This is Dublin Bay at low tide. It is possible to go out and walk into the bay when it is like this. We saw this on our first day in Dublin when we went to the train station. The bay seems like it is a very defining( not sure if that is the word I want to use) location in Dublin. It is something you can see from various points and is most likely the location/scene for many a book and film. In fact, one part of the bay across from where we were standing is the film location for the last scene in Sing Street. In the scene, the two main character get in a boat and try to sail to England.

I took this picture on my first day in Dublin. I was just starting to take in the environment and enjoy everything that I was seeing. I had just gotten settled in at the school and we had a very informative tour of the school.

On that first day, we took a train to Blackrock and had our first group meal at a pub there. During our meal, we got to know one another a little better since we were in an informal non-classroom setting.

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Today we visited the National Archeology Museum.  There were hundreds of taxidermy pieces from various categories of the animal kingdom. Relating back to class this morning, each animal has a place and occupies a space. Some animals are more meaningful to someone based on how it has interacted/been apart of one’s own environment. For example, Chelsea and I saw some insects that are normally around the football field of the high school we went to. We were able to connect those insects to our personal lives where as seeing some of those other insects was a totally new experience for us.

It was a bit sad seeing those animals in the museum. Especially, knowing that a lot of them were killed just to be exhibited. There were also plenty of baby animals too. Many scenarios went through my mind as to how these animals were obtained. In one of our classes, we even spoke about animal rights and this was brought up in the conversation.

One thing I also thought about was, how do these taxidermies represent Ireland and how is place significant when it comes to these things? The animals represent where they come from and also how they shape the people who view them. They shape the hunter, the taxidermist, the museum curator, and the viewer. The both belong and do not belong in the museum. I think it is up to the viewer to decide its place and how it affects the viewer as an individual. However, that does not diminish the animal rights and its natural place being its habitat.

My favorite personal location is my desk in my room. This is where I complete my school work and my artwork and of course spend plenty of time on the internet! I get plenty of inspiration for my artwork from things I see in movies and other artwork that I view right there on my computer screen. Plenty of my writing and journaling is done right on this desk as well. This desk means a lot to me because I refurbished it myself. About a year ago, I was in the market for a desk because I had been doing all of my work at the dinner table. When I found this desk I knew it would be perfect once I put a little work into it. It is kind of small, especially now that I have so may supplies on it. Eventually, I would like to purchase a bigger desk but for now, this serves its purpose. The more I think about it I spend a lot of time at this desk. I eat at this desk, sometimes I sleep at this desk, I kind of live at this desk. I am actually writing this very blog post at the desk.

One of my favorite locations at GSU is the Aderhold balcony. During my first year, I spent quite a bit of time up there between classes. For me, it is a great place to eat lunch and enjoy the fresh air. Many times, I would go up there after my philosophy class and watch the people walk to the various restaurants. The building isn’t very tall but it is still scary to look down because I am somewhat afraid of heights. There is a beautiful old building right across the street from it. It is completely made of white marble and the windows are crystal clear and one can see right inside. I sometimes imagine I live in that building or that I am watching a movie scene take place right in the room closest the edge of the Aderhold balcony. right below that marble building is a street where is I once saw may protesters that were marching for water conservation.  Another time, I saw musicians walking down the ally toward that center of the square with their instuments. I saw them set up and begin to play. I really like this balcony. Sometimes it is busy with lots of students chatting and laughing, other times it is quiet with only one or two people, and on many occasions, I am the only one there. Once, on a very quiet morning while most classes were in sesion I took my easel up there and completed a drawing. It was very peaceful.