Catching up on Days 2-4

Days 2-4
19 March 2015

Yes, we are in a first world country of English speakers, but that is about as far as the similarities go. Every thing we do is an adventure and takes a bit of thought.
Grocery shopping....EVERYTHING is different.  Wow.  From the pre-bagged produce, to the different brands of cereal and hand soap and paper towels.  My paper towel lovin self is facing some adjustments!  Each square is 2/3 the size, each roll is half the size, and each pack is half the size.  Not to mention that no bathrooms have paper towels....only blowers.  More later on the shopping.
Thomas was the first to drive on the left side of the road.  Did a famous job, but parking was a bear.  We have a small minivan and are assigned a spot in the parking garage with a pole on one side, and another car on the other, so squeezing in that tight spot while sitting on the right side of the car is like threading a needle with your non-dominant hand.
Getting out of the parking lot of the shopping center was interesting.  Came to the gate and fed our ticket into the slot, expecting to put our credit card in the slot below it, after which our ticket popped back out at us.  The arm remained down.  Repeat.  Arm down.  Repeat.  Arm down.  Call button.
"Hello?"
"Uh, yeah, I'm trying to get out of here."
"Um.  Right."
"So I put my ticket in the slot, but nothing happens."
"Yeah.  Did yiz pay?"
"That's what I'm trying to do."
"Where are yiz?"
"At the gate.  It keeps spitting out my ticket and I can't figure out how to pay."
"Ah, right.  Yeah, yiz need to go to the pay station."
So....we back up back into the garage (Thank God  no cars behind) and find the walk up pay station.

Then there's "regular life" stuff like dishes, cooking, laundry.  Again...a learning experience.  Of course I have to do conversions from Celsius to Fahrenheit for cooking, and it took me two days to figure out what the symbols meant in order to turn it on to the right setting!  For cleaning clothes we have ONE machine which is a combo of washing machine and dryer.  I think perhaps European kids have a course in school to know how to use this thing.  Lots of trial and error, frustration, patience and finally I manage to get a very small clean, dry pile of clothes.  Now if only I can recreate what I just did to make that happen!

The boiler and water heater knocks very loudly like a monster in the closet.  One thing I love is how warm and cozy it is in the apartment without being dry and stuffy.  The wall heaters give a nice radiant warmth, and most of the time we have them completely off because they flat is insulated and sealed so well as to keep any drafts out.  The weather has been really surprisingly beautiful!  Mostly sunshine and crisp.  Beautiful clue skies.  I have not felt cold at all so far.  Less cold than Texas with the warm home and appropriate clothes.  We have learned the concept of wool socks and undershirts, and we're good to GO!

Obviously St. Patrick's Day was a sight to see.  What a fun day!  It started out with a jam packed, exciting ride on the Luas train.  Public transit....another novelty for us.   The train station is just down the street.  Probably 50 meters or so.  Very convenient.  Clean and nice, above ground light rail.  People were in a grand mood and many were all dressed up.  One thing I noticed is that everyone includes orange in their attire.  (In the States is seems to be only green and white)  Decorations are the same....lots of green, orange and white balloons, penants, and flags around.  Thomas is able to ride it to work in the mornings....at least for two weeks while we are in our temporary apartment.  Sam said, "This is the best day of my life!  I am in Dublin for St. Patrick's Day and it is AWESOME!"  Such good craic with Niall and Mel and their kids , Alex and Evie.  Face painting (butterfly for Evie.  Shamrocks for Lucy. Celtic cross for me.)  Peeks at the parade.  Leprechauns.  Visit to St. Stephen's Green (beautiful park). People watching.  Conversation.  Later...on our own....a stop for lunch/brunch at one of our favorite spots...Hatch And Sons.  The good is gorgeous!  Some live music in the street.  Then things were starting to get a bit rowdy around 4 or 5ish.  Lots of revelry as we headed toward Temple Bar area.  Stopped for some water and the loo at a coffee bar where T started a conversation with the owner who expressed his embarrassment for the way the young people were acting in the streets.  He was standing at the door telling some people they were closed and others to come on in (based on age and how they were acting).  Us?  He liked us, so he gave us a bag full of homemade scones and muffins for free.  He gave his typical Irish-like directions to White Friar Church, which, not surprisingly, landed us in a state of "lostivity".  Now we were running late for our obligatory Holy Day Mass, but as we were walking in the general direction I happened to see a statue behind a gate which belonged to a Carmelite Monestary named after St. Teresa of Avila, and the just so happened to have Mass at 6 pm (which is was at that moment...straight up!)  Beautiful little church right off of Grafton St.  In all the visits Thomas has made, he has never been aware of this church right off the main street.  In fact, when I found it on Google, literally ON THE MAP it is described as a "tucked away Catholic house of worship," and after clicking on it, it says, "19th-century Catholic Carmelite church and cafe, hidden away from the nearby shopping bustle."  That is a great way to describe it...hidden, tucked away, peaceful, obscure.  Fr. Stephen delivered a fantastic, fiery homily on being unafraid to follow in the footsteps of St. Patrick, whose influence spread to the far reaches of the earth.  He likened the "invasion" of Britain which threatened the life of the Catholic Church to the "invasion" that continues to happen in today's culture that tries to dismiss God, the Church, morals, ethics, and a spirit of other-centeredness and goodness.
Sam was falling apart knackered, so we headed back and ended the day with Italian food just down from our apartment, sitting next to a table full of a victorious Ukranian women's hockey team.

Apartment living is also a new experience for us all!  Six flights of stairs, codes to get in the front door.  On top of a coffee shop, a hair salon, dry cleaner, and a Chinese restaurant.  Walking distance to supermarket, department store, Spar convenience store, Italian food, and the train.  Tiny master shower, which had a door that kicked open anytime you moved, which flooded the bathroom, until I spoke to the office who took care of the issue straight away. "Outdoor space" is a large, full length balcony where Sam has taken to learning to cross jump rope.  Nice view from the 6th floor.  Big windows.  Lots of light.  We are Skyping PE with their trainer, which has been fun and interesting.  The kids are quite intrigued by apartment living.  At one point Sam said, "I didn't think I would like this, but I LOVE that we walk EVERYWHERE!  It's so fun!"  One day, after the store (we have to go every 1-2 days since we have a small fridge and carry our items home), I realized I had forgotten to get bin bags/refuse sacks (trash bags), so I allowed the kids to walk home and let themselves into the building with the code and up the elevator to our flat.  That was sooo exciting for them to be so independent!!
 

We walked to the rental furniture place to pick out furniture, which was great fun.  The furniture to choose from is a little more modern than my taste, but I sense that the style (traditional European) that I would have liked is too expensive.  But this furniture is cheerful and fashionable, and I think it'll be nice.

We have been attempting to do school with some success.  Life is school right now!  But the basics have been covered, and then some.

Thomas and Sam are watching Wales about to beat Italy in the rugby match on TV, and we must leave RIGHT NOW to go look for a car before they close at 1600 (4 pm) and then enjoy the gorgeous day.

More to come!