Belfast or Bust!

Catch up

Labels: belfast, england, food, fulbright, fulbright mentor, health, holidays, housing, mono, orientation, shingles, UK | at 3:31 PM

I am aware that I have neglecting this blog. I want to do something about it, but I also am ill and have very little in the way of both patience and writing skills at the moment. So, a bullet list will do.

A recap and update on events and thoughts since I have come to Belfast:

I have moved out of halls! Yay! If I feel particularly vindictive at some point, I'll write a whole post complaining about the QUB student housing situation. For now, I'll just let it go.
On the health side, I got shingles, a flu, hives (five times), laryngitis, and mono.
On the research front, I've actually found a novel that fits into my parameters where the protagonist is a writer who actively debates the use of females in his novels. Not only that, but I find it a fun and interesting read.
I really miss having a clothes dryer.
I went to Oxford and London for Thanksgiving. I was getting sick (feeling poorly but not knowing why), but I still had a great time.
The Christmas Market is open here in Belfast, and that's a lot of fun, day or night.
High heels and cobblestones should never come in contact with one another. No good can come of their union.
I'm trying out this food service called graze. They send out a box of fruits, nuts, berries, and sometimes crackery bits. My first box came yesterday and contained roasted pistachios; a cajun seed mix of pumpkins seeds, sunflower kernels, and linseed; a new world mix of banana chips, giant golden raisins, and macadamia nuts; and cashews. They're not huge portions, but the point is to 'graze' throughout the day on small, healthy things rather than take in larger, unbalanced meals. (If you want to try it, I have voucher codes for free boxes, and I get £1 off if you use it.)
Speaking of meals, I've also been keeping a food diary. It started because I thought the hives might be allergy-related, but I've been keeping it up since then. I find it quite useful.
I had a Halloween adventure! I dressed up as Betty Draper, carved a pumpkin, and walked around the city with new friends.
I have a ticket back to the States for Christmas. I'll only be there for six days, though, which seems like an awfully short time.
It turns out I don't dislike London all that much. I just didn't care for the London I had seen at orientation.
I wrote a short post before about Remembrance weekend. I spent that weekend out in Ballymena with Paul and his family. They were really great and accommodating and, as you can see from that entry, I learned a lot.
There was a fire in my apartment two weeks ago. It was small and did not require the fire brigade. I wound up with six small burns on my face, but everyone and everything is fine. I was quite fortunate, actually, as the fire was beside my computer, my external hard drive, my giant stack of books (no shelves), my phone, and my head.
Quorn is fascinating and delicious stuff. It's a mycoprotein-based meat substitute and they make some great stuff with it.
"It's being so cheerful as keeps me going!"

Remembrance weekend

Labels: belfast, food, fulbright mentor, language, northern ireland, rugby, sports, tv, UK | at 9:16 AM

Things I learned over Remembrance weekend:

The British flag is allowed to touch the ground. As an American, this fact particularly shocked me. Watching a royal remembrance ceremony on Saturday evening, I noticed a British flag being slowly lowered. I may have actually gasped a little when it touched the floor and was allowed to continue. After inquiring, I learned that there are not many rules regarding the flag -- it seems there is no set way in which the flag must be folded (unless to be used in a formal ceremony); there are no regulations regarding the flag's height in comparison to other flags; and there is no concern over which side other flags may be allowed to fly or hang.

Red poppies are a sign of remembrance for fallen soldiers. I had learned this in the past week after curiosity prompted me to consult the all-wise internet on the matter. What I failed to understand at that juncture was that there is an added meaning to the wearing of the red poppies in Northern Ireland. Here, donning it will mean that you are typically Unionist and Protestant. In some more politicised areas -- Belfast included --, it would indicate that the wearer considers himself British rather than Irish.

This one may seem a bit ignorant, especially considering I'm a bit of a foodie, but I learned what chutney is. I subsequently learned that I have no interest in chutney. Other foods I learned about or became more knowledgeable of: mincemeat, "fruit", Christmas pudding and Christmas cake, and turkey ham. The last one on the list also may sound a bit suspect, but, as I have yet to see turkey bologna, turkey bacon, turkey sausage, ground turkey, or a turkey, I felt I was justified in my suspicion.

The Queen looks quite bored when people sing "God Save the Queen". It is particularly amusing when she looks irritated at her husband is singing along.

I like rugby. I'm sure this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows the sport and knows the types of sports I enjoy. Though I can't truly compare it to either, it was a good mix of the spirits of hockey and American football. It only took a few minutes of watching to get the basic rules down and only a few more to realise that I was quite pleased New Zealand was crushing Wales. Sorry, Wales.

