one week of classes down... tired and still surreal...

So first of all, to remind you all that uploading pictures here take forever. Right now, I'm using Photobucket, but the upload times for it is immensely slow. So, my blog entries are written and made, but not posted right away because I want pictures to go along with the reading to make it a super nice blog and not bland, you know? So, if you're expecting something fast, you have to give me some leeway since the internet here is slower. Unless I find a way to use Facebook, which loads the fastest, but I'm not sure if Facebook photos are able to be linked and viewable on Blogger for a long extended time (let's hope!).

~~~~~~~~

I've been in Dublin for almost two weeks now, but still I wake up every morning feeling like I'm at home in the U.S. The only reason I remember is the first thing I see is the traffic on my way to the Luas going the opposite direction (which by the way is very dangerous, be wary of bikes, buses, and cars at all times! I've had a couple encounters to close calls three times now...), the street signs are in English and Gaelic (which they prefer to call it Irish here) and of course the sweet accents (which I tend to slip into on some occasions at the moment, I believe I'll most likely have a slight accent when I come home).

I think in a way I'm at that point where I miss a couple things from home, but I have some good memory triggered things here to keep me company. I brought my pillow I made in middle school Home Economics, which makes it more tolerable to sleep since the pillows here are really soft and not neck supporty enough (Also to note, I've been having some trouble sleeping because our comforters are heavy and I'll wake up sweating, so yeah we tend to keep the windows open at night). Second, my connection in beverages is Dr. Pepper, it tastes exactly like home. Unfortunately, it is sometimes hard to find since it is predominantly Coke here in Dublin. However, Coke does not taste like home. It IS good, but different (Water here is also much better, including the tap water that contains Fluoride). Third, most recently I found I miss my mom a little and they have a local favorite sandwich called Chicken Tikka (it's a nice Indian style prepared sauce with the chicken). As this sandwich is close to my mom's name, Tikkri, it gives me a sense of home and reminds me of her whenever I see it.

Another food point, is that I recently had Subway, which if you find it on the right side of town is rather decent priced (but not on Grafton Street, aka big Tourist street, = Overpriced!). So, I got the most basic footlong of Turkey Breast and Ham on Italian bread, with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, black olives, and mayo. Every bite I took, I swear I could taste every single thing at once. Each item could be sensed at the same time, from bread to dressing. Basically every sandwich or food item here has a richer taste that I've noticed. It is FANTASTIC! But to also go along with that instance, food in cans here such as certain soups, ravioli, and spaghettios (at least the cheaper brands I've noticed) do not taste as well as the American counterparts. Canned foods just seem a bit more on the lacking side and thus fresh food is more of the plus side.

Orientation, which was held at the IES Centre was rather interesting to learn from, as well as long and boring at times. However, I learned some nice things like where to shop to save money (including Lidl's and Aldi's, which is like the Aldi's at home, cheaper than Wal-Mart! haha), places to avoid, and places to enjoy my time. They also encouraged us to travel and gave us a booklet on finding cheap airfare, bus lines, and rail systems. And on top of that we get a free Student Travel Card that helps us get discounts at certain places of food, travel, and entertainment.

The Dublin Bus Tour that Saturday was very much a good way to get to see the city and some spots to help scope out where I can go in the city itself. Let me say it's huge, but small at the same time. And Phoenix Park most especially, where the Dublin Zoo and where the President Mary McAleese lives, is amazingly beautiful. *I took a few photos of that so I plan that to be a post of it's own accord most likely.* The scavenger hunt this past Wednesday was also a nice option to view the city within walking and a two hour period. It was very tiring, we didn't win, but I feel it helped me find some things much faster and get to know more surroundings.

The weather here is rather nice for this week of classes, it's been rather sunny and warm, but cool at night. It mainly rains here, so I'm anticipating that, but at the same time dreading it. I don't really have a rain jacket, which I might be looking into buying one if it gets too bad because the wind is strong and my umbrella has held up for now (which gratefully hasn't failed me with my umbrella curse and all). Speaking of clothing also, short was a bad packing decision since it's usually too cool to wear them, and the days that are nice, I forget to wear them. Also, they are usually a "tourist-type" clothing.

9 of the 19 Theatre Students at St. Stephen's Green Park for a lunch picnic...

Classes thus far have been rather interesting, some more exciting than others. The only downside that I mainly am concerned about was that we only have one class actually in the Gaiety Acting School while the other 4 are in the IES Centre. Our teachers are from Gaiety, but we're only actually in the building twice a week, once in the afternoon on Mondays and Friday mornings. Those will be the only two classes as well when we'll be integrated with other Irish students come October (since that's when their official term starts) so that means we get a month early training which is nice. *I'll be trying to get some pics of IES Centre and the Gaiety up when I get to taking them*

My Devising class is an interesting mix of direction and improv, which has been rather exciting, but the teacher is rather on the "shut up and learn" side of teaching Theatre it seems. Watching others perform some framing excercises were really funny and if we laughed she would shush us to be quiet and observe, not to be an audience. I feel in a way she's right, but at the same time there's a difference when there's an actual audience and you're on stage.

Movement class is more different than my Movement class I took with Adam Noble at IU (which was Suzuki based). It's more dance oriented with some rhythm mixing and yoga. I've done yoga with Adam in Sun and Moon Salutations, but this is more break yoga (I forget the actual name of it). Basically it's the yoga that you do in pain and that's obviously not my kind of yoga... however, the dance oriented and rhythm mixing is a good part of the class. It's kind of like organized movements with music rhythms and a bit of Stomp oriented techniques in hand claps thus far.

Acting class so far has been a mix of games and things we've done in Devising so far, but it's been a rather interesting idea of how using games can be affected by acting as well. Voice class is so far nice, but it's going to be a more one-on-one experience as the days go on. Contemporary Irish Drama so far seems more like a discussion class so far, though I'm still iffy if I like the teacher yet. I've only had one day with him so far though.

And as for the weekends, I have plans to visit places soon since I have time and freedom to do them.

• Galway, Lisdoonvarna, and Doolin (which include the Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher) are the weekend of October 2nd-4th, where a couple of us Theatre kids will meet up with a few of the general studies kids in our program and spend the weekend together.
• On October 22nd - 26th, after Mid-Terms, the Theatre kids will be taking a weekend trip to London for Theatre week, which includes seeing plays and shows in London and theatre visits (including Shakespeare's Globe Theatre!!).
• I want to visit Bray, Dun Laughery, County Kerry and a few other places around Ireland, but I also want to go to Scotland, and possibly Rome (if the plans and money worked out, but most likely NOT happening now). Amsterdam was a choice as there are a few kids in my program going, but I figure I know I want to experience a lot, but not TOO much considering I'm still limited in funding and what not.

my 1st Rainbow in Ireland, which was Friday at our Voice class in the Gaiety Acting School

love and respect,
Christopher