I know this is not the perfect place to rant and write about this…but I think it’s worth a shot asking ppl what they think-mostly because I’m not so sure if this is “the norm” in Ireland/Europe.

I finished the last of my exams on June 1st. It is now June 28th, and NO ONE knows when our results are coming out. My previous experiences in other colleges (in Japan and in the US, we were told IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR when our exam results were coming out; all exam schedules were set down to the very day and hour.)

I come here, and we dont know what time our exams are until two or three weeks before, and we have to wait and wait and wait in dread/shivering excitement after the exams for our results to arrive.

And when they do, you have usually forgotten about them already and don’t even remember the exam itself, so you really dont know what question was your downfall/claim to fame.

I want to ask: is this normal in Ireland/Europe/the UK? Have people had similar experiences in their Universities/Colleges?!

Last week, while surfing YouTube, came across UCD banner ad, was a bit amazed to see UCD advertising on YouTube, mebbe its the right way reach the video watching generation :)) .. but still not so sure about it.

Recent survey from the Economist Intelligence Unit’s, Worldwide cost of living survey puts Dublin in the 16th position, where a cup of coffee is more expensive than London, NY, Paris :)). Read more HERE. Also, after 14 years of reigning the survey, Tokyo has been replaced by Oslo as the most expensive city to live in the world and the developed western European cities of London, Zürich, Geneva, Paris, Copenhagen, Amsterdam etc etc make up most of the expensive cities in the world.
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IVEAGH GARDENS has always been my favorite park/garden to go to. St. Stephen’s Green is always so full of people, pigeons (yuck), and there is never a nice patch of grass where you can lie down without hitting someone else’s elbow or jabbing someone else in the waist.

Merrion Square is nice, but the sun doesn’t get to all parts of the park through-out the day.

Iveagh Gardens is perfect; with the fountain, the waterfall, and the complete silence.

Tucked away behind a red brick gate, it’s truly the “Secret Garden” of Dublin.

June 14th to June 17th, different cafes and restaurants are joining together for some outdoor fun in the Iveagh Gardens for the TASTE OF DUBLIN festival.

In a warm summer day like this, the only thing you can do in the country is walk around and enjoy the sun in a park…Ice cream in one hand, book in the other!!

In a BBC article today, read here, the number of pubs in the Irish countryside are falling in numbers and along with that, the world famous Irish pub culture is fading.

trademark Irish venue, the country pub - renowned as a place to chat, have a pint, hear some music and soak up the atmosphere - is facing challenging times
..
the new rule (smoking ban, drink-driving bans, no public transport), they say, has meant fewer people going to the pub in remote areas, especially during the week.

Last week, the govt. suggested on starting a new bus service “boozer bus” to carry people from countryside to city, bringing people to city for drinking.

I am not sure about this one, but a friend of mine last week told me that, to open a pub/bar in Dublin, they need to close one somewhere else, which means countryside. So they close a bar/pub in countryside and open a new one in Dublin. May be someone else can throw more light on this.

There is a lot to do in Dublin; other than pay bills, go to college classes, work in offices….It’s surprising how many different things there are to do in Dublin as a tourist (considering that the city is so small)

My friend is here for the weekend, and I am about to prepare myself for a day of pure tourism. Come back in a few days to see what is “worth it” and what “is just a tourist trap”…

As a “local” I bet you’ve never done half of the stuff im about to embark upon!!

Hope everyone’s weekend has been great!!

Man, how awesome was the Ireland-England game on Saturday? Freaking awesome, that’s how.

Dublin to get new saint this year:

The Archbishop of Dublin has welcomed news today that the capital is to have a new saint by the summer. Blessed Charles of Mount Argus will be canonised by Pope Benedict XVI in June. Dr Diarmuid Martin was, as Bishop of Dublin, Actor for the Cause of Blessed Charles. Born John Andrew Houben in Mustergeleen, Holland in 1821, Charles joined the Passionist Order in Belgium at the age of 19 after three months of undistinguished military service. He was ordained in 1850 and sent to England in 1852 where he made contact with Irish people who had emigrated because of the Famine. He was transferred to Dublin in 1857 around the time Mount Argus monastery was being founded and he travelled Ireland raising funds to help build it.

Shell to Sea protest passes peacefully:

Around 500 hundred supporters of the Shell To Sea campaign marched in Dublin this afternoon in protest at the energy giant’s plans for a gas terminal and pipeline in Co Mayo.

