I am three weeks away from being in Dublin, Ireland. Even though it is going to be hard parting from my students at Holly Springs High School, I am really excited about teaching in at Johnstown Boys National School (an elementary school in Killiney, Dublin). I have never observed nor taught in an elementary school before, so I am very delighted about having this opportunity. I have contacted the principal, Mr. Cadogan, and am waiting for a response.
However, I have contacted my family, and Mrs. McBain has responded to my e-mail. Before composing my e-mail, I wrote a lengthy page of questions. Concerns regarded everything from my arrival arrangements, to living arrangements, to the location of my assigned school.
I was truly happy when Mrs. McBain contacted me; the connection made the trip all the more real and exciting. She was kind enough to inform me of the available resources that I will be able to use, such as a hair-dryer, a flat iron, wireless internet and a cell phone. I had shared with her information about my family here, in Cary, N.C., and she responded about her family. Her family consists of her husband, Stuart, and two children: Cameron, a 16 year-old boy, and Juliette, a 12 year-old girl. I am thrilled to know that I have a family with adolescent siblings.
Not only was I informed about the family, but Mrs. McBain also informed me about the town (Shankill, Dublin) she lives in. Shankill, which is on the coast, is approximately 40 minutes away (by train) from Dublin’s center. She is very kind and generous, and she has offered to drive me to school in the morning. She advised which bus to take once I arrive at the airport, and she even gave me the website of the luxury bus. Lastly, she told me that there is an ATM cash machine that is in the village (within walking distance).
In terms of preparation, I have been checking out as many books as I can at the local library on Dublin and Ireland in order to have a better understanding about the country’s history and culture. I have been to my school’s website, but it has not been updated since the 2007-2008 school year. I have also browsed websites online, in order to acquire knowledge about traveling resources, such as the DART, and the Paddy Wagon.
Overall, I am truly happy about my placements in both the school and family. I cannot wait to finally meet my family, to meet the students at Johnstown Boys National School, and to get to experience life in Dublin. I also feel that I have done an adequate amount of research, in order to feel content and comfortable in the country.