fadó agus arís eile

coming to a close

2009-10-28T10:05:00.000-07:00

Life has indeed gotten better, but it's also brought change with it. It's nearly November and, given the way life has worked out, it's also nearly the end of my residence here in Ireland.

Since August the hours at work have become increasingly light, making life nearly financially impossible. In combination with the end of my Master's program, this means that there are now more things pushing me away from here and pulling me home to California than keeping me here.

So off I will go mid-November, a mere three weeks from now.

October was still pretty good, though. Arad came for a two week visit, and besides hanging around Cork we made our way around Dublin, Howth, and Kinsale. Badminton has started back up with university, and so I've been seeing more of my lovelies.

The highlight, of course, is the Irish ISBT in Limerick. It was this past weekend, and we had an extra day of insanity thanks to the bank holiday. The theme for this year was '3'. As follows, you can see the group photo of UCCers' costumes:

I was the Holy Ghost. See if you can spot my Trinity counterparts!

Badminton trips always, ALWAYS constitute the highlight of my life here. It's a high that's hard to come down from--playing badminton, partying, and sleeping just enough to begin the cycle again the next day. The craic is unbeatable, as is the company.

So for this very second, I'm stuck in that stage of wanting to stay longer, reminded of all the reasons why I do love this country and why I moved here in the first place. But I also know, even if I don't currently want to remember, that this is the best time for me to make my exit.

2009-09-30T16:12:00.000-07:00

My thesis is DONE! All 130 pages of it is done, printed, and handed in.

I am FREEEEEE! See?

That's really all I did for September, and unfortunately I'm barely exaggerating. Work has given me very few hours and badminton didn't start up 'til last week. But as of today, life gets better.

at summer's end

2009-08-20T06:25:00.000-07:00

It's been a while. Here's a summary of my summer:

I came back from Switzerland and essentially waited to go home.

I went home for two weeks! I visited two of my wonderful Scrippsies and got to walk around campus. I went camping in Yosemite with the siblings and their significant others. I hung around JMZ camps/campstaff. I saw my home friends. I chilled with Becky, Hailey, and Arad. And then I broke my own heart flying back. Two weeks is not enough time.

I moved! I live in a pleasant new abode just across from the gym. Only one other housemate has moved in, but I get on quite well with her! Here are some photos. Mind you, it's actually more spacious than the pictures make it out to be. It's not fancy, but it's comfortable (which is more than I could say for my summer housing).

I went to Norway! We were there for four-ish days. But don't ask me what Norway looks like, or if I know any Norwegian, or anything silly like that. We lived in the badminton hall. Literally. I love ISBTs (international student badminton tournaments). They are always, ALWAYS legendary.

This is what Norway looked like for me.

I'm writing my thesis. Two chapters down, two to go! I'm going to have to cut so much out... I'm at 9,000 words already!

summer sun.... sometimes

2009-06-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

The month of June is gone, and I can't say I miss it.

I spent the first half of the month working, writing a chapter for my thesis, and training for badminton as much as possible. This period of time was largely unremarkable, apart from the fact that I moved to different (cheaper!) housing for the summer. Now I am much closer to the gym and city center, and even slightly closer to work as well.

Then I went to Geneva, Switzerland to play in the European University Championships. We (six of us from UCC) were representing Ireland--yes, that means I represented Ireland internationally, and yes, I do find this hilarious.

Go Ireland! Go America!

We didn't win by any stretch of the imagination, but it wasn't because we are intrinsically worse players--it was more about training standards and experience. And we played our best, so no complaints really. I lost both of the two singles matches I played in three sets, won a mixed match, and lost another mixed in three. All things considered, it was a fantastic experience. The courts were perfect, we had umpires and line judges and electric scoreboards, and there were even free sports massage therapists.

The upside of not winning a whole lot? More time to do fun things. Like swimming at a beachfront resort. And catching a boat across Lake Geneva to a French village, Yvoire. We also made friends with the team from Bath (England), with the Germans, and with Cyprus (not the whole team from Cyprus, just the one girl who spoke English who we nicknamed Cyprus). Most importantly, I was with my teammates all the while--and UCC was definitely one of the closest teams, if not the closest.

