Having just spent a week exploring the whole of Ireland I certainly feel a bit more able to relate to the meaning of this holiday as more than just green beer and leprachauns. Actually, I lucked (haha must be the Irish in me...baha) out today and held my termly school assembly this morning, of course, lecturing the little children on the history of the patron Saint of Ireland, the meaning of the celtic cross, and converting Druids to christianity. Poor sods!
After a busy start to this term we only have a few weeks before we have another break! April 7th is the start of a nearly month long, let's say, hiatus from school. With the Easter Break and the Royal Wedding our holidays have been extended. As much as many of you will say, "oh how lucky!" it's not exactly the case. I do love not going to work, but not as much as I love getting paid. I am still in the world where I only get paid when I work, so it will be a tight month and with a wedding (our wedding!) on the horizon it's no time to be broke (I don't suppose there is any time to be broke!) No trips have been planned yet because it's just not in the budget! However, this does mean I will be in London for the Royal Wedding and I'm sure this will be the only one worth being around for in my lifetime!
Since the break we've not gotten up to a whole lot... Softball practice and a few visitors staying with us, but not a whole lot. School has been a bit mad with parents night and all the other things that go on here, but it's all wonderful and I am still enjoying every moment I spend in this place. I have been out and about with class trips here and there - two weeks ago I got to go to a taping of a BBC children's show with the year 6 class - it was really interesting to see the behind the scene going ons and the children were very excited as they will all be on TV (not the staff, thank goodness!)
Last week was Jane's Come Dine with Me and it was a lovely Italian inspired evening with Opera playing in the background, meatballs and marinara, panna cotta and tirimisu, and wine tasting to boot! While she did go all out, she made everyone come in "formal evening wear" so I had to be careful sipping my vino and eating my meatballs! It was a great night of girly chat, enjoying each other's company and Jane's cooking.
We've been offered jobs in Abu Dhabi. We are not sure about it yet, however. We have still have some unanswered questions and are a bit apprehensive about the school and the culture. We are almost daily looking into opportunities but not having too many bites! I continually send our resumes out into cyber space with the hope that something comes back - if the right opportunity comes along, I'm sure we will recognize it. Until then, we will keep working! I can't believe how fast time is going... I know I keep saying this! Only 4 months and I will be home! Then getting married a few weeks later! Ahhh!! It's all so exciting, but it would be more exciting if we knew what we were going to be doing in September!
I haven't been feeling very well this week - I've finally gotten a bit of a cold (first time really in over a year) but it hasn't stopped me from working. Barret was very sweet yesterday and bought some good old vicks vapo rub! That stuff works wonders as today I'm feeling almost fully better! I need to get back into the gym and get on my pre-wedding work out as soon as possible, so I'm very happy I'm starting to feel a bit better and might be able to get on that. No extra flab for this bride to be!!!!!
Anyway I hope you are doing well and I will be certain to let you know if we secure a position for the fall!
Much Love,
Amy
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Eirinn Go Bragh!
...means "Ireland Forever" and something I will never forget! What an amazing country with such a dark and troubled past - and present. On Sunday we got back from an incredible trip with some great memories and fantastic photographs. We spent 8 days in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland - what a difference between the two. I'll do my best to briefly fill you in on what we learned and experienced. I know I'm going to miss something out, but I'll try my best to remember it all!
