It's been a long week. Over the weekend I enjoyed the last few days of sun (it has since turned muggy and gray). I perused the food market and read a book in the park. I have also completed my second week of running, seven more to go! The other day while on my run I saw a herd of at least thirty deer, it was incredible, especially because for the past year and a half that I have been here I have always been told that there are tons of deer in the park but I had never seen them until now. I guess that makes me a true local.
Ireland has just voted on a referendum. To be honest I have no idea what the implications of the referendum are aside from the fact that it has to do with money and the EU. And Merkel. There are signs everywhere; half of them say vote yes and the other half say vote no. Hmm. I am not eligible to vote so I did not really have to worry about making sense of it all. The results are in and Ireland has voted yes. Is this a good thing? I honestly don't know. What I do know is that from the people I have spoken with it was very unclear to them as to what exactly the consequences of voting or not voting for the referendum were. Further, only a little over one million people turned out to vote, out of a population of over four million. That's terrible! I think part of the problem is that there are so many Irish living abroad (due to the recession) and Ireland does not have absentee voting, in fact they still count the ballots by hand. Putting that aside for a moment, however, I want to know why only a quarter of the population voted?! Were I actually a citizen here and truly affected by EU policies I would be infuriated that so little people bothered to take part in their civic duty. Instead I am mildly perplexed, although as I think on it further I am becoming more and more frustrated. I am especially irritated because I am constantly criticized over US policy and challenged to debates, and while I am not responsible for every action my country makes I can at least say that I vote and choose an active role as a citizen. Regardless of which country you are in, if you are not going to vote then I don't see how you can criticize policies you disagree with if you have not even attempted to exercise your rights and take a stand. Voting is a right and a priveledge. Ladies! Your grandmothers and great-grandmothers fought for you, don't let their fighting be in vain. Many people in many other countries are still not able to vote, you should not take the right to vote for granted. Humph! Alright, time to get off my soapbox again. P.S. I just donated to Obama's campaign, he needs our help!
I saw two plays; first The Chairs by Ionesco and then Pigeon, an original work performed en mask. The Chairs is an absurdist play and while I do like absurdism I have realised that it can be a bit like seeing a film in another language or a play in Elizabethan English, it takes a few moments to adjust and get into the different rhythm (side note: that has to be one of the most bizarrely spelled words in the English language). I also think that at times absurdist plays are no longer as affective as they used to be now that theatre has gone completely post-modern and contemporary, which is actually a bit sad. I'll take some good Beckett any day! Pigeon was done in the style of Lecoq using masks and gesture, the actors did not speak. I am always impressed when masks are used effectively as I know from my little experience with masks that it can be very challenging.
Tuesday was dramatic when one of the people in the community drama class fell and hit her head quite hard, there was blood. Thankfully my first aid classes that I took in ninth grade came in handy and I made sure a compress was applied with pressure. The paramedics were called and took over and said she would be fine after a stitch or two. Oh and I didn't get squeamish or faint or anything! So if I ever decide to go into medicine I guess I can handle other people's blood, just not mine.
On Wednesday I had an experience that has made me realise I am slowly growing up (although I was singing I Won't Grow Up a la Peter Pan in the shower this morning. Yes, I know all the words). The Irishman and I are going to move in together (yikes!) and so I went to view a potential dwelling. I really liked it so now I have to view it again with the Irishman to see if he likes it. Fingers crossed!
My birthday is on Sunday, I will be twenty-four. That means this is the last time my ramblings will be that of a twenty-three year old. I think it will be a good year, I like even numbers. Today, as an early present to myself I got a manicure and pedicure. The woman complimented me on my natural tan (yes, I apparently managed to get a tan for probably the first time ever over this last week of sun). Then she asked me if I wanted my nails shaped square, oval, or squoval. What? Apparently this is a word meaning square and oval? I have not had a manicure in years, I guess the jargon has changed. Anyways, I now have pink squoval fingernails and taupe square toenails. They look very pretty I can't really get over how perfect my nails look. I should be a hand model, clearly.
Well, that's all for now! Be back with some twenty-four year old eloquence (whatever that means)!
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