June 14

Plane landed. IN DUBLIN, IRELAND. (Around 11:45am Dublin time.) We were all herded off the plane, through customs, and through baggage claim again. We caught the shuttle (miraculously) with EUSA and were driven (on the wrong side of the road) to our new homes in Shanowen Square. It's actually really cute. We got our keys and internet setup gear from the "office" and were given our room assignments. I'm in a suite with three other girls named Kim, Meghan, and Andrea. (Kim was on my flight, too.) We each have our own room and our own bathroom and we share a kitchen and common area...but enough about that, for now.

(Kim, John, Becky, and Meghan.)

We ran into our rooms, dumped our heavy luggage, and met back out front to grab some lunch. We asked around and walked to a nearby mall called "Omni."

(The streetlights make really weird, video game kinda sounds when you are allowed to cross, and there are little people instead of circles.)

(This is just funny.)

There we had lunch in the food court-esque area and searched for hangers, for a while.

(Check out the coke bottles.)

We accidentally came across exactly what we all needed.. a grocery store! (kinda) We bought the essentials... toilet paper, shampoo, etc. We also found out that you have to pay 22 cents per plastic grocery bag you'd like. This is why Europe stays skinnier than us, by the way. They use less grocery bags since they have to buy them...causing them to buy less and eat less. Also, they have to carry their groceries home.

So, we went home and went our separate ways for a few hours, to unpack. Here's pictures of the room. Some were taken before unpacking, and some after...

(View from the door.)

(Desk area.)

(Wardrobe.)

After unpacking, we all met up at 6:30 to go explore and check out a pub. Any pub. The first pub we could find.

(Most of the EUSA group.)

(The closest pub to Shanowen, maybe a 1/2 mile walk.)

(Pub stop #1.)

(My first {and probably last} ever.)

(Second pub for tonight. PS- it's like 9pm outside. It doesn't get dark in Dublin till past 11pm.)



Ok guys, that's all I've got for you today. Mostly because I am so tired I can't keep my eyes open. I haven't slept since my parent's house in Richmond. We have orientation in the morning. Goodnight, all.