Ooooohhh, my feet are KILLING ME!The instructors weren't kidding when they said we'd be doing lots of walking.It's unfortunate that the professional shoes I brought with me are uncomfortable as all hell.I'm too cheap to buy a new pair of comfy shoes because I would rarely wear them outside of the Ireland trip, ya know?

So, right after my last entry our group (I'm not sure if I ever mentioned it, but there's 15 of us total, plus 1 instructor) took a trip downtown.The public buses in Dublin are double-deckers, and riding on top is very disorienting.It feels like the bus is going to run over everything.While waiting for the bus, we met a UCD student named Leijla (pretty sure that's spelled wrong, but pronounced like "Layla")- very cute, short brunette in a t-shirt and skirt.She helped us take a picture, and then got to talking to Claire and I on the bus.She ended up asking us if she could tag along, and then turned out to be a great tour guide downtown.Lol.She was so friendly!She hung out with us all afternoon, and now she's a facebook friend.Woot!My FIRST ever Irish friend!

We were all pretty exhausted early on in the evening.I headed back home to the dorms at about 7:00pm.I had to stop at a little store to grab some groceries for breakfasts.I'm glad I was walking alone on the way back, because I couldn't even walk straight- I kept swaying off to one side like I was drunk.Really, it was just me going on 30 hours with no sleep.Needless to say, I went to bed early Tuesday night- 8pm Dublin time- and got about 12 hours of sleep.I woke up almost every hour, but I was so exhausted I fell right back asleep each time.

However, I was saved from the jet lag I think a lot of my classmates are still working on getting over.Staying up those 30 hours the first day really helped me get on an Irish sleeping schedule.

Yesterday was our first day for "school."We didn't have any formal seminars, but we did attend an orientation/welcome all morning.Some Northeastern students from Boston totally crashed our orientation (yesterday, and our first seminar today).We didn't know they'd be there (I think it was unplanned), and I think some of us were a little put off by them taking the front row seats and not inviting Mary Lou, our instructor, to sit with them (it was just a courtesy thing, you know?).Anyway, a handful of people introduced themselves.We met Gerard (which Mary Lou pronounces at "Jared"), who is the main man in charge of nursing research at UCD and coordinating our seminars while we're here.We also met Dr. Butler, who is Vice President for Students at UCD.He was a really funny man.He told us that if he were us, he'd not waste the good weather and visit the coast (meaning, cut class)- "You can always repeat the class… but you won't get a day like this in Ireland again!"Apparently, such nice weather here is rare- everyone keeps joking that we took the sunshine over with us from California (the Irish keep saying this, and it's funny, because I don't know if it's a common joke or what, but several of them make the same joke).

After our welcome orientation, we took a tour of a building next door- I believe it was the Conway Institute.It's sort of like a mini-Stanford and it was led by a researcher.Being a researcher, he was not exactly a people-person, lol, which is to say the tour was a little boring.

THEN, we took a van over to Our Lady's Children's Hospital- the main building is an older brick building (most of the buildings in Dublin are beautiful red brick), with newer attachments in wood and "port-a-cabin" (which I believe equates to our "portables").We split off into three groups- I went with the group going to the Children's Oncology ward.It was pretty neat walking around the hospital.I haven't done a Peds rotation back home, so I have nothing to compare the Children's Hospital to.But it was pretty neat- the walls were covered with classic and the latest characters- Disney, Harry Potter, Bratz, Marvel Comic book heroes, etc.I still don't know what area in nursing I'm going to settle in, and I don't know if I could do child oncology and not burn out relatively soon.However, I do find it interesting, and I love the little kids.It's something I would consider trying.

After the tour portion, we got to sit down in a classroom with two UCD nursing students and do a Q&A session.I ended up learning quite a bit about their educational system.So, in Ireland, their high school is called "secondary school".After that they go on to "University" (we usually call it college).Right after secondary school, they take a big standardized test, which is similar to our SATs.It's something like 600 or 700 points possible.The score you get determines what majors and schools you can apply to.For example, the last year you had to score 455 points to get into the nursing program at UCD- anything less and you gotta pick a different major that your score qualifies you for.If you don't like your score, you can always retake the test and apply again next semester.If you don't go to university right away after secondary school, and forgo the test, but THEN change your mind several years down the road, it's very hard to get into University- you have to jump through a ton of extra hoops.Another interesting thing is that the government will pay for four years of University- if your schooling takes longer than you pay out of pocket.

I also learned a little bit of interesting information about the healthcare system.As mentioned before, Irish healthcare is run by the government.They have a universal healthcare system in place that any citizen has access to.The majority of individuals also have private insurance, though.In the States (that's what they called America, hehe), we typically get our insurance through our employers as a benefit and our employers often pay a portion of it for us.In Ireland, private insurance is not given out through employers- it's like car insurance in our country, you just use whatever company you like best.In, Pediatrics there is no difference in wait times and quality of care between private and universal insurance.However, in adults there is.Private insurance holders get seen faster with more quality.An example that was given was that it might take over 6 months for an elderly person with just universal healthcare to get knee replacement surgery, whereas the exact same individual with private insurance could get it done in 6 weeks.

