Here I am, over a week behind schedule... again.
Last Thursday night, we went to a show that is supposedly a Dublin Christmas tradition. It's called "Panto," short for Pantomime. This year's theme was Aladdin. I had no idea what to expect--would they be singing music from Aladdin? Would they be MIMING the story of Aladdin? Would it have a Christmas spin?
Nothing could have prepared me for what was to follow.
It was Aladdin themed--part X factor (Irish version of American Idol), part drag show, part Barney, and part Disney-on-Ice. It was hilarious for us Notre Dame kids to watch--they didn't sing any Aladdin songs, OR any Christmas songs for that matter. Their set list comprised of: "California Gurls," by Katy Perry, "Tik Tok," by KE$HA, "The Climb," by Miley, "Defying Gravity" from the musical Wicked, a Justin Beiber number, "True Colors," "Barbra Streisand," etc. etc. YOU GET THE IDEA. So ridiculous. They changed some of the words--ex: California Gurls became Peking Gurls (because it's set in Asia..) and some of the words to TikTok (like "Bottle of Gin") were replaced. I would never allow my children to go to this. I just don't understand. I don't really have a huge problem with the inappropriate jokes (A man ordering from the grocery store: "I'd like to order some sausages. Big ones. No, much bigger! A big sausage and two plumbs") or teaching kids how to swear ("Let's learn an Asian word, kids. Ahhhs Ohhh!") because the kids probably didn't understand. I just had a problem with how stupid it all was. The stupid, sexual jokes, the drunken behavior, the song choices, the cheesiness of it all. I'm sure it was a kid's dream true...but why would parents want to bring their kids to this show that reeked of everything bad in America? Why not take them to something actually Christmassy, something quality, something that will make them dream of something else besides Miley Cyrus and Ke$ha?
That being said, we all laughed our asses off. We pitied the kids, we were surprised by the choice of all-American songs, and we were disgusted by the closing number of 12 days of Christmas: 12 beer mugs...8 shillelaugh sticks...7 leprechauns...3 rugby shirts...and a bra that was made to fit 3.
COME ON IRELAND.
The rest of my time in Dublin was spent studying and writing papers. I made some time to say goodbye to everyone though. Siomha and I headed over to UCD to have a little Christmas party with all our Notre Dame friends--best night I've had in a long time. Everyone was letting loose from hours studying for exams and everyone was in the Christmas spirit. Stragglers, myself included, stayed at the party after nearly everyone left, singing carols and playing kazoos very loudly until 3 in the morning, when the staff at UCD had to come upstairs and ask the 8 people that were still left to quiet down.
I'm a bit disappointed in myself for not going to UCD to visit the Notre Dame kids more often. I've grown to love all of them. I'm so sad that they won't be returning next semester--I'll have a whole new batch of personalities to get used to and learn to love. I'm already looking forward to seeing all those kids again in the fall of my senior year.
Tuesday night, I forced Mike, Siomha, and my favorite UCD kids to come to the Brazen Head with me and share a last pint, since I was the first student in the Notre Dame program to leave for the states. It was a bittersweet night.
Thursday AM, after getting around 3 hours of sleep, I made my way to Dublin airport, and headed to Philadelphia. I slept a bit on the plane, I think (I hope), and landed in Phili feeling wide awake and happy to be alive! I've never been happier to see Wendys, Chik-fil-A, and all things American. So happy, in fact, that I sent out a mass text "AMERICAAAAA!!!!" to nearly everyone in my phone book. I'm sure a couple people were confused....
Now, I'm home. I'm eating an orange. I'm listening to Christmas music. There's snow outside. The stockings hung by the chimney with care. It all feels so familiar. Feels like I never left. So strange! I'm about to start working on a paper that I didn't finish. Oops. Wish me luck.
Cheers,
Clare Mairead
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