THE DUBLIN DIARIES
Sunday, February 15th
Tomorrow I’ll start my Erasmus+ Journy to Dublin with my school. The only things I know are the name of the café I’ll work at and the name of a host mom.
I think that a great adventure is about to start.
Day 1, Monday, February 16th
Dear Diary,
After an endless journey we finally arrived in Dublin.
At a big Bus station we all stood in line and waited for our names to be called out by our host families and it felt like ages passed, until a rather young for her age, skinny but nice-looking woman with dark hair and warm eyes stepped forwards and called out our names: Anna, Nadja and Hermione.
I was so excited that I forgot all the things I planned to say, while still in the plane but that didn’t matter because we got in an conversation with Deborah (our host mom) so easily.
When we arrived at her house we got introduced to the rest of the family:
Her two old golden retrievers Donny and brook, and Kate and Alejandra, who are two girls from Mexico. We had dinner and during that, Deborah asked a lot about our school and friends and already showed us the best bus lines to the city center and our work placements. After a quick shower (never longer than 5 minutes!!) we went to bed early because we were quite tired from the journey. I am very excited for tomorrow although I am also a bit nervous. I am so excited to see the city and all. I always wanted to go to Dublin, and I am so glad that my school and Erasmus are giving us this great opportunity. We all are very excited for our first day at work tomorrow we are still talking about how it’s going to be…. I think I might fall asleep soon, because it’s already late.
Day 2,Tuesday, February 17th
Today is my sister’s birthday. Me and the Girls (Anna and Nadja) called her early in the morning and we all sang happy birthday together. We all slept really well, although it was very cold in our shared bedroom (we requested more blankets later.)
We arrived at the city center and I instantly fell in love with everything. Beginning with the whole atmosphere to the lights and the people. It was all so overwhelming. We had breakfast at a lovely Café near Temple Bar and went to the language school after.
We then had a tour with a guide who showed us the most important things of the city. He also told us about Irelands history (quite boring for me because I already knew everything he told us, because I read like three books about the history of Ireland in advance.) Anna and I did nothing but taking pictures.
After that, it was already time to introduce ourselves at our Work placements. (The café “le petit Breton”)
It was horrifying. No one even asked for my name. They just said: „put your jacket there and start washing the dishes” and that’s what I did. For the next four hours. Everyone was running around and yelling at each other and the café was so very busy.
(I don’t want to go back there ever again)
Whatsoever after work I met the girls and
I even got to choose where we were going for dinner (traditional Irish pub of course) and I had an amazing Irish stew. We got home and told Deborah everything we did today, played with Donny and brook and went to bed. Anna is lying on the ground between mine and Nadjas bed eating the cookies she bought earlier. Nadja already fell asleep. I am honestly scared to go
to my working place tomorrow.
Day 3, Wednesday, February 18th
(6 am.)
Woke up to a freezing cold.
I don’t want to go to work.
Maybe it will be better today.
It is tradition to have a so called „pancake Tuesday” once a year.
That Pancake Tuesday was yesterday. That’s why it was so stressful for everyone. The café was, as my colleagues said, "slow” today and everyone was so very lovely. No one managed to say my name correctly, so they all just call me Mimi. In the kitchen are Stiven and Jensen and in service (with me) are Felipe and an other intern from France (Nadhifa) who I instantly became friends with. I just have to take food orders and serve food and only occasionally clean dishes. It was so nice and everyone was so kind to me. They even let me go half an hour early.
Felipe told me that he is not going to be in tomorrow, so there will be a girl called Leah working instead. I hope she’ll be just as nice as the rest of the team.
After work I met a friend from my school and we went to the Pub, where Kate works (the wild duck). A Gothic Pub. Not really my thing but it was warm inside and I even tried some Guinness, but I was happy to stick to my cola. (why do people drink beer???)
We went in some other pubs after that, because they played Irish music everywhere and that was just grand. Deadly.
Went home, talked to Deborah, now in bed.
