I have settled into Irish life quite well and per previous blog entries, walking everywhere. Today I needed socks. Well my friend Anita told me I needed socks. We have had quite an email conversation about the virtue of socks.I don't own any,but Anita convinced me that I needed some. She said I will love them. I know I need a method for blister prevention, so off I went to buy socks.
The closest store in walking distance is a couple of miles away and of all things it is a TKMaxx. It's TK here, not J. There is apparently a British store that is TJ something, hence the K. I spent far less money in this store than I ever would have at home, mostly because I couldn't determine my European size. This store does not have the same quality of products as the one in Ithaca or Watertown, New York, but, they have socks! I bought a package of six. I may have gotten carried away, but remember, Anita said I would love them.
I talked with my friend Nancy today and told her about Anita and the socks and she reminded me that in about 1996 she bought me a pair of socks to use at the gym and said I looked at her as if she has a third eye. I told she still has a third eye, but I may become a convert to socks and sneakers. I have no choice now since I am literally walking everywhere. Who knows, I could end up co-authoring a book with Anita on the virtues of socks! However, just so you don't think I am getting too carried away, I am sitting at my desk wearing my favorite red high heels.
From TKs I walked to the grocery store, Aldis, much better than the American version. I was happy with my few purchases but had a bit too much to carry home, so I called a taxi!I will plan better next time.
That was my excitement for the day along with downloading Skype, writing an introduction for a book Bonnie Howell and I are co-authoring on spiritual leadership, and reading an Irish cookbook. I don't think it is lamb that is king in Ireland cuisine and maybe not even potatoes. I think it's bacon in a variety of forms.I read many recipes where bacon was either the focus or an ingredients and I saw many different cuts of bacon while I was shopping. I need to educate myself regarding bacon, not that I will eat much myself on a low cholesterol, low fat diet.
I have noticed that during the past couple of days, more students are beginning to return to campus. It is like a gradual awakening. There seem to be more people on campus and this morning I observed several tables of younger students in the Riverside Cafe on campus at the same time I was having coffee there this morning and reading my new cookbook. Last week there were only a few people there. These students, from many parts of the world, were talking away and seemed so happy to be seeing one another; bright, beautiful faces of young men and women,filled with such wonderful animation. I have also noticed that I am not the only very mature student around campus. There are lots of people here closer to my age than not. In fact there is a wonderful diversity in age and ethnicity. Every evening families are walking; parents pushing strollers, little children happily running across the living bridge that spans the Shannon connecting the two sides of campus. There are young and older alike out for a stroll, getting their exercise, and walking their dogs. This is real-life diversity. The University of Limerick seems to attract students of all ages and cultures. I love that fact and feel welcome and at home on this campus.
Tomorrow I am doing it again, taking another day tour. We will stop in a place called Gort and then onto Galway City and a cruise on the River Corrib. I will report back. This will be my third tour in six days. The cost is so reasonable, especially for an OAP! I can't afford to pass up the opportunity to explore what is around me,especially while I have this time before classes begin. I have to decide what shoes to wear, and oh yes, should I or shouldn't I wear socks?
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