We're all one in the same - kinda

Gibberish. At first I heard gibberish.

Their accents were super thick, the slang was an adjustment, and I constantly felt rude for saying "What?" so many times during one conversation. Now I'm even thinking with an Irish accent!! (That might be a little stretch.)

What's the craic? How's the craic? = What's happening? How is it going?
You are an eejit. = You're an idiot.
Come off it! = Drop it, stop talking about it.
Unreal, Savage, Class = Awesome
Culchie = Someone from the country, not city life
Mineral = Soda
Chip = French fries
Taytos & Hunky Dorys = American chips
Mot (mutt) = Girlfriend
What's that yoke? = What's that thing? - unidentified object
Jaysus = Wow! Holy smokes!
I'm grand. = I'm fine, lovely.
Are you plenty? = Are you happy? pleased?
Git = Annoying person, rude
Fag = cigarette
Fair play! = Well done! Congratulations!

That's about all I can think of that I've heard more than once. A big adjustment that is still going to take a little work is the roads thing. They're on the opposite side of the road and I just about can't seem to remember that. You walk everywhere, literally everywhere — which means you almost get run over by 2-3 cars per outing. It seems dangerous but tonight I felt pretty confident with my walking and lived to tell the tale.

Housing -- oyy with the housing! Living is SO different in the smallest of ways. The bathroom is where all the knick knacks and changes are most found.

Toilets don't have but a couple ounces of water in the bottom, in order to save water. Then you flush between two buttons (( you're smart, you can figure that out )) or flush with the handle. Mine is a handle flush and it doesn't really add any water to the bowl. It's odd.

Showers are made to preserve the hot water and save on heating and be efficient. Cold showers do occur. Every apartment has a water heater that is on a setting called "timed." This means that the water will heat up during the middle of the night and allow for hot water the next day. FALSE. It allows for a certain amount of hot water for the lucky ones. You snooze, you lose. Hot water. Literally.

Outlets. Well yes I knew that I would need a converter, I didn't realize I would need an extension cord as well. The locations of the outlets are odd. They are not any in the bathroom and the ones in the bedroom are all above the desk. In order to do you hair you need to open the closet with a mirror on it or my favorite - using photo booth. GUILTY! :))

Outside of the house is crazy how much they take care of their environment. Which makes sense, it's your place of living and you SHOULD take care of it.
1. There are 5 different garbage cans. Liquid waste, food waste, paper, recyclable cans, and general waste.
2. People will pick up trash that they just find - ALL the time.
3. Store do not give you bags, you use reusable ones that you buy for a Euro at Dunnes stores.
4. If you require plastic bags you will be charged 1 Euro for every 4 bags.
5. Pop is served in cans not plastic or throw away glasses - ever. Recycle bins nicely located everywhere.
6. Outlets must be individually turned on and off. There is a small "on-off" switch next to each one.
7. They ask repeatedly that if not being used a light is off.
and my favorite ...
8. Water dispensing machines. Filtered water machines are found throughout campus to promote not having throw away water bottles and refilling instead. PS: It's free. So why pay?

It's crazy how much they take care of the environment in the simplest of ways, but truly do make an impact! The U.S. should really think about the difference we could make with adopting some of these small techniques.

Boys.

The Irish boy/man is brilliant. He nods and says "Hello my lady." Nothing derogatory or sarcastic, just a sincere greeting. They hold every door open for you and all your friends. After conversing it's not unlikely they'll shake your hand and give it a kiss. They dress like Abercrombie models with a twist of Calvin Klein and so much David Beckham swag. They're a work of art, some of them! Always an oddball.

The women are fascinating. They wear such comfortable outfits but look so good! Dresses with tights and boots and overside sweaters are a hit thing during the day. Decorative, thick tights under shorts with boots are totally in. The green army jackets are a must around here! Jean material is worn as oversized shirts with a scarf, cardigan, leggings, and cute flat shoes. The leather jacket. You wear it to class, you wear it to the store, you wear it over everything and anything. Scarves look great with it, necklaces fit nicely, it's genius. Night life strikes and the women are showing up in some serious style. There are all lengths of dresses out and all sorts of heights of heels. With business jackets or THE leather jacket over top. Curled hair, straight hair, no matter it's probably out of their face and up.

If you know my style at all - I LOVE THIS.

Final adjustment that is old, real fast — COBLESTONE.

My dogs are constantly barking from walking on that. My heels are torn up from my shoes and the bottoms are so incredibly sore. How women wear heels across it, people ride bikes so smoothly, and not ruin a good amount of shoes every year is astounding. But well played Galway, well played.

Surely I will notice more and more as the trip continues but this is a little for you to ponder as I continue living my Irish dream!!