Many people have urged me to begin blogging again. I was going to protest because I didn't think anything at all special had happened in my life, but it occurred to me some really cool things are happening! LIST TIME.
1) The weekend of February 25-26, I participated in Irish college swimming nationals. The NCAAs of the Emerald Isle, if you will. I haven't swum competitively since I was seventeen years old. I placed fourth in the 200 breaststroke and fifth in the 200 IM. It was hysterical. There was this incredibly clear divide between the people who are clearly going to make the Irish Olympic team and... everybody else. After like, second or third place in every event, there was this STEEP drop off to everyone else. No middle ground whatsoever. You were either really superbly excellent, or you just kinda did your thing. I definitely fell into the "just kinda did your thing" category - I was kind of leading the pack of those people, but also finishing about 20 seconds behind the top finishers. My friend Mike (who is also getting a master's here but is from Tennessee originally) hands down, far and away, won the 200 back (he swam in [American] college). I almost felt bad because it was such a, "Who is that guy? He came outta NOWHERE!" moment. We had to explain that he would not be attending the Olympics as he is a United States citizen. Sad day for Irish swimming.
Irish swimming is SO much more fun than American. In the first place, all the heats were on Friday and all the finals Saturday. There was this huge party on Friday night where everyone drank. EVERYONE. Including the people who had to swim the next day! It was unreal. I couldn't fathom something like that happening in the States. On Saturday, there was also this huge fancy ball. It was really, really fun especially because I could let loose more that night than Friday night because I didn't have to swim the next day. It was insane.
2) I just booked a flight to Scotland to visit my friend Lauren for the first week of April. Lauren went to St. Mary's College (which, for anyone who doesn't know, is Notre Dame's sister school) and she used to take a lot of English classes at Notre Dame, so we got to be friends. She lives in St. Andrews now (the home of golf!) and I've been meaning to go see her for a long time so I finally just did it. Should be fun to get out of Dodge and visit somewhere I probably never would have otherwise. My only expectations are to meet Prince William and gaze into his eyes for an extended period of time and then to become best friends with Kate Middleton. So I probably won't be disappointed as these are extremely achievable goals.
3) This is not an extraordinary happening at all, but last night on my way home from campus where I'd been doing work, I decided to stop at the grocery store. I had my backpack with me, so I decided that would work well as my grocery bag (in Ireland, in a policy which I TOTALLY think they should implement in America, they charge you per plastic bag so as to encourage you to use reusable bags). I was stuffing my groceries into my backpack, doing my thang, and this employee approached me and was like, "erm... excuse me... can you use this?" and held out a wire shopping basket. I accepted, puzzled, until I realized that stuffing food into my backpack looked exactly like shoplifting. Whoops.
4) Visitor time begins! I'm really looking forward to the next batch of visitors. First, my friend Kiel who was my year at Notre Dame is going to be in Dublin for St. Patrick's Day. He's now getting a master's at ND and his program is flying him for FREE to Ireland for spring break. I'm going to head in there Wednesday, hang out with him Thursday (my Thurs and Fri classes got canceled bc of St. Patty's) and then stay there Friday so I can be at the airport Saturday morning to pick up my old roommate from NYC Alana and her boyfriend from the airport! We'll stay in Dublin that Saturday night and head back to Galway in the morning. They're staying with me til Thursday.
Then, slightly into the future but I'm no less excited about it, my friend Kyle Barrettsmith is coming in late April and then I'm going to Australia! Pretty exciting next couple of months I've got lined up.
I think that's all, folks! Love you and miss you all.
Showing posts with label swimming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swimming. Show all posts
Monday, March 7, 2011
Monday, November 15, 2010
Swim Meet
So I feel like I'm rapid-fire posting these days, but I promised some people I would write about the swim meet that occurred on Sunday. But first, a quote from an email sent by my friend Derrick (and he says he never gets shout outs. HA!)
"Ok, the suspense is killing me. How'd you do at the swim meet?
