Oh golly gee. Week 9.

So it is now my last week, but I'm still on week 9 in my blog. I'll try to be caught up before I leave for my trip around Europe. There is sooo much to do in the next few days that I'm having a hard time believing that I will actually get it all done...

Anyways, week 9. Lab work is over!!! Now I'm concentrating on my poster, presentation, and paper. 2 weeks to do it all... can it be done? I hope so, for my sake. I don't want to be typing up when I come home.

On Monday, I made some taco salad once again. It was supposed to be a soccer night and we wanted something quick and easy so I cooked up the delicious taco salad with no pinto beans or black beans. Because reports are coming up due, people have less time to do things. So it was just James and I that headed out to play some soccer in our apartment complex. Before we knew it, Spaniards (a bunch of Spanish people live in our complex) were flocking out to play some futbol. So we organized a six on six game in a tiny area and off we went! I think they were fairly impressed with my skills, and I managed to score 2 goals. Ole!!! I was ready to end the soccer playing early, but the game was tied so it went on well until after dark. By the time we got in, it was 10:30. Olivier made some fruity dessert with wine. And then after everyone headed to bed, I decided to make a chocolate chip cookie with a crunch bar instead of the chocolate chips. James and I ate half and saved the rest for everyone else.

On Tuesday James cooked an excellent sauce that his grandmother usually makes. It was very, very good, I wish I could take some home with me!! We then all hung out as usual... anyone up for some flying through the air while kicking??? Just kidding, we don't normally do this. The boys were a bit rowdy...

On Wednesday, we made sloppy joes! Luke cooked up the meat and I cooked up corn on the cob and peas. Following our very American meal (I had to explain to people that you put the meat on the buns) we played some beer pong and flip cup. David joined us (David loves us and we love him back). He has a great laser shot, even though we lost the first game :( Flip cup was enjoyable, but we only played two games until people were complaining they were full of beer. Come on people!!!! Don't know if they would make it in Santa Barbara.

On Thursday, David invited us to a gig he knew about. He called it the indy Irish music scene, so we checked it out. It was six euros in, and we watched two bands play some of their songs. While I didn't know any of the songs, it was good craic with everyone and I enjoyed myself. We then went for some food, but it was nothing noteworthy. A kebab place that just isn't that great. But all in all a very fun night!!



On Friday, after dinner we decided to stay in. Everyone was pretty exhausted from the week before so we had a bottle of wine and watched Shrek!! I of course fell asleep at the end. Can never stay up for movies past midnight, and yet I still try every time.

On Saturday, James, Laetitia, and I headed to the city center to do some shopping and to see some sights that James had yet to see. This included a lot of stuff I had done on my first weekend in Dublin such as Dublin Castle, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Christ Church. It was a very nice day outside though so I didn't mind just walking around. We went for some fish and chips (I got chicken nuggets) at a famous place called Leo Burdock's. It boasted that a whole list of celebrities had eaten there. James said his fish and chips were just ok. So picky... we then met up with David and did some shopping on Grafton street. I bought a dress for the night (finally!!! about 8 weeks too late, but hey now I have another one for my last week).



We then headed home and made some hamburgers and started predrinking for the night. Bulmers of course. I straightened my hair and put on the dress and... I wore heels! For the first time since I've been here.
Uggh they hurt so bad! But I sucked it up for beauty... only happens about 3 times a year, every once in a while I can give up my wonderful, comfortable flip flops. We made it out by 10:30 pm and headed to a night club for Stephen's birthday. The club was a lot of fun, even though NONE OF THE IRISH UREKAs CAME EXCEPT DAVID. Kudos to you David. And Laetitia and Jussi didn't come because they thought it was too expensive to get in. Aw well, it was a good night. I was practically falling asleep while eating some Burger King (munchies). Though by the end my feet hurt so bad, I took off my shoes and walked barefoot. I woke up the next morning and my feet were black. Literally black. So nasty. Took me 10 minutes to scrub the dirt off!!

The next day, James and I headed to a hurling match. Hurling is a sport they only play in Ireland. It's kinda like lacrosse mixed with field hockey. The main point is to get the ball through football like poles or a soccer net. The soccer net (or goal) is worth three points, while through the poles is only 1 point. The game was being played in Croke park, the main stadium for athletic sporting events. The first game on was of the minor leagues, Dublin vs. Clar. The second was of the real thing, the semi final!! Around 50,000 people showed up for the game, all wearing the jersey of the team they were supporting. I was surprised by how many people wore the actual jersey. At home, you wear the colors but not always a jersey. Anyways, the match was Tipperary vs. Waterford. James and I decided to root for Tipperary being that is where Bulmers is made. How could we not, we LOVE that stuff. The game was so fast and fairly violent, I definitely cringed a few times at different body parts being wacked. The atmosphere of the crowd was wonderful and the sun was shining (I have some AWFUL tan lines... yay!!) It was a great day, I would definitely go to watch a game like that again. I'm just surprised that NO ONE else plays it in the entire world. It was good fun, why would people not?? Tipperary won (yay!) and we headed back to our place for a relaxing night before the storm hit (ie this week. A lot going on!!)

A video of the match:


Only one more post before I leave for my trip. I'll post it on Thursday, after the rest of this week... it's late off to bed!! I'll be home in less than 2 weeks. Weird to think about really.

Audios!