Halloween

Halloween 

          After Nice, we had midterms followed by long nights of team meetings for group presentations. We basically put our heads down to work until Christmas, and came up to breathe every once in a while. We had a few memorable nights out, but for the most part October and November blurred together as one incredibly long lecture.

                                   

            Halloween was an interesting experience on the program. It was basically the first time the entire class got together to drink in Dublin. We had our induction week on the west coast of Ireland, and we would go out to the pubs in smaller groups pretty regularly, but it was rare to get the whole class together for a drinking outing. About 75% of the class dressed up, but everyone went out to the bars. The plan was to drink in the offices for a few hours and then head out to the bars around 11. Lopa, a 26 year old Indian woman dressed as Snow White (pictured left), took the sprinters approach to the night. She really committed to character and soaked some apples in vodka. The strategy and execution were there, but in true Disney fashion, the clock struck midnight for this damsel in distress, and we had to send her home in a cab around 8:30. 

      The rest of the night went on without any notable exclamations. The unicorn was over-served and asked to leave the bar, those with face-paint left their stamp on unsuspecting victims, and a few locals asked if they could have a magic carpet ride, which, in a different country, may have warranted more excitement. Dublin women have replaced grace and good looks with sarcasm and self-deprecating humor. It’s a lot like Milwaukee; there are some gorgeous women here, but they’re few in number and are well aware of their high demand. If I can make a golf analogy, the fairways and greens are the same condition in every country, but in Ireland, the fairways are a little narrower, and the rough is unplayable. Not sure how a water hazard or sand trap fits into the equation, but I’m sure a better mind can come up with something. 


          We’ve made progress on our bar count. We try to go out to new pubs every time, and even though it's generally the same musty vibe at every bar, the slight variety in repetition helps distract you from the mundane reality that the only thing to do in Dublin is drink. It’s not a bad thing, and honestly, as far as social gatherings go, it’s definitely my preferred venue. Dublin feels a lot like a Simon Pegg movie, where the town basically revolves around the pub culture, and every important decision is made at the pub. My favorites are O’Donoghues (top left), Kehoes (top right), Stags Head (bottom right), and the Brazen Head (Bottom left). You can’t go wrong at any of them; and if your ever in town, those are your best bet for getting a few free pints from a local. 

           
I bought a piano. I stopped playing the piano in 1999 and I can’t read music, but something about Dublin made me want to buy one. Editing this post now in 2018, I can say that I only played it two times, and my swans song was the theme song from the office. It was the biggest waste of €100 and I still haven’t gotten over it. I donated the piano to a charity shop when I moved, and still can’t make eye contact with the music shop I bought it from. 

Song of the week: Since You Been Gone - Rainbow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfWPqRtozh0