Small things have grounded me this week. A nice New Yorker I met at Forty Foot. The videos my mom sends of my cat’s shenanigans. My boss buying me soup. Finding a coffee shop with a plethora of donated books that anyone can take for free. Currently listening to a student at the campus laundromat practice Take Five on his guitar.
I needed those grounding moments because this week really felt like the vacation is over. I live here now. I am tired, I miss my shower and bed, and I can identity at least a few negative aspects about Dublin. Mainly, the cost of living. The fun, exciting, I-am-in-a-new-place-there-is-so-much-to-see-and-explore feeling has worn. It has been replaced by the stress of international fees and the battle of staying awake during the hour-and-change bus ride after work.
A quick rundown of my week:
On Monday, I hung up a bunch of drawings at work. Local elementary students made posters encouraging people to stop smoking and vaping indoors. The funniest slogan was “Imagine Vaping in the Big ’26.” My boss and I spent hours hanging up the drawings with Command Strips. With 120-some art pieces, we quickly ran out, so we used a different adhering strip.
On Tuesday, I walked in to see that most of the art pieces were falling off the walls. The pieces that we spent so much time hanging up. Not all of them — just the ones that were not hung up with Command Strips. Which were most of them. That sucked.
Wednesday, I went to the EUSA pub quiz — what we call bar trivia. I love when my knowing a bunch of random facts comes in handy. Unfortunately, I did not know the right random facts because my team did not win.
Thursday, I was given a day off because I have a cold. I guess you do not work through illness here in Ireland? Kind of confusing to me. I actually tried arguing with my boss that I was fine to come in. In my experience, sick days are saved for terrible illnesses, not run-of-the-mill colds. Granted, my throat was itchy and I couldn’t breathe through my nose at night, but still; I could have worked.
I spent my day planning my excursions — the museums I want to visit and how to get to the seaside towns I have wanted to see. And of course, I was reminded quite quickly: I do not live here at all. I only have five weeks left to see everything I want to see and do the things I want to do. There is simply not enough time. What was I even doing here during the first two weeks?
I have decided that the best course of action is to explore Dublin every evening after work, so that the weekends are free for travel. There is some uncertainty with this goal. I worry that I will not fit in everything. There does not seem to be enough time to do it all.
Speaking of uncertainty, I definitely experience a little bit of that at work. For example, I did not get access to work’s shared drive until Monday. One of my projects is to help reorganize said drive, and I wanted to get a look at it as soon as I could. Luckily for me, there is a lot to do at my placement, so I was not without work. That is one way to handle uncertainty: focus on what you can control, and let the rest come when it does. I have worked in spaces, like nonprofits, where uncertainty is aplenty. I like to ask a lot of questions and for assistance when needed.
Of course, all of this is easier said than done. As I think back, my new coworkers’ lack of concern helped me calm down, too. My managers were sure that I would eventually get log-in access, so I let it be.
That’s all I really have this week. I had a fun weekend. On Saturday, I went cliff diving with my roommates at Forty Foot. The water was freezing; the kind of cold that feels like needles prickling your skin. Afterwards, we went to a place called Fitzsimons Pub, which happened to have a Steelers jersey hanging up. It was nice to see that little piece of home. Sunday, I got to see my friend from Galway. I tried a full Irish breakfast (something else I was uncertain about). I’m not sure if the Irish have met salt yet. After, I went to a flea market with some other EUSA students, and tried a cocktail bar that I’ve heard wonderful things about. It lived up to the hype. I even got a menu book to take home. The photos inside are beautiful and a wonderful way to remember a night out with friends.
