I’m in Cork and god is this place beautiful. Quaint and cute as a button. The rain here is nothing like at home. it bites right through you and comes from every direction (see Forest Gump’s description of rain in Vietnam). It can be sunny where you are but when you look to the foothills it feels like someone has rubbed Vaseline all over them, very cool. Cork is much more hilly then Dublin. If I were to equate Them, I would say Dublin is like lower Manhattan, and Cork feels like San Francisco in the 1700’s and green.
Yesterday was Sunday and everywhere was closed, except for churches and pubs watching rugby (at least they have there priorities straight). It was a long day of home sickness, until I realized that I didn’t need to be looking for a party every day. That I needed to look at it not like a perpetual weekend, but more like an opportunity to be a short term citizen, and study the culture (thank you aunt Carol). I came here to test and find my boundaries, and that is most definitely what I have done. As my dad said it I have always been a pack animal and only happy when surrounded by loved ones, and being here surrounded entirely by strangers is a new and slightly uncomfortable thing.
I have been asked what peoples views are on the political situation back home, and mostly everyone is dumbfounded by it all. “How is McCain is even an option?”, Palin is a joke (and a very funny one at that). They all feel that there is a strong possibility that Obama will be killed and Biden is the real person to watch. The electoral college is a concept that is hard enough for U.S. citizens to understand and let me tell you how hard it is to explain, almost as hard as explaining a Jell-O shot to a French man (what a good story that is). They are also amazed how long it takes to elect our leader. For most places apparently it takes a month. I have assured them all that most people that I know feel the exact same way.
Well, I’ll keep writin’ ‘em, you keep readin’ ‘em
The Lost
October 20, 2008 at 8:10, pm
Ben,
Hey, it sounds like you’re having a great time. I’m very jealous! I love reading your blog, where are you going next?
~R
October 20, 2008 at 11:15, pm
What the crap no jello shots in France???
October 21, 2008 at 12:59, am
Dude it is probably the funniest story to come out of my trip yet. though tonight was funny-ironic. all to come later. B-Rad it is nice to hear from you man, i must say that i have had a hard time letting things CHILL A BIT, and letting things COME AS THEY WILL.
keep Mona’s real
October 21, 2008 at 1:02, am
R-
I think after Cork im going to head up to Galway. if you don’t merry that guy give me a call, i may be drunk but i think i may be able to give your life a bit more meaning.
October 22, 2008 at 10:38, pm
honestly, allowing oneself to “chill a bit” or relax is tough on it’s own.
Screw myspace, everyone should keep a blog. I’m addicted.
October 22, 2008 at 10:39, pm
on a side note, pls post pictures of your trip