Robert Emmet Society - Scholarship

Article for News-Review and Informer regarding the Robert Emmet Scholarship by Elizabeth Lochinski

A year ago I embarked on a journey that would change my life in profound ways, and it all began with an essay. Walking through the halls of North Central Michigan College, I noticed a flyer that read "Study in Galway, Ireland"; I was curious and decided to find out more information. Through the websites for North Central Michigan College (NCMC) and the Robert Emmet Society (RES), I learned the primary requirement for a chance to study abroad was writing an essay discussing the political values of Robert Emmet and their relevance today. I have to admit I had never heard of Robert Emmet, even though I had grown up in a county named for the Irish patriot. So I spent the next several months researching, learning, and writing about Emmet, not really expecting I had a chance of being chosen. When I was informed that my essay was one of those selected and I would soon be experiencing the interview process, I suddenly realized I had a good chance of going.

Well, obviously I am writing this article because I did end up being chosen to spend a semester in Ireland. Along with the excitement I felt, there was also apprehension. Leaving my family for three months was a daunting prospect – one I was not sure I could handle. However, I weighed that fear against the unique opportunity being offered; with the support and encouragement of family and friends, and after months of preparation, packing, and re-packing, I was ready to go. I cried when I said goodbye to my kids, I cried at the airport when I left my husband, and I cried when I was alone in my room at the house in Galway that would be home for the next 90 days. Suffering from jetlag and feeling very alone, I was ready to turn around and go home the same day I arrived; but I am so glad I did not give up that easily. Going home would have meant missing out on new experiences, new relationships, and let’s face it, would have been a colossal embarrassment! Luckily for me, Jennifer (Hallman) O’Neil, last year’s RES scholarship recipient, was still in Galway and there to help me get acclimated. She immediately whisked me away for a cup of tea, gave me a towel (the only thing I did not pack in my overstuffed suitcase) so I could shower, took me downtown to shop for necessities, and made it clear that she was there to help me in any way she could. Soon I was getting to know my housemates, meeting new people, exploring the neighborhood, and getting used to the marked difference between my "old" life and my "new", albeit temporary life. One of the biggest adjustments for me was not having a car; I either walked everywhere or took a bus. In order to always have bus fare to and from my destination, I devised a system of having €1.35 in my right pocket for the trip there and €1.35 in my left for the ride home.

The first day of college was a definite shock to the system. Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology is larger than NCMC – about 9,000 students – and does things a little differently as well. Rather than signing up for classes, you receive a set schedule of the courses in your area of study; showing up is tantamount to enrolling in the course. As a Robert Emmet scholar, my program of study was Year 2 Heritage Studies consisting of Archaeology, Early Irish Literature, Irish History, Biogeography and Natural History, Language, and two field trips. Class locations would often and unexpectedly change without warning, leaving many of us international students wandering around with bewildered faces. After several weeks, things settled down with only the occasional location change. Another noticeable difference is the lack of textbooks; GMIT instructors give you a list of suggested books to read, and one instructor in particular gave a list that was 4 pages long! There is no college campus bookstore so you have to search for your books in the library or at bookshops in downtown Galway. Independent research and reading is optional, but a definite advantage when preparing for presentations and exams. I learned so many new things about Ireland’s heritage and history, especially in Archaeology which turned out to be my favorite class.

While in Ireland I had opportunities to travel, both on my own and with other international students. My favorites were a trip to the Cliffs of Moher – they are breathtakingly beautiful – and a day in Athlone with a volleyball team comprised of international students from Romania, France, Spain, Czech Republic and Austria. Along with trips, the college offers numerous clubs and societies, most of them free to join. While in Europe, flying to other European countries can be very inexpensive, and I was thrilled to have the chance to visit Italy and climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa. If I had been in Ireland longer, I am sure I would have traveled more within Europe.

