That old creole language of Gullah just jumped back across the pond, so to speak. Last week, I was chatting with a kindergarten teacher here in Dublin about a story she was teaching in class, The Little Red Hen. She was telling me that she wanted to have the students hear different versions of the story, so she did an internet search and came up with an audio/visual story to share. She did a rather funny impression and tried to tell me what "language" she had played. She went on with "Guh, Guh," and I guessed correctly..."Gullah."
Are you kidding me? Of course in Charleston I've used Gullah to teach before; it's part of our history. I think it's rather special to be able to share stories in Gullah, as well as traditions like sweet grass basket weaving with the students. It amazed me, and made me pretty proud, to be able to share with someone over here (who actually found it on her own) about Gullah.
In her search, my teacher friend found a website which explores Gullah culture in South Carolina. The Gullah.net website (http://www.knowitall.org/gullahnet/) offers music, stories, history, etc and is a great resource for teachers. I'm now pleased to say it's not a regional thing, that teachers all over the world can use Gullah to enrich their lessons. The Gullah version of The Little Red Hen was a big hit in Ireland last week; maybe others will soon give it a try!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
It Comes In Threes
I've always heard that bad things come in threes and I'm not usually one who believes in superstitions, but I have seen this proverb to come true on more than one occasion. Luckily I'm not writing about bad things, but rather all the good that has been happening to me here in Dublin in the last week. It seems that I've got the good things coming in threes too.
I've had my share of traveling and playing since I arrived here and I've even put in time volunteering so as to get my foot in the door at DCU, a college here in Dublin. I have enjoyed my time but I have found it hard when I'm in between my adventures and volunteer hours because I'm not one who sits idle very long. Back home in the states, I was quite known for going to work, teaching the full day and then tutoring or babysitting in the evenings after work and on my weekends, not to mention keeping someone's dogs for a few days at a time. I like to be busy, and in a place where you don't know that many people, it can be difficult to do.
Fortunately, I have recently found myself a few things to occupy my time. I began nannying today for an adorable little two year old boy. I'll keep him three to four days a week in the morning while his mother goes to teach primary school and his father works in his studio. The child is amazing and at his young age has an abundance of musical knowledge, which I find super cool.
After nannying, I'll be heading to DCU at least twice a week to run a conversation class for the adults there. The class is very informal and I can choose how I want to run it. I'm taking my neighbor with me to have an extra set of hands because he has an ESL background and like me, he's not been working here.
After all this, twice a week I'll be tutoring a Portuguese student for an hour. Today was my first day with him and he's only been speaking English 7 months but he's getting a good grip on it. He's very shy reading aloud but I told him to have a glass of wine before he comes over so he won't be so intimidated. I'll buy a cheap bottle for Thursday to help him. I've written many papers of the factors of second language acquisition and one thing I can say for sure is confidence counts. If you want to learn, you have to practice, so I hope I can help him.
It makes me feel really good because I've gotten myself into all of the things I love and I am finally finding my place here. I am sure there will be times I'll be down on my luck or feeling homesick, but I am happy to have these "jobs" lined up and more happy to finally have a little income!
I've had my share of traveling and playing since I arrived here and I've even put in time volunteering so as to get my foot in the door at DCU, a college here in Dublin. I have enjoyed my time but I have found it hard when I'm in between my adventures and volunteer hours because I'm not one who sits idle very long. Back home in the states, I was quite known for going to work, teaching the full day and then tutoring or babysitting in the evenings after work and on my weekends, not to mention keeping someone's dogs for a few days at a time. I like to be busy, and in a place where you don't know that many people, it can be difficult to do.
Fortunately, I have recently found myself a few things to occupy my time. I began nannying today for an adorable little two year old boy. I'll keep him three to four days a week in the morning while his mother goes to teach primary school and his father works in his studio. The child is amazing and at his young age has an abundance of musical knowledge, which I find super cool.
After nannying, I'll be heading to DCU at least twice a week to run a conversation class for the adults there. The class is very informal and I can choose how I want to run it. I'm taking my neighbor with me to have an extra set of hands because he has an ESL background and like me, he's not been working here.
After all this, twice a week I'll be tutoring a Portuguese student for an hour. Today was my first day with him and he's only been speaking English 7 months but he's getting a good grip on it. He's very shy reading aloud but I told him to have a glass of wine before he comes over so he won't be so intimidated. I'll buy a cheap bottle for Thursday to help him. I've written many papers of the factors of second language acquisition and one thing I can say for sure is confidence counts. If you want to learn, you have to practice, so I hope I can help him.
