A month in... and I am "adjusted"

Hello world :)

Today, I am writing from the Postgraduate Study Room at UCD. It has been a rough few weeks. I knew graduate school would be hard, but it is amazing how much there is left to learn about the world.
Last weekend was TLU homecoming and it made me miss my second home I made there. However, my experience here in Ireland is proving to me that TLU is an amazing university. Shout out to the amazing and attentive professors I had there for preparing me for the world.

So... Where to start? I guess I can be nerdy and start with actual schooling: It has been intense. Between all of my major assignments being due in the span of 6 days in December and my 20,000 word thesis looming over me, there is always work to be done somewhere. However, my initial meetings with a thesis supervisor has led me to believe I am not completely clueless when it comes to this whole geography thing. And in true fashion to myself, I have joined like six societies, including geography and film, where I get to watch free movies each week. :)


Now, the transition to living in Dublin has also been tricky. However, I can say with confidence that I am a legal, registered resident of The Republic of Ireland. It is a little funny. My grandparents and my mom are immigrants too. While I will not stay here forever- it does make me a third generation immigrant and first generation American all at the same time.
I found a grocery store and have a pretty decent system of getting groceries with one of my flatmates worked out, so that is good too. Though there have been a few times we have seriously considered getting groceries delivered because we just can't deal.
And of course, I have spent some great weekends with my cousins. It is great having them so close :)

This whole public transportation thing has been tricky too. Coming from somewhere with one train system that I have used only a handful of times, to a place where taking the bus is standard has been a great adjustment. However, I am starting to figure out where to get and take the bus and NOT look like a tourist all the time.

Now, I guess the real work begins. I am no longer a wide eyed brand new student. We are in Week 5, almost half of the way through the first term. And I have a routine set. SO here is to hoping I do not mess my life up. Signing off for class.

-A

I survived Week 1!

Now, before school started, I of course spent time in Northern Ireland. Went to the coast, hiked the Mournes, and visited the Marble Arch Caves. Oh, and went clubbing once or twice. I like to imagine it meant I got some holiday days in before the work started. I even ran into an old IFSA-Butler friend, which definitely meant things were off to a great start!

Then, I began school, nervous and unsure of what I was doing. But...

I survived my first week of Graduate School!
I got to Dublin just over a week ago, and although I went back to Belfast for the weekend, I have officially spent more time in Dublin than I have in the rest of my life.I met people, started classes, and began to feel more comfortable. The UCD campus is amazingly big and I am slightly overwhelmed every time I step out there, but I am getting more comfortable each time.
Culture Shock: Of course it happens. However, this time it had nothing to do with Ireland. It was actually the culture shock of becoming an adult. I have spent my entire life in school. Whether it be public school, university, or my coming straight to graduate school. I have always been taught to use Mr./Mrs./Dr./etc. when speaking with adults and people of authority. So, imagine my surprise when I walk into my first seminar and am greeted with my lecturer's first name. Being an adult means calling other adults by their first names, which is something I definitely am not used to!
But now, as I sit in my living room, writing this and reading articles on Cultural and Social Geography, eating noodles that my Indian roommate cooked, I am getting more and more excited for this journey. I know I made the right choice in coming here and cannot wait for week 2!

-A

Port Stewart, August 2016

Happy

Happy: feeling pleasure and enjoyment because of your life, situation, etc.

-Merriam-Webster Dictionary

New blog. Last time I did this, I did a really bad job keeping up with it. I am hoping writing things down on paper will help. In Belfast, I tended to tell myself I would do it later and only got around to posting a few times. However, after I learned about the joys of journaling during my time in Costa Rica, I am going to be writing down my thought on paper first.

I don't expect many people to follow this, but for those of you who do, welcome!


Today, I am packing. My life must fit into 2 suitcases and 1 backpack.
 My long journey to who I am supposed to be has started to sink in. Less than a month from now, I will take a one way flight to Dublin. I am excited, nervous, scared, and willfully unprepared... but ready. Let the packing and freaking out commence.

-A