"Study" Abroad

In all my weeks/months of preparation for this experience delicately entitled "study abroad," it occurred to me upon further contemplation, that I actually hadn't thought a great deal at all about how the entire experience was formed on a basis of receiving an education. In the weeks before my departure, my mind raced with thoughts of the opportunities, experiences, and travels I would be able to enjoy outside the classroom, that thoughts about what lie within the realm of study were put immediately on the back burner. That being the case, let's just say that upon arrival to Cork (and to the University here), that burner suddenly received a burst of natural and was cranked on high heat! ...but not really. Let me start at the beginning...

Monday was orientation for all the "freshers" (as they call us). This meant that 150+ (most of us Americans, yes, there's a TON of other Americans here) gathered in the Student Centre (notice spelling) for an extremely long day of pamphlets, handouts, various professors speaking to butter up their courses so as to get lazy Americans to take their easy courses, and presumably important people getting up to a microphone and telling us things most of us (or at least I) already knew. Now, I know that sounds a little harsh, and I guess I don't mean it to be... but I wish I could've had the time to explore other things around campus or speak to specific people one-on-one to get my questions ("queries") answered. If nothing else, the fact that I could basically predict what was going to be said next, by the president of the international student office at the microphone, speaks volumes about OUR study abroad office and how well they prepared me for my time here. Over the last several days, I must admit that I've been VERY impressed at how relatively seamless the whole transition was, thanks to strong communication ties and two very flexible professional institutions (SJU and UCC).

Anyway... school. Yes! I AM actually going to school here (it still even sounds weird to me)! Monday was orientation, although classes were still held that day... some even during our countless hours of orientation. But throughout the rest of the week, I've been attending classes and doing my best to get myself accustomed to the campus and student life in general. Fortunately, the system in place here is such that students are able to sit in on as many classes as they want to for a week's time before we;re forced to chose what 5-6 classes (here they call them "modules") we actually want to register for and take for the rest of the semester. Luckily, I had an outline of the modules I wanted to take in advance so I didn't have to spend all week running around from classroom to classroom, sitting through lecture after lecture, before decided what to take. However, this type of system does leave a lot of wiggle room and deciding on a final schedule is not/has not been easy.

Here's what I got so far: 27.5 credits (5, 5 credit classes; 1, 2.5 credit class):

1) Sociology of the Environment: I've only sat through one lecture (because the other one was during orientation, lucky me) but I'm SO sad to say that that's exactly what the entirety of the class will entail - Lecture. I can't say that I've ever taken a stickly "sociology" class before (although there's always a sprinkle of it in other classes I've taken) so most of the material is new and the first lecture seemed interesting (including Aristotle's Great Chain of Being and the social structure of nature). The class is small (if only it was discussion!) but the prof just talks and talks, seeming to pretend as if he's in the classroom by himself and soothing himself with the sounds of his own words. Dull, but I think I'll still find it interesting.

2) Introduction to Traditional Irish Music: Although I haven't actually had this class yet (it only meets once a week and, whattaya know, it met during orientation!), I'm still pretty excited for this course. It's my only "true" module dealing strickly with Irish culture and tradition so I'm hoping to squeeze as much out of it as I can. Unfortunately it's an introductory course so I don't know that we'll get into much detail but considering I know basically nothing about Irish music, I'm thinkin' it should still be fun.

3) Feminist Philosophy: I realize that I'm halfway across the world and enrolled in a foreign university, but apparently it wasn't enough distance to get away from having a class (or two) with other Americans... and I mean a LOT of other Americans - I'd say 90% of the class is our CSBSJU group alone. The prof is very knowledgable about the subject and I think she teaches philosophy in a way that is thought-provoking and free, rather than just spitting it at you. Again, I know nothing about feminist thought and I can easily forsee a good conversation or two arising throughout the semester so that's enough to get me excited for it!

4) Celtic Saints: exact opposite. Still TONS of Americans... this time probably 97% of the students are from the US, but the prof is bone dry. I don't mean to be harsh, but she's a 70-odd-year-old woman who seems to hunch over the overhead as if using it for support, speaks toward the ceiling as if to have an engaging conversation with the light fixtures (do they respond to her? could be...), and snaps at anyone who whispers. Ohh and did I mention she went on about St. Patrick for 3+ hours. Yeah, it was awesome.

5) Energy & the Environment: this is the module I wasn't so sure about. It took me forever to figure out where/when it was being offered and when I did find out, I was less than overjoyed: Thursday nights, 7-10pm. Now, Thursday nights are THE nights to go out around here (because all of the local students vacate Cork and travel home on the weekends) so I wasn't thrilled about having to be in class all night. And after finding the classroom (in an 0ff-campus building WAY north of campus at 7:00 at night), I was even less thrilled to discover I was easily the youngest person there. Apparently, the class is strategically placed at night so that working men taking classes to receive their Environmental Management degrees can be enrolled in the class as well. This means that I'm stuck in a classroom with maybe 3-4 older UCC students and 10+ men in their 30s/40s. Swell, I thought. BUT, as the class began, I knew I had to take it. There are only 6 lectures (I'm done in early March), the course involves two field sites to a wind farm and a landfill gas project, and the final four lectures are specifically on wind, geothermal, bio-, and ocean energy, respectively. I'm pumped! There's nothing taught like this at SJU and renewable energy is pretty much what I want to do, so why not do it here in Cork! I suppose things could go horribly wrong but I'd like to think that seizing the opportunity while I'm here will be well worth it once I return to the states.

6) The other 2.5 credit class is simply a half-hour bodhran (a traditional irish drum) lesson with one of the music profs. I met with him to arrange a time for my lesson, he seemed like an energetic guy with an accent so thick I could barely understand him, and I enjoy drumming so I think it should be quite enjoyable.

But baring the time spent engaged in school-related activities, other aspects of life here have been developing as well and things are beginning to become familiar (finally). I'll admit that the initial stages of adjustment to life here were not entirely smooth and I had my doubts. I hated not knowing where I was half the time, or knowing where buildings were on campus, or how to get to the pub that people were at after night class. But in the last week, this place has really taken hold and I'm not at all intimidated to call it home for the next 5 months. I now know my way around faily well, know where to go with questions, and have people here to support me when I need them... which is always a comforting feeling.

Days have been filled with classes, walks around town, getting legalized as a temporary citizen (got a fancy new ID to prove it!), grocery shopping, etc... while evenings have passed via Catchphrase, poker playing (also known as the Roske-donating-his-euros-to-his-classmates game I've discovered), and hours of socializing at the pub. I gotta say it - the Irish know how to do it! I'm coming to realize that there's really nothing to be found wrong (and everything right) about sitting around a table and enjoying a beverage and excellent conversation with friends. I can't say enough about the pub atmosphere... it's truely the best thing since sliced bread.

Anyway, I am quickly succuming to the temptation of sleep but I hope to write more soon (if that's even humanly possible....tomrrow maybe?) and I know I don't have much in the way of pictures yet but it's on my list, believe me. Let's see... future things to write about (more for my reminder): weather, frisbee, US influence, Youghal/Ardmore (pics?). More tomorrow... Oiche mhaith!