After the hospital tour, we met Gerard downtown for dinner.Unfortunately it was not traditional Irish food, but it was still really good!I had me some sweet potato soup (really good!), trout, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans.Our dinner lasted three hours!I think part of it was we didn't realize that we had to ask for the bill (I'm not sure if that's typical in Ireland, but I wouldn't doubt it).

After dinner, five of us stayed downtown to try and find our first pub.It was already 9:45pm at that point.It stays light LATE in Ireland.Last night it didn't get DARK-dark until about 10:45pm.And it's light again at 5:30am or so.Anyway, after some walking we couldn't find a pub with music going, so we ended up at a quiet lounge-type place and ordered our first, traditional pint of Guinness.Claire had brought alonga deck of cars, so we played "Go Fish" and "Bulls***" (…nursing students don't know how to play poker…).We had fun, but we had to leave soon because we were told the last bus left downtown at 11pm.And we got lost looking for a bus.The bus dropped us off at St. Stephen's Green, but since it's a one-way street it didn't pick up there.We asked some nice Irish men for directions.One even called the bus company to find out when our bus would come and pointed us in the right direction of the bus stop.I like Irish people.We managed to get on the right bus, but instead of taking us to the middle of campus it dropped us off at the edge.I guess late buses are lazy.So we had to walk another half mile to a mile back to the dorms.I managed to get to bed sometime around midnight last night.

So that gave me about seven hours sleep last night!Almost half of what I had the night before.I got up early to get coffee and figure out the internet situation.We were given free internet access codes, but I had to figure out exactly where this internet was located.Lol.I also realize now that Irish like their coffee blacker than hell and scalding hot (it puts Shannon's coffee to shame).I found out the scalding part the hard way- my poor tongue.

We had our first real seminar this morning.The Northeastern students crashed it again, but my understanding is that that's the last time.I have been having a hard time focusing on anything today.I'm not tired… just not interested maybe?Instead of paying attention to the lecture, I wrote in my journal.I made sure to give polite eye contact and stuff, and I did listen in every once in awhile.Gerard was lecturing on the history of healthcare and social system in Ireland.After class we took a tour of the skills lab the UCD nursing students use.It was pretty much like ours, and I have no idea why they felt they needed to be so detailed with their presentations.It was like attending a skills lecture back home- I already know stoma care and nebulizers.It's okay, though.

After that, they fed us lunch again (they've fed us sandwiches both days, which is nice because it means I can save my money), and then we walked over to St. Vincent's Hospital.It's a big, brand new facility.Once again, they had to walk us around and show us EVERYthing.The theme of the day…I'm grateful they want us to see and learn everything we can, but we ARE also tired.But none of us are EVER rude.I can't really complain in the face of such openness and friendliness.They gave us tea and biscuits afterwards.The Irish drink tea with everything- I've been following the culture on that one.I also had my first biscuit- which to me looked likea cookie and tasted like a graham cracker with extra fiber (hehe, they're called "Digestives" lol).

Anyway, right now is my free time.I'm about to head back to the dorm to eat some leftover pasta and a baguette.Then I believe we are headed back downtown tonight to find a good pub.

Overall, my stay has been good so far.I like the Irish- they are all very friendly and welcoming, and you can tell it's genuine.You wouldn't find that in California at all really.I'm a little sad that I've been here three days and I have yet to have an authentic Irish meal or visit any of the tourist sites (castles, Trinity, etc.), but I still have 20-something days for that.

Randomness:

-instead of saying "uhm" the Irish say "ehm" and occasionally "ahm".It's the cutest thing in the world to hear them say, "blahblahablah… ehm…. Blahblah… so, ehm… blahblahblahblahblah blahblah, ehm, blah."

-the Euro money system is freakin' similar to American dollars, which is both a blessing and a severe annoyance.They have bills that come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, etc.and then there are coins that come in 1 or 2 euro or 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents etc.So, prices are something like 1.50 euro.The annoying part is when you see… for example, a meal priced at 10.00 and your mind automatically thinks "$10- not bad for a meal!" but it's actually 50% more than that because it's euros… so 10 euro is really more like $15, which is a little expensive by cheap college student standards!I'm thinking "eff it!I'm gonna eat half now.. save the rest for leftovers and eat it with a baguette!"

PS. I forgot my camera cord at home.... so I can't upload photos directly from my camera. One of my classmates said he'd let me stick my memory card in his camera, and then upload to his laptop using his camera and cord. So if I get time I will do that. Otherwise you guys may have to use your imaginations until I get home. Sorry!