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Monday, June 23 at 8pm
Today was my first day in the office. I arrived at 9:30 and met the team. After some tea and toast, we hit the road at 11am for Meen Derry, a farmland nearby. The walk was a 10k loop past dilapidated and newly built farmhouses, sheep, cows, and the like. During the walk, I was able to speak with the program’s administrator and learn more about her and the program. Nuala’s really great and I’m looking forward to working with her.
Today was my first day in the office. I arrived at 9:30 and met the team. After some tea and toast, we hit the road at 11am for Meen Derry, a farmland nearby. The walk was a 10k loop past dilapidated and newly built farmhouses, sheep, cows, and the like. During the walk, I was able to speak with the program’s administrator and learn more about her and the program. Nuala’s really great and I’m looking forward to working with her.
After lunch (these sandwiches are quite interesting), there was a meeting about the walk and we’ve decided to go to Doe Island next Tuesday. I met some more of the program’s leadership after everyone left and checked my mail. They are upbeat, visionary, and great to be around.
After leaving the office, I went on a jog to the beach (trá or cé) for a bit of adventure. The jog was maybe a total of 2km to the pier and I stopped along the way to soak of the scenery and take pictures. There are a lot of well-trained, outdoor dogs in this area which worried me at first. Definitely unlike the last island I was on (Puerto Rico).
To see pictures from Meen Derry and my jog to the beach.
Tonight I’m staying in to wash some clothes, listen to music, and read. Tomorrow I hope to go to Gortahork for the Irish music.
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Tuesday, June 24 at 8:20pm
What a day. Somehow I went to bed at 11pm last night and slept through my 7am alarm all the way until 11am when Martin called. I must still be jet-lagged because I NEVER do that. I made it to work (was ready in ten minutes) and went walking in Glenveagh National Park to the Castle (click for pictures). Absolutely gorgeous. It put yesterday’s walk to shame.
As of now, I’m eating country vegetables and roasted potatoes – still being healthy (as much as I can). Lunches are very interesting – yesterday I had a panini with Chicken, onions, sweet corn and pink sauce (mayo and ketchup, traditionally for prawns) and today I had tuna (like tuna, not tuna salad), cheese (shredded motz), pepper (chopped yellow, red and green) on brown bread. The sandwich combos are very creative, although I couldn’t get oil or vinegar on my Subway sandwich on Saturday.
At 9:30pm I’ll head out and see if I can get a taxi to Gortahork for traditional Irish music and the purported best pint of Guinness in the area at Billy’s Pub. It’s a bit tough to go out night after night and hope that I’ll meet some people I can talk to, however it’s the best shot I’ve got if I want to be social. It’s incredibly easy to make acquaintances here but very difficult to make friends. I miss going out with everyone from Hoboken and having quality conversation someplace on Washington Street or visiting friends from home and either walking around the Memorial or visiting some Boston restaurant for food I’ve never tried before. I’m very glad that I was able to see so many people before I left – I miss you all.
The weather is much improved from Sunday. It didn’t rain at all yesterday and only drizzled a bit on today’s walk (it’s now raining though). The climate here doesn’t change much (not true ike our seasons) but the weather can change in an instant. A part of me doesn’t want to battle the weather to see other people, but I can’t be a hermit. I must add though that I absolutely love the people I’m working with and their senses of humor (although no one beats Jonathan’s sarcasm). I’m learning more Irish (not Irish language but dialect of English) idioms and colloquial phrases to bring home and share with everyone.
Tonight I’m staying in to wash some clothes, listen to music, and read. Tomorrow I hope to go to Gortahork for the Irish music.
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Tuesday, June 24 at 8:20pm
What a day. Somehow I went to bed at 11pm last night and slept through my 7am alarm all the way until 11am when Martin called. I must still be jet-lagged because I NEVER do that. I made it to work (was ready in ten minutes) and went walking in Glenveagh National Park to the Castle (click for pictures). Absolutely gorgeous. It put yesterday’s walk to shame.
As of now, I’m eating country vegetables and roasted potatoes – still being healthy (as much as I can). Lunches are very interesting – yesterday I had a panini with Chicken, onions, sweet corn and pink sauce (mayo and ketchup, traditionally for prawns) and today I had tuna (like tuna, not tuna salad), cheese (shredded motz), pepper (chopped yellow, red and green) on brown bread. The sandwich combos are very creative, although I couldn’t get oil or vinegar on my Subway sandwich on Saturday.
At 9:30pm I’ll head out and see if I can get a taxi to Gortahork for traditional Irish music and the purported best pint of Guinness in the area at Billy’s Pub. It’s a bit tough to go out night after night and hope that I’ll meet some people I can talk to, however it’s the best shot I’ve got if I want to be social. It’s incredibly easy to make acquaintances here but very difficult to make friends. I miss going out with everyone from Hoboken and having quality conversation someplace on Washington Street or visiting friends from home and either walking around the Memorial or visiting some Boston restaurant for food I’ve never tried before. I’m very glad that I was able to see so many people before I left – I miss you all.