Now I'm home for just over a week, and then I fly home to Cali for a two week visit. I cannot wait.

the fruits of May

2009-05-25T04:37:00.000-07:00

May has been a quiet month. There's been very little badminton, as the gym hall has been carpeted over for exams. My classes finished a few weeks ago, after we did our thesis presentations. I rather apathetically wrote and handed in my final essay. My program had our annual conference, this year's theme being 'Irish Feminisms and the Future.' It was alternatively inspiring and incredibly frustrating (long story short: I don't think that title was representative of the content of the conference). Other than that, I've just been working.

As for how my thesis presentation went, I presented first--I was really nervous, and late (I thought we were in a building across campus). Nevertheless, it turned out okay. Everyone seemed really impressed, including my thesis supervisor. Apparently my fear of public speaking doesn't show at all, thank goodness. For anyone who's interested, here was my presentation (if you go to the 'open in a new window' option, you can expand to see my talking points/notes as well via the small icon in the lower right-hand corner, so things may make a bit more sense):

(Mind you, the presentation was really informal--more to serve as an update on what we've been doing so far. It was just my classmates, my supervisor, and a few other professors associated with the program. So I didn't have to worry too much about proper citations, exact formatting, etc.)

Perhaps most exciting for those of you in California, I bought tickets for a visit home in July. Yay!

in the midst of things

2009-04-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's practically May. I actually can't. Since the drudgery of February, the time has just flown by.

Following on the heels of the Intervarsities, Becky, Heather, and Hailey came to visit me. It was a bit crowded in the house (2 extra people plus a one year old in a house with three other guys is not something I would recommend), but wonderful to see them. Hailey has gotten so big, it's unreal! She's a whole little person!

People love me enough to visit me halfway across the world, lucky me!
Left: Hailey, Heather, Becky, and me in Kinsale
Below: Arad and me at Blarney Castle

A week and a half (and a paper) after they left, Arad flew in. He was here for the past two weeks and just left this morning. This visit was notably different from the last in several salient respects: (1) I had to go to work, and thus had less time with him, (2) we weren't both disgustingly ill, and (3) it wasn't freezing cold outside. Still, we managed to fly through another tv series (last time it was me showing him four seasons of West Wing, this time it was him showing me two and a half seasons of Grey's Anatomy).

I've still had a fair amount of badminton. While Becky & Co. were here I had a competition for Co. Cork up in Galway (we placed 2nd), then after they left we had the Intercolleges competition up in Dublin (we won) and I played in a leisure tournament deep in rural Kerry in the town of Listowel. While Arad was here, we had the Hanes Handicap cup in Killarney (we won, even though I was having a monumentally off day) and the Munster Club Division 1A finals in Limerick (we won). So he got to see more of Ireland--or its badminton halls at least.

Tonight, I was elected Secretary for UCC badminton for next year. We'll see how this works out.

Mission Accomplished

2009-03-16T17:38:00.000-07:00

Anybody who has heard me talk about Cork has probably heard me talk about UCC badminton, and anybody who has heard me talk about UCC badminton has probably heard me talk about the Intervarsities.

It's the yearly competition for all the college badminton teams in Ireland.

Two years ago, UCC came off a 15ish year losing streak to win:

2007 Waterford Intervarsities Champs

Last year, I flew back from California (in the midst of thesis hell) to compete. We lost in the semi-finals due to some petty mind games on the part of opponents. Still awesome:

2008 Dublin Intervarsities Semi-Finalists

This past weekend, WE WON!!!!!!!!!!

2009 Maynooth Intervarsities CHAMPIONS

Oh, and we won the Munster Premiere League in Killarney on St. Paddy's Day. UCC is unstoppable. I am just overflowing with pride in each and every single one of my teammates--how well they played, how well we worked together, what fantastic people they are.

Jessica is happy. That is all.

february humdrum

2009-02-27T12:32:00.000-08:00

Nearly the end of February now, and to be honest it's been the best February in quite a few years (though the standard is very, very low).

I spent a fantastic weekend out in Castleisland in Kerry (stayed at a friend's home, visited Crag caves and the Pantomime, and won the Senior I doubles final).

Made it through the 19th, with the unexpected help of a few good friends from badminton.

Last weekend nine of us from badminton won the Irish Juniors Division II up in Galway (spent Friday night playing cards in Ennis at my teammate's home, had good times in Saturday out in Galway, came home exhausted Sunday).

The view from Ciara's backyard overlooking Ballyallia lake near Ennis in Co. Clare

This week I wrote my third paper (domestic violence and the public/private divide)--didn't sleep more than ten minutes Wednesday, the result of which was that I passed out on Thursday and slept about 13 hours.