Best case scenario I've been imagining: You somehow walked in to pro-America intro music (pro wrestling style) wrapped in an American flag as the assembled Irish crowd (huge, in my head) boos and yells anti-American slurs. Then as you win every race, they slowly come over to your side, Rocky IV style, until you win your last race and they all chant U-S-A! U-S-A! And maybe you make a speech that ends Irish terrorism (in lieu of the cold war)
So, is that how it basically went?"
Well, no. That is not basically how it went. In fact, it went about as far opposite that as you can imagine. First of all, and not surprisingly, collegiate swimming doesn't really draw the crowds (in Ireland or America). There were about 10 people in the audience. They were my friend Annemarie, about five Spanish kids (one of the guys on our team is from Spain and is studying abroad here for a year, so I presume these people were all his friends from his Spanish university), and a couple random friends from other people on the team. Secondly, I did not win every race. I also did not enter wrapped in an American flag, and no one U-S-A'ed (although in retrospect, it would have been fairly hilarious if Annemarie had).
However, here is what DID happen. I did swim fairly well! The times mean absolutely nothing to me, because they're short-course meters, which is something you NEVER see in America - it's either short-course yards or long-course meters (short-course pools are 25 yards/meters, long-course are 50 yards/meters, but you'd virtually never see a 50-yard pool). I honestly don't think I've ever swum scm before, and even if I had, I have no recollection of what I would have swum. It's just been far too long. But I placed really well, which I guess it what counts!
There were no time pads, just stopwatches. I've been to high school and age-group meets better organized than this. No heat sheets or anything like that. There wasn't even a publicly posted piece of paper that listed the order of events - you had to keep harassing the coach, who apparently had the only document of this sort.
But University College Dublin was actually pretty good! I'd say they'd make a fairly dece D3 team in America. I was shocked to learn afterwards that not only do they win Irish nationals every year, there were many OLYMPIANS on the team, and I saw them swim that day! I would never have pegged anybody I saw swimming that day for a national-level swimmer, much less an OLYMPIAN. It's so surprising sometimes to remember that Ireland is only 3 million people. I mean, really, that's half the size of CHICAGO. But yeah, I saw some Olympians swim on Sunday! Preeeetttyyy cool.
We have another meet coming up. They are not sure when. Seriously. It's either this Sunday or next, and it's IN Dublin, against Dublin City University, who apparently is terrible. If it's this Sunday, I'll definitely go, but if it's next, I've already got a ticket booked to London. My cousin Emmy lives there and we're going to do a little mock Thanksgiving. It will be adorable and precious and American. And maybe we'll watch Rocky IV.
So that's that! Miss everyone lots!
"Ok, the suspense is killing me. How'd you do at the swim meet?
Best case scenario I've been imagining: You somehow walked in to pro-America intro music (pro wrestling style) wrapped in an American flag as the assembled Irish crowd (huge, in my head) boos and yells anti-American slurs. Then as you win every race, they slowly come over to your side, Rocky IV style, until you win your last race and they all chant U-S-A! U-S-A! And maybe you make a speech that ends Irish terrorism (in lieu of the cold war)
So, is that how it basically went?"
Well, no. That is not basically how it went. In fact, it went about as far opposite that as you can imagine. First of all, and not surprisingly, collegiate swimming doesn't really draw the crowds (in Ireland or America). There were about 10 people in the audience. They were my friend Annemarie, about five Spanish kids (one of the guys on our team is from Spain and is studying abroad here for a year, so I presume these people were all his friends from his Spanish university), and a couple random friends from other people on the team. Secondly, I did not win every race. I also did not enter wrapped in an American flag, and no one U-S-A'ed (although in retrospect, it would have been fairly hilarious if Annemarie had).
However, here is what DID happen. I did swim fairly well! The times mean absolutely nothing to me, because they're short-course meters, which is something you NEVER see in America - it's either short-course yards or long-course meters (short-course pools are 25 yards/meters, long-course are 50 yards/meters, but you'd virtually never see a 50-yard pool). I honestly don't think I've ever swum scm before, and even if I had, I have no recollection of what I would have swum. It's just been far too long. But I placed really well, which I guess it what counts!
