Tuesday may be one of the longest days of the week. You aren't close enough to the weekend to be excited but the previous weekend is over so the beginning of the week blues are still in full swing.
The past few days have been pretty uneventful here in Dublin. I've been spending a lot of my time at school the past few days to get some serious planning done.
I am feeling rather uninspired today to open up about what I am learning...soooo.....I will simply share some words of wisdom:
As the priest said today in our service, we must all LOVE one another first and foremost. If we remember to love, and allow ourselves to be loved then we will find our lives fulfilled.Part of this process is remembering to be compassionate and patient with those around us. Though it is hard and though we will fail...keep trying.
Tired and Rained out,
-J
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Long time no preach
Ok, so its been a while since I preached at everyone. Blogging is the strangest experience because you frequently feel as if you are talking to space. In face-to-face conversations your get feedback via voice inflection and body language, over the phone you voice inflection, over email people feel like they have to respond to you (same goes for texts, facebook, and twitter as well). Blogs are different though...no one really tells you that they like hearing what you have to say or that reading about your life impacts them in any way at all. Regardless, I will do my best to continue and document my two months in Ireland to the best of my ability.
Ok, so to recap my week....I have to send weekly reflections to my adviser at Duquesne and this week she said she was incredibly proud of my reflection as she felt it was open, and honest. I copied it into my blog because it really explains how I am feeling about my experience...
I went on to discuss the things that I hope to work on during the rest of my time here, but I thought maybe you, ambiguous readers of my life, would like to hear about my inner most rambling.
( Side note) HA! I just re-read this line... "Teachers should do a pump up dance every morning to their favourite song in order to go to school prepared to motivate their students." and realized that word here automatically changed favorite to favOUrite #dublinproblems.
Ok, so back to the real deal. Things here a great, I am having a blast learning more about myself each day that I am here. Sometimes I forget what an independent young woman my parents raised, but being here has made me realize how very well prepared for the world I am. I have also come to the conclusion that, despite my constant complaining of how much crap Duquense has put me through for the past three and a half years, I am INSANELY prepared for the world of music education.
For those of you that didn't know about my tendon problems, I injured a tendon in my foot. I have been seeing the physical therapist as Blackrock (in the "castle" no less) and it has been helping immensely! For the first time today, I could put weight on my foot and walk a full stride without tons of pain! So today when you take a step, please take a very large, very robust step in honor of me and my fully restored stride.
My final note for the evening, is that rugby is very misunderstood in the states. I saw my first official rugby match tonight and it was...different...the sport requires a great deal of teamwork, endurance, and brute strength to make it. These gentlemen have the biggest legs in the world and have such amazing budy build that I envy their dedication to their sport. This is especially true in Ireland because their sport players do not get paid any money...they all have jobs on the side to keep food on the table and heat in their house.
I hope everyone is enjoying their week back home...if you are in the area and you have time, would anyone be willing to take pictures of the following things for me and post them to my blog? I am missing home a bit and would love some home love:
-The pumpkin spice latte sign at starbucks
-commonplace coffee
-The Mary Pappert School of Music
-My mom
-My Dad
-My sister
-My brother
-My beautiful niece and nephew
-Target
-The black and yellow madness on weekends
- The leaves changing color and falling to the ground
-Pittsburgh at night
-Craft beer
-Cars driving of the "right" (the literal right, not right as in correct) side of the road
-Steering wheels on the left side of a car
-My friends
-The city skyline at any time of day
-Coffee creamer
-fage yogurt
As always, thank you for your constant love and support.
-J
Ok, so to recap my week....I have to send weekly reflections to my adviser at Duquesne and this week she said she was incredibly proud of my reflection as she felt it was open, and honest. I copied it into my blog because it really explains how I am feeling about my experience...
"I. Am. Tired. I knew coming into the world
of education that it was not a daily walk in the park and that things would
become hectic. It’s interesting, as a student you always thought that it is
easy for the teacher to be enthused and energetic about teaching every day.