It makes me feel really good because I've gotten myself into all of the things I love and I am finally finding my place here. I am sure there will be times I'll be down on my luck or feeling homesick, but I am happy to have these "jobs" lined up and more happy to finally have a little income!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Americana
This morning I attended the American Women's Club of Dublin's first general meeting of the year which was held at the Bewley's Hotel in Ballsbridge. I went with my friend Jamie and her mother in law, and we ran into another friend Chelsea there. The meeting was made up of probably 70 or so women of all ages and all walks of life. We were under the impression that the meeting began at 9:30, however it did not actually begin until about 10:20. The first portion of the day was meant to be a "meet and greet" but the old members were quite caught up with "catching up" with one another, there were few people who actually reached out to welcome us. The former president was one of them, and she was polite so I'm thankful for that. I will say that not one of the current board members approached me to speak. The new president, a 27 year old mother of two, was quite busy breastfeeding at the speaker's table and then chasing her toddlers around. This threw me off a bit.
Before starting the meeting, I wandered around the conference room looking at the few different tables, but of course I gravitated to the American food table organized by Jane Donnelly. Her items ranged from marshmallow fluff to Old El Paso Green Chili Sauce. I was very close to buying her one container of Old Bay Seasoning, but I've already requested my friend Beth bring it when she visits. I did need change for the bus though, so I bought a small package of Peanut Butter M&M's. I got Jane's email and website so I can browse when I'm really in need of a taste from home.
The meeting finally began with a guest speaker, a Mr. Godfrey Graham. Mr. Graham is a 75 year old former photographer from Dublin. He spoke of his love for photography and how he got his start, as well as some of the interesting things he's done throughout his life. I enjoyed this very much, but it was a bit disorganized and it was hard to follow him at times.
The actual meeting was the strangest part of the whole morning. The president ran back and forth across the room after her youngest and spoke in such an informal manner. There was never a call to order announcement or minutes review or any of the things you would expect to take place at a meeting. The former president asked to speak and was turned down (at that moment) and you could have cut the tension with a knife. There is some hugely unspoken hostility between the old and new presidents. It was uncomfortable for me. If this organization is so big and so established (they've been meeting since 1972) and charging 60 euro for membership fees, then it needs to do one of two things. Either a) hold an official meeting where things are done correctly, i.e. give your members an itinerary and have someone take minutes, offer a nursery for children of members to be kept out of earshot, etc or b) don't set the meeting up with board table and look the part but not play it. I have to say that I felt more out of place in this room of American women than I've felt the entire time I've been abroad. Yes, I think they have a good organization and yes, I'm pleased to see they offer so many different activities, but I think overall, it was poorly organized and I personally don't care to be part of it.
Before starting the meeting, I wandered around the conference room looking at the few different tables, but of course I gravitated to the American food table organized by Jane Donnelly. Her items ranged from marshmallow fluff to Old El Paso Green Chili Sauce. I was very close to buying her one container of Old Bay Seasoning, but I've already requested my friend Beth bring it when she visits. I did need change for the bus though, so I bought a small package of Peanut Butter M&M's. I got Jane's email and website so I can browse when I'm really in need of a taste from home.
The meeting finally began with a guest speaker, a Mr. Godfrey Graham. Mr. Graham is a 75 year old former photographer from Dublin. He spoke of his love for photography and how he got his start, as well as some of the interesting things he's done throughout his life. I enjoyed this very much, but it was a bit disorganized and it was hard to follow him at times.
The actual meeting was the strangest part of the whole morning. The president ran back and forth across the room after her youngest and spoke in such an informal manner. There was never a call to order announcement or minutes review or any of the things you would expect to take place at a meeting. The former president asked to speak and was turned down (at that moment) and you could have cut the tension with a knife. There is some hugely unspoken hostility between the old and new presidents. It was uncomfortable for me. If this organization is so big and so established (they've been meeting since 1972) and charging 60 euro for membership fees, then it needs to do one of two things. Either a) hold an official meeting where things are done correctly, i.e. give your members an itinerary and have someone take minutes, offer a nursery for children of members to be kept out of earshot, etc or b) don't set the meeting up with board table and look the part but not play it. I have to say that I felt more out of place in this room of American women than I've felt the entire time I've been abroad. Yes, I think they have a good organization and yes, I'm pleased to see they offer so many different activities, but I think overall, it was poorly organized and I personally don't care to be part of it.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Just Keeps Getting Better
Although it was really low key, my week in Cardiff was a lot of fun. I had only ever visited the city once and that was just for the day with 29 Russian students, so this past week has allowed me to really explore. As I mentioned in my last post, I was able to get out in Allan's little neighborhood to run, shop, and get my hair done. I took a few other days to go into the city centre and to get out to Cardiff Bay. It was great to see more of Cardiff and it leaves me wanting to plan another visit because I think the city has a lot to offer.
My first few days were spent right around Allan's neighborhood, but Friday I got up and headed by foot (about 20 minutes I think) to the centre. I walked through some shops and into the visitors centre where I watched a short film on the history of Cardiff. I headed through Bute Park which is next to Cardiff Castle and took a boat taxi (another 20 minutes) up to Cardiff Bay. The taxi, which cost only 3 pounds, was worth it if you enjoy being on the water like I do, but a bus is another easy, and cheap way, to get around town.
