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This is now my second week of classes and the Drop/Add period is almost over. It's also what's known as Fresher's Week, meaning the week when we all sign up for clubs and sports. Mostly this seems the same as home, but what's really different that all the Americans can't get past is that you have to pay extra to do anything. They have a dinner event for International students- you have to pay 5 euros to get in. Clubs- you have to pay 2 euros to join to get the opportunity to buy tickets for later events. Want to join a sport? You have to pay 10 or 20 euros to join, and then if the team travels or anything, you have to pay your way on that too. The campus gym- a special before October, 89 euros for 3 months. I guess its a good system for those who don't want to do anything on campus, but I think all us international students feel broke just hanging around on campus! It's definitely a cultural difference, because what I hear from my Irish roommates (and this one friend who sort of lives here all the time, but it's ok because she's very nice and a bit exotic to us Americans) is that they only pay a fee of a few hundred euros for admission when they get in, and don't have any ridiculous tuition most of the time. Can you imagine?
Well, I know what you're wondering. What clubs did I join? Well, I only had 6 euros so I only joined three clubs, haha. I joined the International Student Club, the English and Literary Society, and the campus LGBT Club. I'm hoping to join the Capoeira sports club. I'm guessing they don't have traveling matches? UCD has some of the most ridiculous and awesome sports clubs I've ever seen at a school. There's the normal team sports, including Gaelic football, Hurling, and Rubgy (both men's and women's). And then there's the water sports, like windsurfing, para-sailing, sailing- as if it weren't cold enough here! Actually, if the meets weren't on weekends, I'd totally join the sailing club! Then we have the completely strange: climbing and potholing, riflery, archery, trampolining, etc. They all seem awesome to try, I'm sorry I don't have more time here to give to doing non-schoolwork stuff, haha. I'm excited to try Capoeira again. Just before I started high school I traveled to Costa Rica with a teacher who introduced me to the sport, and I was hooked from then on! I even brought my white pants- the usual requisite uniform. In case anyone hasn't heard about Capoeira, it is a sport that is also a dance. It comes from Brazil, supposed created by slaves who weren't allowed to fight, so they worked out all their feuds by participating in this martial arts, contact, dance set to drums and other rhythmic instruments. Anyways, I'm excited to see it growing in popularity and that I may get to practice it every week!
Finally, the last bit of news I have is that this weekend I will be traveling to Cork. I have my hostel and my train ticket booked, and I continue to plan out my 3 days there. I am certainly planning to get to Blarney to kiss the Blarney stone, and I've read up on a lot of fun things to see in Cork City. If anyone has suggestions, I'm always looking for new things to try! I will be stopping in City Center tomorrow to buy myself a cheap camera (still unresolved technical issues with my phone...) and then I will be sure to log my weekend for you all.
Just a random bit of trivia about the goings-on here in Dublin- tomorrow is Arthur Guinness day! He is a very important in the cultural history of Dublin, and tomorrow will be celebrated properly by, of course, going out and drinking way too much Guinness. I don't know if they celebrate in Cork, but I may stop into a pub in solidarity. You are welcome to follow my example :)
That's all for tonight! I have to get up a little early tomorrow for my gym orientation so I can finally have a set place to work out! I'm so thankful I'm in the one dorm with a free gym! And it's next to the laundry- two birds with one stone. Goodnight everyone! Happy Arthur Guinness day tomorrow!