The most rewarding and lasting aspect of my stay in Ireland was the many friendships I brought home. The Irish students were very welcoming, always going out of their way to say hello and invite me to sit with them in class or during a coffee break. They also took turns hosting class parties and since most of the students have all their courses together, everyone gets to know each other very well. The international students were just as open to forming new friendships – perhaps more so because we had the common bond of being away from home in an unfamiliar place. Some of my best memories of Ireland are because of them and with the help of today’s computer and online technology I am able to continue that bond. Just last week I was chatting online with my housemate who is back home in Sweden, and with his webcam he was proud to show me his new apartment. Speaking of housemates, I should tell you how entertaining and sometimes challenging it was to be living with two young women from Spain, and two young men from France and Sweden. We shared a home, sometimes shared food, occasionally shared tears and very often shared laughter. The five of us began as strangers meeting for the first time and ended as friends reluctant to say goodbye.

Now all of you have the same opportunity to compete for this amazing experience. When you see the flyer in the halls at NCMC, stop and read it. When you see the link on the NCMC website that says "Study in Galway, Ireland", click on it and find out more. At the very least your research will introduce you Robert Emmet, an Irish hero that gave his life for his country’s cause. If you are lucky enough to earn the scholarship, you will be embarking on an exciting journey that will take you to new places and lead you to new friendships.

Dec. 8, 2008
I know it's been a while since I've emailed. I've been very busy trying to finish up my assignments and projects before I leave next week. I still have two more so the hard work isn't over yet.

Well the Cork trip was disappointing. Not because I didn't like Cork, but because the instructor preferred to tell us hundreds of facts rather than to let us see things. So we ended up standing outside of buildings but not having time to go in. Other than that Cork was really nice, a very cosmopolitan city with a rich history. It is a city I would definitely like to visit again someday. We stayed in a hostel, my first time in one. It wasn't bad, but I prefer a good hotel with a nice restaurant. It gave me the opportunity to bond with some of my classmates and I will miss them when I go home. Next week, on Wednesday, I will have the second half of the urban field course when our class goes to Loughray (sp?) with the archeology instructor Paul Gosling. I'm just hoping that the weather is good, because we are getting hit hard with rain and extremely strong winds. The wind has been howling all day today and I have stayed in, only venturing next door for a visit.

It is hard to believe that I will be home by this time next week. I was so homesick at the start of this experience, but now I am very reluctant to go home. I have made some great friends and had a lot of fun. I've gotten used to Galway, and will miss the atmosphere. Now I will have to experience another adustment when I get home. But I've got email addresses so I can keep in touch and maybe see some of them again if the opportunity arises.

Yesterday Jen and Shaun were married, and we attended a small party to celebrate with friends and family in the Ruby Room at King's Head pub. We all had fun, though I can barely remember it!

There is a Christmas party planned for Monday for the international students. It reminds me that I have not done the gift shopping I need to, so I'll be trying to cram that in sometime this week. I don't think I will be in the Christmas mood until I get home and see the snow.

Well, if anything else exciting happens, I'll fill you in. Otherwise, I'll see you all when I get home!

take care,
Liz

Well, I have been a little busy this week, so I will try to remember everything that has gone on. This is gonna be a long one so get comfortable!

Wednesday evening I went with my housemates to celebrate Anais' 21st birthday. She is French and lives just around the corner. Her housemate Maree, also French, cooked lasagna. It is not the lasagna I am used to because here they use a white sauce and not ricotta (I miss "real" lasagna). They also live with two Spanish girls, Paola and Carmen, and there were about 13 or 14 of us all together. Besides France and Spain there were students from Sweden, Germany, Holland (I think), and of course me, representing the U.S. It was fun and I learned another drinking game, but I didn't stay too long because I had class at 9am the next morning.

