As a Dubliner ~Late January~

22/Jan

I hate dublin bus! It sway a lot and so it is dangerous to move to the seat,,,
In addition, the machines for leap card are often out of order!
However, different from Japan, we can sit in the morning ...

From today, classes have started at university!
I had two classes today.
In the class "Music of the world", we learned about music in Ghana.Since I could not understand what teacher said and misunderstood her question, I answered wrongly and bothered her.

Teacher "What is this song about? "
Me "(How is this song about...?) The melody was very great but melody was different from what I know "
Everyone "？？？"

I was so ashamed that I wanted to crawl under the floor...

In the class "Inequality in Ireland " we learned what inequality is and why and how it exists.
The group discussion started but it was so hard for me to follow. Why can you speak soooo fastly,,.
it didn't seem that someone notice the inequality between us, called language.

In conclusion, my university life seems so hard lol

After school, I went to Grafton street to play.
When I was playing on the street, the man, holding drum sticks suddenly appeared and he started to beat the floor with my banjo playing!! Noisy and terrible! He was smiling as if he was satisfied with his playing.
Pedestrian just says "awful"
It is not my fault...!

However, I met an elderly woman on the street after that terrible accident.
She is Maire and she plays accordion.
She just said "Your playing was good" and invited me to the session.
Surprisingly , she hosted session at Cobblestone on Monday!
I was very pleasured. Actually, this is the first time to meet musician who plays traditional music on this street.
And, in the fact, she is a really great person...! I would know it later...

23.Jan
I went to central library to join the Spanish-English conversation.
In Dublin, exchange conversation is held in the library and we can talk and practice our language skills.

It is weird! Even though I joined the english spanish conversation, It was all greek to me!!!
I could not even understand English and so it was almost impossible to understand Spanish what native spoke...

I went to Cobblestone with my brain confused.
I noticed that I could not hear what young people say. They speak fastly, using a lot of slungs!
And, interestingly, the same thing can be said in playing...!
I personally prefer to play with elderly people...they are all kind...(of course, there are many young people who are kind and speak slowly for non-native.Interestingly, the same thing can be said in their playing )

24/Jan
It was raining but sunny, windy and I saw a rainbow today. This weather is Irish!

I have eaten only curry for a few days.
I also eat a lot of potato chips.

I revenged to english spanish conversation exchange.Fortunately today some beginners took part in and so I could follow the conversation.
We chatted, searching words in dictionary.
One of them was fan of Donal lunny and we talked about him a lot.
She said he lived in Okinawa. Es verdad?

I joined the session of Tradsoc.
Tradsoc is one of societies in UCD and they have session on Wednesday.
The music was amazing.

But it was so noisy that I could not even hear the tune what I played. There were many drunken young people.
I asked "Is it always so noisy?" to the member.
She answered "Sometimes..."

I don't think they should be more quiet.
They came there to drink and enjoy as they want.
I am a stranger and I have no rights for blaming.
What I want to say is just , it was noisy for playing.
(On the other hand, I think the pub and the session there should be noisy to a certain extent. It is a difficult problem...)
Anyway, I really love Seamus' accordion playing.
He was so kind that took care of me and I decided to go to this session to meet him.

25/Jan
UCD is a Festival rather than an university.

I have two classes on thursday.
"Music in Ireland" was introduction but so interesting. I am proud of attending this class!
In "Childhood in Ireland" I could learn not only children but also Irish educational system, but a little boring.
My major is educational psychology...

I met maire again on the Street. She complained about some banjo players and she added "They are so noisy but You play softly and it is good."
Overestimation...

I joined the buddy event for international students.
The bus was packed by us and , surprisingly, they were so noisy in the bus although it was public transportation...
I felt the cultural difference..

They are all participates.

We went to Pub crawl. It is interesting that university has the event for drinking.
We drunk at old storehouse, in the Temple bar.

