Ireland: 2013

Sunday, March 10, 2013

UCC R&G Week

Raise and Give Week took place from February 10th to February 15th.

The purpose of R&G Week is to raise money, give the proceeds to charities, and have fun!

The charities that UCC was sponsoring this year was:

-Cork Penny Dinners (http://www.corkpennydinners.ie/wp/):

Penny Dinners is one of Cork's oldest, independent caring organisations, offering a nourishing hot midday meal (plus a packet of sandwiches and some fresh fruit to take home for the evening) to all those in need, in exchange for a small coin.

-Irish Guidedogs (http://www.guidedogs.ie/iopen24/):

Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is Ireland's national charity dedicated to helping persons who are blind or vision impaired and families of children with autism to achieve improved mobility and independence.

-Barretstown (http://www.barretstown.org/) :

Barretstown is a specially-designed camp that provides therapeutic recreation programmes for children with serious illnesses and their families.

The entire week there were events and activities on campus 24 hours a day. Early in the morning societies would hand out coffee to students passing by, in the afternoon students surrounded the Student Union as the activities began, and in the evening bars and nightclubs all over town sponsored evenings to raise money.

Some of the activities during R&G Week were:

-Nearly Naked Mile (just don't ask...)

-Iron Stomach Competition

-UCC Take Me Out (dating game show)

-Hospital Bed-Making Competitions with the Medical Students

-Zombie Outbreak

-Foam Party

-Anatomy Bootcamp

-Helium Karaoke

-movie screenings

-society & club performances

-R&G Ball @ Imperial Hotel

I, to be quite frank, was a little afraid to be on campus during R&G Week. Students do not go to class and are just acting crazy all day long. But, a few friends and I went to the R&G Ball at the Imperial Hotel on Valentine's Day. There was a live band playing big band music. It was so much fun.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

This is my schedule for the second half of the semester!

Dublin: Part II

My second trip to Dublin was much more successful and enjoyable than my first trip. I saw so much more and was able to appreciate the city so much more.

We took a train to Dublin from Cork. Then we took the Luas from the train station to the center of Dublin. The Luas (pronounced "Lewis") is similar to a bus system, but looks more similar to an aboveground subway. It makes regular stops along the streets just like a city bus.

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Trinity College

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Dublin City at Dusk

Saint Patrick's bridge

view of River Liffey

The Spire

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During our free time we went into this mall. It was absolutely huge. It was so spectacular that I had to take a picture.

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Dinner in Dublin

cheeseburger and fries from "Supermacs" at the train station.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Blarney: Part II

This is now the second time that I have visited the Blarney Castle and Gardens. This time, I chose not to go up into the Castle. I went off on my own and explored the land beyond the immediate gardens. I took what the map called "the Lake Walk". My journey down to the lake is what I expected all of Ireland to look like.

This is the lake.

I had so much extra free time since I didn't go into the castle so I was able to explore the village of Blarney.

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Cobh: Part II

This time in Cobh, I went to the Titanic memorial museum.

I was given a ticket that was similar to the ticket the Titanic passengers would receive. Each ticket had a real name of a passenger on it.

My passenger's' name was Margaret Devaney.

At the end of the tour, I found out that my passenger had survived and lived on to be a mother of four children and fought for the right for women to vote.

In the gift shop, there was a toy replica of the sapphire necklace that Rose had in the movie "Titanic."

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

So sorry I haven't updated my blog in such a long time! I have been so busy. As a matter of fact, I just took an exam today. I should have time in the next few days to update my blog as to what I have been doing in the past month!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

This semester has definitely been much busier than last semester. I have been having non-stop homework and lab reports.

My classes:
-Chemistry
-Microbiology
-Medical Genetics
-Chemotherapy & Pharmacology of Inflammation

SO MANY SCIENCE CLASSES!!!!!!!!

This is my schedule for the first half of the semester.

I absolutely love getting packages in the mail.

When I came home for the Spring semester, most of the contents of my suitcase consisted of food. This package was what couldn't fit in my suitcase.

I just realized that I have never posted a picture of what the laundry room looks like.

This is the infamous laundry room where my clothes get taken out of the dryer almost every time, before they are dry.

Making my bed is probably the most easy task in the world, but in my room, it is probably the most physically exhausting thing to do!

To get the fitted sheet on the bed I have to take it out of the frame and balances it over my head while I reposition it.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

IRELAND: Part 2

Arrival in Ireland

So for the second time I came to Ireland, I flew into Shannon, rather than Cork, mainly because I wouldn't have any layovers.

Shannon Airport proved to be quite the efficient airport. There was a restaurant and a cafe, plently of places to sit while I waited for my bus, and a number of kiosks for renting cars.

Waiting for my bus at Shannon Airport

Shannon Airport

Departure / Arrival Terminal at Shannon Airport

I bought a bus ticket to take me from Shannon Airport to the Cork Bus Station.

My view on the bus.

The bus route went to the Limerick Bus Station, all through Limerick, and some neighboring towns. After what seemed an eternity riding the bus, I finally made it to Cork.

Welcome to County Cork!

Before I left Cork for Christmas, I made sure that all of my food was gone. Food in Ireland does not have as many additives as the food in the United States. So, with that being said, food spoils much quicker. Even though I would be home for only 20 days, all of my food would go bad.

Between all of the food and cooking supplies that my friends left me and what I bought grocery shopping, I began to wonder where I would put everything!