So, I’ve done it. I’m finally in Limerick, Ireland, my home for the next year while I do my postgraduate program in International Studies, and I had relatively few problems. No one is more surprised than I am, because normally I can’t find my way out of a wet paper bag by myself, let alone three airports.
I booked the cheapest flight I could find, which turned out to be on Ethiopian Air. I was worried about that, but it turned out to be great. The worst part of my transfer from Salt Lake to LAX was rolling three very heavy suitcases sweatily through the streets – I mean, we’re talking an unholy amount of sweat. Luckily, my training as a grade-A potato sorter over the past year has improved my arm strength.
I think Ireland is the country that Americans have the most preconceived notions about. We grow up hearing about how beautiful and green it is. We see movies about people finding their true love there (looking at you, Leap Year). So I was worried that Ireland wouldn’t live up to the hype.
But I can now confirm that yes, Ireland is as green as they say, and yes, they have a plethora of cool-looking cows and sheep, at least in the country. And it is, of course, very humid – I just woke up from a nap stuck to myself. Not a good feeling.
As far as my apartment (flat, Kuniko, flat) goes, I was expecting one of those narrow, stuffy dorm rooms. But I am typing this from a loft. My own private loft. I’ve never even seen a loft (outside of rom-coms about New York), and now I have one. I keep expecting someone to come in and tell me I’m in the wrong room.
I tried to take a trip out to the city center for some shopping last night, having used Google Maps to figure out what store I wanted to go to – only to discover that a lot of things in Limerick close around 7 or 8 pm.
But it’s all forgiven, because I have also discovered towel-warming racks. America, why aren’t we investing in this?