When I got to the bay I was really surprised at how modern the area was. There were a ton of new builds and in the visitor's center here, where I watched another bit of history, I found out that the whole area had recently been rebuilt to offer easy access to the water, a freshwater lake other waterfront activities. There were many workers in the area setting up for a Red Bull two day event (racing I think). The shops here were neat, lots of artists around too.
I ended up taking the bus back to the city centre and walking (after getting my first ever coffee-ish drink at Starbucks) back to Allan's. I don't drink coffee but I was exhausted, and since I had a caramel drink it masked the flavor pretty well.
Allan and I rested and then headed out to meet his "boys". He wanted to introduce me to his friends so we first went to the Pen and Wig. This is a cool little place and has a great beer garden. After this we walked to another great place, The Buffalo Bar. It is nothing like what is sounds. The decor was nice and their outdoor beer garden was quite comfortable too. There were no site of wings anywhere! Finally we walked to another of Allan's favorites, but I like this place least of all. It was just a bit plain for me, but of course Allan says they were looking for a minimalist decor. It seemed to have the crowd of a Cypress or maybe even Raval, but it didn't have the ambiance, which is what I like.
Saturday morning we planned on hiking but the weather was bad so we painted in Allan's house and then we took a drive out to an area I'm not familiar with but we had lunch in a place called the Angel. The food was really good. We walked around this town a bit and then headed back that afternoon to just hang out and watch movies.
Sunday we got up really early to try and catch the sunrise over Cardiff Bay but unfortunately it was cloudy out so we didn't see much. We drove all over Penarth looking at the neighborhoods because Allan is considering moving out of his place into something new, and perhaps I'll move to Cardiff in a few months so I get a say! After our drive we each had massages at the gym near Allan's place and boy I needed it. I needed it so much in fact, I booked one for Monday morning too. Once I was well rested we went over to Llantwit Major and hiked along the coastal path. This is an easy hike and it's just beautiful, but Allan had to make it more exciting of course, so on our way down we took an unconventional path. Rather than follow the route marked for us, Allan had me treading through fields and jumping over fences, walking through sheep pastures and climbing walls. Interesting for sure. It was a little intimidating because I'm not one to break the rules and I was scared we were going to get in trouble for trespassing, but it was fun.
We had lunch at an amazing restaurant in Cowbridge that afternoon. I had a goat cheese roast (essentially a stuffing with the cheese, spinach, pine nuts, and other special ingredients) and then on the plate was also yams, broccoli, roasted potatoes and cauliflower. Oh my goodness, heaven. The Quarter Penny Cafe has my vote for good eats.
Sunday evening we took it easy and Monday morning I had another massage to work out the many knots I still had in my shoulders. I caught my flight back to Dublin late in the afternoon and now I'm trying to catch up on emails, phone calls, laundry, etc before my sister arrives this week. Looking forward to bday celebrations with the ones I love here in Dublin. Upset my birthday won't be with my friends and family back home, but I know they'll be with me in spirit! 29 scares me for some reason, but the way things have been going here, I know that life will just keep getting better, so there is nothing to be worried about at the ripe old age of 29!
My first few days were spent right around Allan's neighborhood, but Friday I got up and headed by foot (about 20 minutes I think) to the centre. I walked through some shops and into the visitors centre where I watched a short film on the history of Cardiff. I headed through Bute Park which is next to Cardiff Castle and took a boat taxi (another 20 minutes) up to Cardiff Bay. The taxi, which cost only 3 pounds, was worth it if you enjoy being on the water like I do, but a bus is another easy, and cheap way, to get around town.
When I got to the bay I was really surprised at how modern the area was. There were a ton of new builds and in the visitor's center here, where I watched another bit of history, I found out that the whole area had recently been rebuilt to offer easy access to the water, a freshwater lake other waterfront activities. There were many workers in the area setting up for a Red Bull two day event (racing I think). The shops here were neat, lots of artists around too.
I ended up taking the bus back to the city centre and walking (after getting my first ever coffee-ish drink at Starbucks) back to Allan's. I don't drink coffee but I was exhausted, and since I had a caramel drink it masked the flavor pretty well.
Allan and I rested and then headed out to meet his "boys". He wanted to introduce me to his friends so we first went to the Pen and Wig. This is a cool little place and has a great beer garden. After this we walked to another great place, The Buffalo Bar. It is nothing like what is sounds. The decor was nice and their outdoor beer garden was quite comfortable too. There were no site of wings anywhere! Finally we walked to another of Allan's favorites, but I like this place least of all. It was just a bit plain for me, but of course Allan says they were looking for a minimalist decor. It seemed to have the crowd of a Cypress or maybe even Raval, but it didn't have the ambiance, which is what I like.
Saturday morning we planned on hiking but the weather was bad so we painted in Allan's house and then we took a drive out to an area I'm not familiar with but we had lunch in a place called the Angel. The food was really good. We walked around this town a bit and then headed back that afternoon to just hang out and watch movies.
