Learning How to Pronounce Sláinte

 It's been a rough couple of days. First Peyton got sick, then Tim, and at last I'm sick too. But it's hard to take much time off when there's so much to do and see. On the advice of Tim and Joyce, the amazing woman who runs the show at NCI, I wandered over to the chemist (pharmacy) after I finished teaching yesterday. So, a few differences between the U.S. and Ireland re: drugs. You cannot get any drugs in the grocery store outside of paracetamol, which is like Tylenol.  If you want drugs you'll have to go to a chemist. You are not allowed to get the drugs yourself, you'll need to get a consultation from the pharmacist.  At first, this seemed like overkill for what most Americans consider over-the-counter medicine. Upon further reflection, I'm not an expert in medicine, I often struggle to read the literal fine print on the bottles and boxes, I have no idea how any drug interacts with any other drug, especially when I'm sick and addled. So, I had a very...

 Our three-day weekend has flown by. I'm hoping we've allowed sufficient time and space for rest considering next week's ambitious agenda. Unlike at home where I'm content to do an hour or two of a thing here and there, when I'm on the road I feel like I have to take advantage of all the things I could  be doing here that I absolutely cannot do at home. The unfortunate consequence to this line of thought is that I often miss those moments of quiet that would probably make the travel and adventure even more enjoyable.  Day 5 Friday started off slowly with a lovely breakfast made by Tim. We're fortunate to have such a bounty of gorgeous food and ingredients available just down the street. Lotts & Co. is a particular temptation. Just this morning I brought home two sausage rolls, a pain au chocolate, and a pistachio croissant not because I was particularly hungry, but because they were available and I desired them. Once we finished up breakfast, we ventured out...

 Even though I do  remember being exhausted the last time we did this, I think our brains file this information away so that our bodies are still willing to go along with the ridiculous pace of a study abroad adventure. Not only are we adjusting to a new time zone, getting lost, fighting with Irish appliances, and helping 13 students to acclimate to living in Ireland, it's also the first week of classes, which is a heavy lift even at home! Next week, I'd like to do a little Mrs. Dalloway and document the day--I've been in such a rush to get to work and completely immersed in teaching that I haven't taken a single photo of the university or our classroom!  Part of our class schedule includes a variety of required excursions (like the 1916 tour). After Wednesday's class, we had a scheduled trip to learn about Gaelic sports. I'll admit that we were skeptical about the  Gaelic Sports Experience . Tim and I both fully expected this to be the part of the trip that was...

Irish weather can be cold and damp, not that I've experienced this myself. But if you read the guidebooks or look at travel websites for advice on what to pack for Ireland, you'll be advised to bring a raincoat and umbrella. Perhaps a light sweater and scarf as well. This is my 4th trip to Ireland and I'm not even sure if it's ever rained once. What I do know is that I'm consistently worried about getting a sunburn. So, while I've brought a raincoat, I've also brought 3 different kinds of sunscreen. I joke with friends that my arrival in Ireland brings the good weather and this trip has been no exception. It's gorgeous--mid-60s and sunny. Everything is verdant and lush from the relentless rain in the weeks preceding our arrival. It's difficult to imagine that Ireland could be any more welcoming than it already is, and then some new delight arrives! We started the day with a hearty breakfast at home and then set out to do a trial run of the walk to th...