Monday, November 16, 2015

Northern Immersion - Boring in Northern Ireland Too

I woke up early to partake of eggs Benedict and Irish bacon on an English muffin in the Stir Restaurant in the bottom of my hotel.  It was eggscelent.  I sent a picture to my wife just to make her jealous.

JM met me and walked me to the office.  The weather this morning was cold, crisp, and sunny; which according to Billet is a great day in Northern Ireland.  I think his exact phrase was, “If it’s not raining, then it’s a great day.  If it’s sunny, then make sure you’re still in Ireland.”

I met the “guys” today…or at least nine of them.  They seem like a great bunch of guys.  I surprised and impressed them all by knowing each of their names.  CD actually asked me how I did that when we had lunch together.  Day 1 is always the slowest day, because we have to get in a rhythm, learn each other, and do an overview of integration.  In other words, I’m now boring in two countries.  As a matter of fact, the class didn’t perk up until I gave them a one and a half hour lunch.  It really perked up when I let them go around 3:30 p.m.  I guess that transcends countries.

CD, his brother SD, and PS invited me out for lunch at Quay West (pronounced Key West).  They got a pitcher of some sort of fruit beer, which went surprisingly well with the battered cod and chips.  Completely delicious.  I had a great time getting to know them.

This afternoon the sun disappeared and it started raining again.  Well, it was nice while it lasted.  I had let the guys go early, so I decided to attempt a stroll around the city.  I was not prepared for the sub-arctic temperatures, howling wind, or stinging rain; which, of course, waited until I was on the other side of the river…as far away as possible from the hotel…before deciding to attack me.  I did manage some beautiful pictures of the Peace Bridge before heading back.  This bridge was built across the river to create a unity between the Protestants and Catholics that had been warring in Northern Ireland for years.  This is mostly history as the two sides of intermingled through the years.  The bridge is a beautiful winding causeway with artistic construction and graceful lines.  It’s lit above by white lights and below by purple lights that reflect off the river in moving waves of colors.

Just off the river is a beautiful church that climbs into the sky with orange-brick filigree, ending in a Big Ben-like clock tower.  I can see the church from my room and hear the bells toll every hour.  The clock takes on a pink luminescence at night, I’m assuming so it’s not so bright.  It was very pretty against the dark-blue, black stormy sky.

Now, off to meet the guys for a pint and a football match.  Go Ireland!

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Back from the match.  Grabbed a quick dinner in the Stir Restaurant downstairs, so I wouldn’t miss too much of the match.  I tried a Caesar salad and Sweet Potato, Turnip, and Honey soup.  Didn’t care for the salad, but I’ve never been big on Caesar.  The soup was interesting.  I sat next to two other Americans who had to be some of the most boring people I ever eavesdropped on.  They were talking nonsense about Thanksgiving dinners in their past, and what they could cook to get people to change their plans and show up at their house.  But even the way they talked about it was boring.  “What did I cook on the grill?”  “You cooked the corn.” “I must have cooked something else.” “You also cooked some chicken.”  I was rolling my eyes at how stupid they were making Americans sound.

I high-tailed it out of there as fast as I could and got to the pub ten minutes into the match.  CD met me there with his brother and their friends.  He bought me a Guinness, because you can’t go to Ireland and not try a Guinness.  I had foreseen this inevitability, which is why I hydrated and ate some dinner before going.  I must be developing a tolerance, because it didn’t seem to affect me at all.  I did determine that no matter where I drink, I still hate alcohol.

The match was good.  Ireland pulled it out 2-0 and qualified for Euro 2016.  The place was deafening.  Awesome experience!

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