Sunday we got up really early to try and catch the sunrise over Cardiff Bay but unfortunately it was cloudy out so we didn't see much. We drove all over Penarth looking at the neighborhoods because Allan is considering moving out of his place into something new, and perhaps I'll move to Cardiff in a few months so I get a say! After our drive we each had massages at the gym near Allan's place and boy I needed it. I needed it so much in fact, I booked one for Monday morning too. Once I was well rested we went over to Llantwit Major and hiked along the coastal path. This is an easy hike and it's just beautiful, but Allan had to make it more exciting of course, so on our way down we took an unconventional path. Rather than follow the route marked for us, Allan had me treading through fields and jumping over fences, walking through sheep pastures and climbing walls. Interesting for sure. It was a little intimidating because I'm not one to break the rules and I was scared we were going to get in trouble for trespassing, but it was fun.
We had lunch at an amazing restaurant in Cowbridge that afternoon. I had a goat cheese roast (essentially a stuffing with the cheese, spinach, pine nuts, and other special ingredients) and then on the plate was also yams, broccoli, roasted potatoes and cauliflower. Oh my goodness, heaven. The Quarter Penny Cafe has my vote for good eats.
Sunday evening we took it easy and Monday morning I had another massage to work out the many knots I still had in my shoulders. I caught my flight back to Dublin late in the afternoon and now I'm trying to catch up on emails, phone calls, laundry, etc before my sister arrives this week. Looking forward to bday celebrations with the ones I love here in Dublin. Upset my birthday won't be with my friends and family back home, but I know they'll be with me in spirit! 29 scares me for some reason, but the way things have been going here, I know that life will just keep getting better, so there is nothing to be worried about at the ripe old age of 29!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
"Too Much"
It seems like is has been forever since I last posted. I guess it's because I've been having too much fun and haven't really been around the computer much. I've finally got some time today, so I'll go ahead and fill you in on the last few days.
Last week I was hanging out in Dublin trying to figure out what I'd do about the visa situation, which has been an issue for almost a year now if you consider that I began looking to move abroad last October. It's too much to ponder...working holiday visa, student visa, work permit. After finally speaking to the lawyer and emailing back and forth with the consulates in NY and Washington, I'm back to where I started. I will be sending off my application for the working holiday visa here in a day or two. The paperwork isn't too terribly bad, but they require a good bit of information from me. I just hope if I can get it sent off that I won't have to wait too long before I know something. I have to mail the papers from Wales (or anywhere outside the state of Ireland). Once I get the visa (if I get the visa) then I have to leave Ireland and re-enter with that paperwork. I did have a dream last night that I had permission to work and live in Dublin, so let's hope that dream comes true.
In the meantime, I'm enjoying traveling and visiting with friends since I'm not tied down to a job. I've met a lot of Americans in Dublin and have had dinners, etc with them and then of course I've got Allan in Cardiff. We planned for me to visit his hometown of Greenock, Scotland for his cousin's christening last weekend so on Thursday I took a flight to Cardiff. I arrived and Allan surprised me with a night at a hotel he's working with. The St. Brides Spa Hotel in Saundersfoot was amazing. We were only there the one night, but the resort is beautiful. I was disappointed I didn't have time for some pampering, but we did check out the sauna and Allan took a dip in their infinity pool. It is certainly a place I'd go back...beautiful views.
On Friday Allan and I drove up through England to Greenock which took longer than we expected because of traffic, but the journey wasn't too bad. We arrived and went to Allan's aunt's house where I met his aunt, uncle, cousins and a few other friends. We were able to spend the weekend in a family member's apartment which was unoccupied so we had a little down time. This was needed for sure because the Scottish know how to party, and apparently christening is code for get snockered.
After the "meet and greet", Allan and I went to the apartment and then got ready for a night out in Gourock, which is just a town over. We visited a few little pubs but headed back to get to bed and prepare for the day ahead.
At 11:00, we went to the church and attended what I would have imagined to be a beautiful ceremony. I'm Southern Baptist, so I don't attend christenings often; actually, that was my first. It would have been lovely, but when the priest addressed the crowd telling us to be respectful and remember why we were in the church, I should have know what was in store. The people in the pews all around me talked the whole time, some even cursing in church! I couldn't hear any of the ceremony. I never once heard the priest ask us to pray. It was interesting for sure, but it was over quickly.
We left the church and went next door to the pub where the party was to be held. Allan and I began drinking water because we knew it was going to be a long day. Others got started quickly with Vodka and coke, which is very common and other beverages. By 2:00 people were getting busy on the dance floor. I enjoyed the experience because I'm a big people watcher and let me tell you, I got to watch some people having a good old time. They were having too much fun.
To wrap up the rest of the day, Allan and I took a break to nap and then went back out for round two and the others, when we returned, were still going strong. Actually, they went straight through Sunday afternoon. Yup, never even went to bed! I just can't hang like that!
