Rainy...CHECK!

So when I first heard that in Ireland it rains all the time, I thought I understood that statement, well I was wrong. It rains EVERYDAY, not just Monday and Tuesday, but you have to include Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday And Sunday. There has not been one day here where it has not rained. Some days it might only rain for a few minutes, while other days you wonder when will it let up enough where I wont get drenched walking 5 minutes to class. The funny thing about this is that it's not even the rainy season yet... that's still to come! :) Supposedly in November and December it rains all day everyday! 

Well Monday started the first day of classes. I only had one class that day, but yesterday and today I've had quit a bit. The nice thing about Universities in Ireland they have a two week period where you can check out classes and see if they work with your schedule before you actually have to enroll. As of today I think I have the five classes I want to take down, but I'm still waiting on approval from the education department here at Limerick. Some of the classes should be a challenge while others should be relatively easy and interesting. The classes I am going to take are: Statistics, The New World: American Literature, Irish Music and Dance, Introduction to Human Geography and Introduction to New Media and Cultures. 

Everything is going really well so far! God has blesses me with some amazing roommates so far. They are all fourth year students and know where to go and what to do, so that has been awesome! So far I know 4 out of the 5 of there names, Siobhian, Richard, Jamie and Atto, but I still cant understand one of their names. I have asked her countless times, but i still cant get it...really, i know but still some of the names are very unique. Well I have got to go, but until next time...

~Nicole

Hey everyone! These past five days have flown by. We already start class tomorrow! I am actually semi-excited for classes, I'm just interested to see how classes are here in Ireland. I'm still waiting on two class, on whether or not they will transfer back to UW-L for credits. Let me try and update you on the last couple days!

On Thursday, that was the big orientation day! From 9am till 6:30pm we were either sitting in a classroom getting information on class and campus or walking around getting a tour or checking out various things. It was way to long and dragged out. During our campus tour here are some pics that are from around campus...

This is my house with in Dromroe village, called Rowan!

Us API girls on the living bridge! This bridge connects the campus over the Shannon river!

They say car park instead of parking lot...hehe

This is a giant tree that is in the middle of the main building. This is one out of the 5 sections of the main building.

This is the Plassey house, better known as the white house, connected to the main building!

This pool is in the University Arena that we have full access to as students! Also this is the only Olympic size pool in Ireland so there are actually Olympic swimmers training for the summer Olympics now.

 This leads us into Friday! On Friday we were able to sleep in for the first time since we got there...so nice! Also this was the day that I was able to actually swim in the pool in the University Arena...it was SO sweet! Later that day we took a tour of Limerick City on top of a double-decker bus! It was about a hour long. The weather one minute was nice and sunny and then the next it was raining...yep im in Ireland, check! lol

our tour bus!

Thomond Park Stadium...we get to go to a rugby game later in the semester :)))

On Saturday morning we went down to the Market in Limerick! It was so huge and they have it all year round..score! We were able to look around and check out what they have, while sipping on a nice warm cappuccino :)

Simone and I with our cappuccinos :))

 Our next stop on our little tour on Saturday was St. Mary's Cathedral. It was originally built in 1168, most of it burnt down and was rebuild in the 1600's! We were able to walk around inside and see the beautiful stain glass and the elegance it had on the inside. When we went back outside and around the front there was a giant door that had survived the fire and elements since 1168.

the view of St. Mary's Cathedral from the front!

The door that has been standing since 1168!

 The next stop was at King John's Castle. It was sweet to be able to see a castle, since we don't have any at home like this.

apparently she thinks this is funny...lol

we had lunch here! it was right on the banks of the Shannon river!

Until next time...
Nicole

Hello IRELAND!

I have been in Ireland for a whole 24 hours! It does not even feel real, I have been so busy with finalizing paper work, picking out classes, getting groceries and trying to get moved in. I'm actually over here with a friend from LaCrosse, her name is Simone. It has been so wonderful to have her here. We aren't in the same apartment but we are in the same village (kind of like a dorm) so that is nice. So I figured I would give you a recap of the last couple days...

So Friday the 26th of August was the day before i was supposed to fly out. Due to the conditions out east with Hurricane Irene we were keeping a close eye on our flight, thank goodness we did because our flights ended up canceling...great. I ended up getting my flights changed to Monday evening after waiting on hold for an hour and then realizing i could just do it myself. Smart one Nicole! Now Simone was supposed to be on the same flights as I, but because we rebooked our flights, her first flight was a 6am on Monday morning. Fast forward to Sunday afternoon-I was checking my flights to see if they were still on time, because I had heard from the news that the earliest the Newark airport would open was noon on Monday. My flights were still on time, but Simone's 6am to Newark, where we were connecting to Shannon, Ireland, was cancelled. She ended up getting on a flight that left like 2 hours before mine. So after being packed and ready to go for four days Monday, August 29th finally came! We had no problem with either of the flights and got to Newark in plenty of time to catch our connecting flight to Ireland! The cool thing was that we met about five other people who are studying at Limerick this fall through other programs at the airport. We were all on the same flight to Shannon. It was so awesome to see how God provided us with friendships at the airport that would probably not have happened if we left on Saturday. God is so good! Here are some pictures of my journey...

Simone and I ready to board our plane to Ireland!!

the gorgeous view from our plane as we preparing to land in Shannon, Ireland!

we officially arrived at Shannon airport!

Got got to Ireland around 9am! We were met by two Limerick students! There were about 15 other students on the plane that were all going to the University of Limerick. We all took the same bus over and were dropped off right in front of our village. Once we put all our stuff in our room we were supposed to "ring" this woman named Maria. She said to meet her at 2:15. Both Simone and I were extremely hungry, so we decided to grab a bite to eat at The Stable. It's a bar/eating place on campus. Then we went and met up with Maria, as soon as she introduced herself and the other API students that we will be traveling with this semester, she told us that we would be going out to eat and then shopping if we needed anything. EATING again...Simone and I were both full from the meal we just had, but didn't know how to tell Maria without being rude that we had already ate. Normally it would be fine, just don't get anything, but the meal was on API, so we both got a soup. After shopping for awhile we had to come back and went through paper work and our class schedule. I was able to meet two of my roommates one being Richard and the other...idk lol I believe there is also one other guys moved in but i haven't met him yet. We have two other roommates that should be coming on Sunday. Until next time...
~Nicole

Anxiously Awaiting!

Well I depart for Limerick, Ireland in about 34 hours! My mind is all over the place! Thinking about what I need to bring, to the status of my flight. I am about packed with some last minute things to get together tomorrow. What I am interested to see is what will happen with my flight, Hurricane Irene is coming up the east coast about to hit Newark, NJ, it will be late Saturday evening/early Sunday morning. My plane is supposed to depart around 7:30pm on Saturday from Newark...this will be interesting! Knowing that I can't control a Hurricane...dang, I really need to rely on the Lord for patience, understanding and a calm heart! He will provide and take hold of this situation and use it for His good! 

I am anxiously awaiting my arrival in Ireland, knowing that their is a fun and challenging semester ahead of me! I am excited to see what God has in store for me this semester!