Fun at school!

Hello! First, Happy Belated Valentine's Day and a very warm birthday wish to Hayley! The weeks have been going by quickly here, but we haven't managed to do very much! Reading a lot for my Shakespeare course and eating all of the candy that I have received in the mail! Thank you so much to Mom and Dad for my amazing care package; my room really does feel more like a home complete with pictures and throw pillows! By the way, the Swedish fish and gum were perfect because its been rumored that red food dye is illegal here(?) I also want to thank Uncle Kal for thinking of me and sending me some fantastic truffles (YUM!)! I hope everyone had a nice week.

In terms of pictures of all of my favorite spots, I did manage to find some and will put them with this post. Its funny here because each night of the week is a certain bar and each night there are various deals only at that bar, so thats where everyone will be! So Mondays are the Uni Bar here on campus, Tuesdays the Anchor for traditional Irish music with a nightclub upstairs for those who want to party on, Wednesday is Kelly's with a free bus there and back, Thursday is the Anchor again if you didn't make it on Tuesday or its someone's birthday! Friday is the day off - typically all of the Irish students go home on the weekend so last Friday we made dinner for some friends and played cards. Saturday is usually the day we go somewhere and explore and if we make it out, okay, and then Sunday is the only day of the week devoted to schoolwork!

I have been going to a cycling class and I'm not sure I'm in love with it; I'm not use to riding a bike anymore and am feeling quite sore in certain areas! Hopefully this will fade! My roommates are messy, they never feel like cleaning in the living room so of course I have to do it just a little because it drives me kinda crazy! Classes are alright, everyone keeps asking, so maybe I haven't talked about them. I have 3 courses of which 1 may potentially transfer back for my major. I am taking a History of Hollywood cinema taught by an American, which is really nice, but the course is sort of mediocre; I don't really understand why they have seminar groups here because all we do is go over the same thing as in the lecture, and yet people still don't have any idea what's going on. Its really pathetic. :) I am taking a Shakespeare in Depth course and have been enjoying reading his works, although I am finding it quite challenging. I think its just been a while since I've taken any English courses!! I feel like I am learning in the class though which is nice and everyone is helpful so it shouldn't be too bad. Finally, I am taking an Irish Oral Traditions course where the focus is on the preservation and transference of Irish folklore. This is really interesting and my teacher is very bright. He's going to teach some of the American students a bit of Irish this evening to help keep pace with some of the names and places we will be discussing!

Other than that, I have been informed not to talk about how cold it is here because it has been so miserable at home! It has gotten slightly warmer though now its been rainy. Its just looks dreary and dull here when its like that, but there are really beautiful days as well. Alicia and I and Arnaud are heading to Derry this Saturday to explore the city wall and the shopping malls there! Ill update this upcoming week with pictures from our trip! I hope everyone is well and is getting excited about coming to visit!!! I can't wait, that's for sure -- get me out of this apartment for a change! Love you all, Megan

The metropolis that is Coleraine - City Centre with Alicia (L) and Casey (R)

At the apartment! Agnes, Betsy, and Alicia

B and me having fun!

At the Uni Bar on a Monday Night! All of my close friends here at school: L to R: Bottom: Betsy, Kim, Heather Top: Erica, Alicia, Me, Casey

Arnaud and me at the Uni Bar

At the Anchor! The local pub in Portstewart on a Tuesday evening. L to R: Rohit, Alicia, Agnes, Arnaud, Casey, Erica, Me!

Dancing at the Anchor to that good old Irish music!

B and me looking good!

Hopefully these pictures are just what you were looking for! I'll have some of Kelly's up soon and of my adventures here in Ireland!