There were no time pads, just stopwatches. I've been to high school and age-group meets better organized than this. No heat sheets or anything like that. There wasn't even a publicly posted piece of paper that listed the order of events - you had to keep harassing the coach, who apparently had the only document of this sort.
But University College Dublin was actually pretty good! I'd say they'd make a fairly dece D3 team in America. I was shocked to learn afterwards that not only do they win Irish nationals every year, there were many OLYMPIANS on the team, and I saw them swim that day! I would never have pegged anybody I saw swimming that day for a national-level swimmer, much less an OLYMPIAN. It's so surprising sometimes to remember that Ireland is only 3 million people. I mean, really, that's half the size of CHICAGO. But yeah, I saw some Olympians swim on Sunday! Preeeetttyyy cool.
We have another meet coming up. They are not sure when. Seriously. It's either this Sunday or next, and it's IN Dublin, against Dublin City University, who apparently is terrible. If it's this Sunday, I'll definitely go, but if it's next, I've already got a ticket booked to London. My cousin Emmy lives there and we're going to do a little mock Thanksgiving. It will be adorable and precious and American. And maybe we'll watch Rocky IV.
So that's that! Miss everyone lots!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
I'm Back, Nerds
(re: the title - I just wanted to make a Liz Lemon reference.) A number of semi-humorous things are currently happening in my life. I'll just make a list.
1) I went to see The Social Network the other day. This, in and of itself, is not terribly humorous. What is funny is how it happened. I was working on a paper Tuesday afternoon and got really stuck. I couldn't think of anything to say, my thoughts weren't going anywhere, you know the drill. I decided to look up the times for The Social Network, thinking if there was one later that night I could invite some people and make it like a reward for working hard throughout the day. You know, motivation for finishing my paper. When I googled the times, I discovered the only showing that day was at 3:30. It was currently 3:10. Impulsively, I decided to change my reward into a study break. I also decided to go alone. This was the first time I had ever been to a theater by myself, but I've always thought that that wouldn't be weird. I mean, once the lights go off, you can't talk to whoever you came with anyway. So I grabbed my coat and off I went to a matinee of The Social Network by myself.
Once I got there, I tried to go to the ticket booth. No one was standing there. I rang the little bell they put on the counter like 4 times. No one came. I tried shouting, "hello!" No one. I was the only person in the lobby besides the guy working the concession stand. I went up to that guy and asked him how to buy a ticket. He asked if anyone was at the ticket booth, I said no. He shrugged and was like, "Don't worry about it then. Just head on in." I was like, "Wait... seriously? Without buying a ticket?" He was like, "Sure, no problem. Just go on into the theater."
So in I went. I was the only person in the theater designated for The Social Network. As 3:30 drew closer, I began to wonder if anyone else was going to show up. No one did. And they played the movie for me anyway. I got a free private screening of the film. It was kind of awesome. What was awkward, however, was during the funny bits. I would laugh out loud and be the only person in the theater. That felt kind of weird. But overall, it was a very pleasant, although somewhat disconcerting, experience. Can you imagine someone in an American theater being like, "eh, just head on in without buying a ticket?" No. Never.
2) I am participating in a swim meet on Sunday. Or, as the Irish call it, a swim gala. I am swimming the 50 fly, 100 IM, and 100 free, plus two relays. Now. Keep in mind this is a collegiate swim meet. In America, you are not allowed to swim 50s competitively once you are eleven years of age. 50s are strictly for 10 and unders. (with the exception of the 50 free) Here, the only 100 available to swim is the IM and the free. I am swimming the 100 free because my coach wants to see me do "distance." The 100 free is distance. This is incredible. Also, I am 23 years old and a graduate student. I have not swum competitively in 5 years. I really feel like I'm in a time warp. I think the meet will be incredibly humorous. We're swimming against University College Dublin, for what it's worth. I just can't believe I am actually doing this. Annemarie is going to come, and she claims she is going to make a sign.
