I am SLACKING on this whole post-a-picture-everyday thing huh? And I know I keep acknowledging that and then saying that it isn't going to happen again...so I'm going to try something different. From HERE ON OUT, I will try my dangest to post a picture everyday. But if for some reason I can't make it to my computer or whatever, then it's not the end of the world. The next post that I do will make up for that missed day or that missed picture, ok?! I AM in Ireland, and I AM trying this new thing where I'm experiencing every aspect of Dublin so it doesn't become so banal...so if I miss a post in the future then this is me apologizing ahead of time, and saying that I'll make up for it when I post next.
Okie dokie smokie/artachokie!
Last night the girls came back from Galway (YAY!) and we went to the pub down the street and watched the World Cup Final. Congrats to Espana! WOOOO! We are all so lucky that we are in Europe for the 2010 World Cup. It was really a lot of fun! Had some drinks and the pub was PACKED so there was a lot of energy going around. Overall a good time!
This is a picture of Jen, Erin, Me and Larissa at the pub last night...with a couple Bulmers close by. Larissa had a berry flavored Bulmers last night, I tried a little bit was it was a little too sweet than regular ol' Bulmers. But still good!
So today....I worked...didn't really have that much of an eventful day. The other intern and I were actually able to go and watch a pretty high profile bankruptcy case today. It's been on the front page of a couple newspapers lately...apparently this solicitor is declaring bankruptcy for like 250 million euro or some ridiculous amount. That was cool that we were able to witness that, but it was weird. People were going in and out of the courtroom the whole time, and talking, so I wasn't able to really pay attention to what the judge was saying because I was getting so distracted with all the crazy people around me. But I still like to go down to the Four Courts and just look at people. Which is just a whole 'nother thing in and of itself. About 75% of the people that are working in the Four Courts are really young (like middle twenties to middle thirties maybe). And most of them are just GORGEOUS. Like, really really pretty people. And stylish too. So I didn't really mind not being able to hear the judge because I was being entertained by watching the people in the court room.
Another weird thing...by the pedestrian/public entrance of the Four Courts there is always photographers standing there looking at people. I asked my boss about it and she basically said they are looking for high profile people to take pictures of coming in and out of the Four Courts. Which makes sense but it's weird because every time I walk by, they are always taking pictures of me!! Which is almost creepy because these randos have my picture now. Really crazy. Anyway, there were a bunch more photogs in front of the entrance today because they were waiting for this guy (Fitzpatrick) to make an appearance. Which of course he didn't. But they wanted to try anyway. I was going to take a picture of them taking pictures of us, but I figured that would be weird. And I didn't want to take out my camera and then blatantly walk into a place that restricts cameras. That probably wouldn't have been a good idea. But anywho, kind of an interesting day at the office.
Tomorrow night the girls and I are meeting up after work to get some dinner...and then Wednesday my boss set up for me and the other intern to get a tour of the Irish Parliament building! Which will be great, and I'm super excited. It's called the Leinster House and it houses both the "senate" and the "house of representatives." They are called something in Irish but I can't remember what it is. Hopefully I'll be able to get some good pictures of that because that is going to be SWEET! Yes.
Ok. Update over, now for some thoughts.
So I'm going to London this weekend, and then Scotland the weekend of July 30th. The girls are scheduled to go to Belfast the weekend on the 23rd and I haven't been planning on going that weekend so I can work on my paper. And those are the last three weekends of our program. But after talking to some of the girls...I'm starting to think about things.
They were saying that I should go to Belfast with them, and that I shouldn't be spending my time in Ireland working on a paper and not experiencing the things that I should be while I'm in Ireland because I need to finish a paper. And honestly they made some good points. I AM in Ireland, and I'm only here for two months. I'm missing these really cool trips around the country and missing the things they are seeing because I need to write a paper. And that sounds so dumb when I write it out...
Admittedly, ditching out on weekend trips like Galway and Belfast sucks, but I mean I have a TWENTY page paper to write. And I'm not ok with turning in an assignment that I haven't put 100% of my effort into, and I feel like the only way to do this paper and do it up to my standards is to take some serious time off to spend researching and writing my paper. My number one priority whenever I am in school is school. Period. School always comes first because I want to get good grades so I can get into a good graduate program so I can get a good job that I love. And I enjoy writing papers like these; it's what I'm good at and I love learning about the material. But, in reality, will 2 credits of a class that I didn't get a good grade in affect my G.P.A THAT much that it will affect my future? Is sacrificing my time while I'm in Ireland because I'm working on a paper really worth it? When I get back to the states will I look back on my time here and tell myself that I should have sacrificed my G.P.A to experience a different country? Basically, are my priorities where they need to be right now? I honestly don't know.
Maybe my priorities are skewed right now...maybe I just need to work on my paper as much as I can during the week (while still doing the fun stuff here) and spend the weekend going on trips and enjoying Ireland for the short amount of time. It almost doesn't feel fair that I have to choose between school/good grades and doing the fun things in a different country. But at the same time, I'm the kind of person who isn't comfortable sacrificing school for something else. I honestly have no idea.
And up to this point this thought hadn't even crossed my mind...and now I can't help but think that maybe I am making the wrong decision while choosing school over Ireland.
Again, I have no idea.
Any advice would be great.
