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evaelisabethYou know I hate seeing people on the streets, what I really hate is women with small children begging. I think they are mostly immigrants from the new eastern european states or perhaps travelers. The sad thing is that there is a social net here they just may not know enough or speak enough english to avail themselves. Or maybe they are just trying to pick up some extra cash since they are unable to work with two kids in tow. I don't know, it just really hits me in my gut.
I did find out that if we have another baby, I'm entitled to 18 weeks at least partially paid maternity leave (this is paid by the state, there may also be money from the employer) and another 8 weeks unpaid leave. That's two weeks before the baby arrives and 6 months after that. This is a good thing.
On another more cheerful note, I discovered today that I work around the corner from not only the Irish National Library but also from the main complex of the National Museum. I'm not sure I'm going to have enough time during lunch to do much exploring though. I did pick up an application for a readers card at the library but will have to have a couple of passport pictures made before I can get it.
Today is a beautiful day interspersed with short burst of drizzle, I went for a walk (discovering the aforementioned buildings) and ran across an outdoor art exhibit at St. Stephens Green. There was some really neat stuff including a greenman painted in translucent paint on glass, at €220 it's a bit past my budget right now though I did get the artists card.
I must say something that I have been noticing in the last week, that I had forgoten, is that the Irish are significantly skinnier than Americans. I feel possitively blimplike over here. Everyone I work with except the two solicitors, who probably eat out too much and don't get any exercise at all, is about the size of my forearm. I wonder if I'll loose weight just being here, maybe it's in the air or something ;-)
I did find out that if we have another baby, I'm entitled to 18 weeks at least partially paid maternity leave (this is paid by the state, there may also be money from the employer) and another 8 weeks unpaid leave. That's two weeks before the baby arrives and 6 months after that. This is a good thing.
On another more cheerful note, I discovered today that I work around the corner from not only the Irish National Library but also from the main complex of the National Museum. I'm not sure I'm going to have enough time during lunch to do much exploring though. I did pick up an application for a readers card at the library but will have to have a couple of passport pictures made before I can get it.
Today is a beautiful day interspersed with short burst of drizzle, I went for a walk (discovering the aforementioned buildings) and ran across an outdoor art exhibit at St. Stephens Green. There was some really neat stuff including a greenman painted in translucent paint on glass, at €220 it's a bit past my budget right now though I did get the artists card.
I must say something that I have been noticing in the last week, that I had forgoten, is that the Irish are significantly skinnier than Americans. I feel possitively blimplike over here. Everyone I work with except the two solicitors, who probably eat out too much and don't get any exercise at all, is about the size of my forearm. I wonder if I'll loose weight just being here, maybe it's in the air or something ;-)
