I was going to write a long post about getting ready to go, emotions, preparations, packing, etc, but then I had to do all of those things, so I didn't end up writing about them!
In summary, there was a lot to do, but it all went well! I was very nervous and excited, and I still am.
[Pics to come once I transfer them from my camera. Insert picture of packed bags.]
Eric came out on Saturday, so the weekend was mostly packing and hanging out with him & the family. On Sunday, we all went out for a big, delicious Indian lunch. As we drove to the airport, I got a little more nervous and a lot more excited.
[picture of us]
I checked my large suitcase all the way through to Dublin, then went through security and boarded right away. (Security took a while. They had to re-scan my sandwich and Luna bars. Dangerous food!) My first plane was tiny (3 seats per row), from Kansas City to Newark. The flight was about 3 hours and fairly smooth.
This guy looked a lot like Matthew Gray Gubler! I called him Fake MGG during the flight. He was very sophisticated, with his weird modern watch and his shiny shoes and his magazine.
I had a ginger ale. The stewardess gave me a FULL CAN! United knows what's up.
[insert picture; Hyvee brand joke]
Once I arrived at the Newark airport, I took a shuttle from Terminal A to Terminal C, then waited for my 9:30pm flight to Dublin. I read, put on my sexy compression socks, and snacked. (My mommy sent a sandwich with me!)
I boarded that plane (larger, but not huge! 6 seats per row.) and settled in for the six-hour flight in my wonderful window seat. They fed us dinner almost right away - the hot container held a small piece of chicken spread with barbecue sauce, a rice thing, corn & black beans, and peas & carrots. There was also a lettuce salad, a packaged brownie, and a roll. It wasn't great, but it wasn't as awful as I expected! I had ginger ale again (just a cup; no can).
Then I watched an episode of Game of Thrones and fell asleep for about three hours. I woke up once to find that the stranger sitting in the middle row had fallen asleep and draped his outstretched hand on my thigh. Since he was about four years old, I let it slide. ;)
In the middle of my wonderful, glorious sleep, the mean mean flight attendants turned on the cabin lights and people started opening their windows. Mornings suck, but FAKE MORNINGS are WORSE. The cabin was bright, they started giving us warm rolls to eat, and everything was awful.
Then I woke up more, and everything was better!
I looked out the window and caught my first glimpse of Ireland as we began our descent.
Once we landed, we went through customs. The line was SO LONG! It was like the line at the longest Harry Potter ride, but worse, because there weren't talking portraits and stuff. But also better, because 3.5 months in Ireland is longer than the ride was?
I got my first stamp in my passport! I'll have to go to the main immigration office sometime soon to pay and get fully permitted to be here.
Once I got my luggage and exchanged USD for Euros, I found the main section of Terminal 2, which is where the UCD welcome booth was. I somehow managed to miss it, and I ended up just going out and catching the Aircoach to campus. There was SO MUCH TO SEE! I couldn't stop staring and craning my neck to look at everything in Dublin.
All of the international students on the Aircoach were dropped outside the main campus entrance. There were about 8 of us. We made our awkward way into campus, carrying backpacks and hauling rolling suitcases. Fiiiiinally, we reached the central check-in. I received my ID card and check-in materials, then I was free to go to my room!
My apartment has three bedrooms, a shared bathroom, a shared shower in its own little room, and a living area/dining room/kitchen. Everything is very clean and sturdy. I love my bed!
[apartment pics]
I have two
My American roomie and I arrived at about the same time. Neither of us had brought sheets or towels, so we went to the International Office and signed up for a Tuesday trip to Ikea. However, this still being Monday, my roomie really wanted sheets and towels to use that night. She proposed a trip into Dublin. Having nothing else to do, I agreed.
Once we got bus directions, found change, and found the bus stop, we were off! And then we were off the bus. Several stops too early.
HER: This bus doesn't have a screen listing the stops...and the driver isn't announcing them...and he's not even stopping at some of these.
ME: Look, there's a Boots pharmacy! The bus instructions lady said the Dunnes was next to a Boots!
HER: But this isn't Stephen's Green, is it?
ME: I don't know? Let's get off here?
HER: Okaaayy...
It was not Stephen's Green. According to the nice man in the hardware store, Stephen's Green was about a ten minute's walk toward the center of town.
We headed that way. Fifteen minutes later, we found it! The shopping center was in a huge, really obvious, well-labeled dome. We bought our sheets and towels (saving most of the shopping for our trip to Ikea) and went back out to try to find a return bus stop.
It turns out, either Ireland is not very intuitively-run, or we are just not very bright. By the time we found the right bus stop, it was going on 6pm. Most of the buses for this stop were full of people commuting home. FINALLY, a bus stopped. It was the right one. It had a little room. We had exact fare. We were going home!
We got home! Sheets were spread, showers were taken, and our other flatmate was introduced. Then snacks were eaten and it was time for bed. I slept from 9:30pm to 9:00am and didn't wake up once!
Here I am, Dublin! What's next?
NEXT: Ikea does not happen, and a long walk does.
