Madilyn here:
Last Thursday (September 22nd because when do I ever do anything on time?), Cody and I went to the 2016 Irish Fulbright Orientation. I was very glad to be allowed to go despite being only the spouse of a Fulbrighter because between failing to hear back from my first few volunteer inquiries and waiting in schedule limbo for the roof to be fixed I had almost exclusively seen and spoken to Cody for three weeks. I was ready for new people.
The event was held in Cork and started on the UCC campus. In our hubris, we believed we had a good enough grasp of the campus layout to find the building with no problem. After two wrong turns and an illogical fence, we were only five minutes late. We ran into another couple in the hallway looking for the same room; they were also living in Cork, so we were not the only ones who overestimated our navigation ability.
The first part of the orientation included a lot of talking, as they do. Everyone took turns describing their research interests and how they chose Ireland. Cody and I were not the only married couple; however, we were the only student couple. I also think we were the youngest people in the room and the only ones so recently out of undergraduate study.
Last Thursday (September 22nd because when do I ever do anything on time?), Cody and I went to the 2016 Irish Fulbright Orientation. I was very glad to be allowed to go despite being only the spouse of a Fulbrighter because between failing to hear back from my first few volunteer inquiries and waiting in schedule limbo for the roof to be fixed I had almost exclusively seen and spoken to Cody for three weeks. I was ready for new people.
The event was held in Cork and started on the UCC campus. In our hubris, we believed we had a good enough grasp of the campus layout to find the building with no problem. After two wrong turns and an illogical fence, we were only five minutes late. We ran into another couple in the hallway looking for the same room; they were also living in Cork, so we were not the only ones who overestimated our navigation ability.
The first part of the orientation included a lot of talking, as they do. Everyone took turns describing their research interests and how they chose Ireland. Cody and I were not the only married couple; however, we were the only student couple. I also think we were the youngest people in the room and the only ones so recently out of undergraduate study.
After brief introductions to the history of the Fulbright in Ireland, Irish Government (which seems to make a lot more sense than Congress), Irish higher education, and the Irish language we went on a tour of UCC. By "tour" I mean that a guide walked us around the original building and then we stood outside while he told us about the history of the university. I suppose as that used to be the entire campus it technically counts. We did get to go into the staff lounge and see the only statue of a British monarch still displayed in the Republic of Ireland.
The sky then opened up and dumped rain on us for the precise amount of time it took to walk to the hotel where everyone else was staying. They had coffee and tea for us, so we could eat pastries and look at the sun breaking through the clouds outside while our clothes dried.
We had dinner at an excellent restaurant on the other side of town; the conversation would have been the best part if not for the ice cream with caramel sauce and candied nuts. We ended up sitting at the opposite end of the table from everyone our age, but I didn't find I had that much trouble participating in the conversation. I learned a lot. Also, everyone seemed to share a strong distaste for Donald Trump, which was incredibly refreshing.
After dinner we were going to walk to a local pub/brewery, but opted for something closer because it was 10 p.m. at that point and no one felt like walking forever. We got to meet more of our fellow students while we were there, but the pub was even louder than the restaurant had been. Everyone mostly agreed it was time to go after the first drinks since it was very loud and we were starting early the next morning. The walk home was very nice, and we found out that several other Fulbright students studying at UCC live a few streets over.
The sky then opened up and dumped rain on us for the precise amount of time it took to walk to the hotel where everyone else was staying. They had coffee and tea for us, so we could eat pastries and look at the sun breaking through the clouds outside while our clothes dried.
We had dinner at an excellent restaurant on the other side of town; the conversation would have been the best part if not for the ice cream with caramel sauce and candied nuts. We ended up sitting at the opposite end of the table from everyone our age, but I didn't find I had that much trouble participating in the conversation. I learned a lot. Also, everyone seemed to share a strong distaste for Donald Trump, which was incredibly refreshing.
After dinner we were going to walk to a local pub/brewery, but opted for something closer because it was 10 p.m. at that point and no one felt like walking forever. We got to meet more of our fellow students while we were there, but the pub was even louder than the restaurant had been. Everyone mostly agreed it was time to go after the first drinks since it was very loud and we were starting early the next morning. The walk home was very nice, and we found out that several other Fulbright students studying at UCC live a few streets over.
The next day we had breakfast at the hotel where the visiting Fulbrighters were staying. We were supposed to meet the American Ambassador to Ireland. Cody and I managed to get there on time, but had some trouble finding the correct room. However, we were not the only ones having that problem: the ambassador and his escort were also a bit turned around; we have an odd habit of accidentally meeting very important people in hallways.
