Dublin and random comment from the depth of my mind...
Talk about a scary place that is right now.
So as I've said, the internet isn't working at my house anymore (well it just decided to work now... woohoo), so I haven't been able to post much. Given that my brain is completely discombobulated, this entry will most likely reflect the frightening state of my mind in its disorganized state of exhaustion.
SUBJECT 1.
First, I hate the gender madness of French (and all the romance languages). WELL HA! I'm not the only one who struggles with it!!!! 2 examples:
I was talking to Marien-Eve (the Candian I met in Rome who is from Montreal and, no surprise, speaks French) and somehow we were talking about posters (affiches) and I asked her if it's masculine or feminine because when you say "l'affiche" you can't be sure. "Le" indicates masculine and "la" indicates feminine. "L'" is used for words starting with a vowel (or h in some cases) and is, so to speak, genderless. Back to the event... Marie-Eve couldn't remember if it was masculine or feminine! And she speaks French! Her native language! So THERE. I'm not the only one.
Oh but it got better for me last Thursday...
My history PROFESSOR messed up on the gender accord of an adjective when he was describing how the engraving on a cannon at Les Invalides was exceptional. Sure, he's older, but still!
It has been confirmed. Genders can be a disaster, even for the native French speaker.
SUBJECT 2.
I hate it when guys have longer and prettier hair than I do. I especially don't like the latter! Of course, it's EVERYWHERE here. Madness I tell you.
SUBJECT 3.
This is for anyone who travels/stays in Paris. Be warned: On the first Wednesday of every month around noon, don't be alarmed when you hear sirens going off all around the city. They sound like those nuclear attack alarms. I can just see a tourist hearing those, not knowing what they are, and freaking out. Haha. What a great visual. It's just a test of the system, in case a real emergency arrises and it becomes necessary to alert the entire city. And WOW talk about effective. I've always been in my poli sci class when they go off and it's distracting. Keep in mind that in order to get to the classroom I must enter a building off the street, walk through a hall way out into a courtyard and across the way (away from the street) I open another door into my classroom. I can't imagine how loud the sound must be on the streets!
SUBJECT 4.
DUBLIN WAS AMAZING!!!!! Talk about the PERFECT time to go. Erica and Vanessa were so great to travel with. We just had just a fantasmic time! It was a nice escape from Paris and made me NICER and HAPPIER! People in Dublin are just friendly and generally pleasant. Sure, it was overcast (but Paris often is too), but it was around 13 degrees C (while it was -2 in Paris!!) which was a shocker---- was expecting it to be FREEZING.
Friday was spend wandering around Dublin. The three of us were sure to go to the Guinness Storehouse where we learned all about the making of beer/Guinness and then appreciated a nice cold fresh glass of Guinness. Mmmm real Guinness, straight from Ireland and right out of the Storehouse! We also hit up Jameson Distillery and took a tour on which we were informed about the whiskey making process. Personally, I'm not so much a fan of whiskey, but stil enjoyed a free glass. We also saw the Spire. The tallest free-standing object in the world. Really, it's just a really tall pole, but hey, every city has to have something special (though I think the Guinness Storehouse is way better than the big pole!!). We also learned that a plastic bag at the grocery store costs 15 cents and it's 1 euro to rent a cart (and you get that 1 euro back once you put the cart away). Smart if you ask me. Plastic contains killer toxins. Them Irish know what they are doin!
On Saturday, I suggested that we get out of the city. We had essentially seen everything and everyone always tells me to go to the coast or countryside. Given the limited amount of time we had there, we weren't able to go far, but we did go somewhere! At the office of tourism, I asked where we should go outside of the city that's not too far away and not too expensive to get to. I also really wanted to see a castle because most all the ones in Dublin are from the Middle Ages and I LOVE THOSE GUYS! They have the round towers with the squarish edging on the top! Right out of King Arthur and all those stories!
So to Malahide we went! Only a half hour away on the train (which was a nicer LIRR type train). It was wonderful. SO VERY NICE to be in the countryside in a cute little town where everyone knows everybody else. The castle entrance was almost literally across the street from the train station. A lovely walk along plush green carpets of grass, along a winding path through the woods leads you up to a fabulous little castle. Okay, not so little, but not too big either. In fact, it actually seemed bigger than it was on the inside. You wouldn't feel overwhelmed if you were to live there, but oh how amazing that would be!! It was built in the 12th century and was lived in until the mid 20th century and now guides guests on tours. If you go to Dublin, take the trip to Malahide. ASK FOR THE RETURN TICKET/MALAHIDE CASTLE DEAL. It's 8 euros. You'll save a few euros which is always helpful (especially at this crappy exchange rate from dollars to euros!!). Only a half hour away from the city, a few minute walk from the train station, and about a half hour guided tour inside the castle (in English! woohoo!). Definitely worth it.
