Vol. 3 Issue. 1 28 September 2016
THE COLLEGE VIEW’S ARTS & LIFESTYLE SUPPLEMENT
THE SUSS
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ROMES BUILD THEIR EMPIRE DEAR FRESHER ME A LETTER OF ADVICE
Arts
Editorial
BY STEPHEN KEEGAN & EMER HANDLY
Hi pals! I’m Stephen Keegan and I’m your Arts Editor for the year. I’m coming off the back of a great year as deputy and I’m looking forward to working towards making this a dream platform for young Arts journalists to explore their ideas, develop contacts and grow as writers. Personally I’m a music specialist and I have a passion for the Irish music scene and I love to dedicate to the best new Irish talent the kind of time and attention they deserve. Whatever your interest in the arts is, whatever you feel deserves attention - TV, film, visual arts, literature, poetry, theatre - we’re always looking for new contributors, no matter what you’re studying or what experience level you’re at. Don’t be afraid to send pitches anytime to arts@thecollegeview.com. In this issue we’ve got a recap of two of the biggest events of the summer - Longitude and Electric Picnic, a look at the reasons behind South Park’s longevity and an interview with Irish-Canadian breakout stars ROMES, and we’ll have more stories online too. Stay golden, Stephen
Hey everyone, My name is Emer Handly, I’m 19 and I’m from Firhouse. I’m currently in my second year of Journalism in DCU. I’ve been given the amazing opportunity to be the Deputy Arts Editor of The College View this year. I love everything about the Arts. From music, to books, to film, there’s nothing that doesn’t spark my interest! I spend most of my time going to gigs, in random book shops or taking artsy pics for my insta (yeah I know, typical). I really look forward to improving The Suss this year. It has been a great supplement in the past but we want it to be even better! I’m hoping to get a lot more people writing for this section so we can cover a broader range of topics and produce top notch work. If anyone would like to get involved please contact myself or Stephen. We would love more like-minded artsy people to join us! Emer Handly
Image Credit Page 1: rothnroll.blogspot.com; Page 2-3: irishtimes.com, longitude.ie; Page 4: wikipedia; Page 5: twitter.com; Page 6: both images Laura Horan; Page 7: Alphacollege, Laura Horan; Page 8: Ciara Moran, bedazelive.com, Instagram -tesschristine.
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THE SUSS’ SUMMER FESTIVAL SPECIAL
after the previous night, most people were raring to go. A mixed lineup; Stormzy, Run the Jewels, Jordan, Pleasure Beach, and an array of up-and coming artists, there was something for everyone. Annie Mac really stood out. There s crowds of people swarmed was a great buzz into Marlay Park, it was clear as she played track that Longitude was going to be a after track. The weekend to remember. entire crowd was dancing and giving it The atmosphere was full of excitement for a fantastic lineup. Laura their all. MØ also gave an outstanding performance. Her vibe really gels with Mulva, Daughter and The Lumineers a festival crowd. ‘Kamikaze’ got a huge all went down a treat. Tyler The reaction. ‘Final Song’ had the main Creator took to the Heineken stage. Fans were delighted to finally see him stage crowd singing and dancing like perform. CHVRCHES were a highlight mental. Finally, Major Lazer arrived. With their impressive pyrotechnics and of the day, their synthpop sound really got the crowd going. ‘The Mother great stage presence left the crowd buzzing for tomorrow. we Share’ got a huge roar from the The younger revellers dispersed to main stage crowd, with everyone make way from Sunday’s older crowd, singing their hearts out with frontwoman Lauren Mayberry’s incredible most of who were in attendance to catch Ohio rockers The National headvoice. Headliner, Kendrick Lamar came out bursting with energy and line the main stage that night. It wasn’t the crowd erupted upon his entrance. all about the final act of the weekend, He performed an electric set list, with though. All Tvvins, fresh off the release the likes of ‘These Walls’ and ‘King of their debut LP played a storming Kunta’ sending the crowd into a fren- set to a packed Heineken Stage. Irish zy. Flares lit up the crowd, which put favourites Ham Sandwich, Australian Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile & The an end to an incredible first night. Violators also impressed fans throughSaturday brought a new wave of excitement to Marley Park. While out the day. The highly revered Father some looked a bit worse for wear John Misty (who is incapable of ever
Longitude, Marley Park Emer Handly Ally Daly
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Arts
Electric Picnic, Stradbally - Stephen Keegan
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standing still) delivered a hugely impressive set, with ‘The Ideal Husband’ proving to be the most impressive of the lot. Jamie XX brought a change of pace to proceedings and set the stage for The National, who emerged just after 9pm. For a band with so many albums, 90 minutes doesn’t seem like a lot of time but Matt Beringer and Co. tore through a set full of tracks spanning their illustrious career to date. ‘Sea of Love’ and ‘Mr.November’ are particular standouts, but closing track ‘Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks’ was so good you could almost count it as a life-changing experience. A choir of fans sang the words for Beringer, which finished off a stunning set from a band that are very much on the top of their game. Longituwde has become a staple of the Irish festival scene and it’s fairly safe to say that this year’s offering will be hard to top.
