Today We're All Down Under

The 26th of January marks an important event for Australians and those of us who secretly wish we were. This most excellent occasion is none other than Australia Day. Established nationwide in 1994, this national holiday celebrates the start of British sovereignty in 1788 and increased in popularity with the bicentennial celebration in 1988. From what I understand all sorts of events happen across Australia including music festivals (I would love to go to Big Day Out) and the announcement of the annual Australian of the Year award. Simply put, Australia Day celebrates all that it means to be Australian and, in my case, provides an excuse to party with Aussies and enjoy a few pints of Fosters. For the sake of comparison, think of it as Australia's version of July 4th. I will admit I did not know the history prior to taking part, but I guess on Australia day we are all Australians, just as everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. Our festivities started promptly at 11am, and around mid afternoon we headed to the Woolshed on Parnell St. Australians, beer, live music... whats not to love? I'm adding this holiday to my calendar next year.
Much love to my Aussies.

photo credit : Lauren Cahill

Pints and Parachutes

For better or worse, we are creatures of habit. It is in our nature to develop some sort of expectation for every new situation, even if you tell yourself not to expect anything. Fear, excitement, nerves; we all have our reasons. Have I done a fair job going into this whole experience without expectation? I think so, but ask about my home stay this weekend and I can flat out admit it was not what I was expecting. Count my blessings, lets just say it worked out swell and forget what I thought beforehand. For those who may not understand what a home stay is, from my perspective at least, think of it like this. Imagine strapping on a parachute and diving into something unfamiliar, suddenly finding yourself in the midst of the day to day lives of others. You are most welcome and treated as such, but the world doesn't stop on your arrival. Life goes on with its routines and habits, and for a few days you are allowed to be a part of it. I am fortunate enough to have spent the weekend in Gorey, a small town in County Wexford, an hour or so drive south of UCD. The program paired the members of our group, a smart move on their part. Tom and I were guests of John and Linda O'Brien, and their two young lads Keane and Cathal, at their home in a neighborhood just outside town. The neighborhood has many young families like ours and it is common to drop by for a cup of tea or spend holidays together. The main drag is only a 5 minute walk from the house. John and Linda are lovely people and made us feel right at home. The boys seemed to enjoy having us around as well. We discovered that there is not much to do in Gorey, but in the evening the pubs are grand. It was great craic walking down the street with John to collect his mates on the way to the pub, not unlike how a group of young lads assemble themselves for a game of football up on the green. Without getting into detail, lets just say I think I've fully developed my taste for Guinness. If you want to know the whole story we will have to sit down for a drink. On a more profound level, I guess the point of these weekends is to give students the chance to dig into the Irish culture in a way that might be impossible otherwise. Several insights come to mind. For starters, what they say about the Irish is true; they are always offering you a cup of tea. The everyday person probably knows more about what goes on in the U.S. than in Ireland, but references to the Irish Civil War, the I.R.A., and the various events and names surrounding the conflicts in Northern Ireland are common in everyday conversation. Nine times out of ten they are only teasing, but it is wise to know where you are in the world. I have a bit of homework to do. Religion is certainly not what it used to be, but at the same time other aspects of the Irish culture are starting a resurgence again. I had a good chat with John about education and what he hopes for his boys. Each are enrolled in an all Irish speaking school where English is taught in one class and forbidden outside it. Perhaps in time Irish will be more widely spoken in all parts of Ireland. To describe the weekend simply, it was the chance to gain the perspective of an everyday Irish family; how they feel about world issues, the time spent with friends, the hopes for the future. This is an interesting time to be in Ireland. When I say they tease don't think I'm joking, but in the end I think the average guy would give you the shirt off his back if it came down to it, or at least offer you a pint. Unfortunately its back to the books this week, but I head for Galway this weekend. The air feels clean here, and as I breathe it in I feel more and more at home.
This is pints and parachutes. Cheers.

