andrewinireland-blog

[andrewinireland-blog]

Blog Post #12- Revisiting goals, special thanks & final thoughts

Well, it’s over. But I feel like this quote summarizes the end of this adventure: 

“It’s the happy ending without the ending.” 

Yesterday in Ireland, I said my final goodbyes, headed to the airport, flew to Newark, ate Auntie Anne’s mini hot dogs, and then flew back to Michigan to be reunite with the cats and Noodles & Co. It’s weird to think that I am not in Dublin anymore.

If you have been following me this whole time, you would know that I drafted a list of goals in the first “Andrew in Ireland” blog post... so let’s revisit them and see how I did: 

Goal Status: TBD. I still have four papers left to write for these classes, so it might take some time before I know if this goal will be “complete.” So far, it seems to be going okay. I’ve learned many different things about Irish television and sports broadcasting. 

Goal Status: Complete. Complete. Complete. I’ll go more in-depth on my classmates shortly. 

Goal Status: Complete. Yeah, I went to Guinness. Yeah, I tried Guinness. Yeah, I liked it. The tour itself was self-guided (unlike the Jameson Whiskey tour). One cool thing about the tour was that you had the opportunity to make your own drink- or you could have had someone else do it for you. Most people do this tour when they are in Dublin, so don’t be that person who doesn’t. 

Goal Status: Complete. Just like Guinness, this is something you should do if you ever end up in Ireland. Our group was really fortunate to have great weather when we got to the cliffs. Usually it is cloudy and raining, but the weather treated us like kings.

Goal Status: Complete. I attended a HURLING MATCH. Who from the U.S. can say they went to one of those?? I also branched out a few times and ate hamburgers with something other than “just ketchup”- if that counts. 

Goal Status: Nah. Unfortunately, this goal was not completed. But the good thing about uncompleted goals is it gives me a reason to go back to Ireland one day. 

Goal Status: Complete. Okay, I found out like two days ago that we’ve been walking past Synge Street every single day. I should have gotten a picture to prove it, but it was just a normal Europe road sign so imagine that with the words “Synge Street.” The Game of Thrones tour was amazing though, but you already knew that. 

Goal Status: Complete. As you all know, I went to London for a weekend and enjoyed it.

Goal Status: Good enough! I did 12. Maybe not three a week, but I didn’t flop so who cares?

 Goal Status: Complete. It’s important to live the moment. This experience has treated me so well... I’ll get more in-depth in a second. 

Okay, yeah. I figured it out thanks to my roommate. We had to put our room key in some box... 

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Now this is the part where I argue why you should study abroad. There are many reasons why and everyone is going to tell you something different: Just being in a different culture and setting is something most people have yet to experience... you get to see views that you wouldn’t see back home... you have the opportunity to basically be a local and not a tourist... I feel people grow as individuals when they go to a different country.... The list goes on. 

But I feel this is my top answer: the people. 

Everyone said they are going to miss the people the most. I have to agree. 

It feels so long ago when we met up on July 2nd. I barely knew anyone back then. We were all awkwardly standing around in the airport before we decided to sit in a circle and socialize. All of our suitcases and backpacks were behind us. Then, about 27 days later, we were sitting in the middle of the sidewalk, eating burritos and pizza. It just shows that a group of strangers can still become so close after four weeks. We all did so much together... from going to a hurling match, to going out for a drink (or two), to booking a hostel in a different country for a weekend. 

One thing that I know most people claimed on this trip was how they label themselves as an introvert. I even label myself as an introvert. But honestly, there are way better adjectives to describe the people I was with... uplifting, adventurous, cordial, entertaining, radiant, bright, impacting, friendly... and the list goes on.

I think the question we all have now is this: Will we hang out when we get back to TCU or not? My answer: I really hope so. I really do. They are all good people and have made an impact on my life and the whole experience. If for some reason we didn’t though that’s okay, because I’m just glad I got the opportunity to spend the time with them while I can in Ireland. But I know that it’s going to happen... we are going to hang. 

I have a few quick shoutouts to the people I went abroad with. I would like to thank the day trippers- Hayden, Tyler, Claire, Kelli, Megan, and Brittney- for being willing to get up super early and hike around Howth, Giant’s Causeway and the Cliffs of Moher. I somewhat knew who five of you were before I got to Dublin, but I didn’t really know you all that well. Going on this trip allowed me to get to know you guys better and see how amazing of individuals you all are.

Another shoutout to Hayden for the idea of us going to Wimbledon while we were in London and to Kelli/Claire for also joining us for the experience. Honestly, that was probably one of the days I won’t forget because of all of the L’s we took.

