Céad Míle Fáilte!

Orientation week began yesterday at Maynooth University for the International and ERASMUS students. It's been fairly low-key, actually - for me, anyway. But in that respect, my entire life is low-key, because I make it happen that way.

The list of classes I want to take is flat out ridiculous, and I'm honestly considering returning to Ireland to actually finish the degree in Early Irish and Medieval Celtic Studies, because let's be honest - it's got my name written all over it in big, bold, stinky red Sharpie. For the curious, some of the classes include The Ancient Celts, Early Irish Myths and Sagas, The Celtic Heroic Age, Old Irish, Middle Welsh Grammar and Readings (*drool*), Basic Medieval Latin and Ireland Encounters Scandinavia.
That should give you an idea of what I'm getting myself into here. 

I'll be auditing more than just a few of these....

Anyway, back to the beginning here. Something stood out quite prominently to me during the talks and welcome speeches and guided tours, and it began when the president of the University stood up to formally welcome us internationals to his school: he began speaking Irish. 

Now, to most (if not all) international students, he was speaking utter gibberish - this is where I have to extend a massive heartfelt go raibh maith agat to my Irish professor Seaghan, who is the best language teacher I've ever had - because yes, I understood most of what he was saying. But that's not what made me smile. You see, during my Irish lessons over the past year, I learned much about the status of the Irish language in Ireland, and it isn't as well thought-of as it should be. Additionally, I discovered, through discussions and debates with friends and acquaintances, that Irish is considered by many to be a dead or dying language - and that's if they even know of its existence. I encountered many people who genuinely thought I was learning to speak English with an Irish accent. So when the president stood up and proceeded to warmly welcome us to his school in the Irish language, I smiled because I was shown clear evidence that Irish is not dying - it is far from dead, and many people are very proud to have it. Almost every teacher and student union member who stood up to speak to us yesterday and today said a few words in Irish, if not a fair few sentences. The Irish language teacher very wisely encouraged us internationals to learn some Irish while studying here in Ireland, because it is part of the culture, and it is a major part of Irish identity and history.
So I started my day smiling from ear to ear because Ireland and Irish identity were given a boost in awareness through the medium of the native language - and I won't lie, I was pretty damn smug that I understood the president's speech.  

On another note, I found out that I am the ONLY Canadian exchange student this semester at Maynooth University - and I'm pretty damn proud. I've been fiercely correcting people who've asked where in America I'm from (yes, yes, Canada is in North America, but North America and America aren't the same thing. I wouldn't ask a Brazilian or Costa Rican where they're from in America) and I've been enjoying the looks on people's faces when I tell them I'm from Québec - the French-speaking part! *Gasp!*

Anywhoodles, all this to say that Maynooth University is utterly fantastic, Ireland is magnificent and I honestly don't think I'm going to want to come home this December....sorry, Mum.

Hakuna matata from the Emerald Isle!

xxx