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.

I've arrived!

I've officially made it to Ireland safe and sound...although sans luggage. I had a feeling it would happen though. Things went well otherwise. I had good flights that were on time. I feel like it was a sign that good things were to come when I sat next to a Rabi on my flight from Mpls. to New York. I decided to spend the night at Chandra's instead of going up to Donegal right away so that I could pick up my luggage myself. Last time it was lost and they tried to deliver it, it ended up in Cashel and then Tipperary before I finally received it...and we all know "it's a long way to Tipperary." I was exhausted anyway and it probably wouldn't have been a wise idea to drive 4 hours after that long trip. I made it up to Glencolumbkille yesterday, had a nice relaxing night. There is a big group of Germans here at the language college so there was lots of fiddle music about last night. I also met a group of "Milwaukees" that are here for the Derry/Donegal program. It's kind of funny...they feel the same way about Glen as the rest of us and spend every weekend down here and have plans to move here someday also. I told them to start working on it now because it takes a good few years. Something about this place I guess. I'm just going to relax this weekend because I think next week will be pretty crazy trying to get myself settled. Hopefully I'll get some pictures posted from Glen soon. Until next time...

St. Patrick's Day

Thanks to all my friends (and a few band members!) who made my last St. Patrick's Day in the States (for a couple of years anyway) an extremely memorable one. I'm actually glad I was here rather than in Ireland. The night went something like this...Gaelic Storm at the new Guthrie (amazing despite the slightly lame crowd) followed by Kieran's. Thanks to Niki, I had my fifteen minutes of fame (and I think it actually was fifteen minutes...it felt that way anyway) when she told the band that it was my last week in America. Not only did they change Van Morrison's "Gloria" (they were a Van Morrison cover band after all) to "Sarah", later in the evening they MADE me get up on stage to sing "Brown Eyed Girl" with them. I warned them that I was no American Idol but no one seemed to care. Hopefully everyone had had enough green beer by then to forget that whole part of the night. I don't think I'll be signed to any record label anytime soon. Anyway, it was a super fun night and a great start to my farewell tour. Thanks again peeps.

Going away parties!

Because 1 is not enough, here is info on my going away parties:
3/17 @ Kieran's in dowtown Minneapolis (celebrating my last St. Patty's Day in the U.S.)
3/21 @ 6 p.m. at the Stroik household in Columbia Heights: food and drinks
3/24 @ 7 p.m at O'Donovan's in downtown Minneapolis (put on by my work friends)

Skype

I signed up for Skype which, for those of you who don't know, can be used to chat and make phone calls for free. It has video capabilities and everything so it will be like we're together when we talk! My Skype username is "sarahstroik". Join up! If you already have an account, let me know what your username is so I can add you. 

There is no going back now!

It's official...my plane ticket is bought...ONE WAY! Northwest Flight 734 to New York and Delta Flight 112 to Dublin. I leave March 26th at 12:57 pm and arrive March 27th at 6:05 am.