Sunday June 21, 2009

We checked out of the hostel and went to church at The Vineyard.  It was a very contemporary service with really good worship music.  After church we had lunch at the hostel, which was weird because we had already checked out, but whatever.  We then went over to Dunluce Castle.  It was the perfect weather to be exploring a caste, misty and gray.  

It is in good condition, as good of a condition a castle without a roof can be in, but what I liked about it was that it did not feel touristy.  There were a couple of gates and things to keep people safe, but it wasn't overrun with modern things that would take away from the castle.  There was an archery demonstration while we were there that I didn't find all that fascinating.  

We walked down next to the castle and some people went into this cave where water splashes up into.  I didn't climb down 

because it was a dark and treacherous path.  

So then the fun begins.  Our art prof Neil, whom is not well liked because he is sorta arrogant and self-righteous wants to go see the Giant's Causeway, which as you remember we all spent HOURS at the day before.  So we are grumbling and we go and we are like so 20 minutes tops?  We are sitting in the cafe for 40 minutes sketching or staring at the wall and Neil and Mindi come in and we all mobilize, we are ready to go.  But they buy tea and its another 20 minutes.  But its okay because we have hours of homework to drive home to, but no big deal.  Oh and the reason he didn't go the day before was because he was napping!  So we are now really mad and in the bus on the way home and Mindi turns around, not Neil, and says "Neil is really thankful that you let him see the causeway" and we are mumbling, why can't he say thank you?  The tension escalates to a small argument between a student (not Phil or me) and Neil about why he couldn't be grateful etc...  Neil eventually said thank you, but he did not apologize and in his "thanks" he was saying all this stuff about not being attacked, blah blah, and blamed us for being tired, but we were the victims here.  And we still had homework to go home to.  I do not know if my short story really puts this whole thing in perspective, but all this could have been avoided if in the beginning Neil had said, "Look, I was feeling sick yesterday (diarrhea would have been a good excuse) and I would appreciate it if you would let me see the causeway before I leave Ireland.  I will be 20 minutes tops and will not drink tea for 20 minutes."  This in no way occurred and all of us all 17 felt disrespected for having to sit around for over an hour when we were there the day before and he could have easily come along.  We then drove into Belfast and ate kebabs.