What you did not know, however, is that it is quite the opposite. Teachers
should do a pump up dance every morning to their favourite song in order to go
to school prepared to motivate their students. So much energy as a teacher is
displaced while trying to get students motivated and concentrated on the work
that is in front of them. For example, when I begin class there is always a sea
of apathy looking expectantly at me, awaiting the next ‘fun’ thing. I spend the
first ten or fifteen minutes of class trying to get the students to understand
that this thing called ‘music’ is a group effort. I cannot carry them all to
the ends of the earth on my back! They must learn to follow! As always, this is
easier with some classes and harder with others. I still believe that this
lesson is especially challenging to teach to a classroom of 35 teenage boys. No
matter how you slice it or dice it, girls pick up on certain concepts faster.
It is easier for girls to match pitch and to concentrate for ten consecutive
minutes in order to lean the music. Thus, trying to teach four part ALL MALE
choir is one of the singularly most challenging things I have ever done in my
life. Some days, running the half marathon was easier.
Despite this exhaustion, I am in love. I
LOVE teaching. There is something about it that makes me incredibly excited for
my future as a music educator. Getting the opportunity to impart wisdom to
students to make them into better musicians is one of the neatest things I have
experienced. I don’t know if I ever understood why people said that teaching
was an art form until I saw it in action. Music teachers take a raw product,
mold it, shape it, and grow it into something beautiful! We create art by
teaching the students we come into contact with. They are our raw product that
we spend time shaping and teaching until they become excellent musicians. This
experience has made me so excited for whatever job I am dropped into, I just
want to be a teacher! I want to help my students create something that is
beautiful, resonant, and full of musicianship. I frequently find myself
terrified that I will not be able to find a job and will be forced to let go of
something that is so near to my heart."I went on to discuss the things that I hope to work on during the rest of my time here, but I thought maybe you, ambiguous readers of my life, would like to hear about my inner most rambling.
( Side note) HA! I just re-read this line... "Teachers should do a pump up dance every morning to their favourite song in order to go to school prepared to motivate their students." and realized that word here automatically changed favorite to favOUrite #dublinproblems.
Ok, so back to the real deal. Things here a great, I am having a blast learning more about myself each day that I am here. Sometimes I forget what an independent young woman my parents raised, but being here has made me realize how very well prepared for the world I am. I have also come to the conclusion that, despite my constant complaining of how much crap Duquense has put me through for the past three and a half years, I am INSANELY prepared for the world of music education.
For those of you that didn't know about my tendon problems, I injured a tendon in my foot. I have been seeing the physical therapist as Blackrock (in the "castle" no less) and it has been helping immensely! For the first time today, I could put weight on my foot and walk a full stride without tons of pain! So today when you take a step, please take a very large, very robust step in honor of me and my fully restored stride.
My final note for the evening, is that rugby is very misunderstood in the states. I saw my first official rugby match tonight and it was...different...the sport requires a great deal of teamwork, endurance, and brute strength to make it. These gentlemen have the biggest legs in the world and have such amazing budy build that I envy their dedication to their sport. This is especially true in Ireland because their sport players do not get paid any money...they all have jobs on the side to keep food on the table and heat in their house.
I hope everyone is enjoying their week back home...if you are in the area and you have time, would anyone be willing to take pictures of the following things for me and post them to my blog? I am missing home a bit and would love some home love:
-The pumpkin spice latte sign at starbucks
-commonplace coffee
-The Mary Pappert School of Music
-My mom
-My Dad
-My sister
-My brother
-My beautiful niece and nephew
-Target
-The black and yellow madness on weekends
- The leaves changing color and falling to the ground
-Pittsburgh at night
-Craft beer
-Cars driving of the "right" (the literal right, not right as in correct) side of the road
-Steering wheels on the left side of a car
-My friends
-The city skyline at any time of day
-Coffee creamer
-fage yogurt
As always, thank you for your constant love and support.
-J
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Running
It's been a number of days since I last posted. Things have been busy around here and I have been especially worried about the half marathon. I am proud to say, however, that I DID IT! My time wasn't fantastic, but I only walked a half a mile and I finished the race. For those of you that want to know, I finished in 2:38. Again, not a very good time...but I totally did it.