The weather is much improved from Sunday. It didn’t rain at all yesterday and only drizzled a bit on today’s walk (it’s now raining though). The climate here doesn’t change much (not true ike our seasons) but the weather can change in an instant. A part of me doesn’t want to battle the weather to see other people, but I can’t be a hermit. I must add though that I absolutely love the people I’m working with and their senses of humor (although no one beats Jonathan’s sarcasm). I’m learning more Irish (not Irish language but dialect of English) idioms and colloquial phrases to bring home and share with everyone.
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Wednesday, June 25 at 8:20pm
Went out last night. The band at Billy’s was fantastic. There were uilleann pipes, accordion/guitar, banjo/mandolin, fiddle, and a rotating group of Irish drummers. Although the instrumentals were incredible to enjoy live, I found the ballads particularly touching. I spoke to a few people, most of them from out of the area – Dublin, Derry, Scotland. It’s easy to meet people after everyone has had a couple pints, however finding friends or other people my age that live here is still quite difficult. On top of that, the taxi fare was six euro each way, approximately $20. I don’t know if I am prepared to pay that every week.
Today I woke up on my own without the alarm which made me very happy. Had an office meeting this morning and was given the responsibility of taking notes. The chair and secretary of each meeting rotates by week. Afterward, we headed to Ards Friary on the edge of the Ards Forest. Honestly the most beautiful place I’ve been to so far. Yesterday I noticed that Glenveagh National Park reminded me of Montana on smaller scale. Ards Forest is unlike anything else. It is a mixture of dense forest, open fields, beaches and cliffs.
Wednesday, June 25 at 8:20pm
Went out last night. The band at Billy’s was fantastic. There were uilleann pipes, accordion/guitar, banjo/mandolin, fiddle, and a rotating group of Irish drummers. Although the instrumentals were incredible to enjoy live, I found the ballads particularly touching. I spoke to a few people, most of them from out of the area – Dublin, Derry, Scotland. It’s easy to meet people after everyone has had a couple pints, however finding friends or other people my age that live here is still quite difficult. On top of that, the taxi fare was six euro each way, approximately $20. I don’t know if I am prepared to pay that every week.
Today I woke up on my own without the alarm which made me very happy. Had an office meeting this morning and was given the responsibility of taking notes. The chair and secretary of each meeting rotates by week. Afterward, we headed to Ards Friary on the edge of the Ards Forest. Honestly the most beautiful place I’ve been to so far. Yesterday I noticed that Glenveagh National Park reminded me of Montana on smaller scale. Ards Forest is unlike anything else. It is a mixture of dense forest, open fields, beaches and cliffs.
Wednesday is also a special day for two reasons: 1) the program is open to visitors to join on the walk, and 2) there is something called the diary – what I would liken to a group reflection (similar to RYLA debriefs, oh snap!). A few super-cool moments today:
- We took a group picture on the beach and everyone began telling jokes, everything from puns or corny jokes. It was fantastic; everyone was together and having fun.
- One of the participants reminded me that I’m a unique individual, and that is the best part of who I am. There is no one like me, never was, and never will be. As such, I should be proud of who I am, my talents, interests, and so on. The key is to stay out of trouble and walk in good company (as we’re walking). It was such a real pick me up, especially when I am such an outsider (I still have trouble understanding what is said to me at times, between the accent, idioms, and cultural differences).
I’ve decided that I will go to Dublin this weekend. I can catch an early bus from Falcarragh that will drop me in Dublin around lunch time. I downloaded and printed a few walking tours/podcasts so I can check out the city. I’ve already found what appears to be a great program at the oldest pub in Dublin and a hostel for the night. I’ll probably call the guys I met last weekend and then see some other sites on Sunday before heading back. It’s a bit of an adventure and I’m really looking forward to it.
My Mom has purchased tickets for herself and Kelly to visit July 10-20 so I’ll be planning our itinerary for that week. I hope to visit Tory Island, Galway Bay, and take part in the Earagail Festival.
3 comments:
Excited that you're learning so much and I hope you can teach me some fun words to use when you get back here. I'm getting kinda lonesome so hurry home! Love the pictures as well. Your hair looks messy but you look beautiful! Love!
you are wearing a walkie in your pic!! must feel like home!!
you like and sound like you are having a great time!!
p.s. they serve everything on brown bread!!
Can't wait to arrive for our adventure in Falcarragh. Love the pics and looking forward to spending quality time with both you and Kelly.
Love,
Mom
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