To the three girls who sang “Shout out to my ex” on every. single. bus. ride (Meaghan, Caroline, and Kennedy). Thank you guys for making me laugh every single day. The trip wouldn’t have been the same if you guys weren’t there. To Trey, Mitch, and Joel- it was cool getting to know y’all. I hope to get to know you guys more over the upcoming semester.

I’d also like to thank my professors for helping make this trip happen. In addition, shoutout to my family for allowing me to go on this trip, helping me prepare, and being supportive the whole way through. 

Ireland has been an experience. Every minute of the trip was worth it and it’s going to be hard knowing that I am no longer in Ireland. 

Would I go back? Absolutely. I want to go back right now. But as said by Guinness: “All good things come to those who wait.”

Thank you, Ireland. I’ll see ya later. 

[andrewinireland-blog]

Blog Post #11- Defining/ranking Irish Cinema

Today was the last day of class. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s over yet though because there are still many papers left that need to be written. 

Anyways, throughout the of the 17 days of classes we watched eight films (we also watched bits and pieces of Once, but I’m not counting that). Here is how I personally rank them. I thought I would share the summaries from IMDb and the year they were released:

Like

1. Brooklyn (2015)

“An Irish immigrant lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a romance with a local...”

2. Young Offenders (2016)

“Two teenage boys cycle 160km on stolen bikes pursued by police to find a missing bale of cocaine worth 7 million euro...”

3. My Left Foot (1989)

“Christy Brown, born with cerebral palsy, learns to paint and write with his only controllable limb - his left foot.”

4. The Commitments (1991)

“When Jimmy Rabbitte wants to start a band, he has open auditions at his house.”

Not a fan

5. The Crying Game (1992)

“A British soldier is kidnapped by IRA terrorists. He befriends one of his captors, who is drawn into the soldier's world.”

6. Into the West (1992)

“Grandpa Ward gives a horse he found to his grandchildren, who keep it in their tower-block flat in Dublin....”

7. About Adam (2000)

“A waitress falls for a handsome customer who seduces her, her two sisters, her brother, and her brother's girlfriend.”

8. The Quiet Man (1952)

“A retired American boxer returns to the village of his birth in Ireland, where he finds love.”

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If you are wanting to watch one of these films. My recommendation would be to start off with Young Offenders (it might be on U.S. Netflix). It’s a little strange, but has a good storyline. Brooklyn was my favorite though. I’ve seen it before, but it was way more exciting watching it a second time. The Commitments is similar to Sing Street (one of my favorite films). 

But overall, it seems that my thoughts on Irish films are split. It either has the complete spectacle or is a downhill spiral.

The point of watching films in this class is to reflect on the idea of what we believe is the true definition of Irish Cinema. To be honest, there is no clear answer because all of these movies have different genres. 

But they all have some similarities: working-middle class, father is usually drunk, shows characters going through hardships, not always the typical Hollywood ending, Jim Broadbent, etc. 

It’s been nice watching films that relate to the country I’ve been staying it. However, most of these films give a dark tone to the Irish culture. Which seems strange because everything around me seems to be cheerful... but perhaps that is not the case to the people who live here.

Speaking of films and television, one cool thing about living in a different country is browsing the Netflix selections. It’s way different than the U.S. They have all of the Shrek films and Fantastic Mr. Fox. I’ve tried watching a few things while I’ve been here but I feel asleep because they were a little on the boring side (cough The Circle cough). 

On another note, it looks like I might reach 12 blog posts after all. Stay tuned for the final thoughts post... probably on Saturday. 

[andrewinireland-blog]

Blog Post #10- DAY TRIPS

Unfortunately, yesterday was my last free full day in Ireland. Five of us decided to book a tour that took us to Belfast, Giant’s Causeway and the Rope Bridge. Just like all of my other experiences, it was pretty spectacular. 

^Behind us is an island that was on Game of Thrones (part of the Baratheon camp)

^ROCKS

Honestly, the day trips were probably some of the most fun days I’ve had while in Ireland. I’m not saying that those days were the only great days on this trip, but definitely some of the most memorable.

You get to see a lot. The first day trip our group did was to Howth, where we took that long hike to see some lighthouse and some cliffs. We got lost on the way, but it all worked out in the end when we found ice cream and directions.

Then there was the Cliffs of Moher and Galway. We got to see some more cliffs!!! The Cliffs of Moher are a must-see attraction because they are so huge and incredible. Just walking around (semi-near the edge) was just breath-taking because it is not something you see in Fort Worth or Detroit. Galway was cool too, even though it felt a little on the short side. We also got to go to some rock park in between- which also felt short but was exciting.

I guess the third day trip you could say we did was The Game of Thrones tour. 

And then that weekend some of us did Wimbledon. Even though it wasn’t in Ireland- I would count that as a day trip because we got up at 4 in the morning and we didn’t get back until late that night. It took up all of our energy, but it was such an amazing experience and I would do it all over again. 