It was an interesting experience and I would love to do it again, I am not sure it will be in the near future but I will certainly keep it on my to-do list.
School has been going well, I am finding myself becoming more comfortable with the way things work within Blackrock and what the expectations are of the young lads who walk the hallowed halls everyday.
A bunch of us went out last night because one of our co-workers, Eoin (Owen), had his birthday this week. I went out for a bit but caught a taxi home early because my left leg was really sore from the race. It feels better this morning after I had the chance to rest and keep my weight off of it.
Not much else to report from Dublin...other than really boring teacher things that no one really cares about. I will try and keep my life exciting so my future posts will not be as dry as this one...
My love,
J
It was an interesting experience and I would love to do it again, I am not sure it will be in the near future but I will certainly keep it on my to-do list.
School has been going well, I am finding myself becoming more comfortable with the way things work within Blackrock and what the expectations are of the young lads who walk the hallowed halls everyday.
A bunch of us went out last night because one of our co-workers, Eoin (Owen), had his birthday this week. I went out for a bit but caught a taxi home early because my left leg was really sore from the race. It feels better this morning after I had the chance to rest and keep my weight off of it.
Not much else to report from Dublin...other than really boring teacher things that no one really cares about. I will try and keep my life exciting so my future posts will not be as dry as this one...
My love,
J
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
9.11
I have always been slightly off-put by people who openly share their love for America...You know, the people who drive pick-up trucks, own six guns, hunt with those six guns, and have no idea of what happens in the gigantic world that exists outside of the United States. I suppose that being a "progressive" and an "innovator" has always kept me from understanding this behavoir. I always felt like it was against who I am to be 'proud' to be an American (and not just because the song is so atrocious). I have always loved other cultures, other countries, and have such a deep respect and open mind for those who are different than I am.
For those of you who know about me and my love of musicals, you are aware of my strange connection to Hair. There is one song in particular that I have never quite understood but I think now I do...
***So, in case you are unawares of how the musical goes...it's essentially a story about Vietnam and how young Americans responded to the war and the draft (and subsequently how they fit into society despite this). Let's just say, it's pretty hippie, and there's a lot of sex and drugs.***
Regardless there is a song in which three of the characters sing a song that goes as follows:
So all the exposition leads to my epiphany of this song, and it took my living in another country to understand this. I may not always agree with the politics in this nation and I will never be 100% proud of decisions made by the government nor the everyday citizens of the states. We are a young nation with a great deal to learn...we can be head strong, competitive, and down right frustrating to other countries. Despite these things...I. Am. American. There is no denying it and I must be proud of this. Today, no one even mentioned 9/11 and that's when it hit me. I may be 'subversive', but being proud to be from the USA and being a part of the counter-culture movement are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
I may not scream my love of my country everyday and I may not wear red, white, and blue on national holidays, but regardless, I am a citizen of the United States. My family is in the United States, everything I know is there. Thus, on this day of remembrance I must say that I am thinking of home and the love I have for all of you!
...Strange how we learn who we are by first learning who we are not.
Forgive my 'rant-like' blog post. I have been trying to openly discuss what I have learned and this is the most importance lesson I have learned while I have been in Ireland.
As always...my love,
-J
For those of you who know about me and my love of musicals, you are aware of my strange connection to Hair. There is one song in particular that I have never quite understood but I think now I do...
***So, in case you are unawares of how the musical goes...it's essentially a story about Vietnam and how young Americans responded to the war and the draft (and subsequently how they fit into society despite this). Let's just say, it's pretty hippie, and there's a lot of sex and drugs.***
Regardless there is a song in which three of the characters sing a song that goes as follows:
Cause I look different You think I'm subversive Crazy for the blue white and red My heart beats true For the red white and blue Crazy for the blue white and red And yellow fringe
So all the exposition leads to my epiphany of this song, and it took my living in another country to understand this. I may not always agree with the politics in this nation and I will never be 100% proud of decisions made by the government nor the everyday citizens of the states. We are a young nation with a great deal to learn...we can be head strong, competitive, and down right frustrating to other countries. Despite these things...I. Am. American. There is no denying it and I must be proud of this. Today, no one even mentioned 9/11 and that's when it hit me. I may be 'subversive', but being proud to be from the USA and being a part of the counter-culture movement are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
I may not scream my love of my country everyday and I may not wear red, white, and blue on national holidays, but regardless, I am a citizen of the United States. My family is in the United States, everything I know is there. Thus, on this day of remembrance I must say that I am thinking of home and the love I have for all of you!
