NUI Galway

I feel it's time for the obligatory school post.

Classes have been on for just over a week now and so far things don't seem too different from the states. We even use blackboard (an academic website used for hosting information about your various courses), just like at Tufts. A major difference is that I'll be taking 6 courses here, which is considered a full course load by NUIG standards. Unfortunately this translates into Tufts making my life difficult and only giving me half a credit for each.  At the moment my courseload is as such:

Marketing and Media Communications

Brand Management

European Economy

Economics of Technological Change

Intro to Financial Econ

Economics of Financial Markets

One of those (brand management) is subject to change because at the moment Tufts will not approve it for credit towards my Communications and Media Studies Minor. We have a two week shopping period so I do not officially register until next week, but classes still move forward in spite of the fact that you can jump in two weeks late. Some of my classmates are taking english seminars which require them to wake up at 4AM to wait in line to register one day this week. Thank God the department of business and econ is soo much easier. The big difference that they tell you about between European and American universities is that European classes come with a reading list sometimes three pages long from which you have to select your reading for the semester. Once again, not in the econ department. We just use textbooks the way that American schools do.

All of my lecturers are Irish which, for the most part, has not proved to be an issue at all. Every now and then I do find myself a bit lost, however.  One of my first days of class I sat there listening to the professor talking about "paytons" over and over again. I kept thinking there must be someone named Peyton that I've just never heard of (I can't imagine Peyton Manning has anything to do with economics) until I heard him start talking about copyrights. Apparently Irish people call patents paytons. Where they get that pronunciation from I will never know. 

My schedule is very do-able so far. The only day that I have classes before 1PM is Monday, which consists of a very painful 9AM.  

One funny observation I made here: when a fire alarm goes off Irish students don't move. And when they do finally move, they move outside the room, but make no attempt to go OUTSIDE outside. Yesterday when one went off during one of my classes noone moved until the professor went out, evaluated the situation, came back in and then told people to go ahead and get out. Once the alarm stopped going off and it was safe to return to the class, half of them never came back in. They either stood outside chatting or left. The lecturer kept thanking those of us who actually came back for the last twenty minutes of the class.

The only painful part of school is the trek there from my accommodations here. It's about a 12-15 minute walk when I'm really determined and involves crossing a rather busy bridge. By nature this bridge is always incredibly windy with cars crossing it at approximately 100kph. The walk is 2km, by google's approximation, but when the weather's fighting against you it feels like a whole lot more. Yesterday we were lucky to have 2 hail storms. I actually think this was the first time I had ever experienced one, and it got quite intense. That's the last time I go out without my waterproof coat.

Today I registered with immigration, so I am no longer an illegal alien in the eyes of the Irish government! The process involved a myriad of paperwork and many sleepless hours on my part. It seems they don't like to make it too easy for us students. It went much more smoothly than I anticipated but it did involve me getting soaking wet. I thought I was lost, because the Irish aren't big on street names, but actually wasn't, but wound up retracing my steps anyway and in the process stepped in many puddles and got splashed by many large trucks. My feet were sopping wet. I didn't really get a chance to actually remove my wet socks and shoes until about 5.5 hours later which made for an unpleasant afternoon, but whose fault is that.  As a result my mission to purchase wellies (rain boots) has been renewed. If only I could find a pair without sparkles on them...

On the bright side two things happened: 1) I got to experience the Galway Marriot Courtyard, when I went in to ask for directions and 2) I had a lovely inaugural experience. The Marriot is lovely and I highly recommend it for your next celtic adventure!

For the inauguration Sam and I were headed to the campus bar for a party that promised news-watching and donuts. Well, had I been able to move past the approx. 500 people in the room I certainly would have enjoyed a donut, but that didn't happen. Instead Sam and I bolted into town and ran into the nearest pub. We each grabbed a pint of cider and cozied up next to the fire just in time to catch Obama's speech. Regardless of your feelings about Obama (or mine, for that matter) there is no denying that the speech was inspiring. I'll admit that I had chills throughout most of it. It was really cool to watch it in an international setting, too.

On that note I will conclude. Next post: my home-stay this past weekend.