We found it!

My parents arrived in Dublin this Monday, and it was great to see them.  They walked about an hour from the location of their hotel to my workplace and met my co-workers right after they stepped off the plane.  They learned quickly that when a Dubliner tells you that Point A to Point B is 15 minutes, it's actually double or triple the estimated time!  The only sad part about seeing my parents was that I wish my brother was here too.  Ben, I don't know if you've been following my blog so you may never see this, but how could you pass up a trip to Dublin?! You're crazy... hope you're enjoying the sweltering heat in Chicago while we are cruising in 60 & 70 degree weather :).

After my parents met my co-workers we went out to lunch at Violet's Cafe, an all-time favorite.  I love the people who own it (a son and his mother) and I always have long conversations with them when I go there.  After Violet's I took my parents on a work errand with me (slaves) and we ventured to Rathmines, another DIT location, so I could pick up a few important checks.  We stopped at a coffee shop before that and then headed to the DIT.  Apparently the DIT had issued checks in the mail that were stolen by an individual who tampered with the amount of money written on the document and the bank didn't catch the error and cashed the check anyway.  Now the DIT has chosen not to send out checks in the mail and they require an individual to pick the documents up personally, which is where I came in.  I loved speaking with Elaine and the other people who worked in the office; they were so friendly and gave us suggestions on places to stay and see during our travels.  Monday night I ditched my parents to go to my friend's apartment to play poker.  I never actually played I just observed; I have no idea how the game works but I'd love to learn one day.

Tuesday my parents took me out to lunch again (I am really enjoying mooching, as you can see) to a place called Louie's Bistro, right near my work.  The food was delicious.  I finished up at work and then we went to The Porterhouse with a few friends so that my parents could meet some of the people in my group.  My dad loves beer so I knew that the microbrewery would be a hit (he's raised me well because beer has always been a favorite of mine too).  After dinner I ditched my parents again to go to my last Tuesday night trivia with them at the Woolshed.  No luck winning but still a good time.  I'm seeing a pattern emerging here.  Eat meals with my parents, ditch them for my friends.  That sounds awful!  However, I figure I have an entire week to travel with them starting tomorrow, so I mine as well see my friends as much as possible before I leave, right?

Wednesday I ate dinner with my parents at The Brazen Head.  More food, but no ditching this time.  After enjoying my Beef and Guinness stew and writing my name on a dollar bill to staple to the wall (the pub is decorated with American dollars and European Euros that visitors write on and post to add to the decor), we went back to my apartment so they could see where I was living.  We hung out there for a while and then they called a cab home. 

Thursday I conducted a few parent interviews (sadly, my last) asking parents about the Speech and Language Therapy programs that their children received.  One parent spoke to me for nearly an hour, and the interview was supposed to last for only ten-fifteen minutes!  We were joking around with each other and I told her I was an intern at the DIT and thanked her for entertaining me and occupying my time.  She laughed and told me she was happy I enjoyed listening to her because she loves to go on rants and most people tune her out.  I'll definitely miss conducting these interviews in the future, I've spoken to such friendly and interesting people and I've loved getting to hear about their experiences.

Thursday night I went out for drinks with my co-workers, including Cathy, Siobhan, and Eaimur.  I told them about a pub that was listed in my guidebook called the Hidden Pub, written under "the hardest pub to find in Dublin."  Most of them hadn't heard of it and were excited to look for it with me.  Here were the clues given to us:  it's on the north side, near Mountjoy square (where I work), down an alley that isn't named on maps, and on the edge of a housing estate (never say the Irish aren't pioneers when it comes to pub building!).  The Hideout is worth searching for, as you'll feel like you've achieved something, the drink is comparatively cheap, and it's usually peaceful and uncrowded, except when there's a match on.  After walking down a few alleys and sketchy neighborhoods, we found the location of the pub!  There were only three or four lads in at the time, and they were looking at us as if we were aliens or something.  I'm assuming most people haven't found the pub before and that it has a strong local gathering.  We ordered a few drinks and watched the game-shows that were playing on the television in the background.  The book was right, I did feel really accomplished after finding the location... but I couldn't have done it without the help of my co-workers who know that area better than I do.

We went to another pub soon after The Hideout House and started talking about the summer and how sad we were that I'd be leaving.  They gave me a few presents (a necklace, an "I Love Ireland" shotglass, and chocolate) and a really nice letter thanking me for my work.  I'm going to miss everyone so much; this has been one of the best internship experiences I've ever had and I'm not ready for it to end.  I'm actually writing this post and my very last day of work (Cathy told me not to work too hard today!) and I'm feeling really sad as I'm typing this.  I was so lucky to have been placed with such a great organization with amazing people that I've loved getting to know.

After enjoying drinks with my co-workers I walked a short distance to Talbot 101 for my farewell dinner hosted by EUSA.  I sat with a bunch of my EUSA friends and asked them about their internship experiences.  Mostly everyone had positive things to say and told me how much they would miss working with their organizations.  It seemed like we were all on the same page.  Then I went back home to relax with GT, Amy, and Nina in our apartment with a bottle of wine.  GT and Amy are going to Barcelona this weekend so I won't see them until my last night in Dublin on Thursday.  We made a pact that we would pull an all-nighter that Thursday.  I actually orchestrated the pact which is strange since I'm the grandma, but I don't want to sleep the night away when it might be the last time that our group is all together in one place.  I'm just planning on drinking 20 cups of coffee and sleeping on the plane to get me through it.  Brilliant.

Tomorrow morning I head to Kilarney with the folks to visit the Ring of Kerry and Dingle.  Tuesday and Wednesday we're staying at Castle Leslie.  Thursday marks my last night in Dublin and Friday my return flight back to Chi-City.  One more week to live it up and "take Dublin."  Where'd the time go?!  My arrivial in Dublin where I lugged my 49.5 suitcase up four flights of stairs feels like just yesterday...