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Where the Circle Ends

I've always found it odd how life can spin you round and round it's washing machine and somehow throw you out just where you left off. I clearly remember the last day of my trip to Dublin three and a half years ago and the plate of fish and chips I had at the Hairy Lemon. Strange how names and places can fade away over time but so quickly come back to the front of your mind. Tonight it all came back in a second, and with a few pints and a few great friends the evening couldn't have been better. Thursday nights are not the liveliest but that didn't seem to matter. This fine establishment is located on the corner of Drury Street and Lower Stephen Street, in the vicinity of St. Stephens Green and Grafton Street. I'll admit the pints are not the cheapest in town, but you cant beat the great old school pub feel. Without a doubt we'll be back again. Cheers to those around the table the table tonight, and for more grand nights ahead.

Suggested reading: "Where the trees tell Bronx tales," from the Irish Times

Cooking with Ardi

The question most frequently asked before I left for Dublin had to do with what I would eat here. During my previous visit to Ireland I had no problems with the food, but a vacation is far different from living someplace day to day. Last semester I developed a bit of a knack for the whole cooking concept so I felt confident coming in. My life in the Bronx for the most part consisted of eggs, all sorts of vegetables and green things, apples, peanut butter, rice cakes, rice, beans, and chicken. Not bad right? Toss in a bit (or a lot) of franks hot sauce, garlic, or a nice blend of herbs and most of my attempts were successful. Good news: it appears that I can pull off the same eating patterns here. Well, with perhaps a few more potatoes and an unspecified number of the various brews that come in pints. A week into this we have finally assembled all the necessary cooking gear and the flat is starting to feel like home. Last night we finally sat down and had an excellent meal together. On that subject, let me introduce my flatmate and cooking connoisseur, Ardi, from Vancouver, British Columbia. I'm not sure exactly what went into the dish, nor would I want to reveal a chiefs secrets, but the result was a bowl full of goodness. I must say, I was quite impressed. I owe him one of my creations now. Food Network Canada anyone? For those who have expressed concerned, fear not, I am eating well. In other news, I picked up two bungie cords from Tesco today; lets just say that an eight pack of my favorite lager straps down all to easily on my bike rack now. Trust me when I say this, its the little things that make life worthwhile.

Dan, on the left, and Arde

Ray Kinsella on Catharsis

To start, let me be honest: when I looked at my class timetable and saw Financial Institutions Management I was not terribly excited. Fordham requires finance as a core class for CBA so I put it off till my semester abroad thinking it would be one of those classes I simply had to get over with. Now granted that I have only been to the class once, I have a good feeling about it. My professor is Ray Kinsella, a lead commentator and scholar on the state of finance in both Ireland and Europe. He has written several books and his articles frequently appear in the Irish Times. A few observations on my first class at UCD: half the students are from the states, not what I was expecting. Kinsella flat out said he doesn't expect to see most of us until exam time, which I find strange given that I'm a nerd who never misses class. I guess the Irish philosophy towards things is a bit different. Getting back to the catharsis thing, I really liked Kinsella's use of the term to describe what is happening in the financial world right now. In a sense nothing could be more true, the financial system is in the middle of a massive purification and the extent to which that occurs will strongly influence the future of our economies. Irish or American, the modern world is a global one so I'm excited to gain insight into what is happening around us from a new perspective. Hopefully in the process I will learn something useful, which is the point of all this right? Other than that, I survived the so called "Black Monday" at UCD and my class today is canceled. Now if only I could find a solid loop around campus for my daily cycling; too many dead ends!

The Tale of Arthur Guinness

A lovely Sunday in Dublin. Armed with a free Hop On-Hop Off bus pass, I spent the day cruising around the city. I did not have a chance to earlier in the week so it was nice to get reacquainted with some of the more prominent sites of note. Priority number one: the St. James Gate Brewery, better known as the Guinness Storehouse. Call me a tourist, but it had to be done. The storehouse tour itself is incredible, but obviously the prime motivation is the free pint at the Gravity Bar on the seventh floor of the complex. Facts and figures, blah blah; the point is it tastes damn good. Other sites of the day included St. Stephen's Green, several churches, a failed attempt to see the Irish Museum of Modern Art, and the Dunnes Store in the city centre. Top that off with big plate of fish and chips on O'Connell St and I deem the day a success. Only a week ago I was sitting on a plane but this place is already starting to feel a bit more comfortable. Here's an odd thought: I actually have class tomorrow? I thought I was on holiday for four months! Of course I kid. I'm not sure exactly what to expect, but the beauty is that every day brings something new. I wont deny the certain thrill of uncertainty.

