Irish Beer > American Beer

Happy Hump Day!

Let me start by saying the water system in Ireland could use a pick me up. We have an emulsion tank upstairs instead of constant hot water in the house. If we want to take a shower, we have to go upstairs, press a switch that says "bath on" and then wait half an hour for the tank to boil the water, so we can take a hot shower. This is very different from school back at home, where people let the shower run for 30 minutes before even getting in it, and the water stays hot the entire time. Here, make good use of your time in the shower or you'll freeze. Why would you freeze? Well, the heat only comes on from 6 to 9 in the morning. After that, no heat for the rest of the day. Kinda sucks, by midnight I'm freezing.

So my day started with a luke warm shower, and I still have yet to find a towel so I've been drying off with a tshirt. Yea, roughin it.

Last night I posted late saying I found an American broadcast of the Caps game online. It was great, I got to watch the Caps in Ireland. And they won too! So it was double the greatness. So around 1 am this morning I was like, "Crap, I'm missing American Idol." I don't care what anyone says, I love that show. So I searched trying to find some place to watch the episode live. And I found a live link on Justin.tv! So I got to watch Idol in Chicago last night. It was a nice slice of home. When I woke up this morning I searched for ESPN and found a live stream of ESPN2, so I've been playing it non-stop in the background for noise. It makes it seem like my dorm room back home, where the TV was always on. I just need my sports and my background noise. Just knowing that my friends could be watching the same thing back at home makes me feel a little more connected to America.

So today Jeramie, yes it's with an ie, went into town. We took the bus, which costs 1.60 E one way, and rode it into the city center. On the bus I talked to two juniors from small colleges in 'Scansin. Both were Ag majors. The bus ride took about 10 minutes and then we were finally in the city. I didn't take any pictures because I have 4 months to do that, and trust me, you have to go into the city. It's where everything is.

As we walked down the streets I saw a girl in a PSU sweatshirt! I was like holy crap Penn State! So I yelled out, "YEAH PENN STATE!" and the three girls laughed and approached. Turns out those are three of the 6 PSU girls in the program. We ended up talking for 15 minutes about our experience so far. There was Katie from Erie, Kara from Erie, and Jess from Pittsburgh. Kara and Katie go to Erie and Jess goes to UP. They all flew out from Boston and lost their luggage so they were looking for clothing in the city. They asked me and Jeramie if we would like to go out with them tonight so we said yes. Then they left and Jeramie and I took on the city.

So we got lost for a bit. No biggie though. The people here talk so fast. Apparently they are notorious for it in Ireland. I asked a butcher for directions to an ATM and understood nothing. But we found it so it was all good. They love Rugby in Limerick. Munster is the home team. There are a couple blocks that are just decorated in their colors. People all over the streets wearing their jerseys and apparel. It's pretty cool. I want to become a Rugby hooligan. They have a huge match coming up Friday night at 7:30, it's a "must win".

As we strolled around we decided we were a bit hungry and we needed to eat. We walked all over and couldn't find a place. Probably because we were lost and walked away from the food district. So I turned to Jeramie and asked him if bars in Europe serve food. He said yes. I was like great, cause bars in the US serve food throughout the day. So I said, "Oh look, Patty Nicholas Pub," let's go there. Very European pubish on the outside. Black and white paint job.

So we enter. Immediately I realize they do not serve food here, as everyone is seated at the bar only and drinking Guinness. If there was an Irish Mafia, which I'm sure there is, it was probably these guys. Like something out of a movie, everyone stops talking, turns and looks at us. Literally staring. Giving us that look like, "What the hell are you doing here." So realizing our mistake Jeramie and I stand there awkwardly for a few seconds and then I felt obligated to get a beer. I couldn't just turn and walk out at this point. It'd be too awkward. So we approached and the gentleman behind the counter said, "What can I getcha laddies?" I pulled out my ID card and without even looking at it he says "Oh yea, you're ova 18." So, I said, "Uh, Smithwicks." I'm waiting for my Guinness. So he pours our drinks and we sit in between all these old guys who looked like they were part of the IRA. Everyone just stared at us. So we got our drinks, 4 Euro. Whatever, as long as we don't get stabbed at this point. So Jeramie and I drink.

Holy lord was it good.

I had a Smithwicks right before I left the states. It was like a Yuengling. Not too rich but dark and bitter. This drink was from God's beer lake. It was so smooth. Not bitter at all. Like a beer milkshake. I can't wait for another one. As we sat and enjoyed our pints we watched horse racing. Whatever. But I got a feeling it was a "betting" pub. I kinda got this feeling after a guy came in the front door, handed a folded up slip of white paper to an old guy at the bar, and ran out the back door. And they were really into their horse races. So, that was a shady ass adventure.

As we sat there we started talking to one of the old Irish dudes. He was very nice. Talked to us about Limerick and rugby. Told me I need to go to Strikers Pub on Friday for the match. Swore by it. So I guess Friday I'm going to Strikers for the Rugby match. I'm pumped. I'm gonna feel like such a hooligan. I'm buyin a jersey!

And you don't have to tip the bartender here. A-mazing.

Then we hopped next door and grabbed a quick bite. Had a ham on white, cost 3 euros. Jeramie told me in France even though they try to keep the TV stations completely French, no one likes French shows. He said he watches The Big Bang Theory, How I met your mother, Dexter, House, 24 and Kyle XY.

Jeramie made dinner once we returned. Pasta with bacon in it. Theodore joined us tonight. As usual when I first saw him in the kitchen before dinner, he had no pants on. There's always some article of clothing missing from him. Before dinner I got out my laptop and showed Nelson and Theo some of my pictures from home. They couldn't believe all the snow in my pictures. They were also very shocked when I showed them the farm show pictures. Wow, look at all those animals! Over dinner we talked about television and music. Apparently Lady Gaga is played everywhere, and people everywhere hate her. So it isn't just me and 98.56% of all Americans. The three of them said they enjoy South Park, especially Theo who then began to quote Cartman. However, Theo and Nelson both said they hated Family Guy. Jeremy has never even heard of it. Nelson said it was a joke and Theo said he didn't understand the jokes. I believe that. Many of the Family Guy jokes are hard for even Americans to understand. So then we talked about concerts and music. Nelson asked me what the last concert I attended was, and I told him it was Journey in October. None of them knew who Journey was. Haha. So then I started to sing "Don't Stop, Believin" and they all said, "Ohhhh, YES!"

After dinner. Theo got out his violin and began to play for us. I had to help him with the sheet music because he didn't know what the word, "improvisation" meant. He plays beautifully. For such a huge, loud, and kinda unhygienic guy it shocked me. Apparently he's been playing for 18 years and is a member of the Athens National Orchestra. He's traveling to NYC in March to play a concert. Pretty cool. I can still hear him playing upstairs. It's kinda neat, it's like I have the radio upstairs set to the classical music channel.

I just returned from the PSU girls apartment. It was fun. We just sat around, drank some really cheap French beer and talked about how different it was here.

Now I must sleep. I have orientation at 8:50 tomorrow morning!

Cheers!