here it is, in the distance, voice soaring over a thundering rhythm: “Cloooooooud, block out the sun.” The call to rise. Eyes bleary, legs weary, it’s 8:30am on the second day of Electric Picnic, and LCD Soundsystem’s soundcheck is working its magic on the weather. The phone’s buzzing. Friends are concerned - “saw the floods! Hope ur ok xx”. Turns out Twitter is misrepresenting a picture of Glastonbury 2005 as the scenes here in the Jimi Hendrix campsite - “so glad I’m not at the Picnic!”. It’s damp for sure, but no danger of trench foot just yet, and a swift look around confirms that nobody here would rather be anywhere else. Apart from those suffering after the piece of irresponsible scheduling that was The Chemical Brothers on Friday night, perhaps. All usual festival advice about pacing oneself went out the window as “Block Rockin’ Beats” combined with a stellar laser show and took us to another planet. Earlier, in the adjacent Rankin’s Wood and Electric Arena tents, retro and retrofuturism did battle. In the Arena, Norwegian disco kingpin Todd Terje stoked the dying embers of sum-
mer. “Delorean Dynamite” is an early set highlight, a marriage of relentless sinewy muscularity and sleek, skyward ambition that easily fills the vast expanse of the Picnic’s second stage. The now-iconic cheerfulness of “Inspector Norse” ends the set - nobody escapes without a grin on their face. Jenny Greene and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra had taken residence over in a packed Rankin’s Wood, full of delighted older heads and those borrowing their nostalgia alike as they tore through a set of 90’s dance classics. Vocalist Gemma Sugrue was unerring in her accuracy as she tackled the likes of “Rhythm Is a Dancer” and “Everybody’s Free” - it’ll be a great shame if this is the spectacular collaboration’s only outing. This overcharged Friday led to a Saturday afternoon of recovery through reclining in the comedy tent until it was time for Glass Animals. The Oxford four-piece packed out Rankin’s Wood and their funked-up Alt-J sound went down a storm with the notably youthful crowd, the adulation seeming to take frontman Dave Bayley aback. Wanting to explore the festival’s curios, we dropped into Body & Soul’s
Haunted Music Hall too early on Saturday to find a middle-aged white DJ in a Hawaiian shirt and Panama hat enthusiastically playing “All Day” by Kanye West to an empty tent adorned with vintage erotica. Haunted indeed. We needed to find faith after that so it was off to the Other Voices church for a sermon from Mick Pope and his Le Galaxie bandmates. New tunes “Demi Moore” and “Rhythm of the Clock” sounded so massive that we used them as a sort of gravitational slingshot to keep us dancing into the deep space of the night. LCD Soundsystem returned to the main stage a full 16 hours after their soundcheck for their weekend-stealing set. A great set turned into a special one as the eviscerating “Yeah” segued into the devastating vulnerability of “Someone Great” and saving the onetwo punch of “Dance Yrself Clean” and “All My Friends” for last was a masterstroke. Sunday was a challenge. The firm Laois ground finally gave way to mud as rain hit in mid-evening and didn’t let up for the night, and even before that one had to deal with hordes of day-tripping James Bay fans. Cork act Talos were perfect for the afternoon recovery slot, their recent time spent in Iceland exhibited by some Sigur Rós-style bowed guitar that complements their atmospheric R&B. Legendary Mancunians New Order are starting to look their age a little - Bernard Sumner certainly sounds it - but they put in an otherwise accomplished performance, with everyone going predictably mental for “Blue Monday”. Devotees flocked to the Main Stage, determined to ignore the now-steady rain and sway to Lana Del Rey, who looks thoroughly pleased to be here. She’s spoken of her difficulties with touring and performing but these seem to be firmly behind her, confidently delivering a solo performance of “Yayo” before drawing the biggest cheers of the weekend with the words “Let’s do Video Games!” The site became surreally empty rather quickly post-Lana, as people fled the rain in droves - leaving an undeserved anticlimactic feel to the festival’s denouement. There was big publicity about the opening of the lake to swimmers, but in the end the sky brought the water to us. It only meant that most partied twice as hard to stay warm. Stradbally’s still the place to be.