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Learning to Look Right

On Thursday I acquired a new mode of transportation. Not that it matters, but my new whip is a Strata Venture, an excellent second hand bicycle from the shop on campus. 110Euro? A small price to pay for the freedom to cruise the pavement. I made my first visit to the grocery store via my wheels this afternoon and it went better than I expected. I still have a bit to learn about the Irish road system, but I promise to try not to get hit by a car. Tour de France anyone?

The Sound of Settling

Since I left the Bronx three weeks ago I feel like I've been living out of my bags. Today I finally arrived on campus at UCD and I already have a good vibe about the whole situation. I will admit it was certainly grand to be staying right in the city centre, but I'm excited for life at UCD. We made our first venture to Stillorgan today for some food and "crockery", but discovered the Dunnes Store in the shopping center is under renovation. Fear not, the Tesco grocery store was open. The flat appears nice enough so I really cant complain too much... except for how damn cold it feels. I'm still wondering when I'm going to realize this isnt just some vacation and that I'm spending four months here. Time will tell. Pictures soon.

Smithwicks

Last night in the Dublin city centre. I feel like I've been a nomad for a month so I'm excited to move into my flat at UCD. I've only been to Dublin for a few days before but I've already started to get my bearings back. I am constantly amazed by how modern a city can be while retaining historical influence and appeal, so much unlike anything in the United States. To recap briefly, the highlight of last night was a bar we ventured to with a live Irish band. I wasn't sure exactly what was happening at first, but within an hour a group of seven or so musicians settled in around a round table and began playing traditional irish folk music. I'll admit I felt quite at home. The "owner", if you will, insisted on putting candles everywhere and it created a nice atmosphere. Today we sat through more orientation but had some free time as well. Tonight we went to a play called "Sea Fairer" which actually ended up being better than I expected. We rounded out the evenign at a pub around the corner from the hostel and provided the establishment with the majority of their business for the evening. Tomorrow we finally head to UCD. Lesson of the day: smithwicks tastes much better here than in the States.

Dont Dice Your Onions

Today's lesson: peel them back in layers. After the 24 hour cancellation, our flight arrived around 9:30am this morning and we caught a cab to the Davenport hotel in the center of Dublin. The staff here couldn't have been nicer. Lots of info given, but very little capacity to hold it. I'm staying in the Abbey Court hostel here in the city centre until Wednesday when we move into UCD. Tomorrow brings more orientation sessions, perhaps a "mobile", and certainly a few pints. But back to the onion, I think its a good way to view all that is happening. This place is one of beauty, and rich and complex history. To understand and appreciate it is to dig deep and discover the very framework of a people. I'm not saying I'll accomplish this, but I think its worth a try. Let the adventure begin.

Play Crack the Sky

So this is it, goodbye Long Island. Philadelphia tonight, Dublin in the Morning.
Ireland, we're coming for you.

Introductions

"In the following pages are words composed into sentences, strung together to make thoughts come to life. This is life, this is struggle; honesty, truth, pain. A troubled mind, restless in the late nights and rainy afternoons. Take it for what it is worth, most often very little, but on occasion, something worth a second glance. These are failed attempts to capture a feeling, a fleeting moment of understanding. Read with caution and respect for the ending is uncertain. Everything is possible. These are the chances taken, the limbs we walk out on, the cliffs we stand on too close to the edge. This is the Pilot's Guide to living life in one form or another as remains to be seen and other mislead thinking that no one would ever really care to read about anyway."
- the original Pilot's Guide

I'll admit I've never had one of these before and I'm not sure where to begin. I figure it cant be too much different than all the notebooks that I've written in and compiled over the years. Except for the part where anyone can read it. The past two and half years of my life have been some of the best, and I've come to love where I am and the things I am a part of. While there is comfort in that, there is a certain thrill found in breaking off and doing something completely out of your normal spectrum. Life is a process of rediscovery and learning, a constant means to challenge everything you know. With that I open the next chapter. I am not sure exactly what awaits me the next four months, but I think I'm ready for anything that life throws my way. If you care to follow along, I promise to try and make it interesting, and along the way perhaps learn something useful.