View Full Version : Question about UCC
SwngDncr
16-05-2004, 14:50
I don't really have a specific question right, but I'm from the US and will be studying at UCC for the autumn term...does anyone have any helpful suggestions/tips that I should know before I come? Things that I should make sure to bring perhaps? Or places that you would recommend I see. Could someone perhaps explain what Rag Week is? I've seen stuff alluding to it on the UCC website but I haven't quite figured it out...perhaps since my brain is just so fried right now from school. Umm...hmmm......I know I have thought of other questions but they're not surfacing right now. I'll just post again if I think of something. Thanks in advance to anyone would can help me out a bit.
http://www.ucc.ie/ ~~> official college site
http://su.ucc.ie/ ~~> students union site
Things about UCC you should know. Well lectures are optional. Rag Week is a charity event were a lot of the college go crazy, organising fancy dress parties and the likes for local charities in Cork. More and more it has been seen as a excuse for people to get drunk rather than raise money.
You can get a bank account when you arrive in UCC, there is a bank (http://www.bankofireland.ie/html/gws/students/) on campus.
What to bring ? Don't bring too much, as you'll gather lots of things as you stay in Cork. So a good metric is to have your bags about three quarters full on the way over.
You should join some of the clubs and societies around campus as they are a good way to meet people (not just Americans or Irish people).
Bring a rain coat. Lol, it rains a lot here.
Ireland is a really expensive place to live, so beware of that. You might have to get a part time job. Especially if you want to keep up with the crazy social life of the irish. Have to be 18 to drink here, but it's difficult to get into pubs and clubs. The bouncers only take drivers license, passport or Garda ID as acceptable ID. Sort out accomadation early on. Cork can be quite a dangerous place, especially at night, so don't wander around on your own. Be careful of all the scumbags!
Rag week is a week of craziness, but you'd need someone actually attending UCC to provide the specifics.
Can't think of much else now. There's loadsa people here in UCC so they'll help you. Good luck!
SwngDncr
18-05-2004, 22:00
anybody else have some general tips of things I should know before I come to Ireland, or sites that you recommend seeing (particularly something that might not be something as well known?)...know of any places near the Leeside Apartments in Cork that you would particularly recommend (either shops, restaurants, etc...I've been told there is a cinaplex nearby, and a internet cafe...but beyond that I know nothing). Along those lines, any good shops that you know of that have things made exclusively in Ireland, not all the touristy junk. Also, how difficult would you say that it is for foreigners to learn pronounciation of things? I don't really want to make a total fool of myself if I can avoid it. Yeah, I'm rambling...I'm avoiding the incredible task of cleaning up everything in my room. Frightening.
the evil belly
18-05-2004, 22:34
make sure to pack a copy of your birth certificate. things like that have a habit of being required by a college percisly because you forgot to bring one. as for recommending places it's probably be a good idea to tell us what kind of stuff your into, there's no point in us recommending rock/metal bars to a fan of dance music and so on. don't worry to much about your pronucation there are vast amounts of american tourists in cork evry year so most of us are used to the unusual names places get given.
SwngDncr
18-05-2004, 23:10
don't worry to much about your pronucation there are vast amounts of american tourists in cork evry year so most of us are used to the unusual names places get given.
I know there are lots of tourists, but thats precisely why I'm more concerned about pronounciation and all...I don't like simply being another annoying tourist. I know I'll be acting like one at some points cause it'll be all new to me, but I don't want that to be the case in everything I do. If that makes any sense whatsoever.
SwngDncr
18-05-2004, 23:18
hmmm..as far as wanting recommendations...how about this...what are some good places to hear more traditional music? and what are some food places you would recommend....doesn't really matter what I like...I'm just curious what others think of some places in Cork and surrounding areas. I'm pretty open to any and all food. And anything and everything will taste good after my job this summer. I'd like to find a place that has food that probably wouldn't be common in the US (if there is such stuff? I don't know) otherwise any good chinese, thai, italian, greek restaurants, good sandwich shops or pizzarias?
Good food places.
Thai: Bannan Thai on Maylor St.
