It Feels Like Forever

I took a look at a calendar today and I can't believe it's only been 6 days. It feels like I've been here three weeks already. I settled in so fast to the city!

Hannah and I are still hanging out a lot. The night before last night Hannah convinced me to go out for a quick drink at Fibber Magee's- who advertise "The best beer in Galway", but I get the feeling they're lying- and the next thing I knew the owner was offering us a full bottle of champagne if we would sing "Don't Stop Believin'". Six highly embarrassing and tone-deaf minutes later, we were toasting to our good fortune with some of the most delicious champagne I've ever had. I ended up returning to the hostel several drinks in, and having a conversation about accents, Harry Potter, and drivers licenses with three British girls staying in our room.

Last night, we met a bunch of tech guys from Boston U spending their semester in Germany and their break in Ireland. We went bar-hopping with them, which was the most fun I've had since I've been here because there's just something about clubbing with guys, I don't know what it is, that makes it infinitely more fun than just going out with Hannah. No, not like that- they all had girlfriends and I wasn't interested. We went to three bars and a club, and I went drink-for-drink with one of them- a bad plan, as it turned out, because his tolerance was slightly higher than mine and he'd eaten more. Also, I had work at 8am, and before I knew it it was 3am and I was still riding a mechanical bull in a hilariously American-themed bar. I staggered home with Hannah and the guys and passed out on my bed. I woke up still drunk, and tried to log in to the staff computer by poking it with my finger. It's not a touch screen. Steph and Ricky, you would be so proud of me!!!

Before any of you judge me, bear this in mind- I DO NOT GET PAID. So as long as the job gets done right, I can be drunk (and then viciously hung over) at work. Besides, they're treating me like a slave- see below. But I'm taking a few days off from drinking to let my wallet recover.

I started work yesterday. It's so complicated- everything has to be noted and marked and added up and every single penny is accounted for, and it's nowhere near even remotely kinda even a little bit a fun job. I have discovered several bad things about work, but also several good things. I haven't made a pro-con list yet, but let's do it here.

"AW, DAMN"
1. I work A LOT. The same as people who actually get paid, and I don't have that much time off to explore.
2. My hours are crap. I almost inevitably have the evening shift, just when people are hanging out at pubs or in the park, so it cuts down on my socializing potential, and also makes organizing Ultimate near-impossible. I will be working 3-10:45 most nights. Luckily it's still light out at 10:45.
3. I share a room with 9 people- but that's just for now. Tomorrow I'll have to check out of my room and into another one. They have me moving from room to room once a week! >=( WTF? I know it's hard because so many beds are booked, but seriously, if it's that big of a deal, just give me a single so you don't have to worry about groups who want to privatize a 10-person room. Assholes! I shouldn't have to unpack and repack all the freaking time!
4. Nobody plays Ultimate! Rrr...

"SCORE!"
1. The people are nice. They'll take some getting used to, but so far they've been nothing but helpful and fun.
2. I get to go on trips to all sorts of places for free. So far I've only gone to Connemara, the land of the killer sheep, but I'm also going to the Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher for free- and I get discounted rates on travel to Dublin, Killarney, Limerick, and other places.
3. Free food and laundry. Neither of these was supposed to be included, but people leave food behind and I've become an excellent scavenger. OMG so much pasta. I have two gigantic bowls of pasta waiting in the staff fridge. And I can just swipe laundry tokens from the register.
4. I'm in Ireland. And the best place to have a crappy job is Ireland.
5. I can always just leave early to explore all these other cities. It's not like they're paying me.

I think the fact that no one plays Ultimate outweighs almost everything else on this list- except being in Ireland. I wish someone was here with me... I keep reaching for my cell phone to call or text somebody and I can't, and I miss that connection so much! Please please please please go online and talk to me!='(

Love,

Annie "drinking eases loneliness but oh god I need to sleep" Mc