What does it mean for weather to be "soft?" It's not an adjective I think of to use for describing the weather; I reserve it for pillows and cheese.
"Soft" is referred to days that are cloudy and with a light mist in the air.
What about "fresh" weather? This seems to be used with sort of a negative connotation. When the temperatures are a bit too cold, it is described as "fresh."
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Ireland is Quite Small
I had a long conversation this morning with two Irish ladies about how "small" Ireland is--small in the sense that everywhere you go, even in the "big city" of Dublin, you continually will run into people you know. People from your present circle of interaction, people from your past years in school, or people who are friends of your mother, grandmother, aunt, etc. These ladies shared story after story of meeting someone in the grocery store, who went to middle school with them, or who dated their cousin, or whatever. When you meet someone and ask where they are from and they say Kilkenny, then you ask if they know so-and-so, and sure enough his father was neighbors with the football coach of her daughter...or something like that.
They laughingly claimed this is why there aren't serial killers in Ireland, because the community would know who you are, your family, where you come from, etc. If a guy meets a girl in a bar and she agrees to go out with him, there's a good chance they will know some mutual person, so there's no way he could try to get away with murder, as people could easily track him down. (So they say.)
I have to admit, I've been here just over a month and have already had such experiences that make me realize Ireland is a bit small. Last Saturday night I went to the Gate Theatre. Then on Sunday a lady I've never seen before in my life comes up to me and asks if I was at the Gate Theatre the night before. I said yes, and she smiled and said "You've got great taste, wasn't it a great show!" Then she went about her way. Friendly folks, aren't they? Yesterday I was waiting at the bus stop, and a car pulled up and the persons inside asked if I wanted a ride. It turns out it was the pastor and his wife from the nearby church I've attended.
I must say, given that I can count on my fingers how many people I've met (I wouldn't even say "know") in this city/country, it's nice to be recognized! Although it makes me feel like I need to be careful what I'm doing, I don't want to have a scowl on my face at the bus stop, as who knows who will pass...and word travels in this small island...
Indeed Ireland is geographically small, not merely in this sense of a close-knit community. It takes only 3 hours to drive from Dublin on the east coast to Galway on the west coast--this is like driving from Houston to Dallas or Austin. In fact, I suppose we can think of the Republic of Ireland roughly as that size: the region from, say, San Antonio to Houston to Dallas, if we were to make a box-like shape there in Texas. That's the whole country of Ireland! Wow. No wonder paths cross, as generation after generation develops its web of interaction...
They laughingly claimed this is why there aren't serial killers in Ireland, because the community would know who you are, your family, where you come from, etc. If a guy meets a girl in a bar and she agrees to go out with him, there's a good chance they will know some mutual person, so there's no way he could try to get away with murder, as people could easily track him down. (So they say.)
I have to admit, I've been here just over a month and have already had such experiences that make me realize Ireland is a bit small. Last Saturday night I went to the Gate Theatre. Then on Sunday a lady I've never seen before in my life comes up to me and asks if I was at the Gate Theatre the night before. I said yes, and she smiled and said "You've got great taste, wasn't it a great show!" Then she went about her way. Friendly folks, aren't they? Yesterday I was waiting at the bus stop, and a car pulled up and the persons inside asked if I wanted a ride. It turns out it was the pastor and his wife from the nearby church I've attended.
I must say, given that I can count on my fingers how many people I've met (I wouldn't even say "know") in this city/country, it's nice to be recognized! Although it makes me feel like I need to be careful what I'm doing, I don't want to have a scowl on my face at the bus stop, as who knows who will pass...and word travels in this small island...
Indeed Ireland is geographically small, not merely in this sense of a close-knit community. It takes only 3 hours to drive from Dublin on the east coast to Galway on the west coast--this is like driving from Houston to Dallas or Austin. In fact, I suppose we can think of the Republic of Ireland roughly as that size: the region from, say, San Antonio to Houston to Dallas, if we were to make a box-like shape there in Texas. That's the whole country of Ireland! Wow. No wonder paths cross, as generation after generation develops its web of interaction...
City Centre
Dublin is divided into various postal code regions, and within each little area, there is it's own sort of center--the center of the community, a crossroads where the local pub, shops, chemist and church are located.
Now, I've been instructed that to tell someone I am going into the city centre, I should say I'm going "in to town." However, if I'm just going to my local area centre, I should say "down to town." Okay, got it. Also, one never calls the proper Dublin city centre "downtown," I blunder I was in the habit of saying due to the way in the US.
Note: You may have noticed some different spellings in my posts...for example in this entry, I use "center" and "centre." The latter is a more common British way, as is using "ou" instead of simply "o," such as in "colour" and "harbour."