Sandwich: O'Briens , they are all over the city
Pizza: We have 4 Star and Dominos here so that should be good enough for you (I'm more of a Dominos fan myself).
You will also have to check out Lennox's , on the Bandon Rd. , the place for the best chips (not fries) in Cork.
When you are in University you can eat at Cissies Youngs (pub) for lunch they are on the Bandon Rd. Really good food.
Don't bother with the food on campus , its not worth it.
stairway 2 hell
19-05-2004, 15:19
(I'm more of a Dominos fan myself).
christ pablo not so loud, deb'll hear you!?!?!
the evil belly
19-05-2004, 16:30
the base of domino's pizzas are nasty.
you'll find tda music advertised all over the place really. many pubs have trad nights on a regular basis. there's also usually a couple of board session on so thats a handy way to meet so of the native wildlife, sorry i meant people i swear
here are some pictures of the stripper in the boole library last week
http://uk.f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frenchstripper2004/album?.dir=/Mail+Attachments&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//uk.f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frenchstripper2004/my_photos
a typical day in UCC :D
fret not kev, after 2 yrs of being a slave to the four star system i really could care less!
oh and the only pieces of advice are... cobh is pronounced cove and youghal is pronounced yawl!
oh and you really should join groups.yahoo.com/group/welovedeb
she's great, everybody loves her!
the evil belly
26-05-2004, 13:06
on a side note be prepared for some anti american sentiment. it's not aimed at all americans just the monkey ye have as a president. people aren't going to attack you for being american but you'll probably hear things said in pubs or around college. tis an unfortunate aspect of irish society that many of us don't know when to shut up
oh and you really should join groups.yahoo.com/group/welovedeb
she's great, everybody loves her!
Oh, I don't know about that. I hear she's a weirdo who buys alcohol for underage teenagers. Sounds like one to give a miss...
;)
shut your face missy or my services will be withdrawn!!
the evil belly
27-05-2004, 11:15
me offers an alcohol buying service just to fustrate deb
I don't need you anymore Deb! All my life you'e just treated me like some worthless alcoholic!
I am, of course, only joking. But I do have a girl who gives me her ID now and Sham and phoenixJ offered their services!
Speaking of ID, I'll be in Bar Rumba for a while tomorrow night if anyone wants to come into me :D
i feel so unloved now!!!!
SwngDncr
14-08-2004, 19:55
Wow it has been a long, long time since I've logged on here.....but anyway....in less than 2 weeks I shall be in Ireland! I'm quite happy. Sad to leave my awesome summer job in the mountains, but anyway. And I know this reply is quite late..but to evil belly about anti-american stuff.....I would have expected that...considering I probably have quite a lot of not so complimentary things to say about the president myself...I certainly won't object to others saying things
the evil belly
15-08-2004, 13:16
ah well it's all good then isn't it
SwngDncr
15-08-2004, 15:46
Is there anything else that I should be knowing before I get to Ireland? I suppose none of you will respond without a specific question....but if any of you have any advice for me, I'd really greatly appreciate it.
the evil belly
15-08-2004, 20:43
be prepared for horrific prices compared to the u.s. a pair of jeans will set ya back at least 50 euro for example. the cost of a pint is at least 4 quid. it's a balls but the cost of living here is very high. if you're planning on getting a car think long and hard about it. petrol is around 1euro/litre (roughly 4.50/gallon) and insurance is crazy
And we have no Starbucks :eek: .
and you don't get free drink refills in McDonalds or Burger King!
and we don't have WENDYS!!! :O
SwngDncr
16-08-2004, 04:45
well..I'm not buying ordinary clothing...I shop at thrift stores at home..so no problem there......definitely not driving anywhere, so that's not a problem....and I don't really like fast food restaurants or coffee so none of those are going to be a problem..
Thanks for letting me know on those ones....I had come up with a question earlier, but my brain is fried right now.
the evil belly
16-08-2004, 11:18
i will assume you're over 18. if not you'll need to source some suitable i.d. the irish social life revolves around the pub. oh and if you're a smoker then the smoking ban is now in force here. no smoking in enclosed places of work which includes pubs,resturaunts etc.
