Well friends,
It's been a week already and I have FINALLY gotten connected to the world wide web. I do apologize for the delay. Ireland is fantastic, and most of what you hear about is true. It IS quite green, drinking IS a way of life here, is DOES rain whenever it feels like it, and Trinity College IS amazing. You may be asking yourself if those are cobblestones. They are, indeed. This is when you first enter the campus through the main gate.
I start classes on Monday and this week has been a transition of getting acclimated to my environment. I live in an "apartment" with 6 other postgraduate females in a building that houses all postgraduates. We have all had an immensely great time together, and we come from so many corners of the world: U.S., Germany, Australia, Armenia, Singapore, Italy, Norway, Ireland, England, Spain, etc. (sorry if I left anyone out). I live with two ladies from Germany, one from California, one from Armenia, and one from Ireland. Some of us are pictured here with a few other fellow classmates.
Yesterday was Arthur Guiness' birthday and the whole city of Dublin raised a pint for him. Pubs here tend to get quite full, but they offer a very special kind of environement that is portrayed fairly accurately in movies. It's interesting how we drink after everything here. I have had more school functions provide alcohol than I know what to do with. Drinking age out here is 18 and that has been quite an adjustment as well.
I haven't been to much of the countryside yet, but a group of us did take a train a little south to the coast of the Irish Sea in Bray, and then we walked about 8 kilometers (miles?) to Graystones. It's pretty far. Check a map. It was really beautiful though. 
That's all for now! I'll keep updating as best I can. Check in when you're able to, and much love to you all.