Then there was this past weekend: Cork and Northern Ireland. The nice thing about the trip to Cork was that almost everyone was there and it was nice being able to all go to a sporting event together. Some of us got to Cork a little earlier to kiss the Blarney Stone, but if you want to know the truth I’m not sure if I received the gift of eloquence yet. Northern Ireland just showed a whole different perspective and it was cool seeing all of the views.

So one of my biggest piece of advice if study abroad (especially in the summer) would be the following: Do the day trips, book tours, and enjoy them! 

Some might be worried about cost, but honestly you are getting so much for the amount you are paying. The last trip we did was a little expensive, but honestly it was worth it all.... transportation, tickets to museum, giant’s causeway, rope bridge... it saves a lot of time and potentially money. Imagine a group of us traveling to Northern Ireland by car and having to pay for every parking pass and attraction. It would be an experience, but why do the work when someone else can do it for you? I’m sure traveling by car would be a lot of fun, but we were also on time crunch so we needed to do what was best.

Another reason why people might not want to day trip is because it requires people to get up early. I’m pretty sure the times we got up ranged from 4-9:30 a.m. It really depends on the situation, but in the end it is worth it. Besides, a lack of sleep can’t hurt anyone. 

You also (for the two bus tour trips we did) get a tour guide that knows so much Ireland knowledge. 

Anyways, another good thing about day trips was being able to get out of Dublin for a day or two. Dublin is an exciting place, but there is so much more out there and I like to explore. The experiences are breathtaking.

And doing it with a cool group of people is also a plus. It is kind of hard when you are studying with a people you haven’t really gotten to know yet... so why not force yourself to do a trip with them. It’s a great time to bond. 

But be warned, if you do day trips you will do plenty of walking. 

Out of the five trips (Howth, Cliffs, GoT, Wimbledon, Cork, N. Ireland), I walked around 124,575 steps-- this number might be off but we’ll go with it for now. Fun fact: today might be the day where I take the least amount of steps... almost 3 thousand... mainly because today I watched Game of Thrones and wrote a paper.

I am going to miss the fun day trips, but I am glad I got to do them with everyone. 

[andrewinireland-blog]

Blog Post #9- TCU Football Game vs. GAA Hurling Match

Yesterday, the group decided to travel to Cork.

One thing many people wanted to do while abroad was go to a sporting event. So we made sure that happened and the sport ended up being... hurling!

It’s kind of hard to explain what hurling is, so my suggestion would be to watch YouTube videos. Here is the one we watched in class:

Basically the sport is a combination of many American sports: Football, Lacrosse, Soccer, Hockey, etc.

It was a crazy match to watch. I supported Clare, but unfortunately they lost the match to Tipperary (it was a close game though). We had standing seats on the terrace, but they were not that bad. The stadium was also renovated and there were apparently many updates that happened. This match was the second game to be played in the new stadium.

When comparing an Ireland sporting event/environment to The States (take a TCU football game, for example), there seems to be some differences:

1. Game time: The game lasted only 70 minutes. There was one 15 minute break in between, but that was it. It’s not like Football where games can take 3.5 hours.

2. Commitment: The cool thing about hurling matches is that the players are not getting paid to play the sport. Our sports broadcasting professor told the class that most of the players go back “to normal work lives” after the game. The other cool thing about the players is that they basically “grow up with each other.” This means that at a young age the players train with their respective home team and they stay with their respective home team the whole time. They are not going to transfer to a different team or get traded. 

3. Student/Fan Section: Personally, it seems the student section at TCU games are way more hyped than fan sections at hurling matches. While some of the fans get excited, there isn’t a lot of hype music/videos or people cheering all of the time (there isn’t even a video board for people to get on during the breaks). One way many students at TCU bond is that everyone roots against the same team (coughSuckstoBUcough). The rivalry in Ireland seems to be a joking type environment. The rivalries are not serious rivalries like The States. I think I only recall one or two times where fans were boo-ing the other team.

4. Spirit Squad: There were no cheerleaders or showgirls, which is something most college and pro teams have in The States. The TCU Marching Band would more than likely blow the GAA Band out of the water because the GAA Band had only about 20 people on the field.

5. Sports Bar Environment: After going to the hurling match, our group went to a pub nearby where we saw many people watching a Gaelic Football match going on. It was surprising to me because there weren’t many people in the actual stadium, but there were so many people watching it on the big screen. Gaelic Football is also said to be the most watched sport in Ireland... So perhaps maybe a drink and sports bar is the way people do it in Ireland? I mean, people at TCU are somewhat similar, but it potentially seems to be more prominent in Ireland.

One good thing that will come out of this match is my excitement for TCU Football. It’s a little over a month away and hopefully the team will do well this year.

