It's all so bittersweet. I can't believe I leave tomorrow, granted the time can't go by fast enough, I still can't believe that three months are gone. I went on the Belfast wheel yesterday and saw the city, it was so strange to not know if I'll even come back, I mean I lived here and I learned so much and to not know if I'll ever see the murals or walk down Falls Road again is just strange for me to think about.
I'm avoiding packing right now, and I can't think of anything but leaving but at the same time I'm so anxious and nervous to leave. I know I have changed, wheter for better or worse has yet to be seen (Heather said better), It's almost like I've been looking forward to this for so long that now that it's here I can't possibly believe it.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Paris
I was in France for 5 days, Paris for only 2.
The first day was spent entirely at Armelle's house in Villas (I believe that's where we were). Heather needed to catch up on sleep and we all just needed to relax for a bit. We wandered the small town, smaller than Mitchell, and went grocery shopping.
The second day we proceeded to Paris and first stop was the Louvre. I was in awe and personally surprised myself about how much I knew about art and history. The Mona Lisa wasn't all that great compared to the rest of the artwork contained in this one place. I honestly don't get her appeal. Well after wandering for about an hour or so Armelle and Heather decided that they would rather sit and talk rather than look at the paintings, needlessly to say i left them behind but couldn't help feeling a little slighted. After the Louvre, we ate our lunch and Heather decided it would be fun to feed the pigeons and incidentally one pigeon almost died as it decided to venture into Armelle's purse only to be smacked into a wall by Armelle herself. We decided to walk around a bit and spotted the Eiffel tower off in the distance, so that became our new point of interest. The Eiffel tower was pretty but not too exciting, the best part of it were the guys selling cheap souvenirs and their running away from the police of bikes. The Army men were a little intimidating, what with their guns and all, but I realized that they found this ritual of selling and running as funny as I did.
Day Three we decided to head to the Red Light District. Moulin Rouge wasn't all that impressive, and there was scaffolding around the windmill, of course because it's part of the EU. We then ventured down to a very Red Light District museum, which was hilarious in its absurdity. After the museum, we ventured up toward Sacré-Cœur Basilica. On the way Heather got propositioned for sex by some random French guy, considering Heather speaks even less French than I do it was rather hilarious, and once we got Armelle and she figured out what was going on she yelled at him in French, I laughed. We continued walking and reached the steps leading up to Sacré-Cœur Basilica and were approached by some guys trying to sell us some string bracelets for some reason or another, they spoke English very well and kept talking about Obama, once again Armelle spoke French and that was that. Sacré-Cœur Basilica is gorgeous inside and out, you can see almost all fo Paris on a clear day (ours was foggy) and the inside is awe inspiring. There is a mass every hour so the church is always open, it's hard to even begin to explain the church, we weren't allowed to take pictures. It was absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous and the most beautiful church I have ever seen. After Sacré-Cœur Basilica, we went to LaFayette, a huge 7 story shopping mall so Armelle could go Christmas shopping; incidentally the mall next to this one is where they found the dynamite a few days later.
Day Three, Armelle's aunt, Daniele came and picked us up to take us shopping in some small town. On the way we passed a gorgeous French church, apparently anytime you are watching a French movie about French royalty this church is always used. I wish I could have taken some photos. Once we arrived at the town, we wandered the Christmas market, and I was convinced to try foie gras, tasted kind of like funeral meat, and rewarded myself with a soft pretzel. We wandered around a bit, through a few shops and then went for a coffee. While we were at the coffee shop, there was what we assumed to be a television crew interviewing a native American who had accepted the French lifestyle, translated through Daniele and Armelle. Heather and I couldn't stop laughing.
Day Four was rather uneventful, we just hung around the town all day. I went with Armelle to get baguettes and the such and was hit on by some guy, all I understood was "water" and "important," (I was holding a pack of bottle water) and I just nodded and said "yeah." It was so awkward. That night we ate at an authentic French restaurant. We shared some weird type of fondue, a huge wedge of cheese on a heater that once it melted you scraped it off and ate with various types of pork, it was good. The restaurant owner came and talked to us, she was incredibly nice and thought we were so interesting.
Day Five was the day of traveling. We had to clean and pack and be on the train by 4:30. Then from the train take the metro, I felt like I was in a cattle car. Following the metro, catch the bus to the airport, 3 hours later, arrive at the airport for our flight. By the end of it all, I was so tired I made a fool out of myself at passport control. The man was asking me the basic questions and asked how long I'd been there etc. I responded 3 months and so on and so forth, he mentioned that I didn't have a stamp. Then I realized I was in the Republic not North, I got the death stare...oops.
