Today has been really fun! Once the people here had woken up, we made a simple breakfast together in one of the cottages, which was smooth scrambled eggs (fresh from the farm!), toast, cheese, and tea. I didn't realize how much of a thing tea is here in Ireland and the UK. They drink it all the time! As one of the girls told me, they drink it when they're happy, sad, angry, debating, tired, cold... you name it! I enjoyed meeting all of the new arrivals, which have mainly been girls. Apparently Ballymaloe is fairly well known in the UK and Ireland, and at least from my experience not known at all in the US. The weather was chillier today than yesterday and it rained off and on throughout the day. Today was really just a bunch of socializing with incredibly interesting people. My roommate, Eliza, arrived this morning from England and is really nice. We figured out the logistics of storage in our room, and It feels great to have unpacked. This is trip really happening now! During some downtime I managed to go on a run around the area. I ran through the countryside mainly (as you can see in the first picture), and even got a chance to see the sea!!!! (second picture). It was windy and spluttering a little bit, but still a lovely view. After, we all continued socializing until it was time for our pizza dinner! THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO SMOKE HERE. Wow. Not everyone, but that's how people have socialized so far - sitting in the courtyard while some people smoke and others just enjoy their company. It's mainly the girls from America who don't, funny enough because that's where all the tobacco's typically from. The pizza dinner was delicious! The cooks also prepared a beautiful salad made with mixed greens and lots of different flowers. I especially liked the nasturtium buds because they were spicy! :D (that's what the last picture is, by the way!) I didn't realize so many people would be in the course until we all congregated in the dining room together. The chef made me and another some gluten free pizza, which was really thoughtful of him. Everyone is quite accommodating with dietary needs! I plan on easing into the gluten train so as not to be crazy uncomfortable. We all went to a pub afterwards and listened to an Irish duo play folksy versions of some American songs, like Wagon Wheel, Take Me to Church, and Breakfast at Tiffany's. It was packed, even on a Sunday night! There were little kids running around too, which definitely distanced the Irish bar culture from the American bar culture a bit! Overall, today has been laid-back and great fun. Listening to so many British people talk has been funny because I notice I've started to think in British terms a bit more. They think it's so funny that we call rainboots, rainboots. They're "wellies" here! Tomorrow the real work starts! Well, sort of. We get a tour of the farm and then will watch a public demonstration. Tuesday is when we get to show up in our chef's whites. I can't wait!
Until next time,
Livvy
Until next time,
Livvy