On Uni (take 2)
So, um, I've been in Dublin for about two weeks now, almost a full week on my own. Life in Halls (the residence) is a bit more drunken than I'd expected, but I suppose that has more to do with the amount that the Irish drink in general than anything else. The amount of drinking is about in proportion to the drunkenness, if that makes any sense. But the Warden at Halls is really cool. He's strict, but is very focused on the idea that uni is not just about the studying, but also the social aspect. He just about told people to go out partying and to if not actually get drunk, at least drink pretty regularly, even if your grades might not be quite as good. I quote: "Your degree won't get you a job. It will just get you a job interview. The social skills you learn here [in res] will get you the job." I've been meeting loads of people, and my flat is just about full. My roommate is Ciaran something, a French-Irish guy. He's cool, really laidback, and a bit of a hippy. There's a Slovakian-Belgian guy down the hall (his roomie hasn't come yet, so probably a second-year) and two Irish lads across the hall from me. They're all sound lads, and I'm not really foreseeing any serious problems, just the odd failure of people to meet initial expectations or communicate. I briefly tried to do rugby, but I'm no longer insane. I found out the difference between a year's worth of playing and oh, about fifteen years' worth. So instead I think I'm going to do fencing (Gaelic sports are based on a tryout, which I'm nowhere near good enough for). I joined the Christian Union, the Hist, the Phil (old debating societies, happy parents?), and the Historical society. I may also go for the Classics, the Theo, and/or Dance, but depends on how much time I've got. Oh, only eight hours a week for History, though German for beginners adds another 2 hours, learning for historians 1 or 2, and tutorials 2. Even so.. Oh, and the internet is a royal pain in the rear. I can't get onto AIM or MSN Messenger because of the firewalls, even though skype works. Must ask around about getting through on either IM service. And I'm realising something that I suspected for a while last year: While I miss the convenience of being home, I don't get homesick because it's time I moved out and started off on my own.