Define Adventure

Today was the best day I've had so far on my trip, I think!!!! Before today, I was feeling frustrated that I hadnt' taken in more of the city, Ireland, overall that I hadn't done more. Of course, I've only been here exactly three weeks (oh man, it feels like more..) but I want to do as much while I am here as possible. I decided to start small and just explore Galway City, so yesterday I made the decision that I would wake up at a decent hour today, get dressed, and go out on my own as soon as possible.

I amazingly left my dorm at 12:30 (I woke up at that time yesterday), and headed out towards the City. It didn't take long before I was distracted by the bike shop around the corner. I have been seriously debating getting a bike since before I even got here, and until today I had pretty much convinced myself not to get one, for fear of getting hit by a car or something. But today, I strolled into the shop to inquire about getting a bike, and was deterred at first because the man said he didn't have any bikes under 100Euro (thats 150 dollars). So I tried a few expensive ones, and out the old shop guy comes with a little purple bike thats 70 E (the one I was on before that was 140). I said yes immediately, and rode it into the city...and didn't even die! I'm seriously thrilled--- it's so fun to have to get around--- everything in the city/on campus is significantly quicker to get to now!

Then for the rest of the day, I wandered around Galway. Shop street is the main shopping street (go figure...) it's huge-- and only for pedestrians. Every building is stunning and colorful, has so much character. I see what people meant when they said it was a young city-- it reminds me of the Village actually-- but bigger (though not much... I'd say Galway is the size of one or two neighborhoods in New York City put together). I went into all the shops that looked interesting, and made a few fantastic purchases. As a business expense, I bought hiking gear and a backpack (for the bike/hiking) at a place called "The Great Outdoors"...so clever. I also bought a Claddagh ring, which is a famous Celtic symbol, famously sold in Galway, and it has a heart between two hands with a crown on top. They symbolize love, loyalty, and friendship, and to wear it facing out means you are single. The man at the store told me I'd have plenty of Irishmen buying me pints once they saw it was facing out.

I wandered into a store with some candles in the window that were pretty, and it turned out to be a sort of New Age type of store that sells fairy figures and crystals... all that stuff I loved freshman year of high school (go ahead, bring on the rain jokes.). In it, I was chattign with the woman who worked there and I asked her where I should explore in and around Galway, and said i was looking for a good adventure. She told me "The best adventure takes place inside, because no one else can go there." And it just struck me as so true, and unusual-- how often do we really process the fact that the most unique and exciting experiences we have are within ourselves--of course, I'm spending a lot of time in there while I'm here in Ireland as well-- the potential for self-exploration is already overwhelming, and I'm both frustrated and really pleased at times with what I find and with the process.

During the day I also bought a WONDERFUL pair of boots that were on sale, and a cap that a hilarious little old Irish man helped me buy. I thought he worked at the table in the market, but after he convinced me that I found a hat that was the perfect fit, that he and I both adored, he wandered away!! I asked the man behind the table if he hired the old man to tell people he liked the hats and the owner just said, "I thought he was your granddad!" So I suppose you can't ignore the opinions and company of strangers! Actually today I chatted a lot with people I ran into in stores, and they all had such nice things to say and advice to offer about where to go and what to do.

I really am just enamored with Galway. It's a small city-- but its amazing to wander around. There are tons of cafes, 600 pubs, clothing stores (and affordable ones too), wonderful people, charming men, and all sorts of surprises to find. Gonna go now, but I'm full of exciting stories to tell... Hopefully I'll have a chance to relay them soon!

Oh and if any of you would like a more personal message facebook me, e-mail me (melissa.joy.goldberg@gmail.com), or IM me onlylvggirlinny.

Much love and if anyone is reading even thanks!!!!!

I'm glad I brought my Wellies!!

I guess it's about time I write on here! But where to start?

Ireland is definitely rainy and damp, highlighted by some days/hours which are sunny, mild, and very pleasant. This is the winter though, so by half way through February they say this will clear up and it will start to get warmer and a tad drier.

The city of Galway is beautiful-- the main street in the city is an incredibly long pedestrian street with tons of shops, pubs, restaurants, clubs, etc. on it Every single building is a different color, so its' really bright and pretty and charming. The Corrib River runs through the city, and its really beautiful, but incredibly powerful! I haven't spent much time in the actual city yet, but I plan to. One of these days I'm going to go into the city and buy a bike-- things are pretty spread out here, so a bike should help me get around to more places. I'm thinking there's definitely more to the city than I've seen, and hopefully I'll get to explore that one of these days. Once the weather gets better, I'm sure I'll spend more time outside.

I started classes yesterday, and since nothing I'm taking here counts towards my major in school, I can take anything I want. As of now the classes I'm taking are :

Celts, Vikings, and Normans (Archeology)
Problems in the History of Ireland, 1850-1700
Celtic Religion, Mythology, and Folklore
Geography of Cyberspace
Women in Irish Society
and either James Joyce's Early Fiction or Post-War British Fiction

I'm pretty much going to be a genius on the subject of Ireland when I come home.... and well-rounded one at that.

Tomorrow is societies day which means you sign up for clubs-- I'm hoping to do Hiking/Mountaineering, International Students Society, and I don't know what else. I'm just hoping to end up with some fun stuff to do, and some cool Irish students to do it with.

Adapting hasn't been too bad-- Irish culture is similar to American cultures in a lot of ways-- food is good, people are friendly and mostly easy to understand. Making new friends wasn't too hard-- I bonded with a group of people the first night i was here and we're all still really close!

Things will probably start to get more exciting pretty soon with classes starting and having the chance to meet Irish students. More to come soon!

This is neat.

Oh boy. My very own blog. Well, I did have one in high school when I thought I had a lot of emotions. No matter.....

This is to ensure that 1. I document my experiences for the next 5 (or more!) months in Ireland and Europe, and that 2. all of you lovely people get to easily read about them (let's face it, life in America just isn't as exciting).

The title of this little electro-journal-thingamagigger is "Into the Mystic" based on the Oh-So-Hauntingly-Beautiful song by famed Irish singer-songwriter Van "the man" Morrison. The lyrics are:

We were born before the wind
Also younger than the sun
Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic
Hark, now hear the sailors cry
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic

And when that fog horn blows I will be coming home
And when that fog horn blows I want to hear it
I don't have to fear it
I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
Then magnificently we will float into the mystic
And when that fog horn blows you know I will be coming home
And when that fog horn whistle blows I got to hear it
I don't have to fear it
I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And together we will float into the mystic

I'll leave you with those beautiful words to ponder and say WAHOO I LEAVE IN THREE DAYS!!!!!

<3>
Melissa