...Strange how we learn who we are by first learning who we are not.
Forgive my 'rant-like' blog post. I have been trying to openly discuss what I have learned and this is the most importance lesson I have learned while I have been in Ireland.
As always...my love,
-J
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Sunday night is alright
What a lovely weekend I had. Friday night..was ok...but Saturday night I went out with Marie and Joe to see A Woman of No Importance by Oscar Wilde! What a lovely production it was. The Gate Theater was running it for the final week and I am so thrilled I had the opportunity to go. The play is magnificent and the company did a lovely job of putting it on. There are so many subtleties that they nailed on the head and I was completely overjoyed at the opportunity to go and see it.
This morning I woke up, cleaned my apartment and found my way on my last long run before the half next week. I am beginning to get concerned but my nine miles today felt pretty good. It took me a little under two hours, so it wasn't my best time ever but I was able to get through it and feel as if I could keep going. I am hoping that the adrenaline of the run and all the people around me will help me get through to the end. It will be an incredible acomplishment for me if I can make it through to the end and I know everyone at home will be supporting me to the very end.
I found my self across the street this afternoon at the Irish Craft Beer festival at the Royal Dublin Society. Ireland is, in the craft brew world, where the states were five or six years ago. It is still a rather small business but is rapidly growing as people find that the taste is better and they get a higher quality product. It was nice to do something that reminded me of home and made me feel like the states were closer than 3400 miles away.
Another week at school begins tomorrow and just like every other start of the week I am nervous at what the next five days will bring me. I am quickly learning that time moves just as quickly here as it does at home and before I know it, I will be boarding a plane back to the U.S. I will thus, enjoy my time here as much as possible despite the fact that I miss everyone very much and I look forward to seeing everyone's smiling face upon my return.
All my love,
J
This morning I woke up, cleaned my apartment and found my way on my last long run before the half next week. I am beginning to get concerned but my nine miles today felt pretty good. It took me a little under two hours, so it wasn't my best time ever but I was able to get through it and feel as if I could keep going. I am hoping that the adrenaline of the run and all the people around me will help me get through to the end. It will be an incredible acomplishment for me if I can make it through to the end and I know everyone at home will be supporting me to the very end.
I found my self across the street this afternoon at the Irish Craft Beer festival at the Royal Dublin Society. Ireland is, in the craft brew world, where the states were five or six years ago. It is still a rather small business but is rapidly growing as people find that the taste is better and they get a higher quality product. It was nice to do something that reminded me of home and made me feel like the states were closer than 3400 miles away.
Another week at school begins tomorrow and just like every other start of the week I am nervous at what the next five days will bring me. I am quickly learning that time moves just as quickly here as it does at home and before I know it, I will be boarding a plane back to the U.S. I will thus, enjoy my time here as much as possible despite the fact that I miss everyone very much and I look forward to seeing everyone's smiling face upon my return.
All my love,
J
Friday, September 7, 2012
It's Friday, Friday, Friday...
Happy Friday Everyone!!!
What a lovely week we have had here! The temperature has been in the mid sixties with nothing but sun on the sky. Talk about unusual for Dublin! It has been a lovely week and it seems that time has suddenly sped up and it sometimes seems like I am living in fast forward.
All boys schools are terrifying! They are respectful and all, but they do not respect women the same way they respect men. With male teachers they tend to be more quiet and ready to listen, I am unsure whether this is fear or respect. I am also a 'new' teacher so they often feel as if they can push boundaries with me and slide things past me.
Weird things that happen at Blackrock:
-Class begins at 8:45 (so late!)