AND ENGLISH! I'm not gonna lie--- it was really nice to hear it and see it and WATCH TV IN IT!! On Friday night, after a long day of walking around, Vanessa, Erica and I plopped on the couches in the basement lounge of our hostel (Avalon House--- great hostel for the money). We watched 2 episodes of Simpsons and 2 of Friends. It was so wonderful. We all agreed that it was the first time since we left home that we felt completely comfortable (none of us feel comfortable lounging in our homes, out of our rooms)... really helped me to appreciate the fact that I'll be home so soon.
And the Irish accent. I just love it. So animated!! I love animated people. Lots of that in Dublin! Had two lovely nights at the bars, hung out on Saturday night with one of Vanessa's friends (who is VERY Irish--- so animated and friendly), and I was sure to only drink Guinness. :p
Sunday was quite cold in Dublin, but we still enjoyed our last day and appreciated all the Christmas decorations. They were everywhere! There were even lights and a little sleigh decoration on a crane at a construction site along the street. It was so nice to feel the Christmas spirit! You just don't get that in Paris. It's simply not aesthetically pleasing to hang colorful (especially not corny!) Christmas decorations. It's all about the white lights in Paris. In Dublin, there were flashing "Merry Christmas" signs in Red and Green, animated reindeer and Santa decorations, lots of colors... I CAN'T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS AND I'M SO EXCITED TO GO HOME!! I love being surrounded by Christmas decorations. There are none in my house. Wait, I take that back, a 4 foot tall tree was just put up the other day. But it only has a few decorations. It's just not the same!
So very ready to come home. Will miss speaking French, certainly will miss Paris and Europe like crazy, but WOW I AM READY. Just have to endure the next few days of exams, a long flight, and then I'll be greeted be Chris and Jane and YAY!!! I'm SOOOO EXCITED!!
Now, back to that focusing. L'heure arrive. Malheureusement, il faut que je fasse mes devoirs.
PS. I CAN'T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS AND SNOW AND GOOD FOOD AND ALL THAT JAZZ!!! :o)
So as I've said, the internet isn't working at my house anymore (well it just decided to work now... woohoo), so I haven't been able to post much. Given that my brain is completely discombobulated, this entry will most likely reflect the frightening state of my mind in its disorganized state of exhaustion.
SUBJECT 1.
First, I hate the gender madness of French (and all the romance languages). WELL HA! I'm not the only one who struggles with it!!!! 2 examples:
I was talking to Marien-Eve (the Candian I met in Rome who is from Montreal and, no surprise, speaks French) and somehow we were talking about posters (affiches) and I asked her if it's masculine or feminine because when you say "l'affiche" you can't be sure. "Le" indicates masculine and "la" indicates feminine. "L'" is used for words starting with a vowel (or h in some cases) and is, so to speak, genderless. Back to the event... Marie-Eve couldn't remember if it was masculine or feminine! And she speaks French! Her native language! So THERE. I'm not the only one.
Oh but it got better for me last Thursday...
My history PROFESSOR messed up on the gender accord of an adjective when he was describing how the engraving on a cannon at Les Invalides was exceptional. Sure, he's older, but still!
It has been confirmed. Genders can be a disaster, even for the native French speaker.
SUBJECT 2.
I hate it when guys have longer and prettier hair than I do. I especially don't like the latter! Of course, it's EVERYWHERE here. Madness I tell you.
SUBJECT 3.
This is for anyone who travels/stays in Paris. Be warned: On the first Wednesday of every month around noon, don't be alarmed when you hear sirens going off all around the city. They sound like those nuclear attack alarms. I can just see a tourist hearing those, not knowing what they are, and freaking out. Haha. What a great visual. It's just a test of the system, in case a real emergency arrises and it becomes necessary to alert the entire city. And WOW talk about effective. I've always been in my poli sci class when they go off and it's distracting. Keep in mind that in order to get to the classroom I must enter a building off the street, walk through a hall way out into a courtyard and across the way (away from the street) I open another door into my classroom. I can't imagine how loud the sound must be on the streets!
SUBJECT 4.