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Arts Lifestyke Arts
Music
How South Park stays relevant 20 years on T
“The show has managed to balance the dual roles of holding up a satirical mirror to society, while maintaining the offensive and outrageous comedy that made it so popular all the way back in the late nineties.”
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wenty years may as well be an eternity in pop culture. 20 years ago, the brand new musical phenomenon worldwide was the Macarena. Dancing at the Crossroads, a tribute song to Wexford’s All Ireland winning hurling team, was top of the Irish charts. Mike Tyson still had not bitten any ears off, and his face was unblemished by tattoos. The world, and much of pop culture, was a very different place. 20 years ago, a show called South Park made its debut on a then fledgling channel, Comedy Central. Fast forward to the present day and this absurdist comedy about the misadventures of four foul mouthed third grade boys and the surrounding community is still as dynamic, fresh and arguably more relevant than ever. South Park is now the fourth longest running scripted primetime tv show in US history, behind only Law & Order, Gunsmoke (neither are still in production) and The Simpsons (Not funny or relevant anymore.) The show is also locked in for at least a further three seasons. The 20th season, which debuted in Ireland on Friday the 16th of September, continues the show’s longstanding mission of mercilessly lampooning current events through the prism of a small Colorado mountain town. The recent outrage from white America over Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the American national anthem is translated to an elementary school volleyball game. The motivations for and effects of internet trolling and the hold that social media has over all of us are examined, with shocking, but ultimately hilarious allusions made to the tragic outcomes of online bullying.. Relevant issues such as the US presidential election, movie reboots and the power of nostalgia are also viewed through South Park’s well practised satirical perspec-
BY JOSH COGLEY tive. The result is a season that, so far, can stand shoulder to shoulder with any previous seasons in terms of both humour and social relevance. Given the volatile nature of American society in particular at the moment, there will be no shortage of targets for creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone to eviscerate throughout the remaining eight episodes. The question that remains, however, is how does South Park maintain its relevance and cutting edge after such a long shelf life? There are two main reasons for this, evolution and procrastination. The creators of South Park have done an admirable job over the years of tweaking the show from season to season to keep it feeling fresh. Over the show’s lifetime, background characters have been brought to the fore and given their own backstories and episodes. New characters, such as season 19 and 20’s PC Principal, have been created, and given substantial storylines. One of the boldest decisions made to
revamp the show was the season 18 choice to switch from a standard sitcom storytelling format, in which each episode does not affect the following one, to a continuous storyline, expanding over multiple seasons. This choice drastically changed the show’s dynamic, opening up a whole new world of storylines. The main element of the show’s creation that has kept it so pertinent and up to date is the last minute nature of the show’s creation. As shown in the excellent documentary ‘Six Days to Air, The making of South Park’, each episode is completely written, animated and delivered in the six days before it is shown on Comedy Central. This creative procrastination allows South Park to satirise events almost as they happen. For example, when Barack Obama was elected President of the United States in 2008, South Park aired an episode mocking the hysterical reaction of the American public to his victory only 24 hours after, complete with snippets from his actual victory speech. Saddam Hussein’s capture was referenced in an episode that aired three days after the event. This ability to commentate on events as they unfold is a massive advantage to South Park over competitors such as The Simpsons or Family Guy, whose shows can take up to eight months to complete production. The continued success of South Park is testament to innovation and risk taking. By pushing the boundaries of both creativity and good taste with each new season, the show has managed to balance the dual roles of holding up a satirical mirror to society, while maintaining the offensive and outrageous comedy that made it so popular all the way back in the late nineties. While The Simpsons continues to flounder, and other relics of that era fade into irrelevance, South Park continues to go from strength to strength.
