Day 30

Today I met someone I did not like.  I couldn't tell you his name, in fact, I don't care to know his name at the moment.  He was sitting in the corner of the class with his faux-hawk, man-scarf, and a smug look on his face.  We were discussing archetypes and the example of "Rambo" came up somehow.  The class went around exchanging adjectives like "strong...brave...unintelligent..." until we got to "arrogant."  That is when he replied "American" with a look of pure pride in his snide comment.  I've done so well up until this point with the present hatred for Americans and I don't know why this got to me so much.  He must have known that, although it was a class for language, there might possibly be some Americans present.  Guess I'll never know but I will forever give him the stink-eye and be as "American" as I possibly can, because after all, Rambo is so the definition of America.  

Day 29

Today I met Will.  He's a head figure in a campaign for making cycling safe in Dublin.  I was meeting him at a local delicatessen and amazingly enough I knew it was him when he came rolling up despite the hoards of Dubliners on their lunch break as well.  He was an older man but well aged, undoubtedly from years of cycling around the city.  He had scruffy hair, blown awry from the wind and a thick gray sweater on to fight the chilly irish air.  I wasn't surprised after talking to him for a few that he was extremely passionate about healthy living and cycling.  Honestly, I wish I could do it too but I'm completely terrified of riding on the busy streets, especially after he finished telling me about how people get killed so easily.  Not my cup of tea, but admirable nonetheless.

Day 28

Today I met THE "Bald Barista."  He owns his self-titled cafe and has as much character as the building does, situated on a corner and stocked with comfy chairs, colorful paintings and people who enjoy a great cup of coffee.  The second I walked up to the counter, he exclaimed, "Geez you're tall."  Big surprise there.  However, he was patient as we mulled over the menu and convinced us into getting their new iced coffee.  It was incredible.  As for the "bald barista,"  he was bald.  The lack of hair certainly didn't mean a lack in personality, especially given the fact that he was wearing an extremely vibrant Hawaiian-eque shirt.  His hearty laugh filled the cafe and he often stopped at tables to talk to customers which is something I appreciate.  I've been lucky to find these types of places already and it surely will keep me from spending my entire bank account at Starbucks.

Day 27

Today I met Anne, a local secondhand bike shop owner.  I barely found the bike shop, its tucked away in an alley and is not much more than a garage and several bike rakes (not what I was expecting).  Anne offered me a cup of tea with oil-stained hands and to tell the truth, it what much needed after wandering around the north side of the city for 45 minutes.  I could tell she led a simple life with her hair cut short tucked under a cap and nothing more than Chapstick on her lips.  She's quite admirable actually, running a small establishment, mostly supported by neighborhood kids and volunteers, in such hard times.  Blockbuster can't even stay open but this hole in the wall shop opened in April and is plugging along.  Anne is passionate about her shop.  She would love to expand but insists that it stay as local as possible.  In her words, "It would kill the spirit of it."  I couldn't have agreed more as she ran around helping customers from the age of 7 to 40 with their prized possessions.  It truly was one of those things not many people get to see, even if they could find it.

Day 26

Today I met Darren, a man who, to put it plainly, creeped me out the first few minutes.  Darren was an older man with crows feet and leather skin, but dressed like he was twenty.  He stopped to talk, with the faintest of slurring in his speech and the smell of Guinness on his breath.  We were about to leave until his less intoxicated friend came over as well as another American.  The guys turned out to be hilarious.  I couldn't tell you half of what they were saying but they were extremely adamant about recruiting us to their new political party: The "Maybe" Party.  I have to admit, the idea was appealing considering the thing I hate about voting is having to choose "yes" or "no" or "this idiot" or "that idiot."  Darren and his secretary are all about the "maybe."  I was cracking up as they took a wide stance, looked us dead in the eye and said, "Maybe yes...maybe no" with a pause in between that took centuries.  Although the guys had a few too many to drink, we had a fun conversation and were asked if we would take on the position of heads of the American branch to which I replied, "...maybe."

Day 25

Today I met the laundryman.  Yes, it wasn't a very exciting day here but nevertheless, he's an important man.  I was switching all of my laundry over as he was taking money from the washers and dryers.  He said hello and frankly, a hoard of other phrases I couldn't understand.  His voice was raspy and muffled from years of telling stories.  However, turns out, he paid for my dryer and set it up for as much time as I wanted.  Not a huge deal but it saved me a euro and now I know to make friends with the laundryman if I want to buy an extra pint one night.

Day 24

Today I met Megan.  She knocked on my door and as I opened it she had that look on her face as if to say, "Oh God, don't think I'm an idiot for asking this."  She decided at the last minute she wanted to attend a party that required a costume so she was going around asking for pieces.  She was adorable irish girl with wavy brown hair and a smile that made me turn around and look for anything to help.  Although all I could offer was a pair of knee-high socks, she was extremely grateful and swore over and over that she would bring them back (which is a good thing because I really like those socks).  I couldn't help but remember the days when the leaves were falling and the air was crisp and I would go out on a pre-Halloween scavenger hunt, going door to door and asking for random things on a list my mom made.  After Megan's knock on the door, I realized that's the thing I miss most about home right now: the fall.  It's my mom's and my favorite time year: the trips to the pumpkin farm, apple orchard and corn maze, making caramel apples, planning halloween costumes, and drinking pumpkin spice lattes when we've had a bad day.  I can't do much of that here, especially living in the city, but I can't complain.  That's what happens when you go on a mission to find yourself, you often end up alone.