First Two Weeks

I am still alive and doing well. I've been at Blackrock College for two weeks now. My arrival was a bit of an adventure! The first week was half orientation and meetings and half actual schoolwork. I'm in charge of a first period group of second years (8th graders). We've spent most of our time working on grammar/punctuation, but just had an introductory lesson on the Great Depression on Friday in anticipation of our Of Mice and Men unit. Some of the boys knew a lot already, and they all asked great questions. I used a video of Dorthea Lange photos and Bing Crosby singing "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?". They're a great group of boys! I follow my cooperating teacher for the remainder of the day and help him out when I can.

I'm working with a fantastic cooperating teacher named John Sheil. He's well-respected, head of the English department, and the author of his own textbook that he uses in class. I'm really lucky to be working with him for my time here. He walks to and from school, and I walk to a bus stop along his route when going home, so we will often walk with each other after school. I met his wife yesterday when he and I stopped on the way home to sit in a restaurant.

The woman with whom I am staying is Marjorie Nolan, a lovely woman who reminds me of Susan Hanley and is head of amenities at the two schools and boarding house on Blackrock's campus. She's been treating and feeding me well since my arrival. She and her husband Paul were an integral part of my getting to know the Dublin area.

Most of my weekdays have involved going to school and then heading to Dublin for the night. At first these were exploratory trips, but then the Dublin Fringe Festival started. It's fantastic! As of today I've seen four shows, one of which I've seen twice because another show was sold out. Soon the Gate Theatre (Yes, theatRE. I'm in Ireland.) will be starting a series of plays by Irish playwright Brian Freil. I plan on seeing those next week. Hooray for student discounts!

My weekends also involved going through Dublin, especially my first Saturday when I took a bus tour of Dublin to get an idea of where everything was. Last Sunday one of the teachers invited me on a walk (hike) in the Wicklow Mountains. It was great! He and his friends are planning to go again tomorrow.