Don’t blink, cause just like that, you’re six
years old
And you take a nap
And you wake up and you’re 25…
This song, called Don’t Blink by the one and only Kenny Chesney, came on
my iTunes as I was thinking about how I can put the past two and a half weeks
into words.
And then I heard these lyrics and they kept playing over and over in my
head even after the song was over. Writer’s block aside, the light bulb had
gone off.
It’s unreal how fast time is moving. I feel like I stepped off the
plane, conquered jet lag in one half-hour nap, and now all of a sudden, two and
a half weeks are behind me. Where did it all go?
Well, one thing’s for sure – I am loving every moment!!
My teaching experience here enlightens me more and more every day. It
took me two weeks, but I’m now able to name all 240 students. They are so
lovely and adorable! I have now spent time observing every class in addition to
conducting question and answer sessions about America in each one. I have also
worked with many students in small groups, providing extra support for whatever
they’re working on in class (except Irish, of course!) I taught persuasive
writing to the fifth class and Pennsylvania geography to the fourth class. I’ve
also been helping sixth class with learning how to backstitch. I didn’t even
know I knew how to backstitch! This week, I am planning on teaching one lesson
each day, except for tomorrow when I am the sixth class substitute! Who knew
that my first official on my own substitute teaching job would take place in
Ireland?! I’m very excited!!!
I also find it very interesting that the students and teachers here hate
learning and teaching Irish. They seem to love everything else about their
culture, so why not appreciate the language? Well, everyone that I’ve talked to
feels that it should be abolished from the primary school curriculum as it is a
very peculiar language that is rarely spoken nowadays, especially in Dublin. In
a few weeks, however, I will be taking a weeklong field trip with the sixth
class to the Gaeltacht in Donegal, where only Irish is spoken. The sixth class
students have tried to teach me some Irish each day…what a joke that is!!
Although I love spending time at Delgany National School, I am anxiously
awaiting my three weeks of traveling. I’ll be teaching/working for the rest of
my life (maybe), but I doubt I will ever get to Ireland again and I am just
mesmerized by the number of attractions I still haven’t seen!
Since my last update, my highlights include the following:
On Monday after school, I took a walk into downtown Dun Laoghaire. Just
as I could not have asked for a better host family, I also could not have asked
for more gorgeous surroundings. There are two piers with lighthouses at the end
of each and I plan to walk the two miles at some point before I leave. This
time, though, I only walked half of the west pier before I found a nice little
cutout in the cliff wall to sit and observe the sunset. Ipod headphones in my
ears and a Berks beer in hand overlooking the Irish Sea, I enjoyed every minute
of the hour relaxing and reflecting on life.
View from the Pier
Gorgeous sunset !!
On Tuesday after school, I took my first DART (train) ride home from
school, which I will be doing every Tuesday since Trish goes to lectures. This
is where I learned that possessing coins in Europe is a necessity. The one-way
fare was 3 Euros, but at the time, all I had was a 50 note. The machine
required exact change if I didn’t want to lose 47 Euros. Luckily, the bank
across the street was open and I was able to exchange my 50, but even then I
probably still looked like a goon fiddling through the mound of coins in my
hand trying to figure out the most logical way to make exactly 3 Euros. I don’t
understand this money system and I probably never will. Anyways, the train
dropped me off at the Dun Laoghaire station and I took a stroll down Main
Street. I found a deal on a new bathing suit because I’m jumping off that pier
into that swimming hole if it’s the last thing I do!
The DART
View from inside the train!
On Wednesday after school, I experienced my first Ireland monsoon…60 mph
winds, 30 degrees Fahrenheit, hail balls, thunder and lightning, pounding rain.
Not exactly my ideal exploring weather, so I curled up on the couch in front of
the fire.
On Thursday, I woke up to the best email I have ever received…SHAUN IS
COMING TO VISIT!!!!!! I was egging him on for so long, and now it’s true! I am
so so excited for him to come J Another
monsoon rolled in after school – I guess I’ll just have to get used to them. I
had the most amazing homemade macaroni and cheese for dinner, but not before
Trish kindly harassed me for eating a “vile heart attack in a box” otherwise
known as Kraft that American college students like myself have come to know and
love. It was all in good fun!
