ireland wins!

the biggest rugby game eeeeever. ireland versus england. we green lads here kicked some ass. i don't exactly know anything about rugby, i actually still don't know anything about rugby, but i do know that those guys are nutts. its almost like football but without the uniform and a lot more head butting. there was tension in the air all week and the english kept coming in to view the game at croke park, here in dublin. the pubs were going mad, drunk english and irish people with their faces painted, mostly green were taking over the city. i don't care for sports but it was great to see such pride and nationalism and the massive groups of people yelling and screaming. it was clear from the crowds that the english were not welcome here in the capital through the nasty jokes and sly lines.

its all quieted down now and we are getting ready for the next round, i think its ireland vs france. i am now at a different hostel and things are looking brighter now, not in the sky, but in my near future. i have been here for almost 2 weeks and i've got the job and flat thing down. im working as a waitress at a hip little joint. it is a restaurant by day and busy club by night. the people who i work with are great and the work is alright, although i have only worked there for 3 days and already i am becoming bored with the whole food/waitressing thing. its only part time so i am still looking for a full time gig. i might try something different besides restaurants.

i move into my flat on wednesday! that means clean laundry and my own room and minimum small talk with strangers at hostels! i am getting a bit claustrophobic here in Dublin. its a great city but i need to get out and see some green hills and castles. my dublin crew here consists of 3 americans and 1 canadian and a few of us might go to Galway next weekend, to escape the narrow windy streets of Dublin. im still meeting people and going out practically every single night. its really difficult actually to stay in, even if I want to. somebody always wants to go out, get a pint, go to a concert, see a gig. there are always travelers and even just my group of new friends here who always are in the mood for a good crack(good times, not drugs) speaking of which, i have been learning a lot more slang and i must say, i like it. today, for example a few customers at work asked me where i was from and when i said California, they were not surprised, because i told them to "have a nice day" so i am planning to lose my old Californian habits and try the new Irish way of speaking. like, for example.. yesterday I went to the "pictures" and saw a Norwegian cinema "The Bothersome Man." it was the last day of the film festival here and i checked out one of the last showings. i recommend this film. its almost like a contemporary, witty version of George Orwell's 1984. this film caters to the idea that we are all turning into these robots who only care about the color of the tile in the bathroom and seem to forget about sensational things in life such as music, and children's laughter and romance. its a great great film, go watch it. now im off to visit some crazy canadians in their new flat for some good times.

in dublin

they have something called "smoking gardens" these are basically outside areas with heating lamps in pubs where you can stand and smoke. sounds pretty, eh? well i have been here for an entire week already and it is as if it has been an eternity. i have friends, yes friends. some american, some canadian, some italian, some irish even! i have been going nutts all week looking for a job and a flat. i am starting my first day at a restaurant tomorrow, i think it's a hip joint and in prime location! the thing with europe though is that not alot of people give tips, but hopefully i will make enough, and then some! we will see, tomorrow is my trial day! last week i met up with a really rad girl Erin, from Chicago and we met up with this really crazy Canadian who has been here for some time already, doing the work and live and travel life. The Canadian girl took us to a local club called Whelan's. this place was mad. first time i actually met any real irish people, real dubliners too! you could barely get through the crowd but somehow we ended up on the dance floor. the people, oh so nice. people would just come up, boy, girls.. everyone and ask where we are from and what we are doing here and just start a little chit chat and then move on. we were dancing and singing all night until somehow my cell phone went missing, which did it for me for the night. i believe it was stolen, that nice hot pink razr can really stand out i suppose. we made it back to our hostel safe and sound, walking past drunk old men on the street being helped by paramedics. i guess its true what i read about drunk old people passed out on the street. actually, i see them everywhere all the time, day or night. i think that i already have a feel for this city. it is much smaller than i thought and i have walked through practically all of it, or all that is on the map at least. i saw a bunch of flats and i should be moving into one next week. things are working out and i have a little group of friends to hang out with as well. i have learned some new slang:

"taking the piss" being sarcastic/making fun off
"gobsheit"- annoying person
"jacks"- toilet

dublin does not remind me of any other city. it is its own kind. it has some amazing architecture, mostly the cathedrals. they are very imposing and gothic. the streets are always filled with people. neon sings, subways, kebobs, even starbucks! lots of chinese food, lots of polish people, lots of everything. i will try to update as much as possible. miss you guys!

valentines in dublin

this year valentines day was probably the most odd. i arrived into dublin, finally after all the commontion at the airport safe and sound. i had to do a double back once i got off the plane and realize that i was in europe, and not in the US anymore. the very first thing that i noticed was that everything is green, very green. the grass is green, the cars are green, the buildings are green, people wear green. i got on the bus, on which a very friendly bus driver promised to get me to my hostel. it took about 30 minutes to get into the city. i was directed and redirected to a bunch of different places but i finally made it to my hostel. the hostel, although supposed to be one of the better ones is not so great. its safe and the people are extremely friendly, but its not the cleanest and there is alot of european people living there (like actually living there), somehow they manage to live in a hostel for months! but hey... there's a bed and a hot shower. i get a bit closterphobic in the room since there are 6 people in there. but enough about complaining about the hostel. back to valentine's day. as soon as i walked into my room i met a very awesome italian girl and a french guy and we decided to go out for dinner. there was a kissing booth in the middle of Temple Bar Square(area where I am staying) and people everywhere with flowers and red hearts and balloons. we went to an italina restaurant, as the italin girl wanted to and we were the only people there not on a valentines date. there were couples sitting, holding hands, drinking wine, exchanging gifts... all the madness. ive never seen so many people so much in love, if thats what it was. the waiter kept eying us, i think he thought the french guy was on a date with 2 girls.

i spent the last few days doing a little bit of everything. so far i have only stayed in the city center, as it is my 2nd day here. im a bit in a frenzy about finding a job and a place to live. apparently its very difficult to find a nice affordable place but im optimistic. almost everyone ive met is traveling and looking for work. i havn't actually met any irish people yet. im really excited and i really like it here. im not sure if dublin is the place for me though, im thinking that if by mid week next week i dont find a job and/or place to live i might try Galway, where its cheaper and not as crazy in terms of city life.

the guinness is good. very good. and i have been drinking everyday since i got here. i got a cell phone (thanks fey) and already im getting texts to go out to the Foggy Dew with a few Canadians I met at the hostel. its really great actually being here.. i am much more calm actually here than when i was at home anticipating my trip. being surrounded by people just like me, out to travel and meet people and see the world is very comforting. now for some more guinness!!

Cheers.

getting ready to take off

so this is the beginning of my euro adventure. im not really sure what is waiting for me on the other side of the world but i hope to keep this blog updated as much as possible. i should be in Dublin in less than 2 days, hopefully drinking a tall glass of Guinness very soon. i've got my passport, backpack, and some shoes. now i have to get some sleep before the 12 hour flight. good night.