So…it ends well. I’ll mention that up front.
I decided, before heading off early this morning, that I’d make arrangement for my accomodation today. I compiled a definitive list of places of opportunity based on what I had seen and where I wanted to live. The south coast is hugely attracting, and i decided that a couple flyers in Dun Laoghaire were as far as I’d go, but a short DART down the coast would be fine. I set my upper limt at 1600 euro…a huge chunk of salary, but exchangable for a cool lifestyle. I attempted to arrange for showings of three place in DL, but all were putting off until Friday. Too long. I arranged for showing of a couple places between Sandymount and Booterstown. I hoped that the bid I made for a ravishingly skylit place in Booterstown might return my calls. In the end I hoped in vein. After spending the morning arranging visits…agents are recalcitrant in Ireland to simply say I’ll meet you there in an hour or two. More often its a day or two if you are lucky.
Wanting to accomplish something I decided to go to the Gardai and register my work permit. You may remember that I spent an extended period of time last week begging to be let into the country without having a work permit. I was admitted for two weeks to get my affairs in order and instructed to come to said office with proper permit. It should have been smooth. As it was, it was deemed I was illegally in country as the system claimed I had been refused entry. Questions of how I found myself in country. Confinement to a white room. Confiscation of passport. Deliberation between officials behgind closed doors. It appeared as though I would be deported. More begging and I was told that there were two options. Leave the country and attempt to re-enter with proper paperwork or appeal to the department of justice to have status changed. More begging and I finally was fortunate enough to have an authoruity figure grant an extenuating cirumstance and change of status. 100 euro later I have an immigration card and am in better shape.
Regaining composure I dashed out for afternoon showings in Merrion Village. Great place. Wandered neighbourhood and then jumped the DART back to Ballsbridge for a further showing. I spent a couple hours wandering in Ballsbridge and love the area. Made the decision to take a lovely smaller apartment on 5th storey of a very nice development offered by a friend of a friend. Awesome opportunity and Shawn has now shaken hands on a lovely place to plant my feet in Dublin. If plans come off will move in Sunday and pictures will follow. Yay.