On Friday I stayed in with Trish because I had to be up at the crack of
dawn on Saturday. We bonded over wine and chocolate and the “tele box” full of
McDonalds commercials. It was a great night!
And then came Saturday, where another girl from PSU (Alli) and I
embarked on a Paddywagon day trip to Wicklow National Park and the town of
Kilkenny. Paddywagon is the most recognized tour company in Ireland, so I
figured it was time to give it a whirl. It was an extremely long and exhausting
day, but I am so glad I went! I had never met Alli before, but I found out
through the grapevine that she lives very close to me and is also here until
mid-June, so I have another travel buddy! The bus ride was long and bumpy at
times, so I had a pounding headache by the time the day was over, but the
outing was well worth it. We hiked the Wicklow mountains, took pictures of
gorgeous scenery at the National Park, ate a delicious lunch at the Kilkenny
Hibernian Hotel (Kilkenny beer tastes a lot like Yeungling), toured the
medieval Kilkenny castle, and looked in many shops. I couldn’t believe what I
was seeing!
Wicklow Mountains
So picturesque
Wicklow National Park
So many trees
Brownshill Dolmen ... I've never seen so much yellow!
The best thing I've ever eaten besides my dad's love chicken and Mrs. Rabbitt's meatballs
In front of Kilkenny Castle
Inside Kilkenny Castle
Castle Courtyard
Streets of Kilkenny
We returned to Dublin around 5:30 and stopped for pints at Ireland’s
oldest pub called the Brazen Head. It was built in 1198! It took us nearly an
hour to find it, but after unknowingly making it obvious that we were lost
tourists by holding open a four foot map, a friendly Dublin native approached
us with clear directions. She also warned us of “bag snatchers” in this run
down area of Dublin. Luckily, we entered and escaped without harm. I enjoyed my
first pint of Smithwick’s pale ale – not my favorite, but I am proud of myself
for branching out in my beer consumption. Alli and I felt awkward drinking
among all the old men in there, but hey, it was bound to happen sometime! I took the bus home (without getting lost this time!) and walked in the
door to dinner on the table, my laundry washed and folded, and new sheets on my
bed…The Conran family is waaaaaaaaaay too good to me!
Ireland's oldest pub built in 1198
The girl that had to have a blue raspberry slurpee on the bus home
Inside the Brazen Head... don't look so angry, dude.
Today I was grateful to finally sleep in…till 11! Gosh, how I’ve missed
those days! Trish and I ventured out to an extremely “posh” store called Avoca.
It had my mom’s name all over it… everything from outdoor furniture to garden
essentials to kitchenware to mom clothes to knitted scarves and blankets to
home goods to Trader Joes/farmer’s market type foods to everything! The place
was surely bumpin! Trish also took me by the enormous Slazenger estate, home of
the Slazenger family who invented the American Slazenger hockey sticks. And I
thought Toll Brother homes were big……….
A few things I have learned about Ireland since I last wrote:
1. Don't expect to hear any Irish music - Rihanna's "We Found Love" is just as overplayed in this country as it is at home!
2. It's impossible to dress warm enough here. A "jumper" shopping spree is in the very near future.
3. Drinking at least five cups of coffee a day is completely normal. I am accidentally living Erika's life that I made fun of for three semesters.
4. All couples or groups of two at a restaurant sit beside each other instead of across from each other... #shakemyhead
That’s all about all I have for you this time.
April 29, 2012. Kenny said it best – I have no idea where my college
years have gone, let alone the last two weeks. Aren’t there supposed to be 24
hours in a day? I’m already more than a quarter of the way through my allotted
time in Ireland and there is still so much for me to see and do! It’s now a
matter of ANNA VS. TIME … who will be victorious?
Happy 2nd 21st Birthday, Fitz!!
To everyone at PSU – Good luck on finals!
Love you and miss you all.
Until Next Time,
Anna
... don't blink.