Now, I've been instructed that to tell someone I am going into the city centre, I should say I'm going "in to town." However, if I'm just going to my local area centre, I should say "down to town." Okay, got it. Also, one never calls the proper Dublin city centre "downtown," I blunder I was in the habit of saying due to the way in the US.
Note: You may have noticed some different spellings in my posts...for example in this entry, I use "center" and "centre." The latter is a more common British way, as is using "ou" instead of simply "o," such as in "colour" and "harbour."
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Shopping
I have a strong aversion to shopping. Particularly clothes shopping. It gives me a headache, and I try to avoid it when I can (unless it's a thrift store, where I may enjoy finding more eccentric items...)
However, I needed to find a hat to keep my ears warm and the rain off, and for some reason I decided to explore the city's shopping options on a Saturday afternoon. The stores were a madhouse--and not merely due to the volume of customers, but due to the messy state in which the people had left the merchandise. Imagine being in an equivalent of a Macy's or Foley's, and looking out and seeing clothes strewn all over the racks and shelves, piles everywhere in complete disarray. In the shoes section, seeing shoes and boots scattered about completely covering the floor so that everyone has to climb over them and hunt for matches. It was frankly quite appalling, I was embarrassed for the store to tolerate the appearance of a tornado coming through.
So in order to survive, I had to view this as simply a touristic experience of observing the life of shopping on a Saturday afternoon in Dublin and I zoomed through the stores without stopping unless a hat jumped out at me--which occurred once when it fell of the pile of clothes it had been thrown on.
Note: to be fair, these state of disarray was only found in the larger stores, where I guess more people come than there are workers to manage the place. The smaller stores were quite well kept, and also the larger stores are not like this during the week.
However, I needed to find a hat to keep my ears warm and the rain off, and for some reason I decided to explore the city's shopping options on a Saturday afternoon. The stores were a madhouse--and not merely due to the volume of customers, but due to the messy state in which the people had left the merchandise. Imagine being in an equivalent of a Macy's or Foley's, and looking out and seeing clothes strewn all over the racks and shelves, piles everywhere in complete disarray. In the shoes section, seeing shoes and boots scattered about completely covering the floor so that everyone has to climb over them and hunt for matches. It was frankly quite appalling, I was embarrassed for the store to tolerate the appearance of a tornado coming through.
So in order to survive, I had to view this as simply a touristic experience of observing the life of shopping on a Saturday afternoon in Dublin and I zoomed through the stores without stopping unless a hat jumped out at me--which occurred once when it fell of the pile of clothes it had been thrown on.
Note: to be fair, these state of disarray was only found in the larger stores, where I guess more people come than there are workers to manage the place. The smaller stores were quite well kept, and also the larger stores are not like this during the week.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Blarney Stone
Yes, I kissed the Blarney Stone. The legendary stone is found at the top of the tower of the 600 year old castle, and it's said that those who kiss it will receive the gift of eloquence. (I'm not claiming to have successfully acquired this gift of gab, however...)As long ago as 1789, the French Consul to Dublin wrote of "Blarney Castle top of which is a large stone that visitors who climb up are made to kiss." The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue gives the following definition, "Blarney: He has licked the blarney stone; he deals in the wonderful, or tips us the traveler. The blarney stone is a triangular stone on the very top of an ancient castle of that name in the county of Cork in Ireland, extremely difficult of access; so that to have ascended to it, was considered as a proof of perseverance, courage and agility, whereof many are supposed to claim the honour, who never achieved the adventure: and to tip the blarney, is figuratively used telling a marvellous story, or falsity; and also sometimes to express flattery. Irish."
So how is it done? You climb to the top, then lay down on your back and there is a man who holds your torso while you carefully extend backwards and downwards in order to kiss the stone...Someone is there to take your picture of course, but I think I'll refrain from posting myself in such a contorted position on this open blog.
Perhaps you have heard of Baloney? What's the difference between Baloney and Blarney? According to the description on the tour: "Blarney is the varnished truth. Baloney is the unvarnished lie. Blarney is flattery laid on just thin enough to like it. Baloney is flattery laid on so thick we hate it."
My favorite is the following example, "The difference between 'blarney' and 'baloney' is this: Baloney is when you tell a 50-year old woman that she looks 18. Blarney is when you ask a woman how old she is because you want to know at what age women are most beautiful."
Brilliant.
(Note: this trip was taken back in August, but I'm just now getting around to writing about it.)
Irish Germs
Well, it seems this American girl does not have the right immunity for Irish Germs, or else they're much more potent than the tame ones in the States. (I'm not sure these are the appropriate words for germs, but you get the idea...) I very rarely get sick in the US, very rarely. However, I have come down with "something" twice within 5 weeks. Not very fun...
