Well, after weeks of trying I have finally found a venue that will provide traditional Irish Music. Thursday night we all went to a pub, and they had a four person band with a flute and fiddle and bohran (an Irish drum) and a gituar. Which was all pretty exciting. Anyway, I orderd myself a pint and began to mingle with the local folk. Some of them were really interesting, others were... well... interesting, but in that different way. On guy was really egar to tell me about his view of politics. All in all, it was a pretty interesting night. But I think I stayed out a bit latter then I should have.

Slept in a bit the next morning, but didnt have class until 2:30 anyway. We had some music at dance class this week, hich was good fun, and I asked a guy about a fiddle lesson or two. Tin Whistle is going well, if you dont count the fact that we have yet to take one single lesson, and I thought it would be good to at least get a feel for it, even if I dont learn anything. Although if that doesnt work out, I could always get my host sister Ciara to teach me something.

Anyway, after that I went to A Bloody Sunday memorial. It was OK. They read some poems and left some flowers. A few people looked sad, but a lot of people seemed, not happy, but at least content to be around people like them. They had a minuet of silence, and then everyone went home.

After that, I had dinner with my family and then went to a talk about the Bradly- Eames report. I had a hard time following some of the things that were being said about the politics of the report, but the questions that were asked by the audience at the end were facinating. Some people wanted to take the money, some people were two proud, other people wanted varying degrees of justice. Facinating stuff.

Then yesterday night, I went to the Bloody Sunday lecture, which was given by a guy called Clive Stafford Smith, who was really funny and interesting, and much easier to follow. He talked about secret prisons and the use of torture by the American Millitary. (I know its not really a Bloody Sunday related topic, but oh well) Any way, I made a contribution of £5 after he was done and then went home.

I've been having trouble sleeping lately, and when I do, I sleep for more like 10 hours rather then 8. I feel like it must just be the stress of being in a new country, but still, its kind of inconveinient. Im starting to do my own shoping, rather then eating with my family. Its probably good, because this way I will get more of the spanish experience, but my host mom is a really good cook, and Im not. Also, I need to start finding the stores around town that sell the things I need. I mean sure, I could get my stuff from Tesco, but once you read the lable and find out that the sausages are 9% pork and the other 91% are ingredients that you can pronounce right away, you feel compeled to shop else where.

Sadly, I will not be going into the Prodestant neigborhood to talk to the people there. I have asked the program director Mervyn Love for his permission, and he had unfortunatly declined. Appearently the population of these areas dont take kindly to strangers, as it were, and they may be hostile to people asking questions. (I dont know if Mervyn realized that telling me this would make me want to fake a british accent and sneak into the neighborhood even more) I will be working at an integrated school later on, so I will just wait untill then to ask my questions.

Almost time for the Bloody Sunday March, so I will be off. Keep posting your comments everyone. (Even you, kit)

--Alex