Sunday Allan and I took a drive and he showed me the Royal Scotsman Train, which is beautiful. He used to work on it and we ran into his friend at the station so we were able to take a mini tour. I would love to take a trip with them. Something I think my mom would really enjoy too.
Monday I got to see another really special spot as Allan showed me where his mother's ashes were spread. It was a beautiful spot and I felt very honored to see it. After the drive to another nearby town and a visit to the farmer's market there, Allan and I had lunch at a pub called Charlie Smith's and then we hit the road to head back for Wales. I was supposed to have a flight for Dublin on Wednesday, but I got talked into staying in Cardiff through Monday of next week. That's where I am now.
Yesterday I went for a run in Roath Park and got groceries to cook us dinner. I made goat cheese stuffed chicken breasts, garlic mashed potatoes, and steamed broccoli. Allan said it was the first home cooked meal he'd had in ages...that's sad to me. He's got a good kitchen, he should enjoy it!
Today I got up to get back in that kitchen, but for another reason. Allan was gone for the day so I emptied every cabinet and drawer, wiped them all out (scrubbed in some cases) and restocked things so they would be organized. In my opinion, the kitchen now makes sense, but we'll see what Allan thinks! I also ran out to several of the great second hand stores here and got some clothes for the weekend, which is supposed to be really warm. I only brought clothes for Scotland so I had to grab some tops in order not to burn up. I'm heading back out for a run in a bit because that Roath Park is too beautiful. I'll enjoy my afternoon there.
Tomorrow I'm taking care of the roots I've grown since I've not had my hair done in a while. Heading to a salon called Guy Christian. I think Allan's renting a car for us to visit some sites in Wales this weekend, and I think I'm getting a driving lesson too. Loving the experiences I'm having and I'll say, I am all too grateful for them.
Last week I was hanging out in Dublin trying to figure out what I'd do about the visa situation, which has been an issue for almost a year now if you consider that I began looking to move abroad last October. It's too much to ponder...working holiday visa, student visa, work permit. After finally speaking to the lawyer and emailing back and forth with the consulates in NY and Washington, I'm back to where I started. I will be sending off my application for the working holiday visa here in a day or two. The paperwork isn't too terribly bad, but they require a good bit of information from me. I just hope if I can get it sent off that I won't have to wait too long before I know something. I have to mail the papers from Wales (or anywhere outside the state of Ireland). Once I get the visa (if I get the visa) then I have to leave Ireland and re-enter with that paperwork. I did have a dream last night that I had permission to work and live in Dublin, so let's hope that dream comes true.
In the meantime, I'm enjoying traveling and visiting with friends since I'm not tied down to a job. I've met a lot of Americans in Dublin and have had dinners, etc with them and then of course I've got Allan in Cardiff. We planned for me to visit his hometown of Greenock, Scotland for his cousin's christening last weekend so on Thursday I took a flight to Cardiff. I arrived and Allan surprised me with a night at a hotel he's working with. The St. Brides Spa Hotel in Saundersfoot was amazing. We were only there the one night, but the resort is beautiful. I was disappointed I didn't have time for some pampering, but we did check out the sauna and Allan took a dip in their infinity pool. It is certainly a place I'd go back...beautiful views.
On Friday Allan and I drove up through England to Greenock which took longer than we expected because of traffic, but the journey wasn't too bad. We arrived and went to Allan's aunt's house where I met his aunt, uncle, cousins and a few other friends. We were able to spend the weekend in a family member's apartment which was unoccupied so we had a little down time. This was needed for sure because the Scottish know how to party, and apparently christening is code for get snockered.
After the "meet and greet", Allan and I went to the apartment and then got ready for a night out in Gourock, which is just a town over. We visited a few little pubs but headed back to get to bed and prepare for the day ahead.
At 11:00, we went to the church and attended what I would have imagined to be a beautiful ceremony. I'm Southern Baptist, so I don't attend christenings often; actually, that was my first. It would have been lovely, but when the priest addressed the crowd telling us to be respectful and remember why we were in the church, I should have know what was in store. The people in the pews all around me talked the whole time, some even cursing in church! I couldn't hear any of the ceremony. I never once heard the priest ask us to pray. It was interesting for sure, but it was over quickly.
We left the church and went next door to the pub where the party was to be held. Allan and I began drinking water because we knew it was going to be a long day. Others got started quickly with Vodka and coke, which is very common and other beverages. By 2:00 people were getting busy on the dance floor. I enjoyed the experience because I'm a big people watcher and let me tell you, I got to watch some people having a good old time. They were having too much fun.
To wrap up the rest of the day, Allan and I took a break to nap and then went back out for round two and the others, when we returned, were still going strong. Actually, they went straight through Sunday afternoon. Yup, never even went to bed! I just can't hang like that!
Sunday Allan and I took a drive and he showed me the Royal Scotsman Train, which is beautiful. He used to work on it and we ran into his friend at the station so we were able to take a mini tour. I would love to take a trip with them. Something I think my mom would really enjoy too.