Did I mention that I can choose everything I want from the menu at my lunch break? Pretty awesome, right? (That’s Kate in the Picture)
Day 4, Thursday, February 19th
Dear Diary
Work was so fun. Leah is amazing. I had Crepe with salted caramel and strawberry for lunch. It’s been rainy all day. I like the weather somehow tho. Met the owner of the café and absolutely disliked him. I discovered a thrift store down th(1treet and bought a cute little yellow bag and a scarf ( 1,50€ in total). I am late for language school. Going to write more later.
I went to the arcades and went into a record shop called "spin dizzy records” and made friends with the owner, Willton. (such a nice guy) I even bought a cassette of Matt Bianco. And Will wrote down some shops in Dublin that might be interesting for me.
Day 5, Friday, February 20 th
My Dear Diary,
I had an amazing Time at work, and I already became really close with some of the usual customers. Went to a few thrift stores after. I bought a gorgeous necklace for only 1€.
The weather was quite nice today.
We are having another Dog over for tonight. His name is Benji and Nadja and Benji fell in love at first sight. Anyways I’ve got to go and catch the bus I am meeting the girls for dinner now. XX
Day 6, Saturday, February 21st
The weather is terrible and so was the traffic this morning when we were headed to the city center to meet our teachers and classmates to drive to the cliffs of Moher. The bus ride felt like forever although I’ve slept most of the time. I think that’s why everyone was a bit grumpy when we arrived. Everyone headed right to the museum. Everyone except me and my friends. We went straight to the cliffs and that was the smartest decision we could have made, because in the end we were the only ones to see the cliffs, before the Fogg surrounded them. Standing on the edge of these huge cliffs and looking out over the Atlantic Ocean is an unforgettable experience. The views are stunning, and the sound of the waves crashing below makes the scenery even more impressive. I was amazed by their beauty and size. The Cliffs of Moher truly feel like a magical place and are one of the most fascinating natural landmarks I have ever seen. It was so windy. I totally fell in love with Irelands countryside and even texted mom and asked if I could make an exchange year to Ireland. (my favorite shoes broke during that trip, but it was totally worth it) poor cowboy boots.
Day 7, Sunday, February 22nd
Dear Diary
Today was our day of. And we started the day with a nice brunch somewhere in the middle of Dublin. Then we decided to go to Howth spontaneously. Because my shoes broke yesterday, I had to go in high heels (So stupid of me) but I didn’t complain once during actually CLIMBING down the hills to see the light house. It was so windy that I couldn’t stand at some point. Somehow me and a friend of mine got lost but we eventually managed to make our way back to the harbor where we met the others.
The views were wonderful and I took great pictures.
Day 8, Monday, February 23rd
Back to work. I really have fun working at the café and I really enjoy talking to colleagues and customers. Although Stiven keeps joking about my British accent (Bri-ish) his Spanish accent is funny aswell and we laugh a lot.
I bought the nicest leather jacket and FINALLLY a pair of new shoes at a thrift store. I looked up the prices and if I had bought the jacket and the shoes new I would have played more than 200€ but at the thrift store I only played 21€ in total. That’s insaneeeeee!!! I made friends with the guy from the thrift store, by the way. The epic museum was interesting, but we didn’t have enough time in my opinion. I bought flowers for Deborah because I saw them and just couldn’t resist. Looking forward to going to work tomorrow and showing Leah what I thrifted. Good night…
Day 9, Tuesday, February 24th
Dear diary, time flies when you have a good time and I can’t believe that it’s already been over a week. Today I had my usual lunch. (Salted caramel strawberry crepe) and Stiven keeps joking about me always eating the same.
After work I stopped by the thrift store next to the café, as it had got my after-work ritual and then I met the girls for some coffee and we went to a park, a church, and a few tourist shops. I also got to buy my favorite snacks from M&S which I usually have when I am staying in London.
Wednesday, February 25th
I had a crepe with salmon today because Stiven kept mogging my salted caramel strawberry one and then I got to make some crepes myself. It was really fun but mine always had a weird shape but who cares if they taste the same (costumers would probably care that’s why I got to eat them)
Today one of our Usual costumers (a woman called donna) prayed for me. That was so sweet and I almost cried. Right now, we are watching the Mama Mia movies with Alejandra and Kate but I’ll probably go to sleep soon. X
Day 10, Thursday, February 26st
Work was very slow today and I left early because Leah said I should go out as long as it’s sunny. (It was not sunny at all but I guess no rain equals sun here)
I bought two adorable green dresses at my favorite secondhand shop for only 5€ each.
