Easter Monday

Well, it's been two months since we arrived in Ireland. We have a long weekend this week. Easter Monday is a holiday here instead of Good Friday in Canada. But we didn't go anywhere. I'm just so tired on weekdays that I just didn't want to do anything except nothing. However, we did have a dinner get together with a New Zealand couple on Sunday. We met them in the hostel, and they're also here for a working holiday.

Before leaving Canada, I thought that I could live in Ireland for a few years. But it seems like the longer I'm here, the more I want to go home. I know it's only been two months but I’m missing home a lot already. Things are not too much different here, yet everything seems different. That doesn't make any sense at all! They say it takes three months for the culture shock to pass. In that case, I guess I’m going to feel weird for another month. I think I just need to get to know this place some more and find some good things that can keep me here till the end of the year. We'll see what happens in the next few weeks. I think Bo likes it here in Dublin though.

More Pictures!!!

Last set of pictures from Denmark (Hamlet's Castle)http://www.travelgoats.ca/Europe2005/DenmarkPart3/DenmarkPart3.html

Here are some Ireland pictures:
http://www.travelgoats.ca/Europe2005/IrelandPart1/IrelandPart1.html
http://www.travelgoats.ca/Europe2005/IrelandPart2/IrelandPart2.html

Parade pictures from St. Patrick's Day:
http://www.travelgoats.ca/Europe2005/StPaddyDay/StPaddyDay.html

I guess you all know about my job situation eh? Kind of a dilemma (can't move close to either work places) I think it would be bad for me to quit and look for another one since I already accepted the job and starting for a week already. I'm thinking of maybe crashing at the hostel a day or two a week... suggestions?

First Week of Work

My first week of work. I didn't do much except for sitting around, looking busy and reading a bunch of documentation. Being a contractor and all, I thought that they would give me more to do. I've only worked for 4 days this week cause St. Patricks Day is a holiday in Ireland, but the commute is beginning to be unbearable! How am I suppose to work there for another 10 months if I can't stand it already? Someone give me some advice please!!! We can't really move closer cause then it would take Bo forever to get to work. We are thinking to move into the city centre so at least we don't have to compute into city centre then switch transportations...

It turns out that no one goes out for lunch, everyone either brings their lunch or eats in the company cafeteria. The company I work for is pretty big but I think i'm the only Asian... I miss Canada, the multiculturalism, my family and all my Canadian friends.

On another note, there's lots of Asian foods in Dublin. Today we had hotpot for dinner with our house mates. Good stuff!

Some differences:
- Lots (and lots, and lots...) of people swear lots in their conversations.
- More rude people (towards Asians and blacks), but also met lots of nice people
- The buses and trains are very confusing... everything is priced differently, depending on what you take and where you go.
- Lots and lots of people smoke (and drink)... it seems like everyone's a chain smoker here.
- I see alot more drunk people (any time of the day) here in the last month then the entire year in Calgary.

St. Paddy's Day

I got today off and went to see the St. Paddy Day Parade... I didn't think it was too good, but then I'm not a big fan of parades anyways. Bo took lots of pictures, I'll have them posted soon, but don't expect much commentaries. For all those 'green' beer drinkers in Canada, the Irish have no idea what 'green' beer is...

We didn't drink at all today, but instead, had someone over for dinner. She's a Canadian girl that we met while we were at the hostal. We both had to get up early for work the next day so drinking would be bad anyways.

Bo's got a job!

Bo accepted an offer from the company in Dun Laoghaire. I guess he made an impression, and didn't even have to go for a second interview. The lucky little Bo starts work on the Monday after. He gets to rest for another 2 weeks!! Kind of... he's waking up at the same time as me, to make me breakfast.

Bo's got another interview (third time's a charm)

Things are starting to look up for Bo too. He's going for an interview today at Dun Laoghaire (very south side of Dublin) and looks like he may have a couple more lined up. It takes him 1 hr to get there. Bo thinks the interview went well. He was telling them what they should do (he's so arrogant) If he gets this postion, he would be responsible for .NET development. Wish him luck.

...

Today we went to Balbriggin by bus to see how long it would take. I don’t think I’ll take that bus again. It took us over 2 hrs. to get there, spent an hour there and took another 2 hrs to get back. We left the house at 8:45 today and came back to town at around 2pm (not fun) We spent the rest of the day researching different umbrella companies to see which one I should go with. (not fun)

On another note, we had 2 potluck types of parties now. We’re adjusting better now and meeting new friends.

We're connected!

We went to a brand new mall that recently opened in Ireland and it’s supposily the largest mall in Europe. We don’t think it’s too great though. It’s mostly all clothing shops, not enough variety and half of the mall is ‘opening soon’. I think it’s similar in size compared to Chinook. Maybe it’ll be better when everything opens.

We just installed internet, so I’ll be able to post more. I will try to post some pictures soon. Stay tune.

I got a job!

I accepted an offer from the company in Balbriggin. They really liked me, and I didn't even have to go for a second interview. I start on Monday.

The travel is really far... maybe we'll move there. From the locals that i've talked to, there's not much there, not even a theatre. But there is a beach!

I'm getting interviews!

Things are starting to look up. I've got a few interviews lined up and I went for my first job interview today in Balbriggin. This place is in County Dublin (very very far away from Dublin City) It took me 1.5 hrs to get there and another 2hrs to get back. I think the interview went well. If I get this postion, I would be responsible for .NET development, porting old applications to .NET, maintenance, and support. Wish me luck.