I feel like I haven't been telling you much about my classes so I will try to sum it all up. Each class is 3 hours long and I have 5 classes...don't get your calculators out, it's 15 hours... + a language lab on Friday, so really, it's 16. Plus a week of field trips that count as a whole other class. Monday and Tuesday I have Biogeography/Natural History. We are learning about different habitats and soon I will be doing a project in which a partner and I map out a habitat and give a report on it. This will include the type, its animals & plants,threats to it, etc. Tomorrow we are going on a field trip to Merlin Park to learn a little more about the process.

Next is Spanish, which I have everyday but Wednesday, since there are no classes for Heritage students that day. I'm trying my best, but it is taking some work. I haven't had spanish classes since high school, and most of you know how long that has been! But I passed my first assessment with a 63%, which is actually pretty good -- it was a tough one. Now I am learning how to use Spanish in a hotel to request una habitacion por cuatro personas con cama doble, por favor.

Archaeology I is an interesting class and it's on Monday and Thursday. We are discussing so many things, from wedge tombs to architecture, from archeological techniques to heritage laws, and artifacts and so much about the early people and culture of Ireland. Ireland's history goes back to about 8000 BC with the first settlers in County Derry in the north. Next month I will be giving a presentation in class on "dirks and rapiers" and I will have to use the term "dirk butts". I'm sure you all wish you could be there for that!

Thursday and Friday I have Early Irish Literature. We have been learning about the early poets, or filid, and their role in society. They were actually quite powerful and lived the lifestyle of the royals, they were that successful and very feared. Now we are just beginning to discuss the Tain Bo Cuailnge, the Cattle Raid of Cooley, one of Ireland's most famous early stories. It dates from the 7th or 8th century and is written in 12th century manuscripts.

Thursday I have Modern Irish History, the only class that is all at one time, the whole 3 hours. He does give us a 30 minute break though, and we usually REALLY need it. History is not my best subject, so let's just say that we are learning alot of stuff. Good stuff. Stuff that I will not remember in January. However, we are right now in the middle of hearing about "Wild Irish Women", with presentations that my classmates are each giving on a particular woman. I'm enjoying that, except sometimes I can't understand what the students are saying as they are trying to get through it as quickly as possible. Couple that with an Irish accent and I sometimes find myself making faces, like concentrating really hard will make it all clear. It doesn't work.

Okay, enough about school. Saturday I went next door and Csilla had houseguests. Her friend Dora, with her boyfriend Victor, are staying for a week. They brought some Hungarian alcohol that is supposed to taste like plum, but unfortunately tastes like nail polish remover with maybe a hint of plum. After a few shots of that we headed into town and on the way met up with a big group of international students. Long story short, I ended up getting to bed at 4am, which was really stupid because the next day I was going to the Cliffs of Moher with Csilla and Dora. I got up at 8:30, and was all ready in time to go. According to the pamphlet, the bus leaves at 10:15 so we were right on time. Well, that was a typo, it actually left at 10am and for some odd reason it left a little early (unusual for Ireland). We were so disappointed! But the receptionist got on the phone and next thing you know there is a small bus whisking us away to catch up with the tour bus that had stopped to wait for us. We had a wonderful older gentleman named Desmond as our busdriver/tour guide. He was great, and he had a little bit of a crush on Csilla, who attracts men without even trying because she is so genuine and nice. He took really good care of us and after every stop, he would count to make sure we were all there. He even gave us his cell phone # in case we had any trouble. Very sweet.

The Cliffs of Moher were fantastic! It is the best sight I have seen here, with Dun Aonghasa at a close second. Desmond told us that about six weeks ago a young man was blown off the cliff. I'm not sure if that was true, but I can believe it anyways. The winds are very strong and at some points there are no barriers. Very scary, but very impressive too. Dora kept commenting on how beautiful it was, that she didn't ever want to leave. We were there for 2 hours and then we went down the shore a ways to some more cliffs, not as high, but still very pretty. Desmond made unscheduled stops along the way that made it more enjoyable. Instead of just stopping the bus to look at a wedge tomb, he would pull over and let us jump out to take pictures, because as he said, if you take a picture through the bus window, it won't be as good. Throughout the bus ride I was asking Csilla and Dora different things about Hungary. Dora is living in Budapest because there are more job opportunities there than in her home town. I also found out that, apparently, I speak Hungarian very well, as I read a few words on a snack bag and said them perfectly without any help. After Spanish, it's Italian, next maybe French, and THEN Hungarian.