-They have various class 'splits' so a student may attend two classes during any one period, thus they take somewhere around 11 classes per semester prior to junior certificate.
-The boys all stand up when a teacher enters the classroom, I suppose this is a sign of respect? It is very foreign to me.
-Everyone in the entire building takes an hour for lunch...at the same time...it is insane
Week two is over and I am quite excited to have the weekend in front of me. Tonight a big group of us from school are headed out for a night on the town, it should be great fun (or craic). There will certainly be a great deal of drinking as we are in Ireland and that is what people here do. Tomorrow I am so very excited because Marie and Joe are coming down to Dublin and they have invited me to see A Woman of No Importance, which is currently playing at the Gate Theater in city center. I am overjoyed to be headed to see a show because I feel as if I haven't seen any art since I have been here!
Sunday I will be hosting a fake "tailgate" at my apartment because my roommates and I are all feeling a little homesick and are dying for some buffalo chicken dip. We will all be asleep during the Steeler game and will, unfortunately, miss it. Therefore, if you are sitting in front of the TV and find yourself thinking of me please start a "here we go steelers" chant for me. It will be so very appreciated (In honor of the Irish, please pronounce the 'c' like it is an 's' i.e. appresiated).
Love for the Black and Yellow,
Jackie
P.S. Each day is a gift we are given and we must take the opportunity to stop and see the world around us...Ireland has taught me this.
What a lovely week we have had here! The temperature has been in the mid sixties with nothing but sun on the sky. Talk about unusual for Dublin! It has been a lovely week and it seems that time has suddenly sped up and it sometimes seems like I am living in fast forward.
All boys schools are terrifying! They are respectful and all, but they do not respect women the same way they respect men. With male teachers they tend to be more quiet and ready to listen, I am unsure whether this is fear or respect. I am also a 'new' teacher so they often feel as if they can push boundaries with me and slide things past me.
Weird things that happen at Blackrock:
-Class begins at 8:45 (so late!)
-They have various class 'splits' so a student may attend two classes during any one period, thus they take somewhere around 11 classes per semester prior to junior certificate.
-The boys all stand up when a teacher enters the classroom, I suppose this is a sign of respect? It is very foreign to me.
-Everyone in the entire building takes an hour for lunch...at the same time...it is insane
Week two is over and I am quite excited to have the weekend in front of me. Tonight a big group of us from school are headed out for a night on the town, it should be great fun (or craic). There will certainly be a great deal of drinking as we are in Ireland and that is what people here do. Tomorrow I am so very excited because Marie and Joe are coming down to Dublin and they have invited me to see A Woman of No Importance, which is currently playing at the Gate Theater in city center. I am overjoyed to be headed to see a show because I feel as if I haven't seen any art since I have been here!
Sunday I will be hosting a fake "tailgate" at my apartment because my roommates and I are all feeling a little homesick and are dying for some buffalo chicken dip. We will all be asleep during the Steeler game and will, unfortunately, miss it. Therefore, if you are sitting in front of the TV and find yourself thinking of me please start a "here we go steelers" chant for me. It will be so very appreciated (In honor of the Irish, please pronounce the 'c' like it is an 's' i.e. appresiated).
Love for the Black and Yellow,
Jackie
P.S. Each day is a gift we are given and we must take the opportunity to stop and see the world around us...Ireland has taught me this.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
And the gold star goes to
Merry day everyone,
I must begin my blog by first giving out gold starts to Callie Hanau and Jordan Mroziak. Callie lifted my spirits yesterday when she sent me the most hilarious card with King Kong on it (just to give you an idea...it involves a water gun), and today Jordan lifted my spirits by sending me my extra clothing and my camera so now I can take fancy people pictures instead of just pictures with my iphone. So, mad props to them for making me smile!
The weather has been just spectacular for the fast few days! We have gotten no rain during the days and the temperature has been that perfect fall day where its crisp outside but you don't need anything more than a sweater or sweatshirt to keep warm. The unexpected amount of beautiful weather has put the Irish folk into a particularly good mood, so everyone has been warm, positive, and incredibly hopeful about life for the past few days.
