Despite being exhausted yesterday, I awoke with about 12 hours of sleep feeling well-rested, refreshed, and ready to start our day of exploration. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality breakfast with a freshly baked croissant (for which the server made me request in French) and Irish yogurt. Then we transitioned into our orientation session, where we learned even more about Griffith College and the wonderful city we are staying in. Since Irish is the first language seen on the signs, we are starting to learn some of the words. “Hello,” for instance, is “Dia dhuit.” And since the spoken English language also has variations, I learned that “aubergine” is eggplant (just in case you wanted to know) and a jumper is a sweater.
Across the street from the gates of the college is a cute and tasty café, Noshington, where we were lucky enough to be treated for lunch by CAPA. The coffee was well-needed and delicious and the desserts featured “the best lemon cheesecake in Dublin.” I am already ready to return in order to try even more of the menu and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
Next, we were greeted by Tim, a tour guide who walked us through the streets of Dublin. I learned so many interesting facts, both about Dublin and the people itself. In history, the many transitions of Ireland, from the Vikings to the British colony to its Catholic roots, make for a fascinating story. Through all the places we stopped, I think the background of the Temple Bar area was one of the most unique. In fact, the City Council almost tore down the area in the mid-1900’s because of its reputation as a slum, in order to make it a bus station to move people away from the city for settling down. Yet, by the late 20th and early 21st century, this became an area for artisans, as we saw dance studios, photo and art galleries, and theater stages. By also being a heavily touristed area and the site for many bachelorette parties, Tim had a lot to say about what the future could hold for an area like this. Already, I can hear the wit and bit of pessimism Irish, especially through Tim’s perspective on the city, which often made me laugh at the shock of such bluntness. This actually reminded me of what we learned in class just last week about economic development. Often, Tim mentioned how the slummy past of Dublin was being gentrified, as he pointed out the buildings that had been renovated, covering some of its rich histories. Still, the millennials seem to be staying to live in the city and tourists are becoming more attracted to all that there is to offer.
We finished the day with another tour, this one on a bus, as it took us to the outskirts of the city. It was nice to sit on the top of a double-decker and appreciate the views the city had to offer, while we drove past 33 stops, including Trinity College, the Dublin Zoo, the Wellington Monument, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. My favorite part was seeing a bold, double rainbow in the distance, making the sudden rain shower worth it.
To get back to our flats, we took the bus, which was actually very nice compared to the Port Authority bus back in Pittsburgh. It is unique that you must flag down the bus driver for them to pull over, and you tell them the final destination before boarding so that they can charge you appropriately. I am definitely starting to appreciate Dublin more and more each day so it will be great to be able to immerse myself more as the week goes on, and also gain a business perspective tomorrow during our first abroad site visit.
