February 7 2:42 p.m.

Oh my gosh. Last night was absolutely insane. I went over to the guys’ rooms at about 7:30. Most of them were still showering and getting dressed, so I hung out in their room for about an hour. I had no problem watching them emerge from the shower in a towel and get dressed...! Then we walked to a store down the street so they could buy some vodka. They opted to eat dinner at McDonald’s, which is so not my thing, so I went off by myself for dinner. First I went to the bar where we had breakfast. Inside were a bunch of old French dudes, here for the rugby tournament. France was to play Ireland the next day at 5:00. One of them, who had gray hair and a puffy jaw, came up to me. “You are very beautiful. I buy you drink.” I didn’t refuse. I got a cranberry and vodka because I haven’t had that in a while. Another French man started talking to me. Then the one who bought me a drink wanted a kiss. I refused that time. I finished my drink and then ducked out while his back was turned. After eating some minestrone soup at an Italian restaurant, I went back to the guys’ rooms. They were a lot louder than they were before. I mixed vodka and fanta and we all got very drunk together. At first it was just me and seven guys (Damian wasn’t there), but then two more of their English friends came. Then four of their Irish friends came. I was not complaining in the least about having thirteen guys for myself! When I was very drunk, I started writing down their names and email addresses so I could add them to facebook.

Then we decided to go to Temple Bar. Karl, Ross, some others and I went outside. Karl gave me piggyback. It was freezing, and being the tremendous flirt that I am, especially when I’m drunk, I breathed hot air on his ears and neck to make them warm. Then suddenly a taxi appeared, and Karl, Ross, one of their newly arrived friends (Ben?) and I got in and were taken somewhere. We drove about ten minutes and then arrived at a club. The bouncers asked for identification, demanded 10 euros, then let us in. There were not very many people yet, but I was drunk and danced on the empty dance floor anyway. I grabbed Ross and taught him the cha cha. Ross is one of those tall, slightly geeky but adorable guys. He was such an awkward dancer and it was hilarious. He was trying so hard, saying the beats out loud (“Cha, cha, cha cha cha!”) and concentrating with all his might. So cute.

Karl and I started doing more touchy-feely stuff, then kissed. We would be together for a while, then I would lose him (I don’t remember the transition, but suddenly the place was completely crowded), then we’d find each other again and kiss and hold hands, and repeated like that the whole night. I remember the other guys showed up at one point, and there were times when we would be hanging out in an outside area of the club for smoking. A few times Karl bought me a drink (cranberry and vodka again – I reunited with that drink like an old friend). One time when I was wandering around by myself, a man (probably French) said he wanted to buy me a drink. We made our way through the crowd towards the bar, then he asked for a kiss. I said no, and then he turned and started walking back to where he was. I laughed, and went downstairs to find everyone.

The floor was spinning, the music blaring, the lights flashing, the crowd dancing, and I was drunk as hell. I remember needing to use the bathroom at one point, but the women’s was crowded. So I went to the men’s and caused an uproar. Then a big black man took my arm and pushed me out. I don’t remember him being aggressive, just firm enough to get me outta there. He gave me a furious look. I thought it was hilarious, and thereafter I would poke my head in the men’s restroom and give him a mischievous grin and pretend like I was going to enter again. He would give ma another furious look and jerk towards me, and then I would run away.

I resigned to the fact that I would have to use the ladies’ room, so I got in line. While I was waiting, I saw an African woman sitting on a stool by a small countertop on which was a variety of half-used perfumes. I asked her where she was from. “Nigeria.” Then somehow I got the idea that she was selling these perfumes to make a living. I felt so bad that she lives by selling perfumes in a bathroom in a club! I grabbed a random perfume bottle and gave her twenty euros and a huge hug. She was very grateful. In retrospect, though, I probably robbed her of more money than I gave her, since I think she was selling spritzes of perfume rather than the entire bottles, and if each spritz is sold for one euro, she could have made a lot more than 20 euros.