We got back to town around 5:30 and we were sooo tired. But we had agreed to meet up with Jennifer and Flore at The King's Head Pub for a quick dinner. They ended up not coming, so we ate and then headed over to Jen's apartment to visit for a little while. Jennifer is very excited because on December 7 she and Shaun are getting married. It will be a very small wedding, but she has reserved the Ruby Room on the third floor of the King's Head to host a party afterwards for all her friends. It is the Irish tradition to have a party and everyone buys their own drink, no such thing as an open bar.

Well, this week the Irish students said they would take me to a beer house, I think that's what they called it. So that should be interesting, although I really don't like beer. I guess the challenge for them will be to find one that I do like. Then next week I will be on a History field trip for three days to Cork and Cobh. Looking forward to that but not sure how it will be to room with 3 other Irish students. We shall see...

Hope that you are all enjoying your taste of snow. It was pretty cold today over here. I had to wear my winter coat. Have a nice Thanksgiving and think of me because I will probably be in a pub having Irish stew instead of turkey and sweet potatoes. Wait...that doesn't sound so bad, does it.

Busy Week Part One: Castlebar and The Fray

Pat arrived on Tuesday morning on the bus from Shannon Airport. He barely had time to shower and eat and we were off to Galway City centre to run a few errands and catch the bus to Castlebar. After checking into the hotel, we walked around Castlebar a bit, took a few photos, and found a little shop that had great desserts, which we bought for later in the evening. Went back to the hotel and had dinner there. During dinner, I kept looking at the guy at the next table, thinking he looked familiar. The more I looked, the more I was convinced that it was the lead singer of The Fray. Of course, I didn't know his name, so I couldn't ask him, are you...so-and-so? But I knew that I couldn't walk away without getting his autograph for Darcie. So after we finished eating, I got up the courage to go up and ask him, "Are you who I think you are?" And he just looked at me for a second and asked if I was there for the concert. So I asked him for his autograph, got the lead guitarists as well, and walked away still not knowing his name. It was a good concert, and I loved watching Isaac (found out his name later) playing the piano. I've never seen anyone play with that much intensity. It was a very small concert, the first in their UK tour.

Tried to eat breakfast the next morning, but I'm not too keen on Irish breakfasts (includes beans on toast), so had Muesli instead. Then we caught an early bus back to Galway to pack new clothes and catch another bus to Dublin Airport. We got there in plenty of time to catch an evening flight to Pisa.

We arrived late in Italy (they are an hour ahead of Ireland) and checked into the Jolly Hotel Cavalieri. They gave us a room with two twin beds instead of a double, so they upgraded us to a suite. We ended up with a living room that we never actually sat down in, a balcony, and two bedrooms and baths upstairs. Our bedroom was on the top (6th) floor with windows up high that pigeons roosted in.

We were hungry so we went down to a little cafe and managed to order hot tea and sandwiches. Italian is such a pretty language -- too bad I completely blank when I'm spoken to in Italian and Pat can't roll his r's! (Keep working on that, Pat.)

Next morning we headed out on foot to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (I had big plans to give background info but we lost the paper that had all the info on it.) I had not really thought ahead about actually climbing the tower. Which is probably a good thing, since I am scared of heights. It is very disconcerting to be climbing the stone steps and realize that the whole building is leaning. We came out to what I thought was as high as we would be allowed to go. We took pictures, walked around. Then the guide told us it was time to go up to the next level! Yikes! We reached the next level, out of breath from the climb, and I clung to the building as much as possible, still managing to take photos while Pat videotaped. Then, shock! we were permitted to go even higher! There is nothing but a flimsy railing between you and the deadly drop. Just think, when it was originally built, there weren't any railings at all! So at this point, I'm very scared. After going up to the next level, where the bells are, there was one more climb up narrow circular stairs to the very, very top. Did I mention I am scared of heights?? I got to the top, and was on the verge of having a panic attack. I kept picturing myself, or anyone really, falling over the side. My legs were shaking and I was getting light-headed. So we didn't stay long up there, and headed back down the slippery, worn steps. It was not until we reached the bottom that I noticed a warning photo about the possibility of falling.

