My New Address!

Here is my new address. We move in May 1st and there is plenty of room for visitors. Three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a huge living room. Paid the bond and signed the lease today.
185 Lansdowne Gate, Lansdowne Valley
Drimnagh, Dublin 12
Ireland

Birthday ideas

I'm going to go ahead and steal Heather's idea (she is a genius) and make a request for my birthday (May 2nd). If everyone could send me (via e-mail) a song, or songs, or playlist that you think I would like or that you think will remind me of you or of home I would really appreciate it. You don't have to send me an actual file or anything, just title and artist, and I'll download it from i-tunes. Then, when I get homesick or when I'm missing you, I can just listen to your song(s). Thanks in advance!

Good News!

We got the apartment!!!! We move in May 1st; what a wonderful birthday present for me. Here’s the website:

http://http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?search=1&s[cc_id]=ct1&s[a_id]=pc13&s[mnp]=&s[mxp]=&s[bd_no]=3&s[search_type]=rental&s[furn]=&s[refreshmap]=1&limit=10&search_type=rental&id=553273

Hopefully I’ll sort of figure out what my schedule is going to be in the next couple of weeks so that you all can start planning your vacations.

I added a list of my favorite things I've experienced here at the bottom of the page. I'll add to it as I go along. Make sure and check it out every now and again.

Apartment?

I know I haven’t written in awhile. I was sort of waiting until I got the internet...however there is a change in plans. There is a possibility that I will be moving out May 1st. Bridget and I found a beautiful apartment about a ten minute walk away. It’s about two stops away on the bus also. It’s a brand new complex, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, fully furnished. I cannot do it justice here. We found a girl who is interested in living with us at least for awhile. Her family is Nigerian but she’s from London and she’s lovely. We’ll have our own little UN...but I digress. I want to hold off on signing any mobile internet contract because the apartment is set up with broadband. We turned in our paperwork yesterday so hopefully we’ll hear something soon. There was another group of people who were interested that applied last week but they are a group of six and the leasing agent said that the management company would be more likely to take a group of three over a group of six. Bridget and I would like to take advantage of rent free living as much as we can but, if living in this affordable palace means we have to leave a little early...we’re willing. I would be able to walk/bike to work and it’s a short bus ride to the city center. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. If it doesn’t work out, it will be fine, we’ll find something else but I’m keeping positive.

Work is still pretty uneventful, still just classroom stuff. We don’t get onto the units until next Thursday. Everybody I meet tells me how lovely St. Anne’s is (the burn unit) so I’m really looking forward to it. Today one of our speakers was one of the chaplains and she’s from Chicago. She says there are three other Americans in the hospital, one social worker and two girls on the PICU. I’m not alone! I’ll be interested to meet them and get their take on things.

Bridget and I have been very good about leaving the hospital pretty much daily...mostly for our sanity. I think I’m really going to like it here, there is lots to see and do. I’m in the process of making a list of things I want to do...I can’t wait to be able to cross things off. This Sunday we’re going to go to Malahide Castle to check that out. I’m going to keep a list of my most favorite things here.

Sarah Had A Little Lamb

Last weekend I went up to Glencolumbkille (Donegal) because we had Friday off. It was a nice relaxing weekend. I met a few people from Washington State who will be there until June for an independent study. Eunan (Alisha’s brother-in-law) was playing at Biddy’s (pub) on Saturday night so we had a good time. It’s lambing season so there are little baby lambs all over the place...they are so cute! A couple of Cathal’s sheep died during childbirth so they have been having to bottle feed the lambs every few hours. Coming from the city, I think it’s fun to play farmer and was more than happy to help with the feedings...even at 2 in the morning. They have some singles, twins, and triplets so I was kept busy. I wanted to sneak my favorite one out of the barn with me but Big Tom (Cathal’s dad) told me to take as many as I wanted, I think they are sick of taking care of them...he says they are worse than children. I figured the hospital wouldn’t be too happy with a little lamb running around so I’ll be content with visiting them. It was funny to see all of us standing around in the barn each with a lamb in our arms bottle feeding them. 

A Lesson In Irish

One morning of one of my cultural classes was dedicated to Irish/Dublin slang. I thought I would impart my new found knowledge on the rest of you. Some of them are rather inappropriate but we actually learned ALL of these in class. As you’ll see, the Irish are rather casual...even in the workplace. 

banjaxed - broken down

chiseller - a young child

couldn’t be arsed - couldn’t be bothered

fair play to you/good on you - well done

header - mentally unstable person

I will in me bollix - I won’t 

jax - toilet

make a bags of something - mess it up

me belly tinks me trote’s been cut - I’m rather hungry

rag order - bad condition

ride - have sex with (remember to ask people for a LIFT to the pub...not a ride!)

scarlet - blushing

shite - rubbish

shorts/wee one - spirits/hard liquor

slagging/taking the piss - teasing

trow a wobbler - have a temper tantrum

work away - go ahead, after you

yer man - that guy

yer one - that girl

yer wha’? - excuse me?!?

yoke - inserted to describe a noun when the actual word has slipped the speaker’s mind