First off, of course you all remember how our trip was postponed from Christmas - well the tour company that we went with, Paddywagon, sure didn't! They had no recollection of us whatsoever, although had all our money. At first we were a bit panicky, but it all got sorted and everything turned out fine - we realized it is just how the Irish do things. No stress, it'll all be figured out! And it was and we ended up with three free nights in the hostel before and after our trip - so we're not complaining one bit! Our tour started off in Dublin and we headed straight up to Belfast where so much of the problems between the Catholics and the Protestants are still happening. I think it's easy to say that a lot of people imagine the troubles in northern Ireland are long gone - including myself and Barret - how wrong we are. Only 2 months ago there was a bombing! There is STILL a wall that seperates the Catholics and the Protestants - with a massive gates that closes nightly at 11pm and if you are stuck on the wrong side - you're in big trouble. We learned about the hunger strikes and the Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher who let those political prisoners die for no reason, the "English Hero" of the 1600's Oliver Cromwell - aka the spawn of Satan, and the IRA. It all really boils my blood - and I'm not even properly Irish! After spending some time in Belfast we moved up to Derry, the scene of Bloody Sunday. The killings happened over 30 years ago and recently after an investigation it was announced that the 26 unarmed civilian protesters killed in Derry by the British Army in January of 1972 was "unjust". OF COURSE IT WAS - it took 39 years to figure that out?! Anyway, finally the families of those who lost their lives have been the smallest amount of justice. We had our own experience of how unhappy people still are in Derry - while on a walking tour with our very patriotic Irish guide some crazy (Protestant) man approached us saying (and excuse the language)... "F-ing foreigners - Think you f-ing know everything..." and with his arms outstretched said "SHE'S OUR QUEEN AND WE FIGHT FOR HER!!!" I wanted to get in his face but I thought better of it and ran away instead...!
After our experience in Northern Ireland we were happy to move on to the Republic, with two new tour guides and more random people on our bus! We met Stevie our bus driver who was on his VERY FIRST TOUR and Colm the guy who was training him. Well, it was a laugh a minute with those two! Everything from Stevie's driving (mostly his driving) and Colm's Irish accent and having to say the word "three" or "tree" as they say we were always in hysterics! We were able to drive along the west coast of the country and saw some really fantastic landscape. It's really like nothing I've ever seen before. We went to a few famous places, like the Cliffs of Moher and Giants Causeway, did some walking and got some fabulous pictures (which I will get up on FB asap!) Our trip was a mishmash of people coming and going, however. We were on a 6 day all Ireland trip and with different 3 day, 1 day, 10 day trips all going at once during a seriously busy week we had a bunch of people coming and going. On one such day we had to pick up some passengers Limmerick who had missed the bus in the morning - so we waited at the bus station and 4 people came walking our way. 2 guys and 2 girls, not together. The girls were from Denmark and Germany and the boys from Canada. Obviously we ask where they are from - they say Ontario - oh yeah, whereabouts, "oh, an 8 hour drive north of Toronto" whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? YES - those two guys that joined our tour in Limmerick, Ireland were from Sault Ste. Marie! What are the chances... anyway it made it easy for Barret to be friends with them since they were from the Sault (Basil's boys, however...)
Stevie is from an area known as the ring of Kerry - and he took our bus around there and on the coast took us through a muddy, rocky field to a rock that was standing straight up. This is known as the fertility stone. If you want to get pregnant it's a good idea if you rub yourself up on this rock... so after Stevie did a demonstration (HA!) we all went ahead and took turns rubbing the fertility stone! It was hilarious. THEN Colm tells me it only lasts for 6 months! Well, we will have to go back if we need to I guess! Stevie also told us this story of "Fungi" the Dolphin who apparently had gone into a harbour in Dingle with his group of Dolphins about 30 years ago and when the rest of them left, Fungi stayed. Apparently, you can see him in the harbour still! Tourists pay 12 euro to see this dolphin. We settled for a picture of the bronze statue.
Somewhere along the way our bus of 30 people stopped to play Gaelic Football, which is sort of a mix of soccer, volleyball, and rugby. It was hilarious! Except for the part where I got tackled by a French Italian Idiot who dropped his shoulder and properly hit me... after I sort of pulled myself up off the ground he looked at me smiling and said "haha its okay ya?" and walked away! I still can't lift my arm over my head!!! I wasn't the only girl playing by the way, there were more girls than guys! Using our numbers we ganged up on him and three of tackled him and got the ball! Inspired by our own match, on our return to Dublin we went to watch a proper game of Gaelic Football between Dublin and Kerry and realized... oh, that's what it's supposed to look like!