Even if you are over 18, you'll need your passport, drivers license or official Garda age card to get into pubs. Bouncers here are ridiculously strict and student cards and the like won't work.
the evil belly
16-08-2004, 12:15
might get away with an american drivers licence though. especially if ya play dumb
Yeah, I'd say they wouldn't have a problem with the American drivers license if you have anything else with your name on it. Also, it's August now and it's POURING rain so be prepared for it to be worse in winter and bring suitable clothes.
JennyPen
16-08-2004, 12:23
American drivers' licenses are really cool, they're designed for dumb bouncers. they give they date you'll be under 18 and under 21 until.
http://www.feckthat.com/rant/member.php?u=1481 says she is 20. Anyway college ID will work for most of the places you'll normally go. Or you can always apply for a provisional license for something like €12, or get a garda ID for €6.
A handy thing to bring is an official copy of a birthcert.
the evil belly
16-08-2004, 12:41
see i was too lazy to check.
JennyPen
16-08-2004, 12:42
Provisional is €15, got it myself the other day, but to apply you need to have passed the Driver Theory Test, which is a whopping €36!!
the evil belly
16-08-2004, 12:47
Provisional is €15, got it myself the other day, but to apply you need to have passed the Driver Theory Test, which is a whopping €36!!
if i remember correctly you can get a provisional licence for 30 days if you can proive you wating for a theory test. then they extend it when you pass. maybethey changed this though
JennyPen
16-08-2004, 12:50
it has - they won't even accept your application now unless it's accompanied by a driver theory test cert!
the evil belly
16-08-2004, 12:57
well then i stand corrected
JennyPen
16-08-2004, 13:02
little feckers at the license office -although the girl who dotted the t's and crossed the i's for me had a jumper that said "fund my world domination programme"
What course you doing in UCC, swngdncr?
Nightcrawler
16-08-2004, 22:06
Here's a tip: the Western Star blows.Avoid like the plague.
JennyPen
17-08-2004, 10:10
That's not true. I went there once or twice and had a good time, but you need to be the kind of person who likes rubbishy dance music (urgh) and dancing on the tables. I took along Darkstar for protection, so it wasn't so bad, but they DID make me dance on the tables to RESPECT (which my friend didn't know what the title was, and when the crucial part came along, she used to sing "REsometingTCP").
If you get it on the right night, they do do brilliant drinks offers, and they serve Sourz shots and Kopparberg Ciders, which not a lot opf places do (Well, they do but they don't do the Berry one, which is the nicest one!)
That saying, I'd never go there of my own free will. Unless it's to play the spot the difference machine. Oh lord, I did lose tons of my money on that bugger of a thing....
Nightcrawler
17-08-2004, 19:25
That's not true. I went there once or twice and had a good time, but you need to be the kind of person who likes rubbishy dance music...
That saying, I'd never go there of my own free will.
Thank you.
SwngDncr
24-08-2004, 04:23
What course you doing in UCC, swngdncr?
I'll be doing the Early Start in Irish Ecosystems...beyond that I haven't found out what other classes that I'll be taking....hopefully a combination of some music stuff, history and environmental
So SwngDncr : was is fun ?
SwngDncr
14-12-2004, 13:10
Well...my time here is almost up...I leave next Monday at 7:36 am (I've decided not to go to sleep Sunday night since it is easier to stay up all night than to have to get up at 5 am) But yes, it has been great fun. I did a geomorphology class, one in conservation biology, whistle and bodhran and I learned some basic spoken Irish. I overdid the traveling in the beginning and haven't done much recently, but oh well....fencing has been awesome. I think my only problem is that living in the city is getting to me...its nice having things conviniently located....but it gets to be a bit much when you're used to quiter areas. I will miss being here, but that being said, I am looking forward to being home, seeing family and friends that I haven't seen in 7 months or more (I was gone for the summer before coming here)...I also miss some of my possessions...going for 4...no, actually 7, months with only a very limited wardrobe and supply of books and music is really enough to drive a person batty. ok..that was a long answer to a short question.....
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