i would rage about this, but y'know, i just don't have the energy anymore

[kaydeefalls]

The caveat to internet in my room: there are a lot of internet-related things which IS Services will not allow. Like Skype, which would have let me talk to my boyfriend for free. Or IMs of any form. Or Gmail Notifier. Or...well, you get the picture. If it goes beyond just visiting webpages or perhaps downloading (PERHAPS. Not everything) or playing a webgame that uses Java...then no.

You know, I came out here because I wanted to expand my horizons, and because I think people who believe the US is the center of the world and the Gratest Place Evar are stupid. What I've learned? I never, ever, ever want to live anywhere outside the US again. Visit, sure. Live, no.

Maybe it's just that we Americans are raised to be snotty and demanding and to make everyone else's lives hell until we get what we want, whereas people in, say, Europe have grown up learning to put up and shut up, but...well, I'm not looking for special treatment or anything. Just basic services that college students in America take for granted, which apparently are not at all basic anywhere else. And, look, I'm paying just as much -- more, actually -- to study here than if I'd just stayed in Chicago. So getting less for more really aggravates me.

This is all rather horrid of me, isn't it? I'm sure I've just had one really extended bad experience with one minor bureaucracy in one non-US country, and I'm overgeneralizing like mad based on it. Once I just get used to this, I'm sure I'll be able to appreciate the other aspects of this country a lot more. But right now, being here has been 98% frustration and only about 2% enjoying Ireland, and that's utter bullshit. I want to go home.

Comments

[maleyka.livejournal.com]

i'm sorry you're having such a horrendous time right now, honey. all i can tell you from my own experiences is that it gets better. in the first weeks, it's only natural to get frustrated with things not running the way you're used to. you've caught some shitty luck as well; i'm no expert on ireland specifically, but as someone well-acquainted and accordingly frustrated with european bureaucracy i feel your pain. but things will get better, i promise.

besides - one of the most precious things i took from my us year is the increased awareness of all the things i love about my country. some pretty crappy comfort right now, i know, but i can only repeat that things will go uphill. i'll bet you that a year from now you won't be leaving without at least some regret. *hugs*

[kaydeefalls.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know. I just need to give it time. Thanks, though. *hugs*

[funkyreunion.livejournal.com]

check and see if you can access meebo.com, which is an entirely browser-based multi-chat engine

[kaydeefalls.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...shall try that, thanks.

[oneangrykate.livejournal.com]

Shit, if Skype doesn't work, then there goes my phone bill (my gf is studying at the same college for a year).

[kaydeefalls.livejournal.com]

If she's in one of the residence halls here, then nope. Also, if she has Windows XP, make sure it's Professional, not Home Edition, or she won't be able to get internet at all.

I'm still trying to find a way to hear my boyfriend's voice without paying a bajillion euro, but without Skype, I despair.

[ldmoonflower.livejournal.com]

Do they not sell phone cards there? In Paris, they have them in tobacco shops and in internet-phone places. Not only do I not have the internet in my room, but I also can't make anything but free calls from my room phone, so I buy phone cards with free access numbers. They're not a bad deal at all.

Alternately, convince him to get SkypeOut. The rates aren't as good, especially since they charge in euros, but it's cheaper than paying normal long distance and what Paul's been doing. It's not that consistent, voice quality-wise, but it works a good percentage of the time and would be better than nothing.

[kaydeefalls.livejournal.com]

See, that would be lovely, but I don't have a landline to work with. My room has no phone (WTF, by the way). So that doesn't work. And I still need to change my cell phone so that it works here without charging me a billion dollars a minute.

[trakkie.livejournal.com]

Hi,

I saw through friendsfriends that you were talking about Ireland, and so I came to read your journal since I was studying at Trinity last year and missed it like crazy. Anyway, I lived in Trinity Hall, and if you change the port number you can get the restrictions take off so you can use things like AIM and Skype. The code changes every year, but just ask around your residence hall, someone should know it. I freaked out last year when I realized that I would be able to use AIM.

Also, if you're using Firefox, you should be able to use AIM express, which is what I did before I figured out the port thing.

[kaydeefalls.livejournal.com]

Port number? How do I change this? You can change the port # and still get network access? I don't know enough about computers to understand this, and all of my flatmates are depressingly computer-illiterate.

[trakkie.livejournal.com]

Yup, you can change the port number and still get network access, because they make exceptions for people. (Another way to get access would be to try telling the IS people that you need to be able to connect to online programs for some reason - work or something. I had a friend do this and they changed it for her.)

Are you on a Mac? I can tell you how to change the number if you are, if you aren't I'm sort of clueless. But I'll email my old flatmates to see if any of them know how.

[kaydeefalls.livejournal.com]

Actually, I found a way to cheat the system, for Skype at least -- it was a bit tricksy, but I managed to find the port # on the tcd.ie network pages. And, quite unexpectedly, it worked! Oh frabjous day!

Of course, this may be somehow illegal and IS Services will find out and come down upon me like the wrath of god, but! Short-term solution!

Although if your old flatmates know a cleverer way about it, it would be much appreciated. MUCH appreciated. But thanks for the advice so far!

[trakkie.livejournal.com]

Nope, that's pretty much the way we cheated the system too. :) Just don't do stuff like downloading torrents and consuming a lot of bandwith and IS services pretty much won't notice. A lot of the people in the residence halls do it.