We saw tons of churches and graveyards, including the largest Celtic cross in the whole world. We also learned how the Celtic cross came to be. It represents the beliefs of the Pagans, the Celts and the Druids, who worshipped the sun (the circle) and Christianity (the cross) coming together. Now you know too! We went on a horse and cart tour in Kilarney (or as Stevie with his Irish accent says an "arse and cat" tour) which was really nice. Our tour ended back in Dublin at the Guiness Factory where we learned why Guiness is so special (I couldn't tell you why now...plus I don't agree!) and got a free pint which I didn't even attempt. I know I know, when in Rome... but it is VILE! All in all, it was a fantastic trip and I had a great time with Barret - although I took one blurry picture that ruined it for him, (of he, Stevie, and Colm) and now I feel bad, but still - we had a great time and we're SO glad that it finally worked out for us!!!
We are back to work now and in the full swing of things - March 1 already!!! It's amazing to see the days getting longer and it just puts everyone in a better mood when the sun is shining. We've got a full on weekend ahead of us as it that epic time of year when Barret celebrates his birthday! Even more special is that it is also Blair's birthday. We've got a party planned at their favourite spot in central London so we're sure to get out and enjoy ourselves - some a bit more than others, guaranteed...!!!
I hope you've all gotten through that difficult month of February and maybe the snow is starting to melt! Spring is on the way! All of the flowers have been up for weeks here, so I hope there are small signs of life poking through the snow back home!
I'd also just like to give a public thank you to Barret for such an amazing week. Thanks for taking care of me, carrying my bag to the bus, putting up with a whole lot of girls, and making sure I always had a drink if I wanted it! I truly appreciate you and you make me so happy!
Like I said, photos to be up on FB asap!
Love,
Amy
First off, of course you all remember how our trip was postponed from Christmas - well the tour company that we went with, Paddywagon, sure didn't! They had no recollection of us whatsoever, although had all our money. At first we were a bit panicky, but it all got sorted and everything turned out fine - we realized it is just how the Irish do things. No stress, it'll all be figured out! And it was and we ended up with three free nights in the hostel before and after our trip - so we're not complaining one bit! Our tour started off in Dublin and we headed straight up to Belfast where so much of the problems between the Catholics and the Protestants are still happening. I think it's easy to say that a lot of people imagine the troubles in northern Ireland are long gone - including myself and Barret - how wrong we are. Only 2 months ago there was a bombing! There is STILL a wall that seperates the Catholics and the Protestants - with a massive gates that closes nightly at 11pm and if you are stuck on the wrong side - you're in big trouble. We learned about the hunger strikes and the Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher who let those political prisoners die for no reason, the "English Hero" of the 1600's Oliver Cromwell - aka the spawn of Satan, and the IRA. It all really boils my blood - and I'm not even properly Irish! After spending some time in Belfast we moved up to Derry, the scene of Bloody Sunday. The killings happened over 30 years ago and recently after an investigation it was announced that the 26 unarmed civilian protesters killed in Derry by the British Army in January of 1972 was "unjust". OF COURSE IT WAS - it took 39 years to figure that out?! Anyway, finally the families of those who lost their lives have been the smallest amount of justice. We had our own experience of how unhappy people still are in Derry - while on a walking tour with our very patriotic Irish guide some crazy (Protestant) man approached us saying (and excuse the language)... "F-ing foreigners - Think you f-ing know everything..." and with his arms outstretched said "SHE'S OUR QUEEN AND WE FIGHT FOR HER!!!" I wanted to get in his face but I thought better of it and ran away instead...!