The rest of the world thinks that American sports take far too long. If a Brit sits down to watch a 90-minute match, the entire thing, penalties, injuries, and halftime included, better not take more than two hours. It's a near atrocity that a 60-minute American football game would dare take four to five hours to complete. Baseball isn't even timed.

British Simon Cowell is a wuss compared to American Simon Cowell. American Simon Cowell loves telling contestants they should be forced to leave the competition (all American Idol knowledge courtesy Joel McHale and The Soup), but he has not the power to make it happen. British Simon Cowell can enforce these types of comments through judges' elimination but has, for two weeks now, refused to do so, allowing a more talented performer to go home.

Other X-Factor/American Idol differences that were apparent having viewed only one episode of each: X-Factor judges act as mentors for contestants and, thus, have a stake (and bias, when voting) in particular contestants' show life; groups are allowed to compete on the X-Factor; as I mentioned, judges vote on which of the bottom two audience-voted acts will go home; only in the event of a judges' draw would a contestant learn who received the least votes; and each acts gets spiffy introductions before preforming and often has props/backup dancers on stage. In all, the shows are far more dissimilar than I would have thought previously.

The DUP and TUV are purposely homonymically named. Of course, noting this fact led to my mind being flooded with recollections of aspirated vs. unaspirated (which I always thought should have been "nonaspirated") phonemes and Grimm's Law, and I just decided to stop while I was ahead.

Babies often get wee pains.

Lingua Hibernia

Labels: belfast, language, northern ireland, UK | at 9:13 AM

I think having an American flatmate has kept me from taking on an Irish accent (I felt it coming on in the early days), but that doesn't mean my language hasn't been affected. Here are the ways in which my use of language has been affected by the Irish:

I say "wee". I also know the proper way to use "wee", which is not by or about a leprechaun.

I've noticed "jumper" creeping into my vocabulary. This one may have snuck in with the "wee", as in "look at his wee jumper".

I have long used the 'u' in words like colour and favourite, but I have become aware of my use of "programme".

I have been substituting 's' for 'z' in words like "publicised" or "criticised". I haven't yet begun referring to it as 'zed' on a regular basis, but it has happened a few times.

I have occasionally referred to a "hole in the wall". In case you're wondering, that's a magical place where you speak into a hole in a wall, and a fairy hands you money. Or, it's an ATM.

The term I have probably used more than any other -- and the one I didn't even notice in my vocabulary for a while -- is "proper". The first time I realised I had said it, it was a double-woosy: I said that something was "right proper".

To complete my exercise in language assimilation, I must drop articles ("went into hospital"), remember to ask three times before accepting an answer of no, and stop using that pesky Oxford comma (the most resistant of the three, as it is apparently the secret love of my life).

A comparison of unhealthy foods

Labels: food, northern ireland, UK | at 6:47 AM

Now that I've been in Belfast for a while, I have some things to say. Mainly, about junk food.

Kit-kat -- better in Ireland
Twix -- better in America
Funyuns/Tayto Onion Rollers -- better in Ireland
Cadbury chocolates -- better in Ireland
Sprite -- better in Ireland
Marshmallows -- better in Ireland
Potato chips/crisps -- better in Ireland (not just the packaging)
edit: chocolate malt balls -- better in Ireland; namely, because I actually like them here.

And here's one that's not so unhealthy, for the conscientious crowd.

Milk -- so, so much better in Ireland

So, for those of you playing along at home, that's Ireland 7 8, America 1.

Of a clandestine nature

Labels: belfast, fulbright, Hillary Clinton, housing, northern ireland, QUB | at 9:39 AM

Well, the event I mentioned in my last post has come to pass, and, if you were in or around QUB today, you've no doubt figured out what it was. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was visiting QUB for a summit on industry in Northern Ireland and the relationship between the US and Northern Ireland, particularly with regard to the technology sector. She also had meetings at Stormont Parliament on the remaining terrorist (sectarian) violence in Belfast. Note: Before anyone starts freaking out about me being in a terrorist zone, I should point out that Northern Ireland actually has the lowest crime and violence rates in all of Europe. Now.

I was told I had to be through security by 10:30am. At every point, I was told, "Students are not attending this event." And, each time, I would reply, "My name's on the list. I'm to attend." They would check their lists and, amazingly, my name would be there! I found out later that only five students were invited -- the student union president and vice president, the two Mitchell Scholars at QUB, and myself. We were left to mingle with various business folk, which didn't work out so well. Many of them, it turned out, were being asked to speak in the summit and were nervous and practicing what they had to say on their fellows.

When it was time for the summit to begin, those participating were shuffled into the meeting room, and the Mitchell Scholars and I were positioned on the side of the room. Among others, I got to meet Lieutenant General Paul Selva, who was incredibly kind and seemed genuinely interested in my research and volunteer ambitions. Next, Secretary Clinton came in, briefly shook hands, and moved into the meeting room. At this point, we decided that we should head down to the Great Hall, where her speech would later take place, in order to actually have a seat.

