Wednesday morning was spent mostly in class, I had both of my classes back to back. And then went to rent a bike for three weeks since they were out when we went the previous day. Casey and I both rented them and biked back to school for a seminar. Our group had planned to go the GAA Football game. I assumed it was soccer considering the ball they use is what looks similar to our soccer ball, and the fact that most of Europe calls American soccer, football...but I was way off. Casey and I biked to the stadium (it was 4 miles from our place) and many of the girls rode a taxi there while a few met us on their bikes. Once we got in, it looked like a huge field with bleachers essentially on every side. The game was GAA Football which is literally a mix between what we would consider to be rugby and soccer, maybe basketball too haha. It was a series of running, bouncing, throwing and kicking the ball. Not really sure what we were watching but Galway won so that was cool to see. After the game ended, myself and a couple of the other girls, Cameron, Ellie and Olivia decided to ride back along the coast to the city, it was a little longer route but we wanted to see Salthill. It was 9pm by this point but it is light here till at least 11 so we managed to get some really cool pictures. I am definitely planning on going back to Salthill one morning and walking the trail to really soak it in, even though biking it and stopping for pictures was incredible.
Thursday I spent the morning at a follow up appointment for my foot. Hospitals here are so interesting and different from the US. When i was called back to wait for the doctor, I walked through a long hallway and patients literally line the walls lying in hospital beds waiting to be treated or being followed up with. Some had IVs which where hung on the wall and when nurses came to do vitals, they would do them in the hallway with the patients which also were very narrow and that would prohibit anyone from walking through the hallway. Such a different scene that what we experience in the states. Healthcare here is government funded as long as you have lived in Ireland for a year.
After this, I went to class and we had a interdisciplinary seminar on the famine which was very interesting. It was a researcher and writer who told us specifically about a very small town and how it was affected during the famine. At the end of the presentation he showed us photos of the people he talked about which actually were his grandparents. it was a very unique approach to learning about the famine and I really enjoyed it.
In the evening, our whole group went out. We started at The Quays which has quickly become our favorite bar here because the crowd is younger and the live bands are all incredible. There are some that play trendy songs that we can all sing and dance too, while others play very Irish folk songs so it is cool to listen to. We then went to The Kings Head for just a while, the live music was just ending when we got there but we started talking to these English guys on their holiday so stayed for a bit to talk to them. People in general here are just super friendly and willing to strike up a conversation with anyone. We went to the The Front Door after that which was insanely packed. A few of the girls in our group were already here so we met up with them and talked with some guys from Northern Ireland who were here on holiday as well. It was such a fun night.
Today, I had class at 9 which made for a super early morning after a late night lol. But after class, Casey and I decided to go into the city for Seafest which is held at The Docks right near The Claddaugh and City Center. There was a ton of food and some shopping too. It was nice just to take in the scenery and enjoy walking around. Our apartment decided to do a grill-out tonight, so we all cooked dinner and ate together. We are all completely exhausted and have two day drips ahead of us.. one to Kylemore Abbey and Connemara and the other to the Aran Islands. It should be an incredible weekend that I am really looking forward to.