[andrewinireland-blog]

Blog Post #8- “I don’t want to talk about it.”

It’s crazy to think that the third week is almost over. It’s crazy to even think that it was only three weeks ago since this adventure began.

Did it go by fast? Yeah. It’s strange to think we are 3/4 of the way through. 

Did it go by slow? Yeah. Some days seemed longer than others (usually the Saturdays).

...but I don’t want it to be over yet. 

In psychology class one thing that we talk about is the five stages of dying: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. It’s kind of weird, but that is how I’m comparing this experience right now. The group is in the denial stage. I’m in denial stage. 

We never really started talking about the fact that we are leaving soon until a couple of days ago. Reality is setting in, and soon we will be back in reality. It’s frustrating because this experience has been amazing. So what are some of the things that will be missed... well a lot, and I’m sure some people who go abroad can (or maybe cannot) relate:

-The people. Day 1: No one really knew each other and it was kind of awkward. While I knew people going I didn’t really know who they were (if that makes any sense). Now, 19 days later, it is a completely different environment. The people here are amazing and it’s going to be hard saying goodbye to them. 

-The experiences. Cliffs of Moher, Guinness, Jameson, Howth... the list goes on. Going abroad gives the chance for people to go to new places and try new things.

-The opportunities. Not many people can say that they study abroad. While going abroad for vacation with your family is one thing, going with a group of strangers is something different. It gives one the opportunity to go to cool places and try different things. I’m not sure if I would have went to Wimbledon with my family, or do 30,000 steps at Howth. I’m not sure if we would go out most nights either...

Okay, I feel my final post is going to touch on a lot of this stuff... so I am going to stop here. 

But the point is this: Yeah, the trip is coming to an end and I’m not too thrilled about that, but all good things must end. So much greatness has come from this trip and I know the rest of the trip is going to be great too. I need to enjoy it while it lasts. 

While there is only about seven days left, there is a lot that can be done in seven days. Most people only get to travel internationally for seven days...

And besides, why be sad when there is so much to look forward to this weekend and next week? Some things coming up: A HURLING MATCH, Northern Ireland (Giant’s Causeway, Belfast, Rope Bridge), Irish Times and Google Headquarters. 

[andrewinireland-blog]

Blog Post #7- Four restaurants to check out in Dublin

Food is always an important part of a travel experience. If the food isn’t great, then the experience itself may not be great either.

The food in Ireland is similar to food in America. Honestly, that is not what I expected... but then again, I didn’t really know what to expect. Perhaps the reason why the food is so similar is that Ireland is kind of a “sandwich” with the United States and the United Kingdom? Since all three countries have many similarities, why not add food to that list?

Regardless, there are many cool places to check out if you have the opportunity to end up in Ireland. Here is my Top 4 (there is no particular order):

1. Noshington

Noshington is a 3 minute walk from Griffith College, so that is a plus. The place has good hot chocolate, breakfast and lunch. Our group went to Noshington the second day and we’ve been plenty of more times since. One thing I ordered was a pulled pork sandwich with bla (bla is bread- we spent most of time thinking the bla was the purple stuff). If you know me well enough, you would know pork is not my thing, but it was really good. 

Photo by TotallyDublin^

2. The Jar

Pizza has been a common meal on this trip, but this restaurant had has the best pizza (so far). It was kind of awkward because most of us felt underdress when we walked in, but it didn’t seem to be the end of the world. The seating was really comfortable and there was a big enough spot for 10 people, which is kind of hard to find sometimes at small restaurants. The 13-inch pizza was thin crust and really greasy. The fries were well seasoned. Unfortunately, I have no picture of the restaurant, but there is a possibility that we will go to The Jar again because it was that good.

^Photo by Acapulco

3. Acapulco

Luckily the group went on Wednesday because the drinks were 4 euros cheaper. It wasn’t crowded when we went either. The food at Acapulco was delicious. Most people got tacos with chicken, pork or beef. The only complaint was that only two tacos were provided, but honestly it was probably better that a third one wasn’t given to us. The refried beans were heavy, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. 

4. Bleeding Horse

Bleeding Horse is our place. It’s not far of a walk (it’s on Camden Street) that has really good food and drinks. Food is served throughout the day and it becomes more of a social scene at night. Some of the things I have ordered were The Guinness Stew and the Cheese Steak Sandwich. The Guinness Stew was hot, but it was perhaps the most traditional Irish meal I had on the trip. It’s also a really big place, which is a good thing for big groups. This place also wins for best music.

Honorable Mention: Spar

Spar isn’t really a restaurant, but a gas-station-type store that has hot food. Usually this is a good place to get lunch food. If there wasn’t a Spar one minute from the Griffith College gate, I would be doing more long walking trips to the grocery store (more like a 5-10 minute trip to Tesco). 