The Gaelic Football match was INCREDIBLE! I had such a lovely time, and it was unlike any experience that I have ever had previously. The game was held in Croke Park, which is where all Gaelic Sports are held. This means that the "all Ireland" football tournament is held here, along with the "all Ireland" hurling tournament. If I did not explain previously, let me back track by mentioning that football in Ireland actually refers to Gaelic football, and soccer is used for...soccer. Gaelic football is a mixture of soccer, basketball, ultimate Frisbee...and a lot of other things.
Just follow this YouTube link for a better idea of the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEAbWrdB9XU
The final is this weekend and it is sure to be a fast paced match with a lot of screaming fans. Miss Alyssa Newberry noted that it seems as if I am becoming quite a sports fan...and I guess that's true. The difference is that here you don't really have much of an option, especially because EVERYONE here takes part in sports and it would be challenging to constantly tell people how I don't follow sports...So I have turned a new leaf on organized sporting events!
As for teaching...yesterday was rough. I fell apart in my lesson when I realized that I did not have the tools to teach these boys in a way they understand. I have known solfege for so long at this point and have been able to easily communicate through musical terms for so long that I don't remember how to teach music to students that don't read music and haven't been aurally trained very well. After yesterday, I went back to the drawing board and decided that I would start from scratch with these boys. Therefore, today I taught them do-mi-sol and talked about how "do" is home, so anytime we are lost, we just have to hear "do". This seemed to really help the boys improve, even just in one lesson! For the first time today, I saw them realize how great they can sound when they really focus and concentrate on the music. I still messed up and I know that I will have more failure days ahead, but for today...I leave satisfied that maybe I taught someone a skill that before today they didn't have.
Below are some pictures I took at Hubert park this afternoon:
Croke Park:
Croke Park Fans:
Madness After the Match:
I must begin my blog by first giving out gold starts to Callie Hanau and Jordan Mroziak. Callie lifted my spirits yesterday when she sent me the most hilarious card with King Kong on it (just to give you an idea...it involves a water gun), and today Jordan lifted my spirits by sending me my extra clothing and my camera so now I can take fancy people pictures instead of just pictures with my iphone. So, mad props to them for making me smile!
The weather has been just spectacular for the fast few days! We have gotten no rain during the days and the temperature has been that perfect fall day where its crisp outside but you don't need anything more than a sweater or sweatshirt to keep warm. The unexpected amount of beautiful weather has put the Irish folk into a particularly good mood, so everyone has been warm, positive, and incredibly hopeful about life for the past few days.
The Gaelic Football match was INCREDIBLE! I had such a lovely time, and it was unlike any experience that I have ever had previously. The game was held in Croke Park, which is where all Gaelic Sports are held. This means that the "all Ireland" football tournament is held here, along with the "all Ireland" hurling tournament. If I did not explain previously, let me back track by mentioning that football in Ireland actually refers to Gaelic football, and soccer is used for...soccer. Gaelic football is a mixture of soccer, basketball, ultimate Frisbee...and a lot of other things.
Just follow this YouTube link for a better idea of the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEAbWrdB9XU
The final is this weekend and it is sure to be a fast paced match with a lot of screaming fans. Miss Alyssa Newberry noted that it seems as if I am becoming quite a sports fan...and I guess that's true. The difference is that here you don't really have much of an option, especially because EVERYONE here takes part in sports and it would be challenging to constantly tell people how I don't follow sports...So I have turned a new leaf on organized sporting events!
As for teaching...yesterday was rough. I fell apart in my lesson when I realized that I did not have the tools to teach these boys in a way they understand. I have known solfege for so long at this point and have been able to easily communicate through musical terms for so long that I don't remember how to teach music to students that don't read music and haven't been aurally trained very well. After yesterday, I went back to the drawing board and decided that I would start from scratch with these boys. Therefore, today I taught them do-mi-sol and talked about how "do" is home, so anytime we are lost, we just have to hear "do". This seemed to really help the boys improve, even just in one lesson! For the first time today, I saw them realize how great they can sound when they really focus and concentrate on the music. I still messed up and I know that I will have more failure days ahead, but for today...I leave satisfied that maybe I taught someone a skill that before today they didn't have.