And of course I've been working. I have to get a bike. Walking this much (1.5 hours to/from work, plus another hour if I have class) is making my knees twinge. Which then means I can't go running at the gym, which in turn means I'm less in shape than I'd prefer to be for badminton.

Not much news at the moment really. Just kinda getting on with life, but I've a lot to look forward to in March and April. My favourite thing for the moment? The days are getting longer. More light = happier Jessica! I much prefer walking home at sunset rather than in the dark.

a new year, and some new stuff

2009-02-06T12:48:00.000-08:00

I broke my rule of posting within every calendar month. Maybe I'll make up for it with two February entries. Maybe not. Anyway, what I've been up to....

I had lots of visitors over the holidays, which was heartening. Arad was here, of course. Fiona (from summer camps) hopped over for four days, during which time the three of us trekked out to Galway. And just after Arad left, Erin (my friend who studied abroad with me here) came to visit for a week.

Academically, I turned in another paper--this one on intersexuality and how it affects our understanding of sex and gender. I've also met with my thesis advisor and begun the process of starting to work on a lit review. At least theoretically I've started.

Having spent my holidays sick (thanks to Arad, who was actually worse off than me), I've since been getting back into shape. Lots of running at the gym, lots of rowing, jump-roping, squats, abs. It's been good; I feel much better than I did at the beginning of January. I also competed in the Senior I competition, and the finals for it are on Sunday. I had fitness testing for my sports scholarship, so now that's done and over with, thankfully.

Most excitingly, however, I got a job!!! I was rather desperate for one, and it's nigh impossible to find anything in this economic climate. I'll be working with children in a playzone, minding them and setting up birthday parties. Nothing challenging, but still fun! I really wanted to do something with kids, so I'm pretty happy about this.

Also, it snowed in Cork several times this week. That is VERY unusual. It is also VERY cold. Hence the picture of me, cold.

happy holidays and a happy new year!

2008-12-25T09:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays, everyone! And (for those of you who celebrate it) a happy Christmas!

I am spending today curled up in the house with Arad--we've been watching West Wing, we feasted on chocolate chip pancakes, eggs, and orange juice, and we'll be skyping in to Christmas with the family in a few hours. A quiet, but pleasant, Christmas.

My first Christmas tree of my own! Nothing glamorous, but still full of cheer!

Over the past month and a half:

-I've handed in two papers, one on feminist methodology and another on feminist theory. I've also handed up a thesis topic proposal, which I'll hear back on after the holidays. Next up: gender essay!

-I've played a lot of badminton. I think I'm getting worse though. Maybe the break will do me good. Or maybe it will just make me (even more) out of shape. Only time will tell.

-I've suddenly developed the urge to cook. I've made Dutch babies (twice), strawberry crazy cake, soy marinated chicken, biscuit cake (a la Liam), and of course the chocolate chip pancakes.

-I applied for two jobs, both of which I still might get (in the slowest hiring "process" ever, apparently). But now I have to wait until after New Year's to hear more. Sigh.

So, yeah, life is what it is. I'm happy it's the holidays, and I'm happy that Arad is here to keep me company. Love to you all!

for the first time in such a long time

2008-11-07T12:53:00.000-08:00

I've been doing my course, and so far we've been covering feminist film theory, feminist methodology, and feminist oral history. One of the women in my course gave me Fat is a Feminist Issue to read, so I've been working my way through that.

Then there's badminton. I played in the Connaught Juniors Tournament up in Sligo two weekends ago, and placed second in the singles (losing to my teammate from UCC, so it's ok). Last weekend I was up in Dublin for the Irish Juniors, and really didn't make much of an account for myself at all. It was disappointing, but we all have our off days and our less-than-shining moments. So be it. This weekend I'm off to Limerick for the ISBT competition. Oh! I did get a badminton scholarship from UCC though, which means that this coming week I've fitness testing and have to go speak to a nutritionist and other such things. But yay for money (hopefully it will be enough to cover the cost of badminton, which is already at around E250 for this year).

I've also been really involved in the International Development Society. I was on the planning committee for our Diversity Week Event. The day we were asked to cover was on Race and Religion, so we put together a booth, a panel of speakers on discrimination, and a multicultural food gathering for it. I myself developed a survey on discrimination that we distributed, baked loads of challah, and helped set up. Below, you can see my challah baking extravaganza:

I was really worried that the day would veer towards the meaningless "Let's celebrate diversity!" kind of thing. It definitely could have been more substantive, I felt, but it wasn't too bad, and there was actual content about racism from the speakers. Of course, on the same day that I was devoting to anti-discrimination, my home state was busy voting to discriminate against gay people. So that was devastating.