After our experience in Northern Ireland we were happy to move on to the Republic, with two new tour guides and more random people on our bus! We met Stevie our bus driver who was on his VERY FIRST TOUR and Colm the guy who was training him. Well, it was a laugh a minute with those two! Everything from Stevie's driving (mostly his driving) and Colm's Irish accent and having to say the word "three" or "tree" as they say we were always in hysterics! We were able to drive along the west coast of the country and saw some really fantastic landscape. It's really like nothing I've ever seen before. We went to a few famous places, like the Cliffs of Moher and Giants Causeway, did some walking and got some fabulous pictures (which I will get up on FB asap!) Our trip was a mishmash of people coming and going, however. We were on a 6 day all Ireland trip and with different 3 day, 1 day, 10 day trips all going at once during a seriously busy week we had a bunch of people coming and going. On one such day we had to pick up some passengers Limmerick who had missed the bus in the morning - so we waited at the bus station and 4 people came walking our way. 2 guys and 2 girls, not together. The girls were from Denmark and Germany and the boys from Canada. Obviously we ask where they are from - they say Ontario - oh yeah, whereabouts, "oh, an 8 hour drive north of Toronto" whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? YES - those two guys that joined our tour in Limmerick, Ireland were from Sault Ste. Marie! What are the chances... anyway it made it easy for Barret to be friends with them since they were from the Sault (Basil's boys, however...)
Stevie is from an area known as the ring of Kerry - and he took our bus around there and on the coast took us through a muddy, rocky field to a rock that was standing straight up. This is known as the fertility stone. If you want to get pregnant it's a good idea if you rub yourself up on this rock... so after Stevie did a demonstration (HA!) we all went ahead and took turns rubbing the fertility stone! It was hilarious. THEN Colm tells me it only lasts for 6 months! Well, we will have to go back if we need to I guess! Stevie also told us this story of "Fungi" the Dolphin who apparently had gone into a harbour in Dingle with his group of Dolphins about 30 years ago and when the rest of them left, Fungi stayed. Apparently, you can see him in the harbour still! Tourists pay 12 euro to see this dolphin. We settled for a picture of the bronze statue.
Somewhere along the way our bus of 30 people stopped to play Gaelic Football, which is sort of a mix of soccer, volleyball, and rugby. It was hilarious! Except for the part where I got tackled by a French Italian Idiot who dropped his shoulder and properly hit me... after I sort of pulled myself up off the ground he looked at me smiling and said "haha its okay ya?" and walked away! I still can't lift my arm over my head!!! I wasn't the only girl playing by the way, there were more girls than guys! Using our numbers we ganged up on him and three of tackled him and got the ball! Inspired by our own match, on our return to Dublin we went to watch a proper game of Gaelic Football between Dublin and Kerry and realized... oh, that's what it's supposed to look like!
We saw tons of churches and graveyards, including the largest Celtic cross in the whole world. We also learned how the Celtic cross came to be. It represents the beliefs of the Pagans, the Celts and the Druids, who worshipped the sun (the circle) and Christianity (the cross) coming together. Now you know too! We went on a horse and cart tour in Kilarney (or as Stevie with his Irish accent says an "arse and cat" tour) which was really nice. Our tour ended back in Dublin at the Guiness Factory where we learned why Guiness is so special (I couldn't tell you why now...plus I don't agree!) and got a free pint which I didn't even attempt. I know I know, when in Rome... but it is VILE! All in all, it was a fantastic trip and I had a great time with Barret - although I took one blurry picture that ruined it for him, (of he, Stevie, and Colm) and now I feel bad, but still - we had a great time and we're SO glad that it finally worked out for us!!!
We are back to work now and in the full swing of things - March 1 already!!! It's amazing to see the days getting longer and it just puts everyone in a better mood when the sun is shining. We've got a full on weekend ahead of us as it that epic time of year when Barret celebrates his birthday! Even more special is that it is also Blair's birthday. We've got a party planned at their favourite spot in central London so we're sure to get out and enjoy ourselves - some a bit more than others, guaranteed...!!!
I hope you've all gotten through that difficult month of February and maybe the snow is starting to melt! Spring is on the way! All of the flowers have been up for weeks here, so I hope there are small signs of life poking through the snow back home!
I'd also just like to give a public thank you to Barret for such an amazing week. Thanks for taking care of me, carrying my bag to the bus, putting up with a whole lot of girls, and making sure I always had a drink if I wanted it! I truly appreciate you and you make me so happy!
Like I said, photos to be up on FB asap!
Love,
Amy
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