Temple bar is famous area for young people and many tourist. There are many pubs but they are all live music. I personally don't prefer the pubs in this area (prices are also high...)
I drunk expensive Guinness and talked with German guy and Swedish couple. They are non native and so fortunately I could follow the conversation.
I also enjoyed live music, played by Banjo and Guitar.
Live music is live music, they were both skilled players.
But, anyway, it was packed, like Japanese train.

26/Jan
I went to japanese restaurant in UCD.
Unfortunately, it was fake japanese restaurant.
Ramen contains 椎茸 and noodle was completely different from Japanese one. In addition, although it said 豚骨, which means bones of pork, it was a soysauce ramen.
Katsuc urry was rather Katsu don.

Today I had two classes,
"Music and the words" and "Collectors of the music"

The professor was Ronan Galvin.
He was exactly the professor I have wanted to be taught.
He researchs Irish music and, the both classes were so interesting. In addition, he speaks slowly and so I could understand what he said.

I met two japanese women in the class. It is interesting that there are some Japanese people in Irish music class. It would be a proof that this music is becoming popular among japanese people.

I went to Cobblestone and I met a banjo player. He played very well.
He was Patrick Cummin and, surprisingly, he was a tutor of banjo lesson on Youtube which I used to watch in Japan.
This is the one of great thing in Irish music. There are many skilled players in every sessions.
He was interested in my glinder capo and so I told him whire he can get it.

27/Jan
I joined japanese english conversation exchange.
I hope I could help people studying Japanese...
There were also a lot of japanese people (あたりまえ)

Dublin now has Trad fest.

It was first time to buy the ticket for irish gigs and it was very lovely experience.
I went to laoise Kelly's concert!
Trad Fest was held at Temple bar on January and a lot of musicians appeared there.
I listened to Kelly's harp playing at the church. It was fantastic.I wish I could play like that..

I played banjo on Grafton street after that, going into a trance by her show.
I am honored to be one of banjo players in this country when I get some kind words(Last week I was taken photos and said "you are cute".I hope I can be praised for banjo playing someday)
But it started to rain heavily and I and my banjo got soaked.

I joined the session at the Peader Brown.
Today, I sang Gaelic song "Mo Ghille Maer"
It was first time to sing gaelic song in audience.
I was delighted that my Irish song was accepted by Irish people...!!Fortunately, it was accepted by a lot of applauses.

I could not speak fluently as English native speakers. What I can do is just playing music and sing. If I could speak english better, I could understand the lyric of the song they sang...

28/Jan
I started to study English again!!

I mistakenly used microwave to heat fried fish and it became really hard, like a stone.
My venezuelan roommate gave me chicken.
He is so fantastic guy that he heard my terrible introduction in Spanish and he said "It is your home. You said I am kind, but you are the best. Good night, friend. " before he went to bed.

29/Jan
I over slept and missed the class...

I went to Japanese society in UCD. There is a guy called Theo. He was awesome and we made friends soon.
He loves punk, metal, and alcohol. We talked about our favorite bands. I noticed that I could understand if we talked about our hobbies in common.

Today I got bills in busking.

I went to the session with these money and I had a good time...! I could see maire again and kept the promise to see her in the session.I also met my classmate. He said he came here to join the gig at back floor.
Monday session had many common tunes and so I could play a lot.
It was sofantastic that I missed the last bus(Luas saved me)

30/Jan
I did nothing but eating and sleeping.

31/Jan
Ireland is just like heaven for me because we can buy Guinness(500ml) for less than 2 EURO at supermarket.

It was Refresher's day at UCD and many societies introduced their selves.

I ate a lot of popcorn for free.

I went to pipers corner but I could not listen to the session again. After busking(Today I got one pond), I joined the Tradsoc session event.

There were sooooo many people and It was like an orchestra rather than a session.
Not only UCD but also DCU aod TCD students joined.
When I went to toilet in the pub, young drunken guys were in the way and asked me to sing.He ordered whiskey in the jar and we sang together ...

Like this, it was so packed and everyone drunk.