Lifestyke Arts
INTERVIEW BY EMER HANDLY
All roads lead to ROMES R
OMES are a half Irish, half Canadian alternative pop band made up of childhood friends Jacob Bitove on vocals, his brother Nick Bitove on drums, Andrew Keyes on Bass and James Tebbit on guitar. Earlier this year they released their debut EP titled Believe. The four track release combines pop structures with an alternative vibe and the eponymous single has landed a spot on EA Sports’ Madden 17 soundtrack. We spoke to members Andrew and James to get to know them a bit more. First off can you tell me about how you all met and how the band started? A: We all went to the same secondary school down in Bray. We have been close friends since we were in first year and grew up playing together and jamming around. We all did different versions of different bands but with the same core group members. Then we moved to Toronto and eventually ROMES was formed. You released your debut EP ‘Believe’ in April, what has been the response so far? A: We have been delighted with
the response so far. We did not really know what to expect when we put it out, but there has just been a really organic growth to everything. It seems like every other week we get an email from our manager saying our song has been used or we have x amount of streams on Spotify. It has just sort of taken a life of its own and we are trying to enjoy it. Your sound is described as alternative and indie, is that what you initially set out to achieve? J: It’s an interesting question because we do not actually listen to much indie music. I guess when we were writing these songs our aim was to make music that we love and that other people would love. It was directed at being pop music really, but it does have an alternative vibe. Who are your inspirations? A: We listen to a lot of hip-hop kind of stuff. Also a lot of old soul and Funk, like Jamerson, James Brown and Marvin Gaye. I personally listen to Haim. J: Daft Punk and Nile Rodgers too. There are so many up-andcoming bands out there trying to get recognition, do you find this challenging or is it motivating? A: I am not trying to be flippant, but I do not think that makes a dif-
ference. We do not really pay too much attention to it. We never sit down and talk about other bands and are like ‘yeah we have to beat them’. There is no point. We just focus on what we are doing and how we can make ourselves better and hope that things look after themselves after that. You have played numerous shows, what is your favourite part of performing? A: The whole thing, from start to finish. We spent the last few months working on our live set and it feels like things have gotten to another level. It is really comfortable and fun now. The whole thing is amazing, getting the crowd involved and having the craic. In my opinion live shows are the best part about playing in a band. Do you have any pre-show rituals? A: We hive-five each other and have a bit of a hug. We take the piss out of each other a lot. The lads give out to me because I always need to go pee right before we go on stage. They’d say that that’s my pre-show ritual. There’s talk of you doing a tour in the future. Can we expect a show here in Dublin?
A: That would be amazing. We would really love that. J: In the New Year hopefully. A: That is one of our goals. My bucket list venue is to play the Olympia. We will definitely come home. You guys are only starting out, you know how scary it can be to put yourself out there, what advice would you give to readers who are only beginning to pursue their dream? A: I think if you are ever hit with this overwhelming sense of fear, take a deep breath. Then just go for it. The worse thing that can happen is that someone says no, and once you get over that, it is actually not that bad. J: If you want it hard enough, the universe will conspire to bring that to you. A: Namaste. Is there anything else you would like to say to readers of The College View? A: Stay in school.opening of the lake to swimmers, but in the end the sky brought the water to us. It only meant that most partied twice as hard to stay warm. Stradbally’s still the place to be.
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Lifestyle Arts Lifestyke Lifestyke Arts
The Benefits of Bikes
BY ARRON MCELROY
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here is a lot to be said for having a bicycle in college, for taking to the road on two wheels.