My great French adventure...I liked Munich better :D
The first day was spent entirely at Armelle's house in Villas (I believe that's where we were). Heather needed to catch up on sleep and we all just needed to relax for a bit. We wandered the small town, smaller than Mitchell, and went grocery shopping.
The second day we proceeded to Paris and first stop was the Louvre. I was in awe and personally surprised myself about how much I knew about art and history. The Mona Lisa wasn't all that great compared to the rest of the artwork contained in this one place. I honestly don't get her appeal. Well after wandering for about an hour or so Armelle and Heather decided that they would rather sit and talk rather than look at the paintings, needlessly to say i left them behind but couldn't help feeling a little slighted. After the Louvre, we ate our lunch and Heather decided it would be fun to feed the pigeons and incidentally one pigeon almost died as it decided to venture into Armelle's purse only to be smacked into a wall by Armelle herself. We decided to walk around a bit and spotted the Eiffel tower off in the distance, so that became our new point of interest. The Eiffel tower was pretty but not too exciting, the best part of it were the guys selling cheap souvenirs and their running away from the police of bikes. The Army men were a little intimidating, what with their guns and all, but I realized that they found this ritual of selling and running as funny as I did.
Day Three we decided to head to the Red Light District. Moulin Rouge wasn't all that impressive, and there was scaffolding around the windmill, of course because it's part of the EU. We then ventured down to a very Red Light District museum, which was hilarious in its absurdity. After the museum, we ventured up toward Sacré-Cœur Basilica. On the way Heather got propositioned for sex by some random French guy, considering Heather speaks even less French than I do it was rather hilarious, and once we got Armelle and she figured out what was going on she yelled at him in French, I laughed. We continued walking and reached the steps leading up to Sacré-Cœur Basilica and were approached by some guys trying to sell us some string bracelets for some reason or another, they spoke English very well and kept talking about Obama, once again Armelle spoke French and that was that. Sacré-Cœur Basilica is gorgeous inside and out, you can see almost all fo Paris on a clear day (ours was foggy) and the inside is awe inspiring. There is a mass every hour so the church is always open, it's hard to even begin to explain the church, we weren't allowed to take pictures. It was absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous and the most beautiful church I have ever seen. After Sacré-Cœur Basilica, we went to LaFayette, a huge 7 story shopping mall so Armelle could go Christmas shopping; incidentally the mall next to this one is where they found the dynamite a few days later.
Day Three, Armelle's aunt, Daniele came and picked us up to take us shopping in some small town. On the way we passed a gorgeous French church, apparently anytime you are watching a French movie about French royalty this church is always used. I wish I could have taken some photos. Once we arrived at the town, we wandered the Christmas market, and I was convinced to try foie gras, tasted kind of like funeral meat, and rewarded myself with a soft pretzel. We wandered around a bit, through a few shops and then went for a coffee. While we were at the coffee shop, there was what we assumed to be a television crew interviewing a native American who had accepted the French lifestyle, translated through Daniele and Armelle. Heather and I couldn't stop laughing.
Day Four was rather uneventful, we just hung around the town all day. I went with Armelle to get baguettes and the such and was hit on by some guy, all I understood was "water" and "important," (I was holding a pack of bottle water) and I just nodded and said "yeah." It was so awkward. That night we ate at an authentic French restaurant. We shared some weird type of fondue, a huge wedge of cheese on a heater that once it melted you scraped it off and ate with various types of pork, it was good. The restaurant owner came and talked to us, she was incredibly nice and thought we were so interesting.
Day Five was the day of traveling. We had to clean and pack and be on the train by 4:30. Then from the train take the metro, I felt like I was in a cattle car. Following the metro, catch the bus to the airport, 3 hours later, arrive at the airport for our flight. By the end of it all, I was so tired I made a fool out of myself at passport control. The man was asking me the basic questions and asked how long I'd been there etc. I responded 3 months and so on and so forth, he mentioned that I didn't have a stamp. Then I realized I was in the Republic not North, I got the death stare...oops.
My great French adventure...I liked Munich better :D
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Sorry Grandma
So I have been informed that I need to update this thing, haha sorry Grandma.
