The macarena crosses all boundaries

Week one in Ireland has been... interesting.

Its almost 3am here, so here are some of the highlights without much detail:

I've locked my self out of my room at least half a dozen times, probably earning me the title of "the dumb American girl" behind my back.

My otherwise friendly flatmates, of which there's five, are MIA most of the time.

I still can't figure out how to turn on the damn TV.

I have my own bathroom and a double bed, which is brilliant :)

I nearly cried in the library today when I couldn't log on to a pc.

The University of Limerick campus is beautiful- and enormous!

It's true- tea really does solve everything.

Bags cost extra.

Learned some more Gaelic. Teach Failte= house of welcome. (Chock fall-cha). Interestingly I was taught Failte as foil-ta. Dialetic differences? Perhaps.

I thought I was destined to be a loner for 3 1/2 months until tonight. Met a few people. Not as worried.

Took an interesting bus tour of Limerick city centre today. Other Americans asked: what should I do on weekends? and how do I get to Dublin?

I suppose common sense really isn't so common after all.... the answer to 1: Travel. the answer to 2: Bus Eireann is definitely the way to go.

Apparently the second religion in Limerick is Munster rugby. Get tickets if you can, where you can.

Jet lag sucks.

Totally had a P.S. I love You moment tonight in one of the pubs on campus: the Galway Girl came on as I was walking through a crowd with a pint in my hand. Only thing missing was a cute Irish guy play guitar. Ah well. Next time ;)

Also in the Stables club tonight- watched people from 15 different countries all do the Macarena. Apparently crossing your arms and hoping in circles is universal, folks.

Speaking of jet lag, that's about it for now. Stories to come later.

Slainte (Cheers).

My Life As a Suitcase

Ok, so I've been up since 3:45am thinking about what to pack for approximately 3 1/2 months studying abroad in Ireland. There's two weeks left until take off, and I know this is just one time I can't leave packing until the last minute, as I usually do. So I lay awake in bed, starting up at the ceiling thinking: what the hell do I put in my suitcases? There are several important things that I have to grapple with:

1. Delta's, my airline of desperation (not choice) baggage restrictions say that checked bags may be no more than 50lbs.
2. Eveyone recommends packing light. I, however, have a tendency to overpack.
3. I never realize how much stuff I actually own until I start packing. All I have to say is: holy crap!
4. Going abroad means I have to be both cute AND comfortable.

My parent's living currently looks like my usual packing boxes vomitted and got sick everywhere. In fact, my clothes are planning a mass take over. I'm sure they're plotting against me as I write.

Maybe I just need a more zen approach; maybe I just need to be my suitcase... who knows?