Firstly the ease in which you can get around. Where a walk could take you upwards of 30 minutes, cycling would cut it down to around 10 minutes, even taking your time at it. This can come in very handy if you value the extra few minutes in bed before the 9am lecture. There is a convenience to cycling too. You can get on it and go whenever you want, no need to plan your day around bus timetables or fear desertion on one of the many days of upcoming strikes. It takes very little be properly equipped to cycle. A
“Apart from the obvious boosts such as getting fitter, studies have shown that being on your bicycle can improve your mood” helmet, a bike lock and lights for when it gets dark and you are good to go. Pack a waterproof anorak in your bag too and you will be prepared for any conditions. There is no excuse for not having your bike in perfect health. DCU offers free bike clinics every week, giving students the opportunity to have their bikes checked and maintained, so you can be sure your bike is in good working order. Something must be said for the positive impacts cycling can have on your body and life. Apart from the obvious boosts such as getting fitter, studies have shown that being on your bicycle can improve your mood while making you more productive and attentive in the lectures.
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Dear Fresher me... BY AMY LAWLOR Dear Fresher Me, Where do I even begin to start? The chances are if I was reading this back in first year I wouldn’t be listening to me either. But, you probably still think that Dublin could easily beat Mayo in an All-Ireland final, so I’d advise you to listen up. You’re going to learn more about yourself than in your lectures this year, even though “that’s not how college is supposed to work” but sure look just go with it. Firstly, try and look half decent for your student I.D card. Unfortunately you’re going to be stuck with it for the next few years and not looking like a scruff will avoid that awkward bouncer stare down the Topshop sales assistant gives you when you want to get the student discount. Also you’re seventeen so you have to put up with that horrible bright yellow strip on your student card that screams underage, ‘no craic’. Don’t worry though you actually managed to sneak into a few events during Fresher’s week by covering that awful yellow strip with a white barcode sticker,
still don’t know how they fell for that one! Ascliché as it sounds don’t leave your assignments to the last minute. The majority of the time you probably will, but ‘Coppers’ isn’t going anywhere anytime soon so just get that sickening politics essay out of the way, then you won’t have to pull the dreaded “all nighter” before deadline day. It would also be smart to actually pay attention during your library tour. You won’t be fully aware of its existence until second year anyway, but it’s worth knowing a thing or two about how it works. When actually using the library, deep breathe turn-off your phone after all Snapchat and Facebook nearly caused you to fail second year. Let’s not forget about book loans, you are completely incapable of extending your book return dates and it will cost you, especially if it’s a short-term loan. “€30 for being a few hours late, sure think of all the Nubar chicken goujons you could buy with that,” so for the sake of the goujons try not to waste your money
on fines. Making friends is a lot easier than you think, at the end of the day everyone is in the same boat so it’s normal to be nervous. You’ll soon be eating Dominos in Shanowen after a standard night out in Diceys with a group of girls you feel like you’ve known for years. Mental note avoid Diceys after first year, the sweatbox life isn’t fun. This next part is important, don’t be intimidated to join whatever club or society you want too. Don’t get me wrong it can be hard to branch out and put yourself out there, but your only denying yourself the opportunity to make new friends and flourish in new experiences so swallow your fear, it will only hold you back. Finally, tackling the 109A Bus Éireann route is a pain in the you know what, so avoid the effort of carrying your sports bag around to lectures and get yourself a locker for the year, best decision first year me ever made. Signed, Struggling Third Year
HowESSENTIALS to survive student MAKEUP FOR WINTER accommodation
Lifestyle Arts
