First (of many) Moving Days

Today started bright and early with a walk to the bus stop at 7:55. The Dean joined us on this cold and raining morning. We took the 15B to the very last stop. This school will be easy to get to when I am alone, it's the connections that will be a challenge. We observed a wonderful lesson to 4th graders about Thanksgiving, and then they played a few songs for us on their recorders. They also sang for us as well. We stayed for their weekly Monday morning assembly where they practiced another song that they will sing on December 6 with thousands of other Irish students. They are going for the Guinness World Record. They also handed out a few award certificates, such as best behaved on the play yard, and a few others. Upon our departure we quickly hustled to catch the 15B just a few stops where we had to connect for the 74A. We started to get concerned when it didn't arrive right away, and contemplated our alternatives, but then in a distance, the 74A. What a grand sight! We took that to the Yellow House (which is not really a house at all, but rather a pub) and then walked to St. Mary's Boys School. We each observed a student teacher while the Dean took pictures and met a number of the teachers. We were able to catch the 16A bus which brought us back to the city. From there we went to purchase bus tickets for the next two days, as ours expire today. As my colleagues went to a local pub for lunch, I made my way back to the flat.

Today I moved from the flat to the hotel, Jury's Inn, next door. This is the hotel where friends and family stay when visiting, and where the Dean and his wife are currently staying. We have a few family's visiting for the Thanksgiving week, and they will join us on our trip later in the week. My friend Annie arrived this AM, so I joined her when I got back to the city. We walked down Lord Edwards/Dame St. towards Trinity but turned onto St. George's to show her the tourist center (where we buy our bus passes) and the post office right across the street. From there we walked to Grafton Street and wandered a few side streets. We settled on a wonderful Thai place for a late lunch. I'm glad she made it safely. I think she will love Dublin and is anxious to start exploring. She actually saw quite a bit when she ventured out earlier in the day, as her flight had arrived at 6:30am and we did not connect until close to 2pm.

Tomorrow is another early day, going to the only school I have yet to visit. They were testing all of last week so there was not a lot of teaching being done. We have two PE student teachers at the elementary level and then our two secondary students are at the high school, one in English and one in Social Studies. All four of these were assigned to me this semester so I am anxious to see them again and watch them teach in an Irish classroom.

Since I left the flat, I no longer have Internet access. It is 5 euros for an hour (10 euros a day) at the hotel. There are Internet cafes all over the city, so I am at one right now, paying 1 euro for 30 minutes. I hope to continue to update my blog, but it becomes more difficult now. During our four day Thanksgiving trip I am most certain I will not have Internet access, so I will be spending lots of euros when we return to tell you all about it. We drive to the west coast of Ireland, with many stops in between, so I will hope my memory serves me well when I try to update my blog early next week. Having said that, I do hope to be back online tomorrow.

I believe it's time for tea. And perhaps a scone. Until next time...