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There is only a week and two days left until we leave (sobbing), but here are three other places I want to try before we head out. I don’t think we will get to all of them, but we’ll see...

Beanhive

Pitt Bros

The Winding Stair

Hopefully I’ll be able to update this top food list for y’all if one of these places (or somewhere else) ends up being amazing. 

[andrewinireland-blog]

Blog Post #6- Weekend London Trip recap

Even though it wasn’t my first rodeo in London, it was an experience.

This trip gave me a few firsts, including my first time staying in a hostel. The room was probably half the size of the dorm I am staying in at Griffith College. It had two sets of bunk beds, a small window and garbage can. It was manageable, but different. Being in mixed bathrooms was a little uncomfortable; however, it wasn’t the end of the world... after all, the hostel was mainly used for sleeping purposes.

The weekend was fun. Four of us decided to go to Wimbledon (it was a last minute decision too). We woke up at 4 a.m. and finally reached the queue three hours later. Once we got inside at around 10 a.m., we had to wait another 4 hours until the actual game started. Two of those hours were spent the rain. In the meantime, we enjoyed Strawberries & Cream and some other food/drink items. Once the game started, it only lasted 1.5 hours. It was upsetting because Venus Williams lost. However, the experience itself was incredible. It was a fun being able to bond with other people from my trip. The gift shop was a little disappointing, but I was able to pick up a cool program to remember my experience, Once we got back from the game, we crashed. This event is something I may not ever have the opportunity to do again. However, maybe one day it will be possible to do Wimbledon 2.0. Maybe in Centre Court too?

Three of us decided to take a later flight on Sunday, so we had the whole day. We mainly did tourism things that day, including the National Gallery (which had Wi-Fi). Van Gogh is a spectacular artist, so seeing his work was a priority. That was pretty much all we did in the museum. 

While it was a fun time going abroad while abroad, it made me appreciate the country I am staying in more. 

London is a tourism targeted area. A majority of people were tourists. The streets were crowded and chaotic. Yeah, London is a way more well-known area, but the tourism just seemed to be a little intense. Dublin just seemed to be way more smooth.

Because tourism is so popular, there were so many people on the streets asking for money. Some of them were doing special talents in order to get some money. For example, there were at least ten Yodas doing balancing acts in order to get some spare change. 

Everything also seemed to be a little more pricy in London. In Dublin, it is very easy to walk around- and you can do it for free too! That is not the case in London, since the best way to get around is paying 2.5 pounds for a ride. Everything in Dublin seems to be a thirty minute walk, which is not bad. A tube from Elephant/Castle to Wimbledon was thirty-five minutes... and sometimes it took awhile for the tube to show up.

Something about Dublin also seemed to be more thrilling than London overall. Maybe it is because I have called Dublin home for the past 16 days? It will be interesting returning to The States (but that is not something that needs to be brought up at the moment). 

Next weekend, the group is staying in Ireland. That is okay with me because I feel weekend trips abroad can also be a tad rushed when a large group of people travel together. 

Now, do not think that London is a bad place to go after reading this blog. London has many cool places to offer: Stonehenge, Big Ben, London Eye, Harry Potter Tour, etc. It should be on the list of places to travel before you die. 

Cheerio, London. 

[andrewinireland-blog]

Blog Post #5- A blog post has no name

Thank goodness Game of Thrones came into my life in February. 

Yeah, that is when I started watching the show... February. So it’s never too late to get invested in a show. Especially when there is still two seasons left (the next one starts Sunday so you have from now until then to catch up on sixty episodes).

After finding out that there was the potential of going on this tour, I thought I would get into the show. Thank you, Dr. O (and the rest of the faculty members). The first few episodes are a little on the slow side because there are so many characters getting introduced and so much going on. After spending a few episodes figuring out who is important and who is not, it becomes easier to follow along. It’s also very well written. Characters you start out liking might end up becoming unlikeable characters in the long run (and vice versa). Anyone is also at risk at any given time. It’s easy to get invested in after watching about 7 episodes. So if you start watching, you have been warned...

Today was the official Game of Thrones tour day for our study abroad group. There are many different tours, but the one our group took focused mainly on the first two seasons and Winterfell scenes. 

On our way to the first stop, we took a quiz to see who would be crowned King of the North. I felt pretty confident because I the show is refreshed in my mind but I only got 3/10. So yeah, that was awkward, but it’s all good. 

The first place our tour stopped was Tollymore Forest. 

In the forest there would be these spray painted “F”s all over the trees. These trees meant that it was featured in the show. The main scenes shot here were in Episode 1 (When Will sees the Wildlings / When the Starks find the direwolves). 

One of the most interesting facts that came from the tour is that the “snow” in the first scene was actually bleached paper. Overall, a quarter-of-a-million dollars was spent on this paper alone. 