3) At a party last night, an Irish guy told me I was smart "for a woman." I don't even want to editorialize on that. I'll just say that one. Although I will tell you I was so enraged that later that night (probably two hours later), I was still fuming about it to anyone who would listen. The woman who sold me my chicken nuggets at McDonald's. My roommate when we met in the kitchen at around 3 a.m. I made Annemarie and my friend Mike listen to me rage about it at least three times each. I sent emails about it. I. Was. Furious. And probably pretty humorous to watch. I can't really think of anything else that has made me that angry off the top of my head. Now, in the light of day, I guess I can see it's mildly humorous that someone can both think that way and ADMIT OUT LOUD they think that way in the year 2010. Maybe humorous isn't quite the right word, but that's probably the correct word for what I'm sure was an outrageous display of rage in my reaction.
I will be home in less than a month!
1) I went to see The Social Network the other day. This, in and of itself, is not terribly humorous. What is funny is how it happened. I was working on a paper Tuesday afternoon and got really stuck. I couldn't think of anything to say, my thoughts weren't going anywhere, you know the drill. I decided to look up the times for The Social Network, thinking if there was one later that night I could invite some people and make it like a reward for working hard throughout the day. You know, motivation for finishing my paper. When I googled the times, I discovered the only showing that day was at 3:30. It was currently 3:10. Impulsively, I decided to change my reward into a study break. I also decided to go alone. This was the first time I had ever been to a theater by myself, but I've always thought that that wouldn't be weird. I mean, once the lights go off, you can't talk to whoever you came with anyway. So I grabbed my coat and off I went to a matinee of The Social Network by myself.
Once I got there, I tried to go to the ticket booth. No one was standing there. I rang the little bell they put on the counter like 4 times. No one came. I tried shouting, "hello!" No one. I was the only person in the lobby besides the guy working the concession stand. I went up to that guy and asked him how to buy a ticket. He asked if anyone was at the ticket booth, I said no. He shrugged and was like, "Don't worry about it then. Just head on in." I was like, "Wait... seriously? Without buying a ticket?" He was like, "Sure, no problem. Just go on into the theater."
So in I went. I was the only person in the theater designated for The Social Network. As 3:30 drew closer, I began to wonder if anyone else was going to show up. No one did. And they played the movie for me anyway. I got a free private screening of the film. It was kind of awesome. What was awkward, however, was during the funny bits. I would laugh out loud and be the only person in the theater. That felt kind of weird. But overall, it was a very pleasant, although somewhat disconcerting, experience. Can you imagine someone in an American theater being like, "eh, just head on in without buying a ticket?" No. Never.
2) I am participating in a swim meet on Sunday. Or, as the Irish call it, a swim gala. I am swimming the 50 fly, 100 IM, and 100 free, plus two relays. Now. Keep in mind this is a collegiate swim meet. In America, you are not allowed to swim 50s competitively once you are eleven years of age. 50s are strictly for 10 and unders. (with the exception of the 50 free) Here, the only 100 available to swim is the IM and the free. I am swimming the 100 free because my coach wants to see me do "distance." The 100 free is distance. This is incredible. Also, I am 23 years old and a graduate student. I have not swum competitively in 5 years. I really feel like I'm in a time warp. I think the meet will be incredibly humorous. We're swimming against University College Dublin, for what it's worth. I just can't believe I am actually doing this. Annemarie is going to come, and she claims she is going to make a sign.
3) At a party last night, an Irish guy told me I was smart "for a woman." I don't even want to editorialize on that. I'll just say that one. Although I will tell you I was so enraged that later that night (probably two hours later), I was still fuming about it to anyone who would listen. The woman who sold me my chicken nuggets at McDonald's. My roommate when we met in the kitchen at around 3 a.m. I made Annemarie and my friend Mike listen to me rage about it at least three times each. I sent emails about it. I. Was. Furious. And probably pretty humorous to watch. I can't really think of anything else that has made me that angry off the top of my head. Now, in the light of day, I guess I can see it's mildly humorous that someone can both think that way and ADMIT OUT LOUD they think that way in the year 2010. Maybe humorous isn't quite the right word, but that's probably the correct word for what I'm sure was an outrageous display of rage in my reaction.
I will be home in less than a month!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)