When you experience new things and learn a lot with whatever you are doing, people look back and actually realise how much time just has passed by – ‘Time fly’s!’ – They say!

It is 00.30 am on a November Sunday very early morning and I decided to go to bed. But before I would do so I opened my window and couldn’t believe my eyes – it was snowing! Again! And it is still snowing!

 It is already November – where has the time gone?

This very moment I realised – it is end of November and it is snowing? Ok, in which film did I end up? And how can it possibly be already November? I just started my first term of my Master degree!

During all the intense work for reports, presentations, assignments, tests and class preparation I almost forgot to write every one of you what is happening so far and happened on my travels in the beginning of the year!

Lean back and enjoy a little journey back in time with highlights of the last two month here in Dublin

Before the winter term would start I had the chance to visit Blackrock and the house I would live for a year beforehand. Walking around on campus and Blackrock was quite fun and quiet at the same time without students. Enjoy the photos

 Halloween and kayaking

For my time here in Dublin I decided to join the UCD Canoe Club in order to develop my kayaking skills! As often as I could I joined the Club for weekend trips out in the country. The time on the water was amazing! A good time to clear my mind off all the work for the classes and have at least a bit of exercise in sport

With the international students we had lots of dinners with all sorts of food from all over the world as well as some great nights out pubbing and clubbing Around Halloween we all dressed up, went out and celebrated my birthday! I have never seen so many people in costumes, cereal boxes, Disney princesses, zombies, monsters, cartoon characters, bees and lady bugs or police men and construction sight workers! They Irish even top the German carnival with their costumes in my opinion – so creative and I really enjoyed my birthday with so many great and fun people and celebrating Halloween! On Sunday 31^st of October ‘The day of Halloween’ itself my friend Clodagh threw a slumber DVD Halloween party and her house was fully decorated! She dressed up as corps bride and rocked the contest for best horror costume that night and I got introduced to the films ‘A Nightmare before Christmas’ and ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ It was so much fun celebrating Halloween the first time and especially celebrating it in the country of its origins!

Most of November was and still is dedicated to my studies. The second half of the term begun after my Birthday and the amount of work increased straight away. The friendship between the desk in my room and me got quite close and I enjoy the view out of my room from time to time… Though the little hill next to my desk with books, papers and work doesn’t seem to get smaller.

 Weather forecast – snow! Yeah, sure…

Yesterday on Friday my friends and team colleagues told me about a bad weather forecast for the weekend – snow and about 4cm high. I just thought – Snow? In Dublin? In November? That would be a bit bizarre! Early on Saturday I got up to start soon with work for my courses. I opened my curtains and I couldn’t believe my eyes! There was snow all over the place! While smiling I grabbed my camera and took pictures of this crazy happening. In the meantime it was rumbling, hailing and the sky lightened up several times – thunderstorm. And if it wasn’t already quite weird and wonderful enough I looked at my watch and realised it is 7am. Seriously, I woke up that early?

I didn’t go back to bed, because I had too much to do. The day was quite long and now I’m sitting here and writing for you, because guess what? It has been snowing again! It is 1am and the 4cm bound got cracked as well. Some cars were driving past, but the prints in the snow didn’t reveal the asphalt.

When places are covered with snow it has something magical… While writing I’m enjoy the snow falling – this is quite enchanting, too! The Palm tree in front of my window is covered with so much snow that the leaves are hanging down. The power cable has shaken off the snow several times. The little balconies in front of my windows is fully covered with snow. The moon is having a glimpse through the heavy clouds. Just now I would love to run out and build a snowman  Though it is late (4am while I’m posting everything on the website) and it seems to me as if the last weeks of my term will be covered eventually with more snow!

Good night!

Your late night owl, Livia

P.S. check out the gallery for more pictures!