The photo is above features me standing on a rock. I tripped on this rock because I wanted to take an aesthetic photo... but it was a failure. However, it’s cool knowing that this rock is also in a scene of Game of Thrones so it’s a win-win situation. 

Another highlight on the trip was meeting the direwolves. Their real names are Odin and Thor, but they are mostly known for playing Robb and Bran’s direwolves. For those in my class who don’t watch the show, this was for sure their favorite part. I don’t blame them though- who wouldn’t want to pet a direwolf?

It was so exciting meeting some of the cast. Besides the direwolves, our tour guide (named Eric) was also an extra many times on the show. He hinted at being on the next season- so keep your eyes peeled for Eric. 

For our class assignment, we have to pick a specific location on the tour and write about why the producers possibly picked that place. One place that stood out to me was this tree near the shores of Strangford lounge. 

This is where Brienne of Tarth (who has Jamie Lannister as a prisoner during this time) takes on three Stark men. Not yet sure what to exactly say in my paper, but we’ll see...

The final stop on the tour was Inch Abbey. This is where (SPOILER- BUT IT’S BEEN 7 YEARS SO YEAH) Catelyn hears about Ned’s death. The place was old, but it was really exciting to see it.

We were wearing cloaks and had props during the Inch Abbey part of the tour- so I only have one picture present of just the Abbey part, but it is really blurry. 

Doing parts of the tour with cloaks and props made the experience become more realistic- which seems to be something Irish cinema/television wants to accomplish... realism! 

Since my study abroad program focuses on film and television, it was fascinating to go on this tour. It’s crazy to think that seven years ago the cast was acting out a show and they had no idea it was going to be this successful.

Now, season 7 is right about the corner (literally- it premieres Sunday). So here is my (vague) list of predictions: 

The Starks are going to finally reunite (please happen- it’s been too long).

Littlefinger is going to be killed by Jon Snow. 

Melissandre won’t last long either now that she is alone. 

Euron Greyjoy is going to attack the other Greyjoys and it won’t end well.

One of Theon/Yara will not make it to Season 8, but the other will.

The wall will finally fall now that “Winter is here.”

Nymeria and Gendry will return to Arya. 

Cersei isn’t going to die quite (yet), but something big will happen to her.

And here are some things I hope happen:

The Sand Snakes disappear forever.

Nymeria and Gendry need to return so here is to hoping that happens. 

Alright, that is all for now. Don’t forget: “In the Game of Thrones you win or die. There is no middle ground.” 

[andrewinireland-blog]

Blog Post #4- Can I use your phone charger? Why limited use of technology abroad isn’t so bad

Today is Tuesday. It would seem fitting that a blog post should be done today in order to meet the goal of three blog posts a week. However, it’s sort of a struggle since writer’s block has hit.

This week hasn’t been too exciting so far. It’s been mainly sitting in classrooms, listening to lectures, watching movies, taking naps, and in our free time we have been making plans for the weekend (But it’s official- we are going to London!).

One interesting conversation that has been coming up over the past week was the use of technology and the Internet. This could be something cool to mention to y’all in this post, since you are using some sort of technology at the moment. What’s technology life like in Ireland? How are we doing without as much technology as we are used to having? are we getting enough or even too much?

Let me start by saying that as someone who is studying film, television, and digital media, my opinion of technology overall is a good. Technology has helped me and my generation in many ways. It allows me to build a social media platform, look things up on the Internet, watch tutorials, text my Grandma, etc. Technology has always seem to been an important part of our daily routine. When part of that is taken away from you, it hurts. That is what happens when you go abroad- technology is limited. Some people are limited to only places with Wi-Fi or unable to easily communicate with friends and family back home. Sometimes, the Snapchat map might be inaccurate abroad.

The argument cannot be made that technology abroad is above expectations, because it is not. If it was perfect, it would be the way you are used to seeing it in the United States. If it was perfect, your mobile abroad plan wouldn’t be super expense. If it was perfect, you would just have to click a button to log in to Wi-Fi. While my data plan abroad isn’t awful, there is no way it is perfect.

Our generation has been dependent on technology so it is kind of hard when that is somewhat taken away. Starting the Netflix show Black Mirror abroad has also changed my perception of technology.

The show does a good job placing a negative connotation on the term “technology.”

However, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. It has already helped me in so many ways.

But, it seems clear that the limited use of technology brings people together as a group. For example, there wasn’t any Wi-Fi or a lot of service in Howth, but we survived. We were able to enjoy our experience and get to know each other during that trip. If we were pulling out our phones, it was to take some photos or snapchats that would be put on our stories at a later time.