Eventually we reached the breakfast room along with the ambassador. While he took pictures and shook hands, we got to eat. I had what was effectively an apple pie rolled in a pancake, and Cody had a Half Full Irish Breakfast, which includes everything from a Full Irish Breakfast but in smaller quantities. We decided the blood pudding tasted fine; it tasted like meat but was the texture of bread.
After breakfast, the whole group walked up the hill to Shandon, a neighborhood in Cork. We toured the butter museum; Cody and I had already been there on Culture Night, but this visit came with a butter-making demonstration complete with samples. Then we went across the street to ring the Shandon Bells at St. Anne's church.
The trip up the bell tour started normally except for the sound-proof earmuffs they gave us. We pulled the strings to ring the bells and tried to play some of the songs set out for that purpose (Cody did a pretty poor attempt at Rush's "Tom Sawyer." Then we continued up the tower via an incredibly steep and narrow stone staircase.
Eventually we reached the breakfast room along with the ambassador. While he took pictures and shook hands, we got to eat. I had what was effectively an apple pie rolled in a pancake, and Cody had a Half Full Irish Breakfast, which includes everything from a Full Irish Breakfast but in smaller quantities. We decided the blood pudding tasted fine; it tasted like meat but was the texture of bread.
After breakfast, the whole group walked up the hill to Shandon, a neighborhood in Cork. We toured the butter museum; Cody and I had already been there on Culture Night, but this visit came with a butter-making demonstration complete with samples. Then we went across the street to ring the Shandon Bells at St. Anne's church.
The trip up the bell tour started normally except for the sound-proof earmuffs they gave us. We pulled the strings to ring the bells and tried to play some of the songs set out for that purpose (Cody did a pretty poor attempt at Rush's "Tom Sawyer." Then we continued up the tower via an incredibly steep and narrow stone staircase.
At the top we had a full view of Cork City in every direction. We also had to face very strong winds that made me very glad for the five-foot-high concrete guard walls. I braved a few pictures despite the threat of my phone being blown into the abyss.
One of the most striking things about it was how you could see the end of the city on nearly every side. It suddenly stops and there are green fields stretching over the hills. Cork has roughly the same population as Murfreesboro where I grew up, but it probably has a higher density of amenities, restaurants, and local businesses than downtown Nashville. The whole thing is more safely walkable than a wealthy subdivision, and it just ends. The more I see of the city the more I wonder how people came to the US and suddenly forgot how to use space effectively.
We braved the tiny stairway once more to reach the ground, and then had lunch in the Cork Opera House. During the day they run a small, excellent cafe in the lobby. We talked about meeting up again for the next Fulbright event in Dublin in October and enjoyed our food.
After lunch, most people headed their separate ways. Those who were not living in Cork had to catch their buses or trains to get home. However, a small group of students stopped at another pub nearby. I really think this was the best part of the weekend. There were only a few of us there, and everyone was decompressing from the strain of socializing with a large group of strangers for two days. It was the middle of the afternoon, so the pub was nearly empty and we could actually hear each other talk without having to shout. As much as I enjoyed the rest of the weekend, that part was so much more relaxed that it actually felt like we were really getting to know the other students.
We were still really relieved to be home. We had an incredibly enjoyable afternoon nap.
One of the most striking things about it was how you could see the end of the city on nearly every side. It suddenly stops and there are green fields stretching over the hills. Cork has roughly the same population as Murfreesboro where I grew up, but it probably has a higher density of amenities, restaurants, and local businesses than downtown Nashville. The whole thing is more safely walkable than a wealthy subdivision, and it just ends. The more I see of the city the more I wonder how people came to the US and suddenly forgot how to use space effectively.
We braved the tiny stairway once more to reach the ground, and then had lunch in the Cork Opera House. During the day they run a small, excellent cafe in the lobby. We talked about meeting up again for the next Fulbright event in Dublin in October and enjoyed our food.
After lunch, most people headed their separate ways. Those who were not living in Cork had to catch their buses or trains to get home. However, a small group of students stopped at another pub nearby. I really think this was the best part of the weekend. There were only a few of us there, and everyone was decompressing from the strain of socializing with a large group of strangers for two days. It was the middle of the afternoon, so the pub was nearly empty and we could actually hear each other talk without having to shout. As much as I enjoyed the rest of the weekend, that part was so much more relaxed that it actually felt like we were really getting to know the other students.
We were still really relieved to be home. We had an incredibly enjoyable afternoon nap.