Ah, time flies!

Blarney Gardens, a road through them.

The past three weeks here in Ireland have flown by. And I have totally forgotten to write here in my blog. So I'll start off with how things started here in Ireland after my parents left. But first, while my parents were here, we did go to the Cliffs of Moher and I got tons of good pictures of the area. After my parents left me at my new university (my dad in tears over how proud of me he was) I began unpacking. That Tuesday night (Jan. 22) I had a meeting with my abroad program AIFS. We talked over basic stuff and got some information. Wednesday was a free day to do what ever we wanted. With my friend Jesse from WSU that came to the same university as me, we walk and walked to a grocery store about a mile away from campus, then around campus to see some of it. Thursday we started orientation and I met a girl that has become my new friend (Kacie). After getting info from orientation we went on a campus tour, and I got shin splints, ow. That night, our tour-guide stayed with us and a pub on campus. It was fun with music and all sorts of stuff. Friday was more orientation, followed by a TGIF party at the same pub. We met new people and drank lots of cider. Saturday I slept in as well as Sunday, still getting over my jet lag. Classes started on Jan 28. I am currently taking equine: phys, nutrition, health and disease, and pharmacology; as wall as general anatomy and phys. My first Thursday I get invited by a girl (Anna) in my pharm. class to a girls rugby meeting where I met a few of them. Then invited by the same girl, I went to a late night club. It was EXTREMELY packed with people and I got hit on by some weirdo. But made it how safe. That second weekend here I slept the entire time. The second week of classes I got invited to a house party again on Thursday, this time by Kacie. I went there with no alcohol and didn't buy anything, but left rather drunk. Friday morning I went back to the milk market with a few of my American friends  Kearsten, Sean & girlfriend Hannah, Kacie & her flat mate. Friday night I went with my program to the grey hound races with my little guy friend Brandon (he is a part of AIFS to). They were fun to watch and our program got a race named after them. I really wanted to steal one of the puppy dogs. Saturday I went on a tour provided by the school to see Blarney Castle and the cited of Cobh and Cork. More great pictures where taken and I had great fun with my friend Kearsten. Sunday I slept most of the day, tired and sore from the previous-day's travels. This past week has been packed few of actually doing homework and writing lab reports. I have decided to join the girls rugby team, and my first practice is this coming Monday, I'm a little nervous. But all in all it's been great here and I am loving it.

Landed and in Limerick

Well it has been a busy week since I landed here in Ireland on the 20th. As soon as we touched down in the small island country my family and I were rushed through their small version of costomes where they marked our passports and check on my student status for the university. After leaving the airport my parents rented their version of a small SUV, but really it was no bigger than a sedan. My father had a fun time driving on the right side of the car and on the left side of the road. Once we left Shannon Airport and made our way into Limerick city we were able to dump our stuff in the hotel and then go for a walk in the city to see the sites. Walking through the city, I was a little horrified. There was dog fecal matter everywhere. Most of the poop was new and was all along the sides of the buildings on the SIDEWALK. It was gross. And that wasn't the true worst part of the city. I know that Ireland's economy is in the toilet, but even where I come from and that is the same case, at least in Washington state there isn't garbage EVERYWHERE. It's as if people don't care at all, trash and litter is shewn about all of the place, and abandoned buildings and tons of 'for let' (for rent) and 'for sale' signs are riddled through the streets. Over all I found the city to be gross and sickening and I glad that the campus is far enough away from the city that I don't have to see it.

Leaving the U.S.A.

Well I have been a bad blogger an have not kept up with this blog at all. But tonight is the night before I leave. In less than 12hrs I will be on a plane heading east to New Jersey where our fight will have a break and lay over for a few hours, then from there it is off to Shannon Air port in Ireland. By this time tomorrow I should be nestled into our hotel in Limerick.

Classes have been approved!

Hey people of the world, Bri back with more news of my up coming adventure to Ireland. I hope to be adding new information once a week or once every two weeks until I actually head off. Once in Ireland I plan on updating near daily, with pictures and captions of my semester abroad. But while here, I wish to keep you updated with what I'm doing, how I'm going about the process of my trip, and all other relevant information.

After deciding where I wanted to go (Ireland, duh) my next step was to pre-approve classes for my semester in Ireland. Being a zoologist I had to head to the biology office and talk up the people there to check over the spring syllabus for U of L. Here are the classes that were approved:

Electives:

EV4004 Eq. Repro. and Mgt. of Mares and Stallions

EV4008 Eq. Genetics

EV4012 Eq. Anat. And Phys.

EV4014 Eq. Nutrition

EV4018 Eq. Health and Behav.

EV4022 Eq. Anat. And Phys. (Cert)

BY4018 Plant & Anim. Phys.

EQ4004 Eq. Mgt.

NS4202  Biol. Sci. 2, Anat., Phys. And Embr. will count for credit in BIOL 353.

Yeah a lot of classes right? That is a good thing! My abroad adviser stated how I need to have lots of extra classes, just in case several are filled up by Irish students, I have tons of back ups. Now I only plan of taking four classes. The highlighted ones are the ones I want to take (not including the extra Irish folklore class I want to take just for shits and giggles). So I have lots of back ups! Exciting right?

Now I have a meeting on Tuesday with my abroad adviser, to answer other questions and such. I'll be back then with questions and answers about my trip!

Slán, labhairt leat go luath.

To Ireland!

For those of you that don't know me, and for those that do, I am Brianna. I'm a 6th semester Zoology and Anthropology student (junior) at Washington State University. Currently I am on a track for visiting Ireland come a little under a year from now. I plan on being there for my spring semester of 2013, and that is where this blog comes in. Over the course of the next year, I hope to fill in my friends and family, as well as any strangers that may be lurking around, about my exciting journey to the Isle of Éire. I hope to share valuable information with other people wishing to study abroad, or just entertain my friends with my adventures.

For a little bit more about my personal self, that many of you may not know, or just for shits and giggles; I am an aspiring novelist, with one book done and in editing, and plans on many, many more. I currently have one published poem, which was done through a contest when I was in high school. I plan of attending a veterinarian school, any really that will take me at this point. I am very much an animal lover, dogs, cats, horses, wolves, polar bears, cattle, etc. I hope to one day run my own clinic and service cattle and horses alike. Here at WSU I have taken several animal sciences, biology, chemistry, and even a beef cattle management course.

With my trip to Ireland, I plan Going to the University of Limmerick (pic above), and on taking four or five courses, depending on what I can get into once I’m at the school. My current hope are for and anatomy class, horse behavior, horse nutrition and an Irish folk lore class, with maybe a horse management class thrown into the mix. I am excited about this trip and hope it will enhance my life (and my application to vet school). I hope my continued blog becomes increasingly more enjoyable to read as the days fly past and I am on my way to the bonny shores of my blood lines.

Slán, labhairt leat go luath.