Monday I got to see another really special spot as Allan showed me where his mother's ashes were spread. It was a beautiful spot and I felt very honored to see it. After the drive to another nearby town and a visit to the farmer's market there, Allan and I had lunch at a pub called Charlie Smith's and then we hit the road to head back for Wales. I was supposed to have a flight for Dublin on Wednesday, but I got talked into staying in Cardiff through Monday of next week. That's where I am now.
Yesterday I went for a run in Roath Park and got groceries to cook us dinner. I made goat cheese stuffed chicken breasts, garlic mashed potatoes, and steamed broccoli. Allan said it was the first home cooked meal he'd had in ages...that's sad to me. He's got a good kitchen, he should enjoy it!
Today I got up to get back in that kitchen, but for another reason. Allan was gone for the day so I emptied every cabinet and drawer, wiped them all out (scrubbed in some cases) and restocked things so they would be organized. In my opinion, the kitchen now makes sense, but we'll see what Allan thinks! I also ran out to several of the great second hand stores here and got some clothes for the weekend, which is supposed to be really warm. I only brought clothes for Scotland so I had to grab some tops in order not to burn up. I'm heading back out for a run in a bit because that Roath Park is too beautiful. I'll enjoy my afternoon there.
Tomorrow I'm taking care of the roots I've grown since I've not had my hair done in a while. Heading to a salon called Guy Christian. I think Allan's renting a car for us to visit some sites in Wales this weekend, and I think I'm getting a driving lesson too. Loving the experiences I'm having and I'll say, I am all too grateful for them.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sweet Nostalgia
This happens to be the second time I wrote this particular entry as I was in a fantastic mood and typed quite a bit yesterday, but carelessly closed one too many tabs and lost my work last night. Here I go again!
We often times are caught off guard by little things in life, a song, a smell, a memory that is brought to the forefront because of the tiniest trigger in our daily life. Yesterday was full of these moments for me. It started early in the morning while I was in church. I should have known then that yesterday would be a really simple, but good day.
In the church I'm visiting here in Dublin, we begin the service with a prayer from the Pastor and then the congregation joins in on the Lord's Prayer. Once we've all recited this we move on to a hymn of worship. The first hymn made me grin, as it's one I know from home and really enjoy singing (although others probably don't enjoy my singing quite as much). Something I find rather amusing in this particular church is that the hymn books list the words, but there are no notes, no guides at all for the music and because there is no music director, everyone sings what they think is the tune. I caught myself giggling quite a lot yesterday (probably because my two new American friends and I had just discussed this the night before and they were sitting with me in church Sunday morning. We surely seemed like a bunch of school children who couldn't contain themselves). The second hymn we sang we all knew the tune to, Amazing Grace, and it went much more smoothly. I find that singing these old hymns usually reminds me of my grandmother, who I probably take after with my lack of singing ability. It was nice to remember her though.
After church I had planned to make a Southern Sunday dinner and had bought all the ingredients the day before. I had told my new friends I was cooking but I didn't want to invite them over as it was my first time for this meal here in Dublin and I wanted to make sure it was edible, not use them as Guinea pigs for my experiment. That's what my neighbor is for (but I'll explain later). They laughed and said they'd wait for round two, but to let them know how it went. Luckily for me, I got exactly what I had hoped for: a juicy ham and a not too eggy macaroni and cheese (I don't eat eggs but I do have to cook with them occasionally, so I was happy with my end result). I had no recipe to follow for the mac and cheese, but I had called T'Lene and asked what she thought I should do proportion wise for my tiny kitchen. I have no measuring utensils here but it all turned out. I also made a pitcher of sweat iced tea and then later remembered I had green beans to cook so I made those for Josh (the neighbor). After I ate my lunch and then attempted to run it off, I had Josh, who just returned from Africa, take a plate. He was thrilled, and so was I. I was glad to get rid of some of the leftovers! The day before I had also made chocolate chip cookies for my neighbors so Josh said, no matter what, he'd be on my side since I cook for him. It makes me feel good though. I enjoy cooking and here I don't have the space to invite everyone over, but I can certainly fix things and give away. It's nice to share a bit of that Southern Hospitality with Dublin.
As I mentioned, I had gone out for a run yesterday afternoon and this is the time I probably felt most nostalgic. I decided to take a different route yesterday (my mother always says people watch and you should change it up to be safe). I ran up Leeson Street to St. Stephen's Green and was pleasantly surprised when I got there. I had forgotten that on the weekends the park walls are lined with paintings from artists in the area. I went to the corner and was going to walk back along the perimeter but got caught, even with my Ipod blaring, by the sounds of music in the park. I heard Bob Marley's Three Little Birds and stopped in my tracks. There was some band on stage in the gazebo and what looked like a highschool marching band in the crowd. They jammed for 15 minutes or so and I sat in the grass enjoying it. Mostly I enjoyed watching the people attempt to dance to the music. I don't claim to have a lot of rhythm, but it was entertaining and made me smile to watch them. It was one of those moments that you appreciate being in a place.