In a small but hugely symbolically important windfall, at least Obama won. Watching him, Michelle, Malia, and Sasha walk on the stage for his acceptance speech was the biggest thrill. Knowing that these were the faces of the people who would represent our country for the next four years--it made me feel proud to be American for the first time, really. Don't get me wrong. I understand that, as he said, "this victory alone is not the change we seek, but only the opportunity for that change." Shark Fu (of Feministing but more well-known for AngryBlackBitch) puts it more colloquially, but no less aptly: "So I shall cherish this moment and rest my tired ass feet for a spell, for we have miles upon miles yet to walk..."

So yeah. I'm doing my best to stay active, both in a physical and political sense. And to resist the urge to just curl up and watch a DVD while wasting hours away on Skype. But the latter tends to win out. ;)

making it feel like home

2008-10-15T01:38:00.000-07:00

I promised photos of my new abode, so here's the delivery (click on the photo for a mini-tour on Flickr):

Life here has begun to settle in to a routine of sorts. Or, if not a routine, at least there are predictable contours to my days: doing yoga in my room; badminton training on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and any other day(s) I can find people to call down to the gym with (which in the case of last weekend meant Friday, Saturday, and Sunday--SCORE!); attending the International Development Society weekly meeting; going to my course Tuesday-Thursday; sleeping in at the weekends; and Skyping every night with Arad until I reluctantly realise that bed cannot be put off for any longer.

Of course, having just asserted that things were rather routine, I now provide the exception: this week I am volunteering for the Cork Film Festival. This makes me rather busy--I am working a total of five four-hour shifts (Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) for the education outreach program. All this means is that I show primary and secondary school kids in to the theatre. I'm a glorified usher, and it's a glorious volunteer gig--while working my shifts, I have so far gotten to listen to John Kelleher, Director of the Irish Film Classification Board, talk about film censorship in Ireland and to see Kings, an Irish film starring Colm Meaney that I've been itching to see for months now. Volunteering also means I get free membership to the Festival, and get in to one film free for every shift I work (I'm having a love affair with this word, 'free'). Although I haven't fully decided yet, I am definitely going to see Great Shorts, Women's Shorts, and Brides of Allah.

It's all very exciting and in good fun. More to follow.

2008-09-22T05:35:00.000-07:00

After seventeen hours of travel on top of a sleepless night I arrived in Cork, safe and sound.

A soft, green landing in Shannon

My home is lovely (pictures to follow in next post), though far out from college.
I haven't met the fourth person in the house yet.
The lovely (gorgeous for here) weather is buffering my homesickness.
So far, I have been to a barbecque, went out dancing, and watched the All-Ireland [Gaelic] football final (Kerry lost to Tyrone in the last five minutes--it was so close!).
I have lots to sort out.
And I am glad to be here, but I miss my last month's routine rather desperately. It was a good routine.

Already, I've had discussions about the educational system in Ireland v. US, homophobia in Irish men, and the changing gender roles for women. Food for thought.

list-making, an introduction

2008-09-11T16:04:00.003-07:00

As the eve of my departure looms closer (less than a week now), I find it appropriate that I should take stock of the various benefits and losses of my decision to head back to Cork.

What I shall (sorely) miss....

The Bay Area, as taken from the Stanford Dish

my adorable, apple-of-my-eye niece, Hailey
Bikram Yoga
my sister Becky
Sun. And warm weather.
Pearl Iced Tea
fresh [cheap] fruit
The Daily Show
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Trader Joe's
milkshakes from Peninsula Creamery
the availability of salads (mmmm, Pluto's)
Netflix
All of my friends

What I look forward to....

Cork City on a "cloudless" day

badminton
the people from badminton: Joyce, Edel, Lucy, Ann, Philip, Ronan, Enda, Liam, Gary, Ciara, Colm, etc.
The Panel
Home and Away
tea, all the time!
soda bread
tim tams
Irish accents (especially de Cork ones, like!)
not really leaving school
the availability of cider on tap
making Euros, not dollars
the English market

This list is a work in progress, subject to my wanderings and pangs of longing.