Monday in Dublin

Today was....I'm having trouble coming up with the right word. Frustrating, long, tiring, over. I like the last one. Monday is over. The day started way too early when I was woken up with heavy rain on my window at 5am. As I laid there I debated whether I should take my new fold up umbrella or if it was really bad perhaps I should take the golf umbrella the landlord left in the flat. Then I decided I didn't need to make that decision at that time and rolled over to catch some more sleep.

I left the flat at 8am to catch the 15. I was heading into uncharted territory as I had never gone from Trinity College to St. Mary's to Scoil Mhuir. I had only gone to those two schools in reverse order. The student teachers said I could take the 15 to the Blue Haven Pub and then connect to the 75 and that will get me there. (In retrospect I think I should have taken the 16.) In theory that should have worked. Problem is, I only saw the Blue Haven for the first time on Friday,  and it's tough to see when it is on the far corner, set back from the road, when the bus windows are all fogged up. So, I missed the stop. I knew I was in trouble when I saw the Knocklyon service station and the Super Quinn. Two stops later and I was at the end of the route, right at St. Colmcilles Community School. Unfortuantley that wasn't my destination today. After talking with the driver I went across the street and waited for for the 15 to head back the way I came. It arrived in a few minutes and this time I could see the Blue Haven coming from Knocklyon and I got off to wait for the 75. It took a little while but finally the 75 arrived, so now I was off to look for the Yellow House. Once I found that I was only a stop away from St. Mary's. I walked into the school at 9:30. That morning commute took an hour and a half.

First I observed Meredith teach a science lesson to 1st class using balloons, straws and string. She was teaching about thrust and rockets. She did a nice job with a very lively group. Then I observed Shawna working with two Jr. and Sr. infant students in the English as an Alternative Language room. She did a great job teaching them about colours and shapes. Then it was tea break. So, I was able to catch up with all three student teachers in the teachers room over a cup of tea. After the tea break I observed Brittnee teach a lesson about alligators to a 3rd class. They all did very well. Keep in mind this is an all boys school. Enough said.

I INTERRUPT THIS BLOG FOR A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE: The garda (police) just knocked on my door. No one knocks on my door because I don't know anyone. I asked who it was then asked for ID (hey, I grew up watching the horrors of Philadelphia Action News). Turns out those sirens I heard after Ireland lost on Saturday were due to the fact that a man got beat up pretty bad with a hammer not too far away from here. They wanted to know if I was home and if I heard or saw anything. Then they took my name, address and birthday. I gave them my birthday as 1/11 and the other officer (who looked like he was 12) said November 1st was his birthday too. I quickly had to tell them it was January 11. I forgot they write the date in reverse of us. Then they went on to interview my neighbor. My heart stopped pounding as I relocked the three locks on the door.

So...where was I? I left St. Mary's at 11:45 and walked back down the hill to the Yellowhouse, rounded the corner, and waited at the bus stop right next to a very large church. There must have been a funeral because cars were literally parked on the sidewalk on each side of the street. As luck would have it, the rain started again. I put up my hood and then broke out the umbrella. And I waited for bus 74A. And waited some more. For some reason the traffic just stopped at one point. Seven cars made three point turns right in front of me and went back in the other direction. And still I waited. After about 30 minutes an elderly lady was walking by and asked when the next bus was coming through. I told her I had been there for a half hour and didn't know when to expect the next bus. We chatted for quite awhile. She wanted to hear all about what I was doing here. She was trained in teacher preparation and knew a few of the principals at some of the schools where our kids are teaching. She asked what I thought of the school systems here, and asked my thoughts on Obama. They like him here. We talked for about 15 minutes and she decided her legs/knees hurt less if she kept walking so she would walk to her destination instead of waiting for the bus, so off she went.

Finally bus 74A came by and picked me up. After about 10 minutes I got off and had to connect with bus 15B to Whitechurch.  I finally arrived at Scoil Mhuir around 12:45. I walked in the front door and saw my two student teachers in the lobby, in their coats, huddled around the radiator. They said they come there for the last 5-10 minutes of lunch to try and get warm. I joined them at the radiator. The schools are very cold, especially on Mondays. They don't seem to mind. It's not unusal to have a few windows open too. In fact, in one classroom this afternoon I counted three windows open. I had to put my coat on to stay warm during my observation.

I observed Megan teach a 4th class about the Eastern States of the US. She had some great activities for the students and they were engaged throughout the lesson. Then I went to Krista's room and watched her teach her 5th class about the American Flag. She had a great craft activity that they seemed to enjoy. I was then able to literally run and catch the 15B back into city centre.

I got off the bus around 3pm, and still had not eaten lunch. I headed to the Kilkenny Shop where I knew I could get a hot meal without having to wait. Today they had shepherds pie. I don't understand why when the main dish is layered with mashed potatoes why one of the side options is either roasted or mashed potatoes? I went for roasted, and the carrot/turnup puree (it was either that or beets). After I finished I went downstairs and bought some chocolate truffles for John the caretaker at Ballyroan. He was kind enough to give me a ride in the rain last week to Terenure College, so I wanted to give him something when I see him tomorrow. I hope he likes chocolate.

I was back at the flat by 4:15. It was already getting dark and starting to rain again. I was glad to be home. In total, I think I spent about 4 hours commuting today: waiting for buses, traveling on buses, or walking to/from the bus stop. I am really missing my CRV.