I am slowly, but surely figuring out my way around Jordanstown Campus (Jtown)--it is quite a bit bigger that the campus at the University of Great Falls (UGF), there are about 13,000 students enrolled at Jtown and about 800 at UGF! Besides housing, pretty much everything is in one building that has numerous blocks branching off it for the classrooms and offices; it is somewhat difficult to explain the layout since it does not make much sense.

I had some difficulty enrolling in classes (or what they call modules) due to the fact that my advisor has been out of the office since last week and is suppose to return sometime next week. I went back three times to get someone to help me pick modules and finally got someone on Tuesday (26 January) to help me, and I was enrolled that day even though classes started the day before. After going four different places, I finally was enrolled! :) I am taking "Research Methods of Criminologists" on Wednesdays, "Theories of Crime and Criminalization" on Mondays, and "From Crime Scene to Court" on Fridays. Classes/Modules are consisted of lecture section and a seminar section; from what I understand, a lecture section is where the professor lectures and the seminar section is more of group activities. Now that I have gotten the stress of enrolling off my back, I can now start to enjoy myself here in wonderful Northern Ireland!

On last Monday (25 January), I meet up with Marc Jennings--he is from Northern Ireland and studied abroad at UGF two school years ago. In addition, he took me to IKEA and a grocery store—which was kind of him because I am not a fan of public transportation. On Thursday (28 January), I made my way into Belfast to the Queen's University campus to meet up with James McKevitt--he is from Northern Ireland and studied abroad at UGF last school year. We went and got lunch at Boojum near Queen's. I did not know where we were going to eat at, but it ended up being a burrito place--I said it was a knock-off of Chipotle Mexican Grill back in America (which is my favorite place to go when I am back home in Denver, CO). It was quite tasty, but Chipotle can never be beat! I had a wonderful time with James and it was great to catch up with him!

Then on Friday (29 January), the weather really cannot make up its mind--I thought Colorado and Montana had unpredictable weather, they do not when you compare it to Belfast! The weather has gone from rainy, to sunny, to rain/snow/hail, to sunny, to snow/wind, back to sunny, and finally decided to snow a little bit. I was out most of the day in Belfast after my class in the morning and I just went in to visit some friends. I just came back Friday night to my flat since I had been out all day and was kind of tired by the time I got home.

'Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your long hair!'

Kristen at Victoria Square in Belfast City Center

Kristen, Claudia, and Holly

Holly, Claudia, and I

City Hall

The Big Wheel

However, on Saturday, I was woken up at 8:30a.m. by a fire alarm going off in my block, but it was in flat four because they were cooking bacon and the fire alarm went off. Since I was up for the day, I decided to take a walk along the shore even though it was kind of chilly outside. It was very pretty out with the fresh dusting of snow and not a lot of people were out. I ended collecting some seashells.

Dalriada Village--I live in Block 24 (it is the one in the middle behind the tree)

The main building on campus

Walking to Shore Road

Belfast Lough

My boots blend in with the snow covered sand!

Along my long walk to a bus stop...I ended up going the long way to a bus stop and not to the closest one to campus

I went out with Holly and Kristen to The Bot and had a lot of fun. They live in a suburb of Belfast and near The Bot, so I just crashed at their house for the night. On Sunday morning, Holly and I went to a wee coffee shop around the corner from her house to have some breakfast. Afterwards, I head back to Jtown on the lovely bus system—I am slowly getting the hang of public transportation and I am not a big fan of it at all (but, it is not that bad).

Kristen and I at The Bot

Kristen, Holly, and I at The Bot

The pretty design on my latte!

One of the things that I dislike, but have to learn to love sooner or later :)

I am back to a week of class; however, on Wednesday, I am meeting my friend from high school, Alissa Benjamin, in Dublin, Ireland and we will stay at a hostel that night with two of her friends. The four of us will go to the Guinness Storehouse on Thursday morning and then do some sightseeing on while we make our way to the bus station. Alissa and I will head back to Belfast Thursday afternoon and she will stay with me until Saturday morning! It should be some good craic (Irish word for fun/enjoyment)!

First Blog from Northern Ireland

I made it to Emerald Isle on Wednesday, January 20 in the morning. I took a taxi for the very first time from Belfast City Airport to University of Ulster--Jordanstown campus housing. When I arrived in Belfast, it was a little rainy, but not too bad. I made it to the university around 11 am my time, got checked in, and went to my flat--which is like a suite set-up, but the kitchen/living area is at the end of the hallway and the there are 5-single rooms that have their own bathroom (shower, toilet, and sink). I have not had flat mates till this evening and I am slowly meeting them.

The international students had orientation Thursday and Friday; they were helpful for the most part. During the afternoons/evenings, a group of us would go into Belfast to get some essentials to live off of for a few days. I still need to get a few things, but I need to go into town with someone who has a car instead of taking public transportation. In order to get into town, you have to take a bus or call a taxi; otherwise, it is a very long walk to get to the Belfast Center.

The weather has not been too bad; it has been rainy about half the time since I have been here. It is for sure is a wet cold that seems to stay with you--even if you have been inside for awhile, which is going to take some time to get use to besides all the rain.

This past Saturday night (January 23), I went out with a large group of the international students into town. We went to The Crown Bar after we had a little gathering at one of the flats below me and had a drink. The Crown Bar is quite quaint. They had little booths on the back wall that were section/closed off from the rest of the bar and were first come first, first serve. I will get pictures hopefully of my time at this bar from my friends--I did not take my camera with me.

For those who wanted to know my postal address, here it is:

Audrey D'Hooge
Accommodation Office
University of Ulster
Shore Road
Jordanstown
Newtownabbey
Northern Ireland
BT 36 0QB

I know, it is a very long address compared to ours in the United States. :)

The first picture is looking down the hallway and my room is at the very end on the left (number 2). The next two pictures are of my bathroom. I will put up more pictures of my room itself once I get it more organized. I have not gotten hangers yet, so my closet looks very disorganized at the moment. The next to pictures are of the kitchen/living area that I share with my flat mates. And the last picture is of the view from my bedroom window. I am still getting the hang of the whole blogging thing, so I apologize for the pictures not being well laid out.

Hope everyone back home in the United States are having a wonderful time. I miss everyone and it is strange not being back in Montana. Just know that you all are in my thoughts and prayers. And those in Great Falls, I hope that you are enjoying the snow and that you make a snowman/angel for me since I doubt I will be able to while I am in Ireland. If I had the choice between snow and rain, I would pick snow--but, I guess I have to get use to rain. :D