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something that won’t cling Get flexible to the dry areas and will provide Yourmoisture shower and now hydrameretion. Rimmel Upand ly fits your Wake bare Me body foundation that, there is no does suchjust thing as an while giving medium coverole’ wash without your nose touching the shower curtain age and a dewy finish. andOily a sly of gymnastics skinbit – One of the as youstruggles attempt with to havshave biggest your legs without moving ing oily skin is finding a an inch in fearthat of flooding your foundation won’t slide whole bathroom. Best of off within a few hours. luck. Infallible L’Oreal 24hr Matte founBeans dation pridesand noodles itself on its are your mattifyingbest friend and lasting powers. T h e r e Combiis nothing nation skin a home–like Combinacooked tion skindinner is a but may as mix you between well pretend you dry and oily skin. never patches had one, Some mayas thedry, most youothers are getbe while
“There is nothing like a homecooked dinner but you may as well pretend you never had one.” ting is a bowl of this stuff. Having once turned your nose up at these cheap kicks, leftoily, out making when your mother are it pretty didn’t havea foundation time to cook, hard to find you ticks will all soon be drooling that the boxes. at the very thought of warm Makeup Forever HD Foundabowl of noodles. Enjoy. tion is oil-free and glides onto the skin with ease. It Stock up on paper gives medium to toilet full coverage and, as the name Nothing saysa embarrasssuggests, gives HD effect, ing like that awkward walk which is perfect for photos. back from skin the – shop with Sensitive Clinique naggin under one arm isyour a great brand for foun-
dation if youpaper have sensiand toilet under the other. yes, it is guartive skinAnd as all products are anteed you will allergy-tested andbump 100% into someone free. on the wayareback. fragrance There Save yourself the hassle and dozens of different Clinique buy it at thetoweekend, with foundations choose from, your mam,on and put you’re it in your depending what suitcase. looking for. The Even Better foundation contains SPF15, helps to even skin-tone There will alwaysand be someone going out
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It’s doesn’t mean you have to go too. Just because it seems like everyone is going out doesn’t mean they actually are and “aww c’mon everyone’s going” is not a valid excuse for breaking your bank and going out with €1.50. You can always go out another time, relax. Say no to F.O.M.O. The only appropriate time to take off your
has buildable coverage. makeup is literally– right beHigh coverage Whether forewant you get into bed. Someyou to cover spots and one will turn your door, blemishes or up justatprefer theycoverage, always do. it be full EsteeMay Lauder lookingWear for afoundation bottle opener Double is or a spare potato, they will perfect for you. It has amazbe there and you will answer ing staying power and gives looking coverage. like deathThere and oh amazing you’ll it, yes you of will. are 38regret different shades the foundation, so there’s In4free to issuit theeveryone. best app something youNatural will ever own finish – If you’re looking for something more Spendingwith over €5coverto get lightweight less into a night club just seems age, Bourjois Healthy Mix outrageous and the Serum foundation is athought very of not choice. having cheaplist popular It’s light on makes heart race. You the skinyour and provides sheer may be poor coverage, whilebut still everyone having else islasting too. Dance it off. good power. Em doloreic totatectis et a sinit assequi accum rescius adia con natetur
Keeping Your Cool Commuting INSERT BY AINE FASHION MONK HEADLINE HERE
o you’ve gotten your timetable, had fun at Freshers’ and forgotten the name of almost every person you’ve met so far, but have you thought about how you could improve the quality of your commute? I must admit that transitioning back into the commuter lifestyle having stayed in Dublin for two years has been a shock to the system, but a shock lessened by good planning and a few small changes daily. Prep for success You really will appreciate a good quality backpack during exam season
when the rain is pouring down and you find yourself standing at the bus stop staring at the Real Time sign. Yes, you may have your eye on that ever so stylish rucksack you saw someone post about on Instagram, but will its pretty pattern and delicate features make it through the next few weeks, never mind the next semester? Spend a little time (and money) looking for and ultimately investing in a good quality backpack that’ll easily fit all the essentials and some, without looking like a modern-day
Mary Poppins. Layer it up Instead of donning the puffiest, most padded/insulated coat you can find, dress wisely with lots of layers. Your morning walk may be long and treacherous in the Winter months, so brace yourself with a mix of jackets, outerwear, scarves and gloves. When in doubt, throw an umbrella in your bag, you never know when rain might strike (or the buses at that) so it’s always better to be prepared and dry than soaked and solemn at the stop.
