Even the Italians think I'm Italian

So Cork is full of foreign students again all over here to learn English. I don't know why as they cant understand Cork people! Of course this also means a hard time for me as everyone thinks I'm foreign! I have posted about this before about it happening in Germany but over the weekend it bugged me on two occasions and three occasions where it was hilarious! I have blogged about mistaken nationality before, just ignore the bit about the bad German!

So to add to that list we have Hungarian! Yea, I know, a completely new one to bring the total of mistaken nationalities to 15!

So thats story was one of funny ones. One of the lads who works in the Savoy Centre was in with a relative. I was in one of the other parts of the shop and they asked her where did she think I was from, she thought for a while and came up with Hungarian. The lads said yea, but he has great English! So to play along the lads called out to me as "Stefanov", now I didnt hear the name I just say them waving at me. So I came up and they asked me to check to see did we have something in a 32" waist. I replied "I think I have alright upstairs, give me one second there and I'll run up and check". You could catch flies in her mouth! The lads then told her I was actually Irish!

So thats one funny occasion, onto the annoying ones, they are kinda similar so will get them out of the way. On Friday I was out in Rubys and I was a bit drunk having being in instinct before hand. This guy (who I have had encounters with before) stopped me with a hand out for a handshake and introduced himself. I replied, "I'm Stephen", he looked disappointed as I confirmed to him that I wasn't Italian!

Then on Saturday I was using the facilities (i.e. taking a piss) in Instinct when an old guy (I do mean old!!) stood next to me (I hate it when they do that) and asked "Where are you from?" I replied in a thick Cork accent "I'm from Cork", and got the same response! Thankfully I wasn't interested in either of them!

So back to the funny ones! On Saturday I was working when a group of foreign students came in. One of them wanted to try on a shirt. He spoke to me in his native tongue. I replied "Sorry , I don't speak Spanish". He replied by informing me that he was speaking Italian, not Spanish! Most foreign students in Cork are Spanish and I would have recognised French so it was an honest mistake. I of course replied as any Cork person would, "I don't speak that one either!" They actually thought I was Italian!

Then today, I came back up to the main shop from the shoe shop, (try saying that fast) when again the guy from the centre was there with more relatives, this time he asked me "What part of Italy are you from again?". I replied in a thick Cork Accent! "I'm from Cork, like". "Say something in Italian" he asked. "I can't" I replied, "French or German I can do". Then he turned around to his relatives and said, he actually is from Cork and they didn't believe him! I was in stitches!

I also have stories about people thinking I'm straight, but thats for another time!

arrivederci per ora! :D

Steve

I Never Knew I Meant So Much To People

I have stated since I left Germany that I plan on going back there, the problem is, its going to be very hard to that. The reaction of my friends since I got back has really touched me. Its been wonderful been back and meeting everyone again and all the hugs and kisses cause I know I have missed all my friends in Cork, I just didn't realise how much they missed me. This is going to make it so much harder to leave the next time, especially if it is more long/medium-term like I was(?) planning. I will face that when it comes, but it will make that decision so much harder.

Of course I miss all my friends too in Koeln and I will be back for a visit next year, more then likely for Karnival!

But back to my friends here, the things people have said since I got back and being out dancing in Freakscene and Ruby's has made my relationships with my friends so much stronger as I realise how much I appreciated them and what I mean to them. I actually have tears in my eyes writing this. I am not sure why, but it shows how touched I have been!

anyway ciao for now!
Steve
xxx

Jobhunting....

I thought this morning, when I was originally planning on posting about Job hunting that it would be a moaning piece about the lack of jobs and me not being contacted by anyone I applied to, but that all changed this morning when I got a call from Zenith Menswear telling me they had a vacancy and asking me to come in for a chat.

So "Woo!". I know a few of the lads in there and there was no job there last week when I went in, but that changed this morning. I was the first person I rang! I am so happy to have a job again!!

I start tomorrow at 9am, it will be interesting working in a clothes shop. I like a challenge so it should be interesting!

I'm Home!

Hallo alles!!

