Fin

Yesterday, was my last day of classes. WOOHOO! But I still have two more papers to write. BOO.
I thought that with the ending of my academic part of "study" abroad completed I should enlighten you as to what these past two and a half months have been like. Lets start with a quick description of each class and then let you enjoy a few images.

It is an "abstract metal sculpture" by the artist Brian King...everyone calls itArchimedes' Balls or the Big Yellow Thing.

Literacy Through Service Learning: It's possibly my favorite class only because it reminds me of my education classes back home. I didn't really learn anything new in this one, other than having a quick look into the irish education system- and let me tell you, they are severely lacking on that front. The professor has us call him Dermot, and he's one of those people who never really grew up. He has a quirky sense of humor and connected with each of us. I think this is the class I'll miss the most.

Stories of Medieval Wales: Without a doubt my favorite class! We analyzed the four major stories in the Mabinogion, a text that contains the most famous stories that have been preserved in time. I LOVED my professors voice, and so below you'll hear a snippet of it. I could listen to him talk for hours. Also, the stories were just as interesting so that I was never bored in this class.

Plays Players and the Playhouse: I wasn't really excited to take this one at first, it's a theatre class, and it is a major requirement that I could fulfill abroad. But after taking it I can say I enjoyed the class. It was set in this small blackbox theatre, which means the room is just a small room with no official stage, and we sat in a circle. It was my smallest class and the one I felt I was most connected to the other students in.

Phenomenology: Fen-Nom-En- Ology. Yeah, I had a hard time wrapping my mouth around it too at first. But now I'm throwing out words like phenomenological left and right. It's fun to say really fast :) Oh, the class? It was a philosophy class that I'm still not sure what it was about. Something about transcending the natural attitude into the philosophical one....

Health Psychology: The only class in which I have an exam, even if it is an in class essay. This was an interesting class if only because it taught me about doctor patient relationship and that if you have a strong sense of self and are confident you won't get sick as much. YAY KATIE! haha, but seriously, I didn't learn anything that I will carry with me in the rest of my life- it was more of a "i need a 5th class, this looks interesting" kind of thing.


Ok, so to help you picture my campus (mom keeps asking if its pretty...) I put together a little video of my time at NUIG (National University of Ireland- Galway). Enjoy:

So what do you think? A pretty campus? Exciting classes? Do you understand why I haven't blogged about it?

I've decided studying abroad in Ireland is more about learning the culture and exploring the land. So tomorrow I'm going on an adventure into Tullinamoile to see my family's homestead and meet a relative or two...I promise, you'll get a blog on that by Sunday night.

Peace,

K