I suppose the weather could be a factor--I wake up with my nose frozen each morning (though my bed is nice and warm, piled high with wool blankets and a duvet, so heavy that I can barely roll over--nice and cozy!). It seems the radiator heaters in this house are only on between 7-9am and 7-10pm. When I step outside, the wind hits me with a mighty thrust, I walk in the cold to my bus and wait tensely until I am rescued by a vehicle packed with teenagers in their cute school uniforms--girls in pleated plaid skirts, knee-high socks, deck shoes, cardigan sweaters, boys in dress pants, ties, and sweaters. When I enter my office, I burn up and must take off my layers to a short-sleeved shirt.
Or someone has suggested it could be the water. Perhaps there are different microbes in the water here. Or perhaps it's simply the strand of germs bred in Ireland. Well, I'll build up my immunity and show them who's boss.
In the meantime, I'll sit here with a hot water bottle in my chair, wearing a scarf and sipping on some hot water, with a box of tissues by my side, typing away on this blog...spreading more germs on my keyboard...
I suppose the weather could be a factor--I wake up with my nose frozen each morning (though my bed is nice and warm, piled high with wool blankets and a duvet, so heavy that I can barely roll over--nice and cozy!). It seems the radiator heaters in this house are only on between 7-9am and 7-10pm. When I step outside, the wind hits me with a mighty thrust, I walk in the cold to my bus and wait tensely until I am rescued by a vehicle packed with teenagers in their cute school uniforms--girls in pleated plaid skirts, knee-high socks, deck shoes, cardigan sweaters, boys in dress pants, ties, and sweaters. When I enter my office, I burn up and must take off my layers to a short-sleeved shirt.
Or someone has suggested it could be the water. Perhaps there are different microbes in the water here. Or perhaps it's simply the strand of germs bred in Ireland. Well, I'll build up my immunity and show them who's boss.
In the meantime, I'll sit here with a hot water bottle in my chair, wearing a scarf and sipping on some hot water, with a box of tissues by my side, typing away on this blog...spreading more germs on my keyboard...
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Irish in Sudan
I heard a talk last night by a few Irish people who are living in southern Sudan, helping to bring education, sanitation and medical care to the people. I was overwhelmed by the pictures and stories that were told of their experiences. But I was also encouraged by the commitment of people like them to use their skills and resources to help those who do not have even their basic needs of shelter, food and water. I exhort all of us to examine ourselves and our ability to aid our fellow human beings in such developing countries (formerly called "Third World" countries).
They also had many statistics that I found gripping, but of course I can't remember many of them--we've all seen them before but somehow we go on without taking much personal action. I did remember some stats, as the message was very clear: Europe spends $11 billion US dollars on ice cream each year, the US spends $8 billion on cosmetics, and $12 billion on perfumes in the US and Europe, while it would cost $9 billion to provide water and sanitation, $6 billion for education, and $13 for basic health and nutrition for all developing countries in the world. Basically, we spend so much on luxuries while two-thirds of the world is in poverty. This sort of thing compels me to do without some unnecessary expense and to be intentional about giving that money toward "adopting" a child in Africa or paying the tuition for a teenager to go to vocational school or some other worthy humanitarian relief. We've been blessed with so much and they don't deserve to be with so little. If each of us did our part, we could help that many more people...and if only we would make ourselves aware of what is going on in such places like Sudan, then we might be more inclined to do something about it...but sometimes we get consumed in our little bubble of "worries"...well, I'd better stop now before I get on my soap-box. :)
It reminded me of this brief video clip I saw a couple of years ago: http://www.ekincaglar.com/coin/flash.html
They also had many statistics that I found gripping, but of course I can't remember many of them--we've all seen them before but somehow we go on without taking much personal action. I did remember some stats, as the message was very clear: Europe spends $11 billion US dollars on ice cream each year, the US spends $8 billion on cosmetics, and $12 billion on perfumes in the US and Europe, while it would cost $9 billion to provide water and sanitation, $6 billion for education, and $13 for basic health and nutrition for all developing countries in the world. Basically, we spend so much on luxuries while two-thirds of the world is in poverty. This sort of thing compels me to do without some unnecessary expense and to be intentional about giving that money toward "adopting" a child in Africa or paying the tuition for a teenager to go to vocational school or some other worthy humanitarian relief. We've been blessed with so much and they don't deserve to be with so little. If each of us did our part, we could help that many more people...and if only we would make ourselves aware of what is going on in such places like Sudan, then we might be more inclined to do something about it...but sometimes we get consumed in our little bubble of "worries"...well, I'd better stop now before I get on my soap-box. :)
It reminded me of this brief video clip I saw a couple of years ago: http://www.ekincaglar.com/coin/flash.html
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