I go to school in a castle!

Hello everyone!
This week I started classes in Ireland! My school is one of the most beautiful things in Cork that I've seen so far.  The main Quad really does look like a castle.

Main Quad at UCC

I actually have a class in the west wing, which is on the left side in this picture. Right in the corner!  There is an archway underneath the tower part of the quad and in the middle of the archway on the ground there is a picture of the school crest.  Rumor has it that if you were to step on this crest you would become pregnant.  I may or may not have already stepped on this crest! But unless divine powers are at work I think ill be ok :)  It is funny though because when you watch people walk through everyone will avoid the crest and walk around it.  Another interesting belief is that if you step on the grass right there in the middle or even on the pathways that run through it, you will fail your exams! Needless to say, I won't be stepping on that grass!

Anyways, classes at UCC have been going well for me.  This week we are allowed to sit in any class we are interested in and then decide which ones we actually want to take.  I think I have decided on 4 classes:  Archaeology, Human Nutrition in the Developing World, Gender and Development, and Intro to Irish History.  I am looking forward to getting into these classes further.  My archaeology class even has a few field trips included to some historic sites in Ireland.  

UCC is about a 15 minute walk from my apartment.  It is really unique, as you can see from the main Quad there are buildings that are a bit older but then the library for example is very modern.  There is a good mix of modern and traditional buildings which make it really fun to just walk around and explore and maybe get lost a bit :)

The city of Cork itself is very cool from what I have seen so far.  There is a large city centre only about 10 minutes walk away from my apartment.  The city centre has big shops and little shops and everything in between.  There are side streets with little coffee shops or bakeries or candy shops, which is all too tempting for this girl.  There are also many churches that we have walked past and they are all so beautiful.  In the middle of city centre is the English Market.  Easily one of my favorite things so far in Cork.  It is an indoor market and you can find everything from raw beef and lamb, traditional irish bread and cheese, to handmade soaps and jams, fresh fruits and vegetables.  I had so much fun there and I didn't even buy anything! I will be back though when I need some groceries for sure :)

The English Market

Ireland isn't too different from the States but I figured I could share things that I have noticed that are different in a fun way!

-Euros instead of dollars

-Most grocery stores don't give you bags for your food for free so it is best to bring your own

-Food seems to expire faster (less preservatives?)

-Irish students tend to dress a bit nicer than American students. No yoga pants or sweatpants!

-Most Irish students go home on weekends so their nights to go to a pub are Tuesdays and Thursdays instead of American Fridays and Saturdays

-It rains at least once a day (still getting used to this!)

-People walk everywhere! 

-Most dogs I have seen are not on a leash and they are so well behaved.  Bernie and Tucker would not do well here…

-Lastly, they have these really yummy cookies called digestives for only 1 euro! No idea why they are called digestives because they aren't full of fiber or anything, trust me I know I'm a Nutrition major!

                                                                     Digestives!

                                                                First day of school!

Bridge that I cross to get to school.

It actually may not rain today, it is beautiful outside! I plan to take advantage and do some exploring.  Next post I will have more pictures of the city centre and I am going to see the Blarney castle and the Titanic experience this weekend! Stay warm everyone!