Irish emissions up 140%:

Greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland grew by 140 per cent between 1990 and 2004, according to a report published this morning.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) report said Ireland’s growth rate was well above other countries’ growth rates, with the average across 32 European states being 25 per cent. The Republic was only surpassed by Luxembourg, which saw growth of 156 per cent during the period. The figures exclude emissions from aviation and marine traffic.

As the proud nation SMASHES England in the 6 Nations Rugby Match in Croke Park tonight, many of us were left to wonder…(especially if you were not Irish, or didnt do your bit in Irish history…)

“WHATS THE BIG DEAL WITH CROKE PARK?!!!”

Let me englighten you. Croke Park was NEVER a soccer or rugby stadium. Since it was built and opened in 1884, It was meant only for Gaelic Football and Hurling. Since the GAA was the founders of Croke Park, it didnt seem like the proper venue for international games…it was meant to be the venue for purely IRISH events…

In the year 2000, Landsdowne road, the normal stadium used for rugby and soccer had to go through refurbishment in order to lower the noise pollution for the neighbors around then during the matches.

So where do the international matches of soccer and rugby go?

Croke Park? …although it seemed to be the smart idea, many were opposed.

Fast forward 5 years in April, after much debate, (If you agreed to opening up Croke Park, you were “sabotaging Irish Culture”, and if you didnt agree to opening up Croke Park, you were “being a narrow minded shi*t.”) the GAA decided to open its doors for international matches.

Let it be known, Croke Park is regarded as one of the biggest stadium in europe…. WOW!!

Two weeks ago the first rugby match was held..Ireland vs France, as part of the Six Nations Matches. (Ireland was shamed in defeat..lets us not talk about that… :( )

Tonight was Ireland VS ENGLAND

More debate because Croke Park was the grounds for Bloody Sunday, a sad day in 1920 Irish history when British Soldiers opened fire against a crowd watching a match.

There were even talks of whether or not to play “God Save the Queen” for fear of controversy and perhaps fights erupting. (Big props to the fans who were there tonight, the anthem was played, and the spectators didnt explode into conflict. Way to be diplomatic and represent Ireland!!! Im really glad it went without a hitch!)

After all this talk and hoohah, the match began tonight..and ended proudly :

Ireland - 43 England - 13

Now that’s what I’m talking about!!!!

Same-sex couple lodge marriage appeal

A lesbian couple have lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court against a High Court ruling that stated they did not have the right to marry in Ireland. Drs Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan lodged their appeal yesterday on the grounds that their High Court case for recognition of their Canadian marriage was wrongly decided. They hope the Supreme Court case could be heard before the end of 2007.

Elderly man dies in Tipperary crash

A 91-year-old man died today after he collided with a truck in Co Tipperary. The pensioner lost his life after his SUV struck the vehicle around 1pm on the N8 road at Ballymooreen, Littleton in the county. His front seat passenger was taken to Nenagh Hospital for treatment for minor injuries.

Armed raiders rob Dublin post office

Gardaí are investigating an armed raid on a south Dublin post office this afternoon. Four men were involved, three of whom entered the post office at the Nutgrove Shopping Centre; at least one of whom was armed with a hand gun, and money was stolen. They fled in a blue Ford Focus car with 2006 registration plates driven by the fourth man. The car was later found abandoned a short distance away at Hermitage Lawns, where it is believed the gang switched to another vehicle.

happy friday everyone!

I was walking around Trinity today when I saw a man dressed as a phone. Weird as it was, I asked him what it was all about and he gave me a pamphlet/flyer about NITELINE, a “listening service for college students”

Apparently this service allows callers to talk about whatever they want, and is there just to help people gather their thoughts, and figure their lives out…

NITELINE INFO

I think it’s brilliant. Ever had those times when you dont want your friends to judge you, or say anything to you, or tell you what to do, and give you advice? You end up not having someone to talk to about it, but at the same time being more confused. It helps to talk things out, without ppl telling you what to do.

Apparently this is what they are good at doing.

And its anonymous, non judgemental, non-directive, and confidential….

Im sure people have had times when they just want to talk about things..but wasnt too comfy about telling their friends right? I think it’s great that college students have a service like that…

Apparently the non-college student version for this is the Samaritans.

Samaritans

Knock on wood, I hope no one will have to go through the pain to talk to people about sad things, but sometimes we all need to know that it is necessary to get help.

Don’t be afraid! There are people who you can talk to!