A Week of Celebrations

After having two visitors come over a two-week period, I could not stay glum for long after they left because it was time for St. Paddy's Day in Ireland! The best way I can explain the day is to compare it to Thanksgiving. Everyone sleeps in, enjoys time with friends and family and perhaps watches a parade. I suppose a big difference is many people go out to pubs and enjoy a few drinks throughout the day. Traditionally, Irish families eat bacon and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day, like we would eat turkey. I went to the Cork Parade with some friends, and there were lots of families with children out there enjoying the sunny day. Many young Irish people (like our friend Matt pictured here with Catherine and me) do go all out and paint themselves or dye their hair. There are also tons of tourists wearing Irish paraphernalia. Overall it was a great time, but you can't have too much fun because work and school starts all over the next day (which was Wednesday). Thursday night we threw a "surprise" 21st birthday party for my flat mate and fellow Wolfpacker Catherine. Even though the legal drinking age is 18 in Ireland, 21st birthdays are a huge occasion in the Irish culture. It was great craic! On Saturday, after studying in the library all afternoon, I went to a local pub with some friends to watch Ireland compete in the finals of the 6 Nations Rugby Tournament (England, Wales, Scotland, Italy, France and Ireland). Over the past few months Ireland has been undefeated and came up against the defending champions, Wales. It was the most exciting sporting event I have ever watched! It was amazing to watch a game where NO ONE could be rooting for the opposing team. Ireland won 17-15 and received their medals from Prince William. It was the first time in 61 years that Ireland has won this tournament, so it was a night for celebration.

Belgian Waffle

Shannon, my sorority sister and roommate from last year, came to visit over her spring break, and we flew over to Brussels for the weekend! After getting lost in Dublin and waking up at 3am for our flight, we finally made it. Our very first experience in Brussels was indulging in a Belgian waffle from a street vendor. Adorned with chocolate and strawberries, I could not have been more excited at 10am. Yet the combination of a styrofoam plate and plastic fork did not work well for me, and as my waffle flew in the air, I clutched it to my chest. Thus I walked around town for the rest of the day with chocolate all over my coat, but I still salvaged the delicious breakfast.

My favorite parts of our visits were enjoying aspects of the culture: Sitting outside at a cafe to enjoy a blonde beer (Duvel was our favorite), eating chocolate strawberries while walking, and having restaurant maitre d's try to persuade us to eat at their establishment. At the chocolate museum we watched the "chocolate master" as he mixed and molded chocolate to make Belgian treats. As we walked throughout the city, we visited three cathedrals and admired their grandeur and architectural differences. The buildings of La Grande Place, the center of the old city, reminded me of Paris. I also had the chance to practice some of my French, mostly with some young men from the Ivory Coast and Gabon that we met at a popular bar called Delirium. However, with so many wonderful smells of chocolate and pastries, along with having to pay 2.50 euro for water at a restaurant, I decided that I would go bankrupt in this city.