At another point, I was walking around when I suddenly heard, “Katie!” I didn’t recognize the person, and I also couldn’t see straight. “Who are you?” “Your roommate!” Ah! One of the Norwegian guys! Cool. We talked but I don’t remember what we talked about. Then, a while later, I was walking around again when suddenly five voices yelled in unison, “Katie!” I was surrounded by all five of my Norwegian roommates now. Just to make sure, I asked them, “Do I live with you?” Affirmative. I talked to them for a while (don’t know what about), then continued on my drunken journey around the club. At another point, one of the guys told me that Mark puked in the taxi on his way over and now we have to bail him out of jail. I was very drunk and confused and worried.

I don’t know what time it was when I started getting extremely tired. I was literally about to pass out. I stumbled into the outdoor smoking section, which had become a rather permanent location for my guys for the night, and found Vee. “I’m so tired,” I moaned. “I wanna go back.” Vee immediately left whoever he was talking to and took a hold of me. “Okay, let’s go back, I’ll get you home.” “I’m so tired!” I kept saying. I remember almost falling asleep as we walked. But Vee had a strong arm around me and was leading me outside where taxis were lined up. “It’s okay, we’ll go home,” he said. Then, “Darn, I almost got a date. That girl actually came up and started talking to me. That hasn’t happened in three years.” “Oh no, do you wanna go back?” I started to turn around back towards the entrance of the club but Vee said, “No! No it’s alright, you’re my first priority.” We asked three taxi drivers for a ride but they all said they’re waiting for someone else. Our only option was to ride in a cart pulled by a biker. We got in and took off. I’d never ridden in one of those before. I don’t know how that guy managed to pull both of us! Amazing! I’m sure he was hot from the workout, but Vee and I were freezing. I was huddled up next to him shivering, and he was shivering too, but nonetheless he took off his coat and wrapped it around me. He was so incredibly sweet, and I gave him a kiss. Then he said, “When I first saw you, I thought you were the sexiest girl I’d ever seen. But I didn’t do anything because I thought you really liked Karl. You know Karl’s got a girlfriend? I don’t know if he’s told you…she’s a really nice Indian girl.” Oh man. Hopefully she’ll never hear that an American girl stole her man for an evening.

When we got back to the hostel, the lights were off and people were asleep. I immediately crawled into bed. Then I heard a chorus of male voices yell yet again, “Katie!” They had beaten me home. I can’t remember what I said back to them, but at one point I mentioned orgy and suddenly two of them emerged out of the darkness, and appeared at my bedside. I told them I was kidding and sent them back to their own beds.

In the morning, I woke to my roommates packing and getting dressed. “Katie!” they said. “Katie, I just want to say, last night was amazing,” one of them said. I laughed. They all agreed that the orgy was unforgetable. One of them gave me the rest of his Herbal Essences shampoo since he couldn’t take it with him on the flight. I had a maid take a picture of us, and then we all said goodbye. They were fun guys!

I then took a shower and washed my clothes for the first time. I can’t tell you how nice it is to put on a clean shirt for the first time in over a week. I smell great. Not that I stunk before, but I certainly didn’t smell great.

When I had finished washing my clothes and was walking through the common room of the hostel, a huge group of middle-aged French men invited me to have some wine with them. I accepted and they filled a cup with rose wine. Then they gave me a slice of bread with a chunky cream-colored topping spread over it. I took a bite. “Duck liver,” the one man that spoke English said. Yum. I finished it. Then they gave me some more duck meat (I think this was actual muscle but I’m not so sure). Then of course, one of them wanted a kiss, but I refused again. They would take turns sitting next to me on the couch and each try to get a kiss. I refused them all. They were very friendly and would often burst into song, which they would do with their arms around each other, swinging left and right. When I had finished my wine, I thanked them and said goodbye. “Bye Katie!” they all yelled and waved.

Now I’m at my new hostel in Dublin, Four Courts. I like it so far. There’s free breakfast in the morning, which is always nice. Now I’m going to a pub to get some food and watch rugby!