irish people are great

Last night was insane.

Let me just get one thing clear: Irish people are the greatest people in the entire world. Like, no question. We decided it was a good idea to go out earlier as I mentioned in my last blog, so we headed to Taaffes Pub around 8:45 for some Irish music. Turns out there was none. Or at least not that early. But of course I started talking to an Irish guy. Him and his friends looked like they were getting up from their booth, and we wanted one so as I started walking over they immediately said "Ohhh, Americans, yeah?" which I don't understand because literally all we did was walk over, but apparently we did it in an American way. When I asked how he knew he saved himself by saying it was because we were prettier than all the other girls in the bar. So this guy, Ivan, who was Irish despite his Russian name, mentioned that he had lived in the States before, in Missouri. He laughed and admitted that while he was there he worked in a McDonalds and THEN made the tragic mistake of sharing his opinion that baseball is the most boring sport in the world. Now, I assume everyone reading this blog knows me pretty well and should know my all-consuming affinity for the game of baseball. And for those of you who don't know, it was a goal of mine to teach an Irish person baseball. So I stood there in the bar and taught Ivan the school teacher the basics of the game of baseball. Whether or not he cared is really outside of the realm of my concern but regardless he stood there very patiently and if anything looked attentive. However, this was not nearly the most exciting part of the night.

Around 9:30 we left Taaffes to go to this place we'd heard of, Dail Bar. We could tell almost immediately that it was an older scene, but it was really nice and so we decided to stay for a drink. We sat down at the bar and an AAAADORABLE bar tender, named Jack, served us overpriced beer and cocktails. He was only nineteen but that did not stop us from literally hitting on him without shame for about an hour. He's a business student at NUIG and so I'm hoping to run into him at school when I'm in the business building. Anywho, the other bartender, Allen, was kind of a jerk but he told me a good place to watch football on Sundays. Turns out homeboys actually an Eagles fan. I don't remember why he said he was but then he told me that he didn't understand the Donovan McNabb trade and how the big 5 would have taken us to a Super Bowl. I kindly but emphatically pointed out that McNabb, who God bless him will always have a special place in my heart for what he's done, has been benched for the incompetent Red Grossman and that Michael Vick is the a top candidate for the MVP. Homeboy was not having it.

So after spending most of the evening arguing and teaching American sports, Ainsley and I somehow started talking to this guy who told us that him and his friends were at the bar for their Christmas party. Now, I should point out to you that Christmas is not over here. There are decorations everywhere and I've heard more than one person greet another person with "Merry Christmas Happy New Year to yah". I mean I'm not complaining but whatever. So this guy, whose name I cannot remember because I'm horrible with names drunk or sober, ends up buying us drink after drink like the shot "Baby Guinness" which consists of a dark liquor called Tia Maria and is then topped off with Baileys, so it actually looks like a baby Guinness in a shot glass. I end up having an incredibly long conversation about American and Irish politics and the relationship between England and Ireland. I've gotten the consensus from most people that the Irish are all Democrats and that they jokingly hate the English on the surface, but might actually really still dislike them on the inside. We then started talking about our families and he asked my name and deduced right away that I was American Irish. I always immediately tell Irish people I meet that I don't claim to be a real Irish, I feel like it makes them laugh and they know you're not an asshole American and are therefore more liable to be nice (and buy you awesome drinks). So we started talking about where we came from and he asked why I chose to come back to Ireland and I explained that I wanted to see where I originally came from and that it makes me feel closer to my Granddaddy to be here because he loved it so much. So then this guy buys a round for us in Granddaddys name, which is exactly what he would want me to do. Irish people are awesome.

So then we left to go to the Kings Head again for some music. We ran into a really weird dude who was dancing all up on Ainsley so we left to go to The Front Door. Lo and behold, we meet up with our friends who are having their party! At this point we are successfully hammered and are dancing like crazy people with two Irish men and two women who are all SO cool. There are insane pictures to follow on facebook. After an hour or so we walked to the Quays with our new Irish girl friends from the work party (I don't know where the guys went). As soon as we walk in there are two really cute Irish guys so Ainsley and I walked up to them and started talking. The guy Ainsley was talking to apparently hated America and was yelling at her for being American, but my guy was perfectly friendly as almost all Irish people are. He was adorable and also did not know baseball and so I gave him a quick tutorial. He then broke my heart by telling me that he had a girlfriend, and I moved on with my night. I then ran into some American friends and talked about the football game tonight, which will be at 9:30 pm Ireland time. The owners of the Quays kick you out at two so we left then and scoped out a place that we know will show football tonight and then walked home. I found out that a website someone gave me to stream sports works great and watched the end of the Jets Colts game and then passed out.

This morning we went to the cathedral by campus called Notre Dame de Lordes. It is honestly the most beautiful church I've ever been in. Apparently Christopher Columbus prayed there before making the journey to America. Pretty cool, eh? The Mass is exactly the same here except that they sing the Kyrie in Gaelic and Communion is kind of a free for all. Whenever you're ready you just go up to the altar and kneel and the priest will get to you when he gets to you. Liz, Eileen, Ainsley and I were pretty confused but we figured it out. After that we got some lunch and then shopped a little in Dunnes. I got the CUTEST satchel bag for 5 euro which I was pretty psyched about and then on the walk home listened to this AWESOME street band who was really funny and a majority of them were good looking. I think they party in Galway so hopefully we'll be seeing them around. The lead singer had such a good voice. They LOVE Kings of Leon here. Literally everywhere we go they're playing them. Then we came home and figured out our classes. I was so relieved that my classes all worked out and now I just have to find where they are on campus. First day of classes tomorrow!

I miss all of you so much and love blogging, I hope you enjoy reading it! It's a great way for me to keep everything written down and I know I'm going to have a lot of fun reading through it when this crazy ride is over. I love it so much here. Galway is the perfect mixture of modern city and Irish charm. I wish you could all be here to experience it with me!!!

Love you,

Kel