We explored the rest of the Campo dei Miracoli -- the Duomo, a huge cathedral started in the 11th and finished in the 12th C.; the Baptistery; and the Camposanto (badly damaged by bombing during WWII), which is basically an indoor cemetery, we were litarally walking on people's graves...creepy. Afterwards, we walked through a few museums and did some souvenier shopping in stalls that are set up all along the edge of the piazza. There were people trying to sell us watches and umbrellas, etc. We just smiled and said no thank you, and they left us alone.

After leaving that area, we walked along until we found a place to eat lunch. The food in Italy is good, and so is the wine. I plan to eat there again someday! The servers don't come back to check on you, which I am finding is more of an American thing. On our walk, and throughout the next day, people kept coming up to me and asking me things in Italian. I think they were asking for directions. I just think it's funny that they thought I was Italian. We walked back down Corso Italia, which is where most of the shopping is. The weather was great the first day and we ended it with a really nice dinner at our hotel.

Next day, it was raining. Hard. I ended up soaked, even though I was carrying an umbrella. I had to buy new shoes and socks, and change my pants in the restroom at the hotel (we were already checked out). Those shoes were expensive and better last me at least ten years!! Not to mention that all the shops closed down between 1 and 4, so we had to rush at the end in order to get me some dry shoes and make it to the airport. But all that rushing was for nothing, because our plane had mechanical difficulties and the flight was delayed -- for six hours. We finally left just after midnight, and got into Dublin so late that we had to get a hotel.

Busy Week Part Three

Next day (Saturday), we decided to do a little sightseeing in Dublin, very little, since there wasn't much time. So we opted for a bus tour, one that you could get on and off all the time. The drivers were very entertaining, though it was difficult to take pictures from the top of a moving bus. We saw quite a few sights, including Trinity College, Dublin Castle, and, I think Pat's favorite, The Guiness Brewery. It was very "touristy" but still interesting. However, we spent so much time there that we didn't have time to see Kilmainham Gaol, which I really wanted to visit. Hopefully I will be going there again with the International Society. We ate dinner that night at a very nice restaurant, and got to the bus stop with a few mintues to spare. It's a four hour bus ride from Dublin to Galway, a little less at night when traffic isn't very heavy. When we got back to my house, there were about 10 extra people there, drinking and talking -- all international students of course. So Pat got to meet everyone, and then some.

Stayed up a little too late and then got up the next day to walk around Galway and shop. It rained off and on, but not too bad. We went across the Corrib so Pat could see the Cathedral, then went and had lunch at The King's Head Pub. Then we did a little grocery shopping, since Pat was there to help me carry the groceries.

Monday, we got a bus to city centre and then bought tickets for the bus and ferry over to the Aran Islands. I'm gettiing a little sick of busses! but it's the only way to get around without a car. The ferry ride on the Atlantic was great! It's a little like being on a roller coaster, a gentle one. Pat and I were eating and talking, and suddenly we heard retching all around us. The crew quickly handed out plastic bags to everyone, and we took one just in case we had to sympathy puke. But neither of us did, though the sounds of vomiting did persuade us to stop eating. All I can say is that I am glad we don't get seasick.

