Chapter 21 "Cheers!"

One of the things that complexes you when you travel is, how are you going to relate to someone when you don't even speak their language?? Well 70% of all communication is non-verbal so I thought that no matter where I go, I'm only behind 30%.

Instead of learning "hello" or "my name is" I decided to learn something a lot more practical. . . . CHEERS! I mean, the second you say hello or my name is, the other person will naturally assume that you will follow it with a sentence or a question. Well that sucks, all i know is hello.
The instant that you cheers someone, it always brings on an emotion of a good feeling. A time remembered, though the time may be hard to remember, of when you we're last enjoying yourself. It could be a christmas, a wedding, a dinner out with the woman, or maybe just a big piss up at your local with all your buddies. Either way, people love it and respond with a smile.

Here is what I've compiled so far from people I've met so far. First will be the country, then the word (my guess on how its spelt) , and finally my guess on how to say it phonetically correct. Feel free to add or correct me in any of them.

Southern Australia / Cheers big ears / Cheers big ears (damn them and their rhyming slang, lol)
Canada / CHEERS! / CHEERS! (plain and simple)
Eastern Canada / Sociable / Sociable
French Canada / Vive Le Quebec Libre / Veev le kay-beck lee-bra (standing for "long live the free province of Quebec)
Finland / Kippis / Kee - Pesh
Italy / Salut / Sa - Loo
Israel / La Hi-Yum / La Hi-yum (pronounce the H with a sound like your hacking a loogey)
Germany / Prolst / Pro - tsh
Greece / (who knows how to spell anything in greek) / Ya - Sou
Nederlands / Gelukkig Nieuwjaar / (still dunno how to say it,lol)
Scotland / AI! You know it! / Could just be my personal experience, but that's what we yelled!
Sweden / Skal / Skal

Well I raise my glass to you all, one to remember and one to forget. . . . CHEERS!

MArsha B

Chapter 20 Dublin "Oh My Guiness!"

Dublin in its own little way is gorgeous. Not a beach gorgeous, but gorgeous in its own right. Whether its seeing some history during the day, or having a pint at night, Dublin has it all. Many shopping and cultural areas, friendly people, and a pub literally around every corner is what makes up Dublin. Dublin did have one negative that surprised me though, it is very, very expensive. A pint of beer in the temple bar, can cost you up to 6 euros. I wouldn't recommend there though, take a locals advice and head down to Flannery's, only 3 there. But first off, the Guiness tour.

The guiness storehouse is amazing. Though I still think the nicest brewery tour is the Heineken museum in Amsterdam, this is a close second. They allow you to walk freely amongst 7 different floors where they take you to through the process of making guiness and also some history on the company and the social impact guiness has had through out the world. I myself had never put two and two together connecting the beer and the world record book. I always remember the quirky little facts that people want to be known about such as this one. The world record holder for most books typed backwards is Michele Santelia from Italy who typed 56 books (3,004,767 words)backwards. That's insane! How the hell did that guy get good at that or even realize he had a talent! Well I guess we all have a purpose in life, even if its meant to type books backwards (which would also render them completely useless as one would just read the regular typed book).
The highlight of the Guiness tour would have to be the last floor. You are given 1 pint of guiness and you get to enjoy it over the best view of the city. The view itself is quite amazing. You can see the entire city. Dublin, being a very flat city with the tallest building only stretching to 16 story's, is not the most difficult city to see up high.

Speaking of heights, an example of pride, and yet another example of a giant falic symbol, is the Spire located in the middle of the main street. It is quite a useful point to get your reference too. Close to it you will find the post office where the Irish fought back the British still with bullet holes in the pillars! The city is also divided north/south with a river (like most european cities for some reason.)
You may visit the university in Dublin and see the book of keyes along with many other famous Irish mementos like the harp. The shopping district is like any other, same old stores with similar prices.
My recommendation would be to see some live Irish music. Being a musician, I love anything musical, but with Irish music I have always found has its own unique style. Many pubs have Irish music ringing out their windows any friday and saturday night. It shouldn't be hard to find. Dublin also has a lot of nice parks, well worth checking out.

Oh, and if you have time, stop by the Marsh library. I vote it as the best named library in the world! :)