So I'm back in Cork at home and sitting in the living room on mz sisters laptop! Strange to be home, I'm excited as I met a friend on the plane from Amsterdam! Amsterdam was great fun and I'll post up about it later!

Again thanks to ALL my friends who turned up at Koeln Hauptbanhof and made me cry and give me a lovely card and everything! I'll miss ye!!!!

Koeln was a great expeirence and will reminesce while trying to learn German and find a job!!

So anyway I'm off to bed take care.

Tschues,
Steve

Mothers Day Post: The Cork Mammy, I miss her

I know I'm early but here is a post praising that wonderful person who is my Mammy. She has technically cancelled Mothers Day as its a BIG birthday soon but more on that next week! She'll kill me for calling her "Mammy", but it is a for a competition!

My Mammy is a true Cork Mammy, not only does she mother me but she will mother any of my friends that visit by feeding them! Shes is fabulous. She is even managing to Mammy me when I am over 1,000KM away. Only a Cork Mammy can do that.

She sends me packages regualarly with the Pheonix in it or books to keep me in reading materials. She rings when she can, though it costs a fortune.

To sum her up in one word is impossible!

She is: kind, accepting, funny (she regularly sends me dirty jokes by email and text), loving, patient (though I do test it to the max) among many other adjectives that have fled from my mind.

I will never forget her reaction when I came out to her. But she is so accepting now of me, any friends I bring home (whether I am linked romantically to them or not! and she will always ask that! :P) and where I go.

My Cork Mammy, is an inspiration to me. It is because of her I love reading, music, history and languages. To say she is 'hip' is an understatement, she is completely 'with it'! I suppose it helps having two kids who will include her in everything, even at times when we think she is nosey!

My Cork Mammy lends me clothes when I am doing drag for Macra Na Feirme!

All in all, I dont know where I would be without my Cork Mammy.

Happy Mother's Day Mum! I miss you!

xxxx
Steve

Places I will Miss in Cork: Instinct

I've been going to instinct since I was 19 and hence why I will miss it. It is where I regularly go on weekends with friends for drinks and dancing.

Instinct has one thing that sets it apart from all other bars.... It has a poll on the dancefloor!!! Its great fun and I will truly miss drinkingly swing off it for 6 months!!

Instinct are great for hosting themed parties, beach parties, fancy dress and of course foam parties!!!

Now i will have to find a new regular where everyone knows your name.... :D

Now for some reason very time I go to write these pieces my mind goes blank!! argh!

so until i can think of more i will post it then!

Places I will Miss in Cork: Freakscene

I started going to Freakscene back in 2005 and It is where I can be found with regularity on a Wednesday night wither bopping away downstairs in Danascene or in a moshpit upstairs in Fishscene! When I started going to freakscene it was in Club One. then that closed and it has now move to the Qube and Gorby's on Oliver Plunkett St!

The music is great, the staff are great and their seams to be a camaraderie among the regulars! Its fantastic!

I have made many friends in Freakscene and every Wednesday night when I am away I will think of it and miss it.

This week Freakscene is on twice with the Masquerade Ball tonight (I'm not going) and the normal Wednesday night (which I may attend)

Its strange writing these posts as my mind seams to go blank as though I must have some amount of stories from the place! But when the mind goes blank there's nought I can do.

It is suffice to say, that the first Wednesday I am back I shall be found in Freakscene!!!

Some Facts about my Future Home - Koln

Well here we go! (mostly taken from Wikipedia and other such sites!)

Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, and is the largest city both in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than 10 million inhabitants. It is one of the oldest cities in Germany, having been founded by the Romans in the year 30 BC. Cologne was granted the status of a Roman "city" in the year 50 AD.

Cologne lies on the Rhine. The city's famous Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cologne. The University of Cologne (Universität zu Köln) is one of Europe's oldest universities.

Cork is one of the Koln sister city's!!!

Ill also be there for Carneval which is Jan 31st to Feb 05! wooo! The carneval in Cologne is one of the biggest street festivals in Europe. It is held annually from 11th Nov to Ash Wednesday. The main event is the street carnival that takes place in the period between the Thursday before Ash Wednesday and Ash Wednesday. Thousands of visitors flock to Cologne during this time.