The ferry left Rossaveal at 10:30, and it was 11:15 before we reached Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands. There are quite a few ruins and sites to see, but one day is not enough time. Especially since the ferry leaves at 5:00. We rented bikes, and took off to see as much as we could. Our first stop was the lighthouse, which is at the highest elevation on the island. When we got back down from the hill, it started to rain, so we stopped off for shelter in a small church. We used the "vomit bags" to cover out bike seats to keep them dry. :)

It stopped raining after a few minutes and we continued on up the road to Dun Aonghasa. It is a semi-circular Celtic stone fort that is literally on the edge of the cliff. I had seen pictures in Archaeology class, but was not prepared for how large and imposing it is. It was built around 2000 BC and is thought to be either a stronghold, which would be very difficult to breach, or a site for ritual activities. No one can really be sure though. There are no railings or any sort of protection at the cliff's edge, and the wind is very strong up there. I crawled over to the edge and took some pictures. Pat attempted to push me off but there were too many witnesses, so we headed back down the very precarious path back to safety.

We rode off to see the seal colony, but all we saw were a few seal heads sticking up out of the water. They were apparently too busy fishing to come out and say hi. We visited a few more ruins, including the Teampaill Chiarain, saw a few horses and cows, and then stopped for a quick bowl of soup and a sandwich at a small restaurant. The locals looked at us...okay, they stared at us, and weren't very friendly. But the soup was good.

We barely had time to shop for a few souveniers and then get back to the ferry, which left right on time. We didn't hear any retching on the way back, apparently the others had gotten their sea legs.

We got off the bus in Galway, and ate dinner at The House. It is one of those hotel restaurants that brings you very pretty food. We deserved it after the rain, wind, and intense biking of the day.

Pat left this morning. He will be traveling all day, with a four-hour layover in Chicago. Traveling can be very tiring! But we got to see alot in the short week he was here. It went by fast. I put new pictures on myspace but the slideshow is skipping some, so make sure you click on "Pics" to see them all.

Bye for now!

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Well, Laura and I ventured to Limerick today...didn't spend a lot of time there because there really wasn't much to see. But as Laura said, "I would rather spend the money to come here than to sit at home on the computer or spend it all in the pub." We took the bus, which was a 2-hour ride, going through Oranmore, Gort, Ennis, and Shannon, among others. We had to use the restroom at the bus station when we arrived, and it reminded me of Russia -- no toilet seat! Where did it go and why would someone want it???!! Who knows.

In case you didn't know, Limerick was the setting for Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes." I have not read the book but the movie is very good. Limerick has previously had a bad reputation for being a rough town, but is striving to change that image and attract more tourists.

Anyways, we set off down the street, map in hand, and passed church after church after church. There is one on every street it seems. We walked down O'Connell street, where all the shopping is. Then went right on through without buying anything. Yes, women can go past stores without going in and spending money.

We made our way to King John's Castle, where we went through an exhibit, toured the inner courtyard, went up into to a turret and down below to an archaeological sight. It was...interesting, but not as impressive as the outside would lead you to believe. Built between 1200 and 1212 by King John, it served as a military and administrative centre of the rich Shannon area. In the area beneath the visitor's center, we saw a tunnel that had been used by soldiers to go in and out of the castle in secrecy. To get to the turret, we climbed narrow, dangerous steps that I envisioned plummeting down to my death, or at least great injury. I imagined what it must have been like to take that stairway in the dark with nothing but a guttering candle. In the courtyard, there were several peat fires burning and Laura and I both had a sudden craving for barbecued chicken! We were also tempted to steal one of the fireplace pokers for our fireplace at home, but wisely decided against it. Mostly because it would have been awkward to carry...

Next we visited St. Mary's Cathedral. It was, of course, beautiful inside, and seemed to be undergoing some restoration. Founded in 1168 by Domhnall Mor O'Brien, king of Muster, it features a Romanesque western doorway under a tower that stretches 120 feet into the sky. There are stained glass windows everywhere, as well as the tomb of Murrough O'Brien. He was buried in 1674 but his body is no longer there. His nickname was "Of the Burnings", and he earned it because of his bad habit of burning churches. The day after he was buried, angry townspeople took his body and threw it into the River Shannon. The ceiling in the cathedral is a wooden "barrel vaulted roof" made of oak and there are 5 chandeliers hanging from it.