Feck!/Feck off! - An acceptable way to drop the F-bomb

Jaysus! - This one is self explanatory

He’s a chancer - risk taker

Eejit - Idiot...only it’s way more fun to say it the Irish way

jar (Do you fancy going for a jar?) - drink

culchies/boggers - country folk

jackeens - Dubliners

gobshite (I’ve never met a bigger gobshite in my life) - bullshitter

slagging - making fun

I made a holy show of meself last night. - made an ass

It’s jammers - full/packed

That’s gas - fun/funny

Was the film any use? - any good

cuppa - cup of tea

pissed/bollixed - drunk

grand - lovely/great/etc

Yank - American

craic (crack) - fun

craic agus ceol (crack ahgus keeole) - fun and music

slainte (slawncha) - cheers/your health

cead mile failte (kade meela fallcha) - one hundred thousand welcomes

pog ma thoin (pogue ma hone) - kiss my arse

go raibh maith agat (gur rev moh agut) - thanks

In conclusion, don’t make make fun of me when I adopt these terms into my vocabulary. It’s much too hard to use the American versions and then have to explain myself to people. 

First day of "work"

Today was my first official day of work. We had our lovely culture class this morning and, if nothing else, it was entertaining. I'm only required to go to one more class tomorrow and then I can be done...which really clears up my week. There are about 18 of us foreigners starting together. I met two very nice girls today, Bridget and Jenny, a Kiwi and an Aussie respectively. We are the only three non-Indian people in the group. I've never felt like such a minority. Jenny has a friend that she is living with but Bridget is staying in the Nurse's Home also so we've been toughing out the constant smell of curry together (everyone knows how much I love that smell...total sarcasm). It appears as though the only place for free wi-fi may be a nearby McDonald's or a few pubs in the area. We are going to scope it out this week. I may have to pick up a serious drinking habit for the sake of re-connecting with the world...or eat McDonald's a lot (c'mon, what's the lesser of two evils). I set up my bank account today and should get my card, etc. in the mail in a week or so. Then I think I can sign up for Irish Broadband. I can't wait to use my own computer so I can post some pictures. The hospital gave us a 300 euro cash advance which is nice since changing dollars to euros is such a rip off! Now that I don't have to go to that class Wed, Thurs, or Fri I'll have lots more free time and will hopefully be able to figure some more things out and do some more exploring. I've pretty much been coming to O'Connell/Grafton Streets to shop, e-mail, etc. and it's not far from the hospital, but I would like to see what Crumlin has to offer. I have my eye out for potential flats to live in also. Overall things have been going well. I think it's most helpful that I've met some people. Still sort of feels like vacation. I'm not real sure when I actually start working on the unit...I think that's when it will feel real.

Exploring

I returned the car today...all in one piece. Now I am officially at the mercy of public transportation. I did pretty good this weekend going from Chandra's to downtown to my recruiter's office to the hospital and back again. I dropped my stuff off at the hospital this morning. My living arrangement is very dorm-like...but it's also free. So far I don't have a roommate so things will be fine. It has a shared kitchen and laundry and plenty of showers. I will definitely be able to survive. Plus living there means I don't have a commute...but I also don't have an excuse to be late.
I met with my recruiter and she was very nice. It sounds like there are three other girls starting from the same agency, two from India and one from Australia, and some other people from other agencies also.
I also met with the HR lady from the hospital to get some paperwork and my key. She was also very nice. They are being very accommodating and helpful. Right now I think it's good to feel like someone is holding my hand. They are taking us by taxi to get our PPS numbers (like a SS#) and to set up our bank accounts. We also have a tour of Dublin built in to our orientation. Sounds like this first week will be pretty low key. We have culture/language class from 0930-1230 everyday. The HR lady said I could probably hit the first one and then skip the rest of the week (ahhh, the Irish) seeing as English is my first and really only language. It's more designed for nurses from the Philippines and India. Then there are various other things scheduled in the afternoon. It is what I expected though...not well structured.
I have been exploring Dublin and, thank goodness, the weather has been cooperative. I had to go purchase some white scrub tops for my orientation. Only Arnott's sells them (a very posh store) and a top runs 40-50 euros. Luckily I found a couple for half off. I refuse to pay that much for something that will likely end up with body fluids on it. Once I figure out what I will need to wear after orientation I WILL be having stuff sent here. The style they wear here is pretty ugly anyway. It was nice to walk around and not feel pressured to see everything in one weekend since I LIVE HERE! I had a cup of tea at Bewley's this afternoon and felt like I was in P.S. I Love You. Then I strolled past the spot near St. Stephen's Green where the opening scene of Once took place. My life pretty much felt like one big movie today.
My internet situation is still in limbo. Right now I'm using Sam and Chandra's computer. Eircom pretty much has a lock on the market and even at Starbuck's you have to pay to use their wireless even if you buy a ridiculously priced coffee (when you could have been enjoying a delicious Caribou drink). I talked to the IT person at the hospital and she said computers can be hooked up with their system but then the computer becomes their property...screw that! They have a library with computers but I don't know what their hours are. I'll be on the hunt for a cafe or something with some free Internet once I'm officially moved in. Hopefully someone will be able to clue me in.
I'm staying with Sam and Chandra tonight and then I'm officially moving in to the hospital tomorrow.