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!