Not much has gone on in the past week or so. I finished my school experience which was eye opening. I was thrown into the class by myself on more than one occasion, I made a very poorly prepared substitute. I think the hardest thing was when Patrick's mom died. She had died the night before and of course Patrick was gone from class, but the principal came in to inform the class so when he said a prayer for Patrick the kids wouldn't be taken by surprise. Well this happened to be the day that I was alone in the classroom and trying to have control while at the same time watching these 9 and 10 year olds deal with death in the form of a mother was heartbreaking.
The kids showed me so much though too. I blew their minds when I told them that we did indeed have McDonald's in America and I watched their shocked and surprised reaction when I told them that kids attended school until they were at least 16 but often staying until they were 18. It saddened me to know that some of the kids in that school won't get that education, I know they are bright kids with a lot on their shoulders, it's just hard to see them struggle so.
I went to Dundalk on Saturday to mail off my Christmas packages, saved over £200 and spent 2 hours wandering this small town down in the Republic. On Sunday we got bored and took the train to Derry, to see the scenery we missed when we took the bus the first time. We wer in Derry long enough to get some Burger King, it tastes different here, and then headed back on the train to go to Lisburn. We got to Lisburn expecting a big Christmas display and market; however, everyone we asked about the market to was completely perplexed.
Other than that not a lot going on, I leave in exactly two weeks and turned in my last paper yesterday. Only one test left! Just planning on seeing as much as I can in the coming days; heading with Paulina to Cave Hill, Belfast Zoo, Belfast Castle, and possibly Queen's University tomorrow and then leaving for Paris on Friday morning to spend 6 days there. And tonight I have the Maths Christmas dinner which should being interesting, class but interesting.
Not much has gone on in the past week or so. I finished my school experience which was eye opening. I was thrown into the class by myself on more than one occasion, I made a very poorly prepared substitute. I think the hardest thing was when Patrick's mom died. She had died the night before and of course Patrick was gone from class, but the principal came in to inform the class so when he said a prayer for Patrick the kids wouldn't be taken by surprise. Well this happened to be the day that I was alone in the classroom and trying to have control while at the same time watching these 9 and 10 year olds deal with death in the form of a mother was heartbreaking.
The kids showed me so much though too. I blew their minds when I told them that we did indeed have McDonald's in America and I watched their shocked and surprised reaction when I told them that kids attended school until they were at least 16 but often staying until they were 18. It saddened me to know that some of the kids in that school won't get that education, I know they are bright kids with a lot on their shoulders, it's just hard to see them struggle so.
I went to Dundalk on Saturday to mail off my Christmas packages, saved over £200 and spent 2 hours wandering this small town down in the Republic. On Sunday we got bored and took the train to Derry, to see the scenery we missed when we took the bus the first time. We wer in Derry long enough to get some Burger King, it tastes different here, and then headed back on the train to go to Lisburn. We got to Lisburn expecting a big Christmas display and market; however, everyone we asked about the market to was completely perplexed.
Other than that not a lot going on, I leave in exactly two weeks and turned in my last paper yesterday. Only one test left! Just planning on seeing as much as I can in the coming days; heading with Paulina to Cave Hill, Belfast Zoo, Belfast Castle, and possibly Queen's University tomorrow and then leaving for Paris on Friday morning to spend 6 days there. And tonight I have the Maths Christmas dinner which should being interesting, class but interesting.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
School Based Work
I'm spending this week at St. Luke's Primary School and needless to say, these past few days have shattered my stereotypes about school uniforms and religious schools. These kids aren't rich or privileged; if anything they would fit right in back at Mitchell. There are parents in jail, new daddy's this year, and we even have one boy who's mom is on her deathbed (his aunt actually came and got him today as they think it was time). These kids are loud, foulmouthed, horrible behavior, don't listen, don't care, but at the same time they can be the sweetest things ever. I feel really bad for them, they are 9 and 10 year olds who read at the level of 2nd to 3rd grader, who know more about alcoholic behavior than any child has the right to know, they know how to defend themselves against life. I must admit when I taught today I was a little harsh and I have been after them to keep their hands to themselves and to watch their language and I know that they laugh about my accent, but I just wish I could give them better, what they deserve, a true education, not one that's struggling against economy, family, and a crap school building (the teachers joke that it sounds like we are all at the dentist as the drilling never stops). But I guess that's life and I fear for what life will be for some of them; however, if they pull through they will become amazing adults that the world should take notice of.
