Causey Farm and Temple Bar

So finally got out of the city into some real good ol' farm land. The Causey Farm. They took about 100 of the international students on two double-decker buses. (yes Lori they have double-decker buses and they do drive on the left hand side) The first thing I did was pet the border collies...naturally. Then we made dough for baking bread, played the bodhran (it is official I have no musical capabilities) but I like the sound of the drum a lot. Maybe I can convince Michael Barracato to get off his bass and learn some Irish drumming....not likely...We took a truck into the forest and visited a bog. Now, I have no prior knowledge of bogs nor did I think I would be particularly interested but it's kinda like a historic, insulated mud bath. So, only a milometer of ground is added to it every year, which means if you stick your leg in, which three people did, you are literally touching Earth 1000 years ago. 100 years ago they used it as a refrigerator. Today they use it as a 100 Euro facial...yeah. I did not touch it. It would have died of hypothermia but I want to go back in May and "swim" in it when it's warmer. When we returned from the bog, it was time for Hurling. I don't hurl. So I set off on my own to find these border collie puppies everyone kept mentioning. ADORABLE! I wasn't alone for long though because a farm boy named Steven escorted me around to see the other animals. Steven was sort of shy and tall with brilliant blue eyes. He showed me the largest pig I had ever seen...and I've been to the County Fair people...I know my swine. This pig was about as long as a picnic table and taller than my scooter. It reminded me of the villain from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, the second one. Anyway, I then ate my baked bread with some soup and returned to the collies when everyone was learning an Irish jig. It was a great day on the farm.
That night, it was time to honor an Irish pastime...to drink. About 12 of us met up on campus to have some liquid courage before setting out into Temple Bar. We were listening to some music when a rather crude song came on. Whistle by Flo Rida. Now, if you've never heard the song before, you wouldn't know this but ultimately the whole thing is a double entendre for fellatio. This was not known to the two unsuspecting French men and after many painful attempts to explain without explaining...I finally had to step up to the plate. Surprisingly, this isn't the first conversation I had about defining the term. In fact despite the language barrier it was much easier to explain with the French than it was back home to a friend who shall remain nameless...you know who you are. ANYWAY, it turns out to be a real ice breaker and I finally got to use my poor rusty french. I was so happy. I had a moment where I realised this is it. This is why we learn languages in school. I wouldn't have spent the rest of the night speaking with them and making new friends if I hadn't have taken French. So thank you Madame Gipe. Thank you for pushing me. It really is as rewarding as you said. The rest of the night was spent in Temple Bar. THE Temple Bar where they had a live band playing the song from P.S. I Love You.  It goes: "Whats a fella to do? Her hair was black and her eyes were blue." Everyone was dancing while strategically holding their Guinness. I later joined to frolic with the locals and they were all so much fun. TOP NIGHT! Also I offered my french fries to a homeless man and he turned it down. So...maybe he wasn't homeless, but the next guy took them. Either way no fries were wasted in the making of a TOP NIGHT!