For a class assignment, we had to go to a place of our choice in Dublin and observe for 30 minutes. One person in my group noted how that in a group of 10-15 people, only one person used their cell phone in a period of eight minutes. One person. That is amazing. In Ireland, it doesn’t seem like they care so much about technology. They use it a bit, but not as much as the United States.

If everyone has Wi-Fi 24/7, no one would be conversing. If no one was talking to each other, then I wouldn’t be able to get to know my other abroad classmates. And if I didn’t get to know my other classmates, then my goal wouldn’t be met. And if THAT goal wasn’t met, then it would seem that something would be missing from this whole experience.

As someone who is quiet, it is nice to know that not having access to cell phone service all the time can encourage me to talk to others. Now there are many times where cell phones get pulled out during dinner- but at least we try and make some conversation because some is better than none.

So yeah, overall it’s important to note that while it’s hard to use Wi-Fi abroad, it could also be seen as a potential blessing.

[andrewinireland-blog]

Blog Post #3- Howth day trip

It’s good to know that this is my third post of the week, which means I am somewhat progressing with my goal.

Anyways, today was the first day since Sunday without classes. So instead of sitting around and attempting to do the readings/writing assignments, a group of us traveled to Howth for the day. We heard it was a cool place to check out. It wasn’t far away either.

Here is a photo of my group. Unfortunately, you only can see their backs, but I thought this photo was pretty candid.

Howth is known to be a seaport village town with plenty of cliffs and is actually located on the East side of Ireland. It is about a 25 minute bus ride from Dublin. 

It reminded me a little bit of some places I used to go in Michigan, with all of the boat dock and all... but, to be honest, it really isn’t anything like Michigan.

Two observations could be made immediately when arriving to Howth: 

There were plenty of birds, but that came with no surprise. 

Howth seems like the type of place to retire.

There are also two different types of views you can get if you ever visit Howth (hence, why it seems like a perfect retirement village):

After arriving, eating lunch, and checking out the boat docks, we decided to go on the hike so we could see the amazing views. The total amount of time we hiked was probably 2.5 hours and maybe 5-6 miles (these numbers could honestly be way off... also keep in mind that we did not stay on the trail the whole time).

It should come to no surprise that our feet were pretty tired by the end of that walk, but I wouldn’t change a thing. This experience was spectacular and it’s exciting that tomorrow we are heading to see the cliffs on the West side of Ireland (Yes, the Cliffs of Moher). 

There was a moment when I was at the top of one of the cliffs and thought: “Dang, I’m glad I have the opportunity to be here right now.” These cliffs are not something usually seen the United States.

While there are many sightseeing-worthy locations in the United States, there is just something incredible about seeing new places in a different country.

Going abroad is not easy for some- usually one can’t go because of financial, family, or limited schedule reasons. However, going abroad has given me so many opportunities so far... and it’s only been a week. Going abroad has so much to give. It gives individuals different views on culture, people and community. It gives people the chance to meet other students and explore stellar locations. So, as said by Walt Disney: “All dreams come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

Take a chance. You might learn something about yourself while you are at it.

Also, just as a personal update, I almost got hit by a car twice today. It may be a total of five times this week. Always make sure to pay attention to traffic. Go frogs!

[andrewinireland-blog]

Blog Post #2- Baby Driver

It’s good to know that I am starting off this blog strong, or I think I am. Thank you to everyone who has read it so far and hopefully you will keep on reading it.

Today, a group of us decided to have an Irish cinema experience. I mean, we are all studying film for the next four weeks, so why wouldn’t we go see a movie during our time here?

And we decided to go see... Baby Driver!

Yeah, I know what you are thinking: Why would we see a movie that is distributed in America? Honestly, I do not have the answer you are looking for. I will say this: go see it.

I write short reviews on Letterboxd so if you are interested in seeing my (really) short review click here.

I thought I would share with y’all how I rate a film. I break it up into eight different categories: directing, writing/storyline, cinematography, editing, acting/characters, production design, sound and recommendation (how likely would I watch this film again?) I’m not going to go into full detail here, but these were the elements that stood out to me the most:

Casting: I honestly didn’t know what to expect from Ansel Elgort and I had no idea that he was going to be amazing. I knew he was in The Fault in Our Stars and Divergent, but I heard those movies were mixed so I had no clue if he was going to excel in Baby Driver. I’m glad he did. Kevin Spacey was your typical film asshole and he did great. I loved Lily James. Jon Hamm delivered a great performance as Buddy.

Sound: The music was phenomenal! I want to download the soundtrack and listen to almost all of the songs in the film right now. I felt the soundtrack was on the same level as Guardians of the Galaxy. I thought the sound mixers killed it as well.

Writing/Storyline: I loved the concept from beginning to end. I was definitely unsure what was going to happen to all of the characters. I wish there was more Kevin Spacey and I felt one or two of the parts were unnecessary. I loved some of the relationships between the characters and I was glad that there was a Monster’s Inc. line or two.