Outside the cathedral there is a graveyard filled with many fascinating headstones and slabs. I apologized to a married couple that was buried there, as I had to lay on their tomb to take a picture of the aforementioned tower.

While at the church, we were approached by a young woman that perhaps had seen us at the castle. She was walking around on her own and joined the two of us for the next few hours. Her name is Eva, from Germany and she is doing an internship in Limerick for 3 months. We went to a street market, hoping to buy some chocolate, but they were shutting down by the time we arrived. So instead we went for a cappucino in a small cafe and bakery. We sat outside and watched people and pigeons strolling by. After relaxing for a bit, we exchanged phone numbers and email addresses, inviting Eva to come and visit us in Galway since she is all alone here in Ireland.

We were back on the bus by 3:20, but sat waiting about 10 minutes for a few passengers as well as one gentleman in particular who was trying to convince the driver of the bus to drop him in a spot where there is no bus stop. He eventually persuaded him to do so, and they chatted happily for the duration of his ride.

I am in the process of posting the newest pictures on myspace, so stop in and take a look. I've also added a few Irish songs, including one entitled "Galway Bay." Enjoy!

Liz

Oct. 7, 2007

Hi, it's me again!

I spent yesterday (Saturday October 6) traveling to, from and around Connemara. We started at GMIT at 9am, with a few typed words from Tom and William, the trip coordinators. Here are a few highlights:
     Fa'ilte: means "welcome"
     Sla'inte: "Good Health!"
     Dia Dhuit: "God be with you"
     "Maybe you noticed. The Irish do things differently. It can be part of the    charm of the place or part of the frustration. You choose! A visitor once remarked that there are 3 things not to believe about the Irish: (1) When they say...The meeting begins at 9am (or the bus leaves at...) (2) Your money is in the post (3) Don't worry, we will definitely leave after this next beer!                 So enjoy the difference!"

Well, that is definitely the truth! The bus didn't leave until 9:30. Once we were underway, the Spanish, who were by far the majority, started signing songs, mostly songs from childhood. Fortunately I was sitting with Laura and she translated some of them for me. For the most part, they were nonsensical songs, like most children learn in other countries as well. The scenery out the bus window changed from Galway City to more rural and finally to open country. Our bus was being followed by a VW van containing Jennifer and Shaun, 4 students, and one past student who is now doing research at GMIT.

I lost track of time, but probably less than an hour later, we stopped at Brigit's Garden.   As you walk through the garden, seasons of the earth and seasons of life are represented. The Celtic year starts in October, so the first season is Winter, which marks a time death and promise of rebirth. There are large mounds of earth, covered in grass and shaped into the form of a pregnant woman lying on her side. There is also a small pond, with a bronze figure crouching on the ground, with the whole of it surrounded by simple birch trees. Then comes spring, bringing birth and new life. St. Brigit's day is February 1, and she is often represented as three sisters, or as three patrons of poetry, crafts, and midwifery. There is a path leading through orchard trees to the hanging basket chairs, or swings. Next, summer is the time for childhood and for marriage, depicted by wildflowers.   There is a processional path of tall stones leading to the throne made of 5,000-yr-old bog wood. Finally we came to the time of harvest, with vegetable beds, flowers, and herbs. There were two grassy, interlinked circles that provide a space for feasting and dancing, in celebration of plenty and of giving thanks.

Then it was back on the bus for a while, until Father Tom decided we needed a little fresh air. We gratefully filed off the hot bus and walked for a while, coming upon a lake with several of the beautiful Twelve Bens (mountains) looming inthe background. Some climbed a few hills, others skipped stones on the lake, and everyone took lots of pictures. The bus picked us up again and we went the last 20km to Kylemore Abbey.