After the performance had ended, I did walk around the park to admire the artwork, but once I'd seen it all, I was "called" back into the park. This time it was the sun that was calling. I've been rather deprived of it living over here and although I made fun of the locals when I visited in April, I understand their appreciation for it now. I have always enjoyed lying in the sun, so that's what I did. I lie right down in the grass and rolled my sleeves up in hopes of "catching some rays." I put my Ipod back on and listened to my man Dave for a while. I stayed there about 30 minutes before it got chilly and then I headed back to my studio, or "box" as a friend is calling it.
On my walk back from the park I had my Ipod in and just enjoyed watching people as they passed me, but one person in particular caught my attention. I wasn't drawn to the person's appearance, but as she passed, I got a whiff of her perfume, and it was the same as what T'Lene wears. It was a great moment because I don't know anyone else that wears it, so it reminded me of my sister, who is coming to visit in 18 days (she posted on facebook this morning), and I'm so excited to see her.
Dublin is great and I'm learning an awful lot being here, but any little reminder of home is welcomed, and yesterday was full of them. Sweet nostalgia.
We often times are caught off guard by little things in life, a song, a smell, a memory that is brought to the forefront because of the tiniest trigger in our daily life. Yesterday was full of these moments for me. It started early in the morning while I was in church. I should have known then that yesterday would be a really simple, but good day.
In the church I'm visiting here in Dublin, we begin the service with a prayer from the Pastor and then the congregation joins in on the Lord's Prayer. Once we've all recited this we move on to a hymn of worship. The first hymn made me grin, as it's one I know from home and really enjoy singing (although others probably don't enjoy my singing quite as much). Something I find rather amusing in this particular church is that the hymn books list the words, but there are no notes, no guides at all for the music and because there is no music director, everyone sings what they think is the tune. I caught myself giggling quite a lot yesterday (probably because my two new American friends and I had just discussed this the night before and they were sitting with me in church Sunday morning. We surely seemed like a bunch of school children who couldn't contain themselves). The second hymn we sang we all knew the tune to, Amazing Grace, and it went much more smoothly. I find that singing these old hymns usually reminds me of my grandmother, who I probably take after with my lack of singing ability. It was nice to remember her though.
After church I had planned to make a Southern Sunday dinner and had bought all the ingredients the day before. I had told my new friends I was cooking but I didn't want to invite them over as it was my first time for this meal here in Dublin and I wanted to make sure it was edible, not use them as Guinea pigs for my experiment. That's what my neighbor is for (but I'll explain later). They laughed and said they'd wait for round two, but to let them know how it went. Luckily for me, I got exactly what I had hoped for: a juicy ham and a not too eggy macaroni and cheese (I don't eat eggs but I do have to cook with them occasionally, so I was happy with my end result). I had no recipe to follow for the mac and cheese, but I had called T'Lene and asked what she thought I should do proportion wise for my tiny kitchen. I have no measuring utensils here but it all turned out. I also made a pitcher of sweat iced tea and then later remembered I had green beans to cook so I made those for Josh (the neighbor). After I ate my lunch and then attempted to run it off, I had Josh, who just returned from Africa, take a plate. He was thrilled, and so was I. I was glad to get rid of some of the leftovers! The day before I had also made chocolate chip cookies for my neighbors so Josh said, no matter what, he'd be on my side since I cook for him. It makes me feel good though. I enjoy cooking and here I don't have the space to invite everyone over, but I can certainly fix things and give away. It's nice to share a bit of that Southern Hospitality with Dublin.
As I mentioned, I had gone out for a run yesterday afternoon and this is the time I probably felt most nostalgic. I decided to take a different route yesterday (my mother always says people watch and you should change it up to be safe). I ran up Leeson Street to St. Stephen's Green and was pleasantly surprised when I got there. I had forgotten that on the weekends the park walls are lined with paintings from artists in the area. I went to the corner and was going to walk back along the perimeter but got caught, even with my Ipod blaring, by the sounds of music in the park. I heard Bob Marley's Three Little Birds and stopped in my tracks. There was some band on stage in the gazebo and what looked like a highschool marching band in the crowd. They jammed for 15 minutes or so and I sat in the grass enjoying it. Mostly I enjoyed watching the people attempt to dance to the music. I don't claim to have a lot of rhythm, but it was entertaining and made me smile to watch them. It was one of those moments that you appreciate being in a place.
After the performance had ended, I did walk around the park to admire the artwork, but once I'd seen it all, I was "called" back into the park. This time it was the sun that was calling. I've been rather deprived of it living over here and although I made fun of the locals when I visited in April, I understand their appreciation for it now. I have always enjoyed lying in the sun, so that's what I did. I lie right down in the grass and rolled my sleeves up in hopes of "catching some rays." I put my Ipod back on and listened to my man Dave for a while. I stayed there about 30 minutes before it got chilly and then I headed back to my studio, or "box" as a friend is calling it.
