Day 6 – 1/20/2014
Today was my first day of classes. My first one was at 9 AM. That felt so
late after my last semester, which consisted of 4, 8 AMs. My first class was
process and controls. An engineering class. Ana and Paul were both in it, which
is good support. In came our professor. He seemed a little young and all I
could hope was that he was our professor because he was definitely a cute Irish
man. We began class and went straight into learning for the semester. After
about an hour, it was over. I, and the two other abroad students, introduced
ourselves to the professor. He was helpful and brought us to where we could
purchase our books. At UCD everything is posted on Blackboard because I think
they believe in no paper and conserving energy or something like that. I personally
like printing, but I am not about to pay for every page. Then I found 20 euros
on the ground. Nice. I went back to get some things ready and set for my next
Spanish class. This Spanish class seems that it will be easy. The professor,
apparently the department chair, was joking the entire time. He was great! He
said that there would be no final exam. I raised my hand and apparently,
everyone knew what this exam was. I think they all laughed at me and that’s
when they all realized the “abroad student”. It probably helped that I also sat
by myself. Again, after class, I introduced myself to the professor. He was
very comforting as I let him know that I have not spoken it in a while. He
walked me to the library and showed me where to buy the book we need. He also
spoke with me the entire way about the UCD Spanish experience. I went back to
eat lunch and then off to my next Spanish class. This one was really scary.
This was the class with C.
Rosaria. I met with her already. This class seemed more intense where we would
need to know the grammar and understanding of Spanish. I was not prepared.
There were a lot of people in our class. We were split into 3 groups and within
this group; we had smaller 3 person groups. I was paired with a chill guy and
really pretty girl. I met some students from Ireland. 3 of them went to Spain
last year to study. That was a program that the UCD students are offered. If
they take a language they get to go abroad for a year.
There were 5 of us
talking outside. These kids were chill and introduced me to Black Out Monday.
The first day of the semester. One of them invited me to the on campus bar
around 5. And another was going to the city later. I walked with a girl to her
bus and we talked the entire way there. Oh, so cool! I loved meeting Irish
kids!
At 6, I was getting
ready to go running with the running team. I was afraid I was not going to find
them, but I did! There was one girl, Laura. She was from Galway. Extremely
small and skinny, but had the energy of a bunny. We started running and she
taught me a lot. She brought me to a spot in a park in Dublin I don’t think I
would have ever discovered. Even though it was dark and hard to see, I saw
really nice houses and we looked into the city with all the lights. It was like
being in an airplane. Beautiful. We continued back where she showed me all the
new buildings and lakes around UCD. I ran home to shower and get ready to go
out.
I found it really
difficult to get a hold everyone. I don’t have a phone but everyone else seems
to have one. The twins ended up taking a taxi and we took the bus. Everyone
left without me :/ I somehow ran into them though. I got super lucky! We went
to a bar called Diceys. The line was HUGE like a block. We had to pay cover
which was 5 euros and coat check. I didn’t get a drink but got some water. I
saw the 2 girls that I met from my first day of orientation when I was really
confused and walked up to them. They were both from Marquette and very sweet to
me.
Danny, from Evanston,
and I were not really into it. He doesn’t like clubs and I just wasn’t drunk
enough or couldn’t get into it. I don’t know why, but I tried. I think that
maybe it was just weird because it was a Monday night. Somehow, we both agreed
to catch the bus before 11 o’clock (buses only run until 11). We first decided
to leave by 1230, but then that went to 12 and really quickly to 11 and then
even faster to we aren’t even going to get any more drinks. We talked a lot and
he told me about his relationship with his girlfriend. They seem to really like
each other, or at least know each other really well. I don’t like talking about
feelings but I love listening to them. I love being someone that people can
talk to. I hope I helped.
Once we got back, I
found 2 euros. WOooo! First day of school and I was up 22 euros (almost 30
bucks).
21/1/2014
This morning I had class
at 10. Again, I had class with Ana and Paul from University of Alabama also
studying mechanical engineering. After, Ana and I introduced ourselves to the
professor of mechanical engineering design. We again will not have a final in
this class which is comforting. He talked to us about what to expect for the
next 30 minutes. He couldn’t believe that our classes counted against our GPAs
either. He said that classes used to be a black from about 12 to 4 pm and then
if you had labs after. Then the university changed its policies. And now, no
one goes to class and everyone’s grades just dropped. Womp.
That was my only class
for the day. I started watching Vicky, Christina Barcelona. The Wi-Fi went out.
I went to talk to some people about traveling and they gave me museums for if I
stayed around here. Other than that, not much help. Then, I did some more
scholarships, traveling looking up, and then eating. I was so hungry for some
reason. I really got into beans and lentils. I love it! And it is also really
cheap here. I like cooking. I was so tired today and didn’t know what to do. I
feel like no one stays in contact with me. I have to find some peeps or get a
phone or something
Today I found out I am
withdrawn from Syracuse. No big deal. Then I tried to change it on my application
but cannot get into it from Ireland. Womp womp. Well, if they waited this long,
who cares for a few more days. Actually, this wasn’t my fault. It was the
abroad coordinators as Syracuse. What dumbassses. Do you think if I dont fill out anything, I would get away with not paying tuition and still get my credits to tranfer?
I met up with a girl I ran into that I have gone out with. We went to
another friend’s apartment but they were just watching a show so I left really quickly.
But, I did get a clubs catalogue and emailed a ton of clubs, like scuba,
cycling, and even trampolining to get into it! I am so excited to start. I’ll
run or something in the mornings and then do that or the free work out classes
at night.
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