First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for the student teachers. They were all to email me this evening and let me know how it went. Tomorrow I start making the rounds. So far the feedback has been very positive. They are excited about their classes and are anxious to start teaching. Some are already scheduled to teach a few lessons this week, which is great.

I spent the morning mapping out the week. It has proven to be a real challenge. I have 16 student teachers in 10 different schools, all in the suburbs. Three of the schools are new from a year ago, so I haven't a clue where they are or how to get there. The student teachers are to email me as much information as they can (bus number, landmarks, etc.) and hopefully I will find them. Tomorrow I am starting at two schools that I remember from a year ago, Scoil Mhuir and St. Marys Boys School. Hopefully I will remember the landmarks, where to ring the bell, where to get off, which direction to go off the bus and where to connect. And then, hopefully, I will make it back to city centre. We will see...Stay tuned...

I went out around 11am in search of a watch. A few days ago mine decided to stop functioning. The buttons sometimes changed the feature (time, alarm, stopwatch, etc.), and mostly did not. As I walked today it literally fell off my wrist, so that was the final determining factor, I needed a new watch. I went down through the Temple Bar District, just because I hadn't yet, and crossed over the Liffey at O'Connell Street. I went up Henry Street and ducked down a side street where they had a farmers market. I bought some grapes and mandarins and continued in search of a watch. I entered a three story mall off of Henry Street but was having trouble figuring out what store sold what products by their names, until I found the "Watch Store". Bingo. Ironically, when I took student teachers to Mexico City in 2005 my watch also broke. I finally bought an adidas watch off a street vendor for 11 pecos. I spent a good bit more today for the cheapest casio on the shelf. Nevertheless, I am now set with a new watch to get me to the bus(es) on time.

After a late pizza lunch at Milano (a place highly recommended from last years group), I headed back to the flat to do some school work. I am chairing two different graduate students practicum projects, and needed to read the first three chapters that they each submitted right before I left SRU. One down (edited version sent) and one to go. I also need to write a ROCK Grant that is due by Friday. That is the evenings entertainment.

After about three hours of school work I headed out to grab some dinner. I opted for chicken swarmama at abrakebabra's. Not such a good choice, but live and learn. I am determined to, 1) not eat from any American fast food places (McD's, BK, KFC, Subway, etc.) and (2) not eat at the same place twice. Charlies, the fast food Chinese place, doesn't count. It is convenient and fairly tasty. That's my go to meal. I've been there twice so far.

Lydia just called. She is John Nolen's lady friend whom I met a year ago. She went on our four day trip with us this past week. She is from Latvia and has been here for 7 years. She has quite the story of getting out of her country as a child. She even has numbers tatooed on her hand from her struggles. She asked if I wanted to go out some night this week. She will check the internet and find something for us to do. That will be a nice change of pace.

I hear the weather is great back home. Pushing 70 degrees if the rumors are true. Here, not so much. It was raining when I went out for dinner, and still pretty cold. Not Eagles earmuff cold, but zip up the coat and walk fast kind of cold. Gotta love Ireland in November.