Friday, November 28, 2008
School Based Experience
I just got back from visiting the school I will be at for the next week, St. Luke's Primary. It's located in Twinbrooks which is unchartered territory for me, but it just looks a lot like the suburbs of Belfast. I will be in a P6 class, 9 and 10 year olds who have heard I am coming all week. I met with the principal and teacher who's class I'm in. My teacher seems rather keen on the idea of me teaching sometime in the coming week, which should be rather interesting as I have no idea what to teach on, nor anything about their standards or what they are learning in this moment in time. Oh well, it is a learning experience that starts bright an early at 9 am on Monday morning and ends at 3pm Friday afternoon. I've been looking forward to this since I left and I can't wait to be back in a classroom.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thanksgiving
My amazing Thanksgiving dinner, I know you're jealous. Yes, people in Subway looked at me weird for taking this photo.My Thanksgiving was rather uneventful, caught up on classes, educated my Maths class on Thanksgiving and the Macy's Parade, cleaned the kitchen. It was great to talk to everyone, probably some of the best money spent here. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and I'm one holiday closer to being home :D
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Day 3 Paddywagon Tour
After a fun night of people coming in at 6 in the morning, we all got ready to go on a horse and carriage ride through Kilarney National Park. We had the perfect morning, clear skies and it wasn't horribly cold. Our horse was a new walker named Bill and he was gorgeous. We saw the mountains and the lake and it was honestly beyond words.
After the horse ride we returned to the hostel and split between the 3-day tours (me) and 6-day tours and the 3-day tours continued to Blarney Castle.
Now I must admit I slept most of the way to Blarney, there's only so much green that I can look at before the back of my eyelids look good, and yes I know I'm going to miss it all once I go back home and see all the brown.
Once we got to Blarney Castle we all kind of split up and did our own thing. I decided to wander and slowly make my way to the Blarney stone. The castle itself in amazingly broken and gorgeous, I was extremely amused at the lack of floors leading to fireplaces in the middle of walls and the wide open room that housed both the "young ladies room" and "priest room"; however, they used to be seperated.
I finally got up to the stone and was rather nervous, you must lay on your back and lean backwards to kiss the stone, essentially upside down. I thought my butt was going to fall off the edge.
So after that bit of excitement, I continued to wander the castle and found that the pictures they take of you to sell are definitely not the most flattering thing in the world. I found the dungeon, a dank, dark place where to even get to the room in which you can stand you have to walk hunched over for about 5 minutes.
We soon left Blarney castle and proceeded to Dublin to conclude the tour, once again I slept most of the way and watched "Father Ted." We arrived in Dublin with 15 minutes for me to catch the bus to Belfast and concidentally, one of the guys from my group (Australian) was also going to Belfast to catch a flight the following morning, so I had someone to keep me company. However, my favorite part was playing peek-a-boo with a little German boy who sat behind me and thought it was hilarious.
I am definitely coming back to Ireland, I don't know when or how but I want to come back here. It is gorgeous and so peaceful, there is so much history both good and bad hidden in the ruins and greens of the countryside. I just hope my students loans don't take too long to pay off.
After the horse ride we returned to the hostel and split between the 3-day tours (me) and 6-day tours and the 3-day tours continued to Blarney Castle.
Now I must admit I slept most of the way to Blarney, there's only so much green that I can look at before the back of my eyelids look good, and yes I know I'm going to miss it all once I go back home and see all the brown.
Once we got to Blarney Castle we all kind of split up and did our own thing. I decided to wander and slowly make my way to the Blarney stone. The castle itself in amazingly broken and gorgeous, I was extremely amused at the lack of floors leading to fireplaces in the middle of walls and the wide open room that housed both the "young ladies room" and "priest room"; however, they used to be seperated.
I finally got up to the stone and was rather nervous, you must lay on your back and lean backwards to kiss the stone, essentially upside down. I thought my butt was going to fall off the edge.
So after that bit of excitement, I continued to wander the castle and found that the pictures they take of you to sell are definitely not the most flattering thing in the world. I found the dungeon, a dank, dark place where to even get to the room in which you can stand you have to walk hunched over for about 5 minutes.
We soon left Blarney castle and proceeded to Dublin to conclude the tour, once again I slept most of the way and watched "Father Ted." We arrived in Dublin with 15 minutes for me to catch the bus to Belfast and concidentally, one of the guys from my group (Australian) was also going to Belfast to catch a flight the following morning, so I had someone to keep me company. However, my favorite part was playing peek-a-boo with a little German boy who sat behind me and thought it was hilarious.
I am definitely coming back to Ireland, I don't know when or how but I want to come back here. It is gorgeous and so peaceful, there is so much history both good and bad hidden in the ruins and greens of the countryside. I just hope my students loans don't take too long to pay off.
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