DUBLIN WAS AMAZING!!!!! Talk about the PERFECT time to go. Erica and Vanessa were so great to travel with. We just had just a fantasmic time! It was a nice escape from Paris and made me NICER and HAPPIER! People in Dublin are just friendly and generally pleasant. Sure, it was overcast (but Paris often is too), but it was around 13 degrees C (while it was -2 in Paris!!) which was a shocker---- was expecting it to be FREEZING.
Friday was spend wandering around Dublin. The three of us were sure to go to the Guinness Storehouse where we learned all about the making of beer/Guinness and then appreciated a nice cold fresh glass of Guinness. Mmmm real Guinness, straight from Ireland and right out of the Storehouse! We also hit up Jameson Distillery and took a tour on which we were informed about the whiskey making process. Personally, I'm not so much a fan of whiskey, but stil enjoyed a free glass. We also saw the Spire. The tallest free-standing object in the world. Really, it's just a really tall pole, but hey, every city has to have something special (though I think the Guinness Storehouse is way better than the big pole!!). We also learned that a plastic bag at the grocery store costs 15 cents and it's 1 euro to rent a cart (and you get that 1 euro back once you put the cart away). Smart if you ask me. Plastic contains killer toxins. Them Irish know what they are doin!
On Saturday, I suggested that we get out of the city. We had essentially seen everything and everyone always tells me to go to the coast or countryside. Given the limited amount of time we had there, we weren't able to go far, but we did go somewhere! At the office of tourism, I asked where we should go outside of the city that's not too far away and not too expensive to get to. I also really wanted to see a castle because most all the ones in Dublin are from the Middle Ages and I LOVE THOSE GUYS! They have the round towers with the squarish edging on the top! Right out of King Arthur and all those stories!
So to Malahide we went! Only a half hour away on the train (which was a nicer LIRR type train). It was wonderful. SO VERY NICE to be in the countryside in a cute little town where everyone knows everybody else. The castle entrance was almost literally across the street from the train station. A lovely walk along plush green carpets of grass, along a winding path through the woods leads you up to a fabulous little castle. Okay, not so little, but not too big either. In fact, it actually seemed bigger than it was on the inside. You wouldn't feel overwhelmed if you were to live there, but oh how amazing that would be!! It was built in the 12th century and was lived in until the mid 20th century and now guides guests on tours. If you go to Dublin, take the trip to Malahide. ASK FOR THE RETURN TICKET/MALAHIDE CASTLE DEAL. It's 8 euros. You'll save a few euros which is always helpful (especially at this crappy exchange rate from dollars to euros!!). Only a half hour away from the city, a few minute walk from the train station, and about a half hour guided tour inside the castle (in English! woohoo!). Definitely worth it.
AND ENGLISH! I'm not gonna lie--- it was really nice to hear it and see it and WATCH TV IN IT!! On Friday night, after a long day of walking around, Vanessa, Erica and I plopped on the couches in the basement lounge of our hostel (Avalon House--- great hostel for the money). We watched 2 episodes of Simpsons and 2 of Friends. It was so wonderful. We all agreed that it was the first time since we left home that we felt completely comfortable (none of us feel comfortable lounging in our homes, out of our rooms)... really helped me to appreciate the fact that I'll be home so soon.
And the Irish accent. I just love it. So animated!! I love animated people. Lots of that in Dublin! Had two lovely nights at the bars, hung out on Saturday night with one of Vanessa's friends (who is VERY Irish--- so animated and friendly), and I was sure to only drink Guinness. :p
Sunday was quite cold in Dublin, but we still enjoyed our last day and appreciated all the Christmas decorations. They were everywhere! There were even lights and a little sleigh decoration on a crane at a construction site along the street. It was so nice to feel the Christmas spirit! You just don't get that in Paris. It's simply not aesthetically pleasing to hang colorful (especially not corny!) Christmas decorations. It's all about the white lights in Paris. In Dublin, there were flashing "Merry Christmas" signs in Red and Green, animated reindeer and Santa decorations, lots of colors... I CAN'T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS AND I'M SO EXCITED TO GO HOME!! I love being surrounded by Christmas decorations. There are none in my house. Wait, I take that back, a 4 foot tall tree was just put up the other day. But it only has a few decorations. It's just not the same!
So very ready to come home. Will miss speaking French, certainly will miss Paris and Europe like crazy, but WOW I AM READY. Just have to endure the next few days of exams, a long flight, and then I'll be greeted be Chris and Jane and YAY!!! I'm SOOOO EXCITED!!
Now, back to that focusing. L'heure arrive. Malheureusement, il faut que je fasse mes devoirs.
PS. I CAN'T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS AND SNOW AND GOOD FOOD AND ALL THAT JAZZ!!! :o)