As a Dubliner ~Late February~

20/Feb

My left ring finger aches and it may be because I play banjo too much and too strongly. I need to relax when I play it.

I made sandwiches with palma ham in the morning and it was so delicious and luxurious.

BTW! my friend fiddler Kai comes to Ireland and we met and city centre. Long time no see!

We played on the Grafton street for a while and after that visited Cobblestone. Kai was accepted by other musicians and it was a good time.
Though there was a blackout, it worked better for the mood of the pub. He seemed that it was first time for him to use toilet in Ireland and he was so confused and said like this.
"Was it really toilet? I felt like mistakenly pissing in the wash basin"

21/Feb

We went to Guinness storehouse and drunk a pint of beer on the top of that skyscrapped tower.
It was third visiting for me and we both were not interested in the Guinness museum on the way to Guinness tasting lol
（It doesn't mean that the museum is boring. It is beautiful and I recommend you if you love Guinness）

At night, I invited him to my flat and made Okonomiyaki for him. It was the best okonomiyaki in my life but he looked so sleepy that he was not hungry.

Actually, There were some troubles between I and house orner because I tried to make my friend stay in my room. Fortunately, he could stay my flatmate's room. I have to appreciate him.

22/Feb

Surprisingly, our friend Momochi also comes to Ireland!! We met in the city centre and ate fish and chips at Leo Hardock.

We also busked and got some. Kai and Momochi also attended the class in my university and studied about Irish music and songs.

After that, Kai finally left Dublin. Have a good trip!

At night, when I was busking, an old mam stopped in front of me and said.
"I am from CCE. Your banjo is so good"
CCE is the biggest Irish music association in the world and they have branches around the world. CCE's member in Ireland praised me! I was so honored!

23/Feb

I mistakenly bought parsnip. It was vegetable and at first I thought was a kind of carrot.
I used it for Nick jaguar but it tasted terreble（it doesn't mean that parsnip tastes bad. It is just not suitable for Nick jaguar）

BTW, Kai said me "you seem playing too much and not studyin lol）
I agree with him. To learn Irish music and culture, I think playing and listening to the music is the most important thing.
For example, in today's class, to demonstrate the tune that he mentioned, my professor suddenly asked me to rent my banjo.
Surprisingly, one of the students followed his playing by flute and the session started! They looked so into music.
The happiest thing is that I can share that emotion.When it comes to Ireland, I was the most suitable exchange student in my home university. If I were Irish, I would become a  collector of Irish music like my professor.

24/Feb

ITMA, Irish Traditional Music Archive, is the website that we can get a lot of information about Irish music, such as notation, books, recordings, and so on.
My professor recommended me and It helps me whenever I write my essay about Irish music.

Surprisingly, the organizer of ITMA is  an elderly man who plays at Cobblestone on Monday. I should appreciate him because he helped me submitting essays.

25/Feb

On my table in my room, many 5 cents coins are scattered. I don't know where I can consume them.

Today I drunk lager beer after a long time. enjoying  its taste, I decided to go to Rock festival in Belfast in May.

26/Feb

My old friend Hiro comes to Ireland! I am so glad that many friends visit me from the other side of the earth!!
We went to Cobblestone and I treated him a pint of Guinness.

He is funny as always.

27/Feb

We went to Malahide and Howth, the sightseeing spots in the north of Dublin.
Especially Howth had a brilliant view and I was so amazed!


After the trip, we made Guinness stew in my flat. He seemed satisfied with the taste and wondered why Guinness can be such a good spice. I am happy that we can meet and share the time in Ireland.

It was so windy and cold and, according to the news, terrible storm called "Beast from East" comes tomorrow.

28/Feb

We have no class today because of blizzard!!
The weather report says " it's blizzard today. Tomorrow will be blizzard, too."
It was first time that I heard the word Blizzard from the weather forecast.

Hiro came to my flat though it was heavily snowing.
Hiro and I and my flatmates played in the snow and made snow man.

In Ireland, it rarely snows. My brazilian flatmate says she have never seen snow before.
It is good experience for us!
...except Hiro...

To be continued