Hello again!
I cannot believe my third week in Ireland has already come! Time has flown by since I have been here and I am still enjoying every minute spent here in Ireland!
So I have been learning all types of new desserts lately from my family as well as the faculty and staff at Rathdown Junior School. My family has introduced me to different types of chocolate candy bars such as Mars bars, Aero bars, Lions, and Cadbury Chocolate Twist Bars. I must say each of these chocolates is quite lovely, but my favorite would probably be the Cadbury chocolate that is produced here in Ireland. It is simply amazing!
Also, at my school, each day all faculty and staff receive a fifteen minute break and a thirty minute lunch break. During the fifteen minute break, there are always freshly baked goods in the staff room for the all faculty to share. We have had scones, sponge cakes, brownies, biscuits, flap jacks, etc. So I have been introduced to so many new goodies since I have arrived! Also, yesterday I got the chance to try a lemon shortbread biscuit(cookie) that I must have the recipe for because it was so amazing! It is very interesting how cookies are referred to as biscuits here! Anytime, someone mentions a biscuit, I immediately think about the biscuits that are served in America! But I am learning and adapting each and every day!
This past week at Rathdown School, I have been able to work with two individuals from Peru. The girls have come to Ireland to learn English. One of the girls is four years old and the other is nine years old. I have never had much experience in America with working with students that especially have a difficult time with English.
I have worked with Hispanic students in the states before, but the work that I have carried out with these two girls has been quite challenging, but definitely a good challenge. I was teaching the four year old this week what to say when someone says something nice about her. I also introduced a new book to her that I have been reading and discussing that deals with first experiences. We had a nice conversation the other day about her move from Peru to Ireland. Also, the four year old has now learned and remembered how to spell her name in a song that I made up for her. It has made me so happy to see her progress throughout the past two weeks. The nine year old has also taken great strides. I have worked with her on her mathematics skills this past week, mainly dealing with fractions. It makes me so happy when she finally understands a certain concept that I am trying to explain because I have to make sure I explain things in simple and plain terms.
This past weekend, Ericka and I headed to the Center of Dublin once again! We wanted to visit some of the sites we did not get to visit the previous weekend! On our trip this past weekend, we visited Bewley's Cafe once again(this time having breakfast and lunch there because we love it so much), spent much of the day at Dublin Castle, which was truly breathtaking, took lots of pictures, and glanced through a few more shops around town.
Also, we met up with our friend Alicia, from Iowa, and met a new friend, Brittany, who has just come into Ireland from Minnesota and is extremely sweet. All four of us were able to visit the Dublin Castle together, which was where we spent much of our day. I never expected to meet other students from the states here in Ireland, so it has been such a splendid experience for me! We were able to experience the guided tour of the Dublin Castle, which included visiting many prominent rooms, such as the room where many talks were carried out regarding the Good Friday(Belfast) Agreement. The 1998 treaty finally brought peace to Northern Ireland.
Also, Ericka visited the campus of Trinity College once more, as well as the gift shop. I love how there are cobblestone all along the campus of Trinity College. I also think it is interesting how Trinity College is in the middle of the town of Dublin! It is fairly small but so angelic looking! It is beautiful!
Over the past week at Rathdown Junior School, I have also been able to teach more classes, which has been quite grand. I was able to teach a geography lesson to P5(fifth grade) on Tuesday and today(Thursday) I get the opportunity to teach a math lesson to P2(second grade). During the times I am teaching this week, I also am the only teacher in the room, which makes it that much more interesting.
Today, I will introduce a game known as Around the World Addition and Subtraction to reinforce the math concepts P2 has been learning dealing with addition and subtraction. I mentioned this game to the P2 teacher, and she has never heard of the game, so I am very excited to introduce it to the students.
Another interesting thing I have noticed is how the classes are structured here. The classes are KG1(3 year olds), KG2(4 year olds), KG3(5 year olds), and then P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, and P6. There is only one class for each grade level, which is definitely different than what I am used to in America. The schools I have attended and visited in America usually have several classes in each grade level. It has also been interesting to experience what school is like here, being in a private girls school.
The pictures above represent Rathdown Junior School entrance, the Dublin Castle Courtyard, a picture from the campus of Trinity College and a picture of me, Ericka, Alcia, and Brittany outside the Dublin Castle!
Well, that is all I have for now! More exciting news from the land of Ireland to come next week! :-)
Heather