Kylemore was built by Mitchell and Margaret Henry over the course of 4 years, from 1867-1871. Mitchell inherited his fortune from his cotton merchant father.   (I think inheriting your fortune is definitely a wise thing to do!) However, only 3 years after it was completed, Margaret died in Cairo. Her mausoleum is just down from the church that her husband built as a memorial to her. Mitchell continued to live there with their 9 children and was known as a good landlord. In 1903 it was purchased by the Duke and Duchess of Manchester. It became an Abbey in 1920 and is also a boarding school for girls. Therefore, very little of the castle is open to the public.

We ate lunch in various areas along the paved paths that run through the woods and along the lake. After exploring the gardens and the gardener's house, we once again boarded the bus for a short trip to the small village of Leenane. We stopped off at a small pub where those who had been brave enough to sing into the mircrophone on the bus were rewarded with a free pint of Guiness. Everyone else had to buy their own.

I was very tired by the time we arrived back at 7pm. But the night wasn't over. Jennifer took me over to her place for a barbecue with friends. I was picked up in the VW van, but the jokester driving made us jump in the side door as he was driving away. It reminded me of a scene in "Little Miss Sunshine".

About 10:45 I walked home and got on the computer to try once again to book a trip for Pat and I while he is visiting. I hadn't had any luck trying to coordinate flights for the short time he is here. But luckily I was able to book a flight to and from Pisa, Italy. So if all goes well, we will be taking photos of the leaning Tower of Pisa in 2 1/2 weeks.

I hope that everyone is doing well; I've heard you are enjoying wonderful weather in Michigan. I'm happy to report that we are having great weather here in Galway as well. I am crossing my fingers that it continues.

Take care and email back!
Liz

September 22, 2007

Well, after nine days I am starting to get used to things here. Although I am battling homesickness and missing my family and friends very much, each day it gets better. Jennifer has been a big help, whether by showing me the ropes, or just showing up to take me somewhere. We went last Saturday to listen to Music at the Crossroads, a wonderful Irish group. They played Irish music as well as different types of music that has influenced and contributed to Irish music over the centuries -- from Russian to Spanish to North American. They were very impressive, especially because each member of the group could play about five different instruments each. I am full of envy!

I have been exploring Galway -- there is a lot to see just in this one town. Today I visited Galway Cathedral, St. Nicholas Collegiate Church, the Spanish Arch, and enjoyed an ice cream while walking along the Corrib River. The river seems to flow very fast, but if you fall in, there are life preservers at intervals along the way. It was a sunny, fairly warm though windy day, and the city centre was crowded with tourists. Trips coordinated through the college begin on October 6, when there is a trip planned to Connemara.

Classes started this week and that was a huge adjustment. Things are done so differently here. It is not unusual for the class location to change without notice, or have a professor show up 10 minutes late. Everyone seems to take it in stride though. Most of the students are very friendly. A few have introduced themselves, though I have to say it is mostly the "older" students that have done so. While walking yesterday, I came upon Dermot, one of the mature students in my class. He was walking to catch a bus to go visit his mother in Limerick. He is such a nice friendly man, and I am getting better at understanding his thick Irish accent.

Today I finally broke down and purchased a heavier coat. We have had a few very cold, rainy and windy days when I felt I needed a warmer coat. But then suddenly the rain would stop, the sun would come out, and the wind would die down. This caused me to debate the neccesity of spending my money. However, after speaking with several Irish women, I decided that I will indeed need that coat in the near future. I thought Michigan was known for sudden weather changes, but Ireland wins hands down.

Well, I think it is time to go and do some reading for Literature class. I am a few pages into The Tain and it is good that I am reading it to myself, as the Gaelic names are extremely difficult to pronounce.

Take care,
Elizabeth


Liz Added to RES Plaque by NCMC President	Liz and 2006 Scholar Jen in Galway	The Corrib River runs through Galway

Galway Town County Galway, Ireland	Fences in Ireland "rock on"