I really don't like cooking for myself

I guess this is what separates me from the rest of my sisters, I really don't like to cook! Yet, in all honesty, if cooking has been my biggest problem since arriving in Belfast, I think that says something about my experience so far!
Recently I've been finding out why students are so busy, even when only enrolled in three courses each semester.  My courses have been expecting a fair amount of reading from me, but I most enjoy the tutorial discussions that arise from our readings and lectures.  Yesterday I attended my Negotiations and Conflict Resolution course where we discussed the ideas of Conflict Management and Institutional Design.  Both of which brought up great discussions on what degree of tension actually makes something a conflict? Does it have to involve direct fighting, or can is be anything from something as personal as internal struggle? Being an American asked to give my opinion on something like the Troubles in Northern Ireland was very intimidating at first, but by the end of the tutorial, it was interesting the see the atmosphere change from disinterest to curiousness.  I'm also taking a course on the Religious and Secular in Modern Political Thought, so we're covering politics from a philosophical view reading thinkers like Machiavelli, Locke, Paine, Jefferson, Marx, and Nietzsche.  I must admit after my first encounter with Philosophy freshman year at Stonehill, I thought i'd never enjoy or understand philosophy, but I'm really intrigued to find out how my professor relates all of these thinkers with nation-building and international relations.
I've continued with my rock climbing since coming to Belfast and climb almost 3 times a week on the wall we have at our gym.  I've met some really awesome people though the QUB Mountaineering club as well, and they love teaching new climbers new techniques! It's great to be part of something so relaxed, but also something that releases so much adrenaline when you are almost to the top of the Everest Wall!
As far as finding out new places in Belfast, I can't say I've been out looking, but my neighbor has introduced me to a fair trade coffee shop just past our library called Common Grounds that is my new favorite place to relax and read or meet with a friend for, wait for it...... yep, a GOOD cup of coffee in Belfast! I'm still playing at Kelly's Cellar on Wednesday Nights and learning a lot from one of the Bartenders there who plays Bodhran when it's not busy.
I think that's one of the most comforting feelings I've had since I've arrived in Belfast.  Since I've arrived I've been so self conscious about stick out and looking too much like a tourist, but in reality, I am a tourist who is going to be around for another 5 months and it just needs to be accepted that I'm going to stick out, but with people like the Climbing Club, or the group at Kelly's, I've found that once they get to know you, they treat you like a friend immediately and accept you completely as you are.

Well then, I'm off to make something for dinner, which will probably consist of rice and steamed veggies, but I have to say that I'm more than willing to try any simple, easy to follow recipes! Also, I want to thank anyone who is leaving me with kind words of support and love, I appreciate every e-mail and letter that comes, so thank you for you're kindness!

God bless you all this lent season, and may I leave you with this:

A ainguil uasil, a aingil De,
Cobhraigh liom ar feadh an lac;
bi le m'ais go siorai dluth
na lig don diabhal me chur amu.
Amen.

Angel of God, My Guardian Dear,
To whom God's love entrusts me here,
ever this day be at my side,
to light and to guard,
to rule and to guide.
Amen.




Picture: Queens University Belfast Entrance and Lanyon Building

Slainte!

    Finally, I've got a moment to sit down and write about everything that's been going on here the last week and a half since I've arrived here in Belfast. I'm happy to say that I've already done some things I've always wanted to do when in Ireland. From playing Bodhran in a small Irish Pub to visiting Stormont, the Belfast Parliament Building.  My first week was filled with mostly Orientation activities to introduce the new Erasmus and Study Abroad students to not only Queen's but the city and culture of Belfast as well.  Everything from various University speakers to trips to the Odyssey ( a complex which holds everything from the Ice Hockey Arena, a Cinema, Bowling Lanes, various Dance Clubs, and restaurants!).  The group was taken on a bus tour around part of Belfast where we were able to visit Stormont (but not get an inside tour because Parliament was in session), and even get a tour of City Hall and meet the Mayor of Belfast in the newly refurbished City Hall Building!
    With classes officially beginning on Monday, I could not have felt any more like a Freshman, practically begging someone to show me to my classroom.  Yet, as the week went on, I became more and more comfortable with the idea of living here for the next 5 months.  As I may have mentioned earlier, I'm living in a house about a 10 minute walk from campus (about 12 minutes from the Library, Dad!).  I live in the International House, which holds very true to its name.  On my floor I live with people from all around the world including Europe (the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, France, Germany, and Switzerland) as well as Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, and Mauritania.  I'm the only American on our floor.  We're really getting to know each other much better as time continues because we spend a fair amount of time in the lounge and kitchen together.  I must confess that I find myself watching what others are cooking when in the kitchen to get better ideas, but I'm also glad that I haven't gotten to the point of just cooking frozen dishes in plastic containers.  Just the other day, Kristoffer, one of my Swedish housemates introduced me to a Swedish bread served with butter and cheese.  I used this as a learning experience and took a go at learning some Swedish (Knackbrod), and even though I guess I didn't get it right away, it was still a lot of fun to hear about the Swedish culture and language. Moreover, I'm really enjoying where I'm living, and if you follow the link on this page to my photographs, you'll see more pictures of my room and where I'm living.

    Back to classes, I'm taking a full course load which entitles three modules for about 8 hours of courses a week.  I'm taking two politics courses, the first is Negotiations and Conflict Resolution, and the second is The Religious and Secular in Modern Political Thought.  Both take very interesting approaches to studying Conflicts in our history and modern day.  My third module is a history course on Kings and Saints in Early Ireland, where we will study the lives of St. Patrick, St. Brigid, and St. Columba/Collum Cille.  My history course is only seven students at this point and my professor seems really passionate about her knowledge of St. Patrick, so it should be a treat to see how things go with this course.  The major difference between my classes here and the American system I've been used to while at Stonehill, is that Queen's expects the degree of outside research, work, and reading to be five times as much.  To every one hour in class, you should spend 5 hours doing outside work.  This seems understandable with the amount of reading I already have, so I guess this semester will take some adjusting, but should be enriching.

    Due to the start of the new semester though, the work hasn't piled on quite yet, so I've still found the time to see Belfast when it hasn't been raining and visit some pretty cool places.  On Wednesday night, I went with a group of friends from my house to Kelly's Cellar in town where live music was playing for a while.  Kelly's is such a neat place to visit because of all the history and Gaelic you find written on the walls, and the older men who hang around the bar speaking in Irish to themselves and anyone who's willing to listen.   After striking up a conversation with the guy playing Tin Whistle and learning that he now works for a group called Healing Through Remembering, who works with both sides of the past troubles of Northern Ireland, and works to enhance communication and understanding between both sides of the conflict.  After a bit of conversation, I had noticed that the man playing the Bodhran had walked off and I was encouraged to pick up a play a bit with the group. It was so great to play in that setting with such talented musicians! It's funny that I call them musicians because they all play for the pure enjoyment and tradition, and not expecting praise or fame.
    It was a great night and by the time everyone was leaving the bar, I was not only told to bring my own Bodhran next week, but to also come back and play with them sometime soon! Believe me, I will be back with my Bodhran soon...

    Finally, today I went to St. George's Market with some friends and finally had my first good cup of coffee since arriving in Belfast! Everything fresh from fish, spices, bread, cheese, meat, vegetables, fruit, chocolate, coffee, tea, and biscuits! What a sight, it was beautiful!

More to come soon, sorry for the novel.....