experience, its just not worth it.

4. Have all of your flight details, passport, emergency numbers and University acceptance letter ready in your carry-on.

Having this stuff is crucial for getting through customs and immigration smoothly.
Even if you have a connecting flight in another country, make sure you have everything on hand. I had a layover in Heathrow (London) and they made me show I was a student with return flight details before they'd let me go on to my connecting flight! (I had a 6 month visa for Britain as well after it, but thats neither here nor there!)

3. If you have a favorite shampoo/conditioner/what have you that you can't live without, bring a bottle or two with you - but other than that you can buy it when you're there.

There's no use in filling your bag with toiletries that you can buy for pretty much the same price and same brand while you're abroad.
A quick word on deoderants: They tend to favor spray on deoderants, rather than stick. While I prefer the spray on, if you don't I'd bring a stick or two just in case.

2. Its a good idea to come over with about 20 euro on hand, but any more than that is unnecessary.

Banks and currency exchange kiosks charge a ridiculous commission and you end up paying 5 cents extra per euro or more.
ATMs are plentiful and charge the exact rate for the day, but take out in large sums (40-50) as there is a foreign ATM fee of usually around $2.
At UL, if you have a student card, Ulster Bank changes money for no commission, which is very handy!

1. Keep an open mind.

While it will be one of the best experiences of your life, it will sometimes be hard.
Homesickness, jet lag, etc happen to everyone.
Be prepared and don't worry too much before you go. Everyone makes friends, travels and has a great time.
Join a few clubs, be friendly and it'll all work out!
Skype is an excellent tool for calling home for free on your computer!

It is time

2010-06-20T18:09:00.001+01:00

As my three year anniversary of being in Ireland just passed (6 June 2007), I thought it might be time to write a blog about my experiences studying abroad, to help those who might be venturing off for a semester, year or full undergraduate degree like myself.

I thought I might start my first entry with a little trip down memory lane, back to yester year, June 2007.

I began my trip to Ireland, a mere child of 20, going off for a 3 week summer class at the University of Limerick. I was, of course, sick, this time with a sinus infection. This culminated in blowing my right ear out arriving to Heathrow and making the subsequent Aer Lingus flight into Shannon a nightmare, with the man next to me thinking I was having a seizure because my ear hurt so bad. But I digress...

I was on a AIFS summer study abroad program to take an Irish Studies class at the University of Limerick. The trip included many sight-seeing jaunts around Ireland and a 3 day trip to London. That along with a tidy $500 scholarship from AIFS, I was sold!

The bus trip from Shannon Airport to UL was a surreal jet-lagged/sinus infection-ed haze, spent taking in the scenery on an unnaturally gorgeous day in Limerick, accompanied by my cousin Norma on co-op in the International Office at UL and a few of my fellow summer studiers. Arriving at UL, I stayed in Dromroe Village, with my housemates (and quickly some of my best friends of the trip) Meghan, Kellen, Heather and Kathryn. We made our way to the welcome reception and then, even in our tired state, made our way to the Stables, the main pub of the UL campus.

The next couple of weeks passed by quick, having a great time at every moment. My housemates and I met up with two other girls on the trip, Val and Lindsay, and were inseparable the rest of our time in Ireland. We did the normal touristy things like visit King John's Castle, Bunratty, Trinity College, Lahinch, Ailwee Caves, etc; but also veered from the norm with such outings as going to the first of three All-Ireland Semi-Finals of Limerick vs Tipperary in hurling. We also sampled the nightlife of Limerick, visiting local faithfuls like Nancy Blake's, Flannerys, Clohesseys among many others. We made the most of our time in Limerick that summer and managed to get good grades in the process.

As we left at the end of June, everyone was really upset to be leaving, but I was slightly less upset than the rest. I'd decided to stay on and finish out my undergraduate degree at UL. It was a spur of the moment decision, but obviously three years later, it was the right one.

I hope you enjoyed my first blog post, more stories and advice to come!

Meg