Deborah said she admires the way I go shopping. I discovered a new thrift shop. Very tired going to sleep soon. X
Day 11, Friday, February 27th
Dear Diary,
Today was my last day of work and I was so very sad. I invited everyone from work to go to the wild duck with me in the evening to say goodbye properly. Leah was the only one who arrived on time and the others were all at least an hour late that made me a bit sad because I told them that I couldn’t stay out too long because I need to get home. We had a nice time anyways and Jensen brought her husband who was really nice and we had a lot of fun. We laughed a lot, shared memories from work, and I felt surrounded by genuinely good people. Despite the slightly stressful start, I ended the day with a full heart.
Day 12, Saturday, February 28th
Dear Diary, something crazy just happened. I was alone at home in the morning because Nadja and Anna had left early to go to phoenix park and Deborah went to the gym. I still had time before I had to leave the house to meet my other friends in the city so I tried my new dress on, which I had bought the other day. I went down to the kitchen to get some water. I didn’t know that Deborah had a new dog staying over and I also didn’t know that she had locked it in the kitchen. So, the second I opened the door to the kitchen, a giant thing (can’t even call it a dog at this point) ran past me and upstairs. (Deborah never lets the dogs go upstairs because she just had the walls painted) so I ran after the dog. But as soon as I got upstairs, he ran downstairs. Then again upstairs. To the first floor then the second floor and the third one. Up and down. Again, and again. All that with me chasing it in my new mini dress. Every time I tried to grab the dog’s collar it tried to bite me. It took me almost an hour to catch the dog and get it back to the kitchen.
Later, when Deborah came home, she went like: "oh Hermania” (she couldn’t say my name either) "we have a new dog staying over. A sweet little puppy. Such an angel.” I hope she was joking. There is no way that she thinks this thing is cute. (Usually, I love dogs but that one has a personal problem with me.)
Anyways I then met my friends, and we had lunch at an Asian restaurant and went thrift shopping. After that, we went to a pub which was quite empty at first and I took the opportunity and befriended me with the band which was quite practical because they played every song I asked for, well except for the smiths because they’re to "depressing” ha-ha. Not with me singing along!! But it was just great having them play all my favorite songs from Arctic Monkeys to Amy winehouse. Later a few people from Norway came to the bar and we danced a lot. That was fun. Aannnd, I got to wear the new dress I had bought. (Highlight)
Day 13, Sunday, March 1st.
Dear diary,
Today we had to say goodbye to lovely Deborah, Alejandra and Kate. (Not to forget my darling angels, Donny and Brook) Although I know that I will probably never see them again, I will always keep them in my heart.
I love Dublin and I already miss everyone from the café and I miss my thrift stores and the magical atmosphere. I can truly say, that I had a wonderful time at this job. I will take many good memories with me, and I am very grateful for the people I met and the experiences I had. I hope that I’ll come back to Dublin one day and meet everyone again.
I am happy to see mom and my siblings after that long time away from home.
Wednesday, June 25th
Hi dear diary,
It’s been a while, but I thought, to wrap up, I’d tell you, with whom I have kept in touch.
Where do I begin?
I am not in contact with Deborah anymore. Although I’ve tried to reach out to her a few times, I guess she’s just not a big of a texter and she also might be quite busy with students staying at her place all the time.
Leah and I comment on each other’s Instagram post every once in a while.
Nadhifa helps me with my French homework sometimes.
Kate and I have been texting a lot recently.
Willton (will) and I chat a lot on Instagram and it’s all about music (which is great).
Stiven, Felipe and I text each other almost every day talking about work, school, life and of course me coming back to Dublin one day.
I am glad that I could make such good friends during my stay in Dublin and I am so happy every time I wear the clothes, I thrifted in Dublin. Oh, how grateful I am to have been given such an amazing opportunity to gain valuable life experience.
Deadly right?
