Flat Sweet Flat

Today was challenging but very rewarding. I think I found a place to live but for a while there was stressing out a bit.

This morning I helped Nine carry her luggage down the street to her new apartment because there was still an open room there. The landlady was very nice and the place was good and clean, but no one had moved in yet and it seemed depressingly desolate. Plus I wasn't sure what kind of roommates were there and, strange as it may sound, I absolutely do not want to live with Americans. But the place was a decent price and kind of new on the inside, and so far it was my only option. I really just didn't get a great feeling about it.

Nina and I planned on walking to the school from there to go get our registration forms but by the time we'd gotten as far as the hostel we were 100% soaked from head to toe by the rain. (Thanks for the umbrella mom, it helped a little bit.) So we took a taxi from there. After all the problems I've had with this application process I was extremely relieved to see my name was actually there on the list at the school. I then went to the Accomodation office where they printed me a map and list of about 60 places available to let (to rent). I started looking at this stuff, and I admit I had my first breakdown. I locked myself in the nearest bathroom and bawled for about five minutes. I could barely read the map, street names don't sound like they're spelled, there are no street signs on the actual streets so it's confusing to get around, it's darn expensive to call during the day, nobody was answering their phones, and even if I could figure out how to get to these places it was going to take me all darn day to walk all over town! The initial panic got to me but I started thinking, ok, what good is this doing me? I'm just going to have to start somewhere. So I crossed off the expensive ones, the ones too far from school, and ones looking for multiple people. The remaining list was actually manageable. I left about 8 messages and got a hold of one lady, Margaret. Later we met at the bus station and rode out to the house.

The house has three bedrooms and two of the rooms are taken by a guy from India named Nakul (pronounced Na-cool) and an Irish guy named James, both students my age. They weren't there and I was a little worried about not meeting them, but Margaret seems very honest and she said they're both very nice, trustworthy guys. And, considering they were guys, the place was reasonably clean. It's up in the neighborhood called Newcastle in Laurel Park. It's on a hill so yes dad I'll be out of tsunami-prone areas! The view out my window is gorgeous, you can look down on the whole city. Downstairs there's a little living room with a fireplace, TV, couch, etc. Just a couch made me happy because the other place was completely barren of furniture and had no living room. The kitchen is large with a small fridge, but still bigger than the first place's. There's a very small back patio and a little shed that has a washer and dryer in it. Yes, strange, but at least they're there. (These are probably more details than you all want to know.) Upstairs are the three bedrooms and one fairly clean bathroom. My room has a bed and armour in it and lots of shelves so that's great, and its own sink! The whole house inside is painted a cheery yellow and has neat molding. It's really kind of cool in a European way. It's only a 15 minute walk to NUI and 5 minutes from a shopping center. The only downfall is that it's about a 25 minute walk to downtown Eyre Square (where most of the pubs are) but I decided that my priorities should probably be that I'm closer to the school that the pubs! I called Margaret back tonight and left a message so I should be moving in tomorrow!

You would not believe the hoards of American students at this hostel. It's unbelievable, everywhere you go there are bunches of them.... but that's the thing... bunches. They've all come over in groups, which isn't such a bad idea, but they never seem to break out of their safe little groups. A lot of Irish have told me that the Americans come over here but then live in houses together and hang out together and never really break in to the Irish culture. This really blows my mind. As I said above, the last thing I want to do is hang out or live with Americans, I can do that for the rest of my life! (No offense roomies!) How are they really going to get an understanding for life in general over here if they don't step out of the box a bit? For me, the fact that the roommates were an Irishman and an Indian were big selling points. I'm really looking forward to learning from them.

As I was cooking a frozen pizza (ok, so I still eat some American food) in the oven at the hostel today I overheard some girls sitting around complaining about everything over here, but being happy that 'at least they have eachother' and thank goodness their housing and everything is already all set up for them. Though I may not have argued about the housing part a few hours earlier, I found myself thinking, darn it I'm glad I'm here all by my lonesome and am having to figure things out on my own. I think it's a liberating experience that more people should have to go through - I really have a new found confidence in myself. Even though I was a little panicked, I worked through it and figured it out. And too, why sit around and complain about things. First, there is no easier way to alienate yourself from the locals if you come over here on your high horse pining away for your SuperWalmart. Of course things are going to be different. Yah, I'll be glad to go home and have my own car, shoulders on the road, and hot and cold water coming out of one faucet in the sink. But I can do without those things and don't see any reason in wasting my time missing them. OK, I'll step off my soapbox, but really, do you see my point?

Earlier today I was thinking of more things I wanted to say here, but my brain is shot at the moment. I'm sure if it's important it will come back to me. Hope everyone is doing great. Until next time....