Overall, I would give Baby Driver 4.5/5 stars. I’ve seen many movies this summer and this would for sure be in my top 10.

We went to an Omniplex cinema, which was said to be one of the most attracted theaters in Ireland. I would say it is equivalent to an AMC in the United States, except the chairs weren’t really that relaxing. I think one of the most interesting parts of the experience was that they should commercials instead of movie previews.

I don’t remember all of the commercials, but two of them stood out to me. The first one was a Public Service Announcement regarding drowning. I was shocked and confused when I saw this because this is not the type of the announcement I am used to seeing. In the United States we are used to the “Don’t text and drive” PSA. The announcement was very powerful. Another commercial included a bunch of memes (including cat ones) to promote a milk brand. I laughed throughout the commercial because I found it to be odd, but it was way more light hearted so I was okay with that.

Here in Ireland, they also sell ice cream at their movie theaters (specifically Ben and Jerry’s). No, I didn’t buy any, but I would if we went again. Is there Ben and Jerry’s ice cream sold at movie theaters in the states. I don’t think so, but maybe I am wrong?

The movie wasn’t expensive either: 6 Euros. I’ll pay 6 Euros over 12 USD any day.

So yeah, I thought I’d give y’all an update on my short movie experience. I still haven’t taken many photos yet so hopefully I will soon. If you have any questions or topics you want me to talk about in this blog or places you want me to try and visit, let me know. I’ll leave you all with this:

Have a great and safe 4th of July!

[andrewinireland-blog]

Blog Post #1: A New Destination

Here it is... my first blog post. 

I arrived to Dublin at around 8ish this morning. I am currently sitting in the hotel lobby typing this because I don’t really have anything else to do at the moment. I’m pretty much stranded here until tomorrow... well I guess I’m not really stranded, but I’ll probably be by the hotel for the day. But I’m in Dublin for crying out loud... so I shouldn’t even be complaining. 

Anyways, welcome to my travel blog! Whether it is because you saw this on Facebook or because I told you to look at it, any views are appreciated.  From now until July 29th, I will be in Ireland studying film, television and sports broadcasting. I am super excited that I can apply what I have learned so far in my media classes to a society I know little about. 

For anyone who doesn’t go to my university, TCU’s mission statement is “to educated individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community.”

The last two words, “global community,” are, in my opinion, imperative to the statement. It is very easy for one to act as an “ethical leader” and “responsible citizen,” but what is difficult is applying these characteristics to the “global community.” We (and by we I mean U.S. college students) are so accustomed to our own society that we can sometimes be blinded by other’s beliefs. As someone who had never gone abroad until the summer before his first year of college, I was honestly unaware of what the world was like beyond the U.S. People are different and every country has it’s own story. I want to uncover those stories and learn about different communities. 

Moving on, I am going to post a list of goals I am hoping to accomplish while I am in Ireland. Some of these goals are short term and some might not happen until I get back to the U.S.:

Do well in my classes. The first part of the term “study abroad” is the word “study.” Therefore, I believe it is important for me to do well in my classes. I would love to get As, but overall I just want to do well and learn something from my classes. 

Get to know my classmates. I think this one will be easy because I’ll be hanging out with them often, but regardless a goal is a goal. 

Take the Guinness Tour. I have a feeling that everyone is going to ask me when I get back from this trip if I went to Guinness. So hopefully after this trip I can say yes to that question. 

Go to the Cliffs of Moher. See Guinness Tour.

Try something new. Heck, I am in Ireland. This is the perfect opportunity for me to discover something new. Whether it is trying new food, new game or activity. This goal is vague and I think I will find something. 

Go to a festival. This one may be tough, but Ireland is known to have many different festivals. It would be really cool to run into one. I know there is a music festival, and art festival, a film festival, etc. So fingers crossed. 

Find Synge Street because I loved the movie. I would add Game of Thrones tour on this list, but we are already signed up for one and I am HYPED. 

Try and take a weekend trip to either London or Scotland. While it is nice to be in Ireland, I think it would be cool to check out another country.

 Do at least three blog posts a week (so 12 total). Travel blogs are either a success or a flop, so I am really hoping that this one is not a flop.

Okay, this last one seems obvious... but have a fun and positive outlook on this experience. Who knows if I will ever be back, so I should enjoy it while it lasts.

BONUS: Figure out how the light switches work in this hotel. 

I’ll probably be checking some off my list and adding some as the trip progresses, but I think this is a good list to work with for now. I am really excited to start this four-week journey. It’s a long time, but I know it will go by quick. Hopefully I’ll be able to check off as many goals as possible, but if not that is totally okay too. 

Here’s to hoping another blog post will happen soon!