Pubs, pubs, pubs, and more pubs!

So my actual classes don't start for another two weeks.. which means these first three weeks are all about getting accustomed to Irish culture. And Irish culture means pubs. All day, everyday. People here will go to the pubs before work in the morning and get a pint like it's no big deal. Our professors here, whom we're suppose to call by their first names and not professor, invite us out to drink with them after class.

I should clear up this class thing. I do have an Irish 101 class for the first three weeks before regular classes start. It's split up into five sections: Irish Culture and Society, Political and Economical Landscape of Ireland, Peace and Conflict, Irish History, and Anglo-Irish Literature. And everyday we have about six hours of class. Also, for every hour we would have had class in America, it's two hours here. Argo, I'm taking six credit hours per class here, and getting three credit hours at Ship. Sucky.

Anyway, so basically all us Americans have just been trying to fit in with the locals and go to pubs every night. There's always some sort of deal going on, luckily. For example, Tuesday night at a dance club called Dicey's, it was student night. That means €3 pints and bottles. Which is a pretty good deal. Most pubs are about €4.80 every night for a pint of Bulmers or Guinness. Temple Bar area is about €6 for  a pint of Guinness. Mad expensive over there.

Now for the truth about Irish pub culture. People told us that the Irish don't go out to pubs and get drunk. They go out and sip on a pint of Guinness and have an artful conversation. That is a down right lie haha. Every Irish person I've talked to at any pub I've been to has been druuuuunk. Granted they can hold a conversation while shitfaced, they're not sipping ha. Again however, those folks going to the pub before work or in their lunch hour, are sipping a bit. Only about two pints at those times. Maybe that's what we were told about. And then after 7PM, that's when the real drinking kicks in. On the way to school, every day, at every pub we pass, there are about 20-30 empty kegs outside waiting to be replaced. Guess I have more learning to do ;)


I also wanted to touch on slang I've picked up so far.
Dodgy = sketchy. For example, when I tell people which part of Dublin I live in, they usually say, "Oh, that's a bit of a dodgy area." Lovely.
When getting a cab, ask for a "lift." If you ask for a ride, you'll either get arrested for prostitution or have one hell of a time :P
Speaking of prostitution. A sure fire way to know who's a prostitute and who's just a slutty girl walking the streets at night, a scrunchy. I've seen a couple in my "dodgy" area.
"Fall under a bus in the morning" means to die.
"Nacker" means douchebag. Usually can be spotted by wearing track pants and a track jacket. In England they're known as chavs.
Chips means fries.
Crisps mean potato chips. These aren't good over here. They come in Cheese&Onion or Salt&Vinegar. If you're lucky, you can find original flavor, but they're bland. Almost like I'm chewing on a raw potato.
"Craic" means a good time/good conversation. Example, pubs say, "Come in and have some good craic." A bit dodgy when you hear it said for the first time..


Well, that's it for now. Byeeeee.