The speech she gave was good. She discussed the strides that have been made in the past 15 years in the Northern Irish industry. Technology has boomed here, and NI corporations have actually supplied jobs to Americans. There are issues yet to be resolved, but the process is positive on the whole.

After the speech, Secretary Clinton gave us a few minutes of her time. She was pleased to see three students at QUB on two of the most prestigious scholarships from the US. She said it illustrates the positive growth NI has shown -- Mitchell Scholars can choose anywhere in Ireland to study, and I could have chosen anywhere in the UK.

Mitchell Scholars may also be bright, but they do not know when a picture is being taken.

In other news, it looks like I may be moving. My experiences with QUB accommodation have pushed me to my limits, and I delivered a long letter today requesting to be let out of my contract. I argued a bit with the accommodation manager, who first wanted to move me to another building. If I had only had one problem, I might would have gone with this option. However, I had a list of four big reasons I didn't want to stay, the worst of which was that I do not have electricity (again). I calmly explained that I am at the end of my rope. She is going to confirm that a student can be brought up from the waiting list tomorrow morning, but we have tentatively set Friday as my last day here. Hooray for greener pastures!

One month

Labels: acronyms, belfast, cohort, fulbright, GSU, IIS, northern ireland, PSTP, QUB, SE, UK | at 3:00 PM

Today, it has been one month since I came to Belfast. I'm feeling better, settling in, and getting used to the crazy life that is PhD. Looking at my calendar, I have only three days without something booked in the next month. Busy is not bad, but I'm just wondering where I will find the time for my own research.

I'm trying to do a bit of a front-heavy approach to the Postgraduate Skills Training Programme (PSTP), where we take personal and professional development training courses. My logic is that, if I get many of them out of the way now, I don't have to worry about fulfilling the requirements when I'm hardcore writing. I have completed 1.5 days so far (out of the requisite 30 over the 3 years), am negotiating some of my Fulbright events counting toward the practical hours (10 of the 30), and will have 6.25 days completed by the end of this semester. Those numbers don't even consider any department events that may count, and I know I'm doing a bit in the School of English in November.

However, today, I got to do a little practical shopping/adventure. Cristina (who is part of my PhD cohort), Cara (who is also in the IIS and in the MA Irish Writing course I'm auditing), and I traveled to the city centre to visit St. George's Market for the first time. It was fabulous! On Fridays, they have antique books and clothing, and Saturday is for fresh foods and handmade crafts. I hope to make it back next week to check out the Friday wares.

I bought the following: 1 bunch of carrots, 5 apples, 6 baby portobello mushrooms, 1 spaghetti squash, 1 container of stuffed green olives, 1 container of extra-hot black olive spread, 1 bag of ground roasted garlic, 1 bag of basil, and 1 bag of lemon pepper. I feel like there is something missing from my list, but I can't recall more at the moment. I am very happy to have a few spices (salt and black pepper just do not cut it when I'm used to my fairly well-stocked kitchen at home) and some fresh ingredients -- and to support local growers.

The next few days look like they will also be good. A professor (GSU), mentor, and friend of mine is visiting, and we are meeting for coffee tomorrow. I'm very excited, not just to be able to see her, but also because she is a huge part of why I'm here in Belfast. She got me in contact with the Irish Studies department here, she wrote letters for my Fulbright and QUB applications, and she never let me think that I wasn't good enough to get any of it. Last year, she also wrote the letter for my scholarship application to the Yeats School in Sligo, which undoubtedly guided me to choose a school here for my PhD. It is easy for me to say that, without her guidance and encouragement, I would not have even bothered applying for a Fulbright grant.

On Monday, there is a big event taking place. I'm not at liberty to actually talk about it yet. More details will come after it transpires. It is something of an honour; I know that I'm involved because of my Fulbright. It is just one of the ways in which the Fulbright has already opened doors for me that would be otherwise shut in my face with laughter from the other side. The event itself is a bit of a mixed bag for me, but I still understand the importance. So, wait on the edge of your seats for breaking news Monday afternoon!

A concise argument for Ireland's inherent awesomeness

Labels: food, northern ireland | at 2:52 PM

In case you can't read it (You can click to make it larger.), this is the back nutritional information panel on a bag of Hunky Dorys salt & vinegar potato crisps.

The allergy advice section reads as follows: "Doesn't contain Kryptonite. (but does contain Wheat (Gluten))."

The storage conditions sections reads as follows: "Treat Hunky Dorys like Gremlins. Keep them cool, dry & away from bright lights and strong flavours."

I rest my case.