Powerbanks are your new best friend. Pick up a powerbank for next to nothing in Penneys and never miss a text or tweet again. Bus jour- some ideas for those upneys can feel like a life- coming assignments? Make time and a phone with no use of the free WiFi and power only prolongs the often quiet place and I can guarantee you’ll feel ten trip. They aren’t just for times more productive affestivals and can be a real terwards. lifesaver when disaster Know your timetable strikes. inside out. Utilise your time. Make sure you never Yes, like me, you may miss a thing by importwant to doze off on the ing your timetable to your way to and from college, Google Calendar. Similarly, but why not seize this op- you can add bus and train portunity and read over times, meaning you never lecture notes or jot down miss the last one.
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Lifestyle Arts Lifestyke
Summer Blues BY MICHELLE MARTIN
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ollege has started and summer is slowly becoming a distant memory. Morning lie-ins are being replaced with buzzing alarm clocks, evening barbeques with study sessions, but our summer wardrobes don’t have to go anywhere just yet.
TRAVEL MY J1 EXPERINCE BY CIARA MORAN
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or many people a J1 is synonymous with the college experience. The idea of 3 months spent in the US working and travelling appealed to me long before I started college. It wasn’t until midway through my second year of Journalism that I really started to look into it. Originally, myself and two friends from secondary school looked into going to San Francisco. However, we heard from a few people that it was really difficult to find jobs here and that rent is very high so we decided to look to the East coast. We decided to go to Ocean City, Maryland,
I worked as a server in a crab restaurant on the boardwalk called the Mug and Mallet. This gave me the perfect opportunity to talk to new people and also a good way to make tips! I didn’t expect to be working as much as I did, with only two days off as a week, but even so I still fitted in going to the beach, which was only 2 minutes away, almost everyday. Ocean City itself didn’t offer much more than the typical touristic amenities as it’s a resort town. However, we made the most of these, getting to experience things such as skydiving, paddle boarding, jet skiing and kayaking. As idyllic as this beach lifestyle was, living in a house with 9 other people in the heat for 3 months obviously had its downsides. Having to do my own laundry and cook for myself everyday came as a big culture shock as I live at home during college. There were days when I would be eating plain pasta with some soy sauce, a far cry from my mam’s corned beef and potatoes. which is about a 5 hour drive south of New On the 23rd of August we left for New York City. Through Facebook we found 7 York where we stayed for 4 nights, then other people from Dublin to share a house flew to San Francisco. After a week, we with. After what felt like a lifetime, the time came to board our flight to Washington DC. then travelled down the West coast to Los Angeles. Being able to see so much of the The feeling of sitting on a plane to a place US in one trip was incredible, especially I knew little about with no clue what was the differences between each. Our final ahead of me was extremely daunting yet exciting. Once we arrived, we took a 6 hour flight home to Ireland left LAX on the 15th bus ride to Ocean City. Initially the house we of September, giving me very little time to were renting at a steep $5,400 a month felt adjust to reality before college. Overall, I would highly recommend a J1 visa to stulike a dive, however, it wasn’t long before it became home. A major upside is that we dents. I feel it made me more mature and each had our own bed, a rarity for J1 acoutgoing and has given me new lifelong friends and unforgettable experiences. commodation.
“The time came to board our flight to Washinton DC”
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Here are our best tips for tailoring your summer purchases to last that little bit longer in this nippy weather. A huge trend this summer was the simple slip dress. Yes, it’s still wearable as is for nights out and parties, but how about throwing a plain white t-shit on underneath for the daytime? Pair it with some white runners, an oversized jacket and you’re good to go. The same goes for dungarees and pinafores only this time, try a fitted sweater or polo neck t-shirt. Think Rachel from friends circa 1998. Not a summer goes by where flowy maxi dresses and floral print skirts don’t dominate the festival scene. Swap your bralette for a chunky knit jumper, your wellies for Chelsea boots and you have yourself the comfiest autumn outfit in existence. The last few months it was difficult to go two minutes without seeing an off the shoulder top. They’re cute, and flattering on all body types, but by God are they annoying under a jacket. Try keeping warm with a chunky circle scarf instead, still leaving your shoulders free. Or for even colder days, a loose, oversized cape. And finally, considering high waisted mom hristmas jeans areof every2014 for where now, we me wasright spent bed-ridwon’t ouralso den. I be hadpacking shingles, crop tops away forZoster. a known as Herpes while. It is a viral disease of the nerves and skin with
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