On my walk back from the park I had my Ipod in and just enjoyed watching people as they passed me, but one person in particular caught my attention. I wasn't drawn to the person's appearance, but as she passed, I got a whiff of her perfume, and it was the same as what T'Lene wears. It was a great moment because I don't know anyone else that wears it, so it reminded me of my sister, who is coming to visit in 18 days (she posted on facebook this morning), and I'm so excited to see her.
Dublin is great and I'm learning an awful lot being here, but any little reminder of home is welcomed, and yesterday was full of them. Sweet nostalgia.
Friday, August 19, 2011
On the Soap Box
I'm sorry to have to start off like this, but I have something on my mind and I need to get it out in the open. I'd actually love to know your thoughts on the subject, so please let me know if this strikes a cord with you.
I just got an email from EF, whom I worked for in England in June/early July and only YESTERDAY got paid for. Yes, beyond my financial frustrations, this email had a survey attached to it for the teachers/local leaders (I was both) to fill out and return in order to better the program. Please bear in mind that I was in Butlins Resort in Minehead, England "teaching" to both Spanish and Russian students for part of the day and "leading" the group of 27 Russians I was assigned to around the rest of the time. Please also note that EF, which in some cases refers to "Education First" and in some cases refers to "English First" is a very well known and established company. I'm honestly not sure how they made it to be so successful after seeing how things are run within that company though.
The survey consisted of seven questions mostly regarding accommodations and activities. I hate to be so negative, but I had very little good to say in response to any of the questions. The final section of the survey asked for "further comments" which I had plenty of (think about my personality...you know I had something else to say). The problem I had with this survey is that there was no question AT ALL regarding the actual teaching that took place. So, here are my additional comments:
I’m a little upset that, as an English learning facility with an “English first” mentality, there are no questions here regarding the teaching materials or standards for implementing lessons. I understand that you are concerned with the “camp” portion of the course, but as an educator, I’m very disappointed with the program. Putting 15 students into the tiny rooms we were provided, with nothing but a white board, a marker, a cd player and a textbook, these kids were done a great disservice. There were never specific objectives we were to teach; actually we were told to choose what we wanted from the book. When I asked about assessment, the response I got was “We don’t do that.” I was flabbergasted honestly. How can one teach and not assess? How does one know what the children are learning if both formal and informal assessments are not taking place? How does one exam at the end of the program tell us anything, especially when the kids are not in a secure testing environment? I’ve worked and travelled with EF for over 10 years now and I must say, this side of EF really let me down.
I'm not sure if anything I said will change the program, but I can say I won't work for that department of EF again and I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone sending their child to participate if the goal is to learn English. I'm sure the kids enjoyed themselves and I'm sure that just the little practice they had in speaking conversational English did them good, but the program as a whole, in my opinion, was a flop.
I just got an email from EF, whom I worked for in England in June/early July and only YESTERDAY got paid for. Yes, beyond my financial frustrations, this email had a survey attached to it for the teachers/local leaders (I was both) to fill out and return in order to better the program. Please bear in mind that I was in Butlins Resort in Minehead, England "teaching" to both Spanish and Russian students for part of the day and "leading" the group of 27 Russians I was assigned to around the rest of the time. Please also note that EF, which in some cases refers to "Education First" and in some cases refers to "English First" is a very well known and established company. I'm honestly not sure how they made it to be so successful after seeing how things are run within that company though.
The survey consisted of seven questions mostly regarding accommodations and activities. I hate to be so negative, but I had very little good to say in response to any of the questions. The final section of the survey asked for "further comments" which I had plenty of (think about my personality...you know I had something else to say). The problem I had with this survey is that there was no question AT ALL regarding the actual teaching that took place. So, here are my additional comments:
I’m a little upset that, as an English learning facility with an “English first” mentality, there are no questions here regarding the teaching materials or standards for implementing lessons. I understand that you are concerned with the “camp” portion of the course, but as an educator, I’m very disappointed with the program. Putting 15 students into the tiny rooms we were provided, with nothing but a white board, a marker, a cd player and a textbook, these kids were done a great disservice. There were never specific objectives we were to teach; actually we were told to choose what we wanted from the book. When I asked about assessment, the response I got was “We don’t do that.” I was flabbergasted honestly. How can one teach and not assess? How does one know what the children are learning if both formal and informal assessments are not taking place? How does one exam at the end of the program tell us anything, especially when the kids are not in a secure testing environment? I’ve worked and travelled with EF for over 10 years now and I must say, this side of EF really let me down.
I'm not sure if anything I said will change the program, but I can say I won't work for that department of EF again and I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone sending their child to participate if the goal is to learn English. I'm sure the kids enjoyed themselves and I'm sure that just the little practice they had in speaking conversational English did them good, but the program as a whole, in my opinion, was a flop.
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