Below are some pictures I took at Hubert park this afternoon:
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Oh Danny Boy
It is impossible to just sit on the couch and relax in Dublin...
Since my arrival, I have been moving nonstop between sightseeing, teaching, and drinking beer. People really do just go to the pub after work for six to seven hours and just drink here. There are two stereotypes about the Irish that have yet to fail me. Number 1: We eat potatoes with EVERYTHING, sometimes I get two or three different kinds of potatoes at one meal! Number 2: The Irish take every occasion or even just every weekday to go out and have a pint, or three, at the pub. Thus, as everyone says "when in Rome"...therefore, I have been spending most nights in the pub.
Yesterday was Friday and it was my first day teaching class periods all on my own and I was more than a little bit terrified. The boys are fine, well behaved, but my cooperating teacher is so intimidating! She is very posh, and very cool, and I always feel just a little bit shitty about myself when I am standing next to her. Regardless, my lessons went well, but as always there is the leftover feeling of inadequacy and fear that I messed up or that I did something completely wrong. The boys have talent, but their voices really need to be shaped. This is my number one goal while I am here, help them create a fuller, more resonant sound. I hope that if I remember this, it will help me in planning my lessons and aiding in my teaching. It's kind of hard to walk into this situation because there are so many things that I could work on to help them be better. It is the first real situation in which I have to decide which things require the foremost attention and, as it turns out, this is REALLY challenging. After all is said and done, I did enjoy my first day and I really liked being in the classroom...
Today...I got a free ticket to the Navy vs. Notre Dame game. It was a very interesting experience that I will not soon forget. We got up early, went down to the pub (with all the 50,000 other Americans here for the game) and had a few early morning cocktails. There were just people everywhere. Drinking inside and outside, walking around town with drinks in their hands. Dublin was completely taken over by yanks this weekend and they made an awful lot of money in the process. It was actually very interesting because all the pubs had "American" or "grid-iron" football on all day and they were all waving American flags outside to show their warm welcome to all that were coming in for the weekend. Aviva stadium was super awesome and I have a number of pics to upload on here to document a bit of my day today. I'm also going to post them on facebook, so I apologize if you get notifications about them twice. Alas, I am very tired and have to prepare myself for the Gaelic football match tomorrow.
Missing you all,
Jackie
Since my arrival, I have been moving nonstop between sightseeing, teaching, and drinking beer. People really do just go to the pub after work for six to seven hours and just drink here. There are two stereotypes about the Irish that have yet to fail me. Number 1: We eat potatoes with EVERYTHING, sometimes I get two or three different kinds of potatoes at one meal! Number 2: The Irish take every occasion or even just every weekday to go out and have a pint, or three, at the pub. Thus, as everyone says "when in Rome"...therefore, I have been spending most nights in the pub.
Yesterday was Friday and it was my first day teaching class periods all on my own and I was more than a little bit terrified. The boys are fine, well behaved, but my cooperating teacher is so intimidating! She is very posh, and very cool, and I always feel just a little bit shitty about myself when I am standing next to her. Regardless, my lessons went well, but as always there is the leftover feeling of inadequacy and fear that I messed up or that I did something completely wrong. The boys have talent, but their voices really need to be shaped. This is my number one goal while I am here, help them create a fuller, more resonant sound. I hope that if I remember this, it will help me in planning my lessons and aiding in my teaching. It's kind of hard to walk into this situation because there are so many things that I could work on to help them be better. It is the first real situation in which I have to decide which things require the foremost attention and, as it turns out, this is REALLY challenging. After all is said and done, I did enjoy my first day and I really liked being in the classroom...
Today...I got a free ticket to the Navy vs. Notre Dame game. It was a very interesting experience that I will not soon forget. We got up early, went down to the pub (with all the 50,000 other Americans here for the game) and had a few early morning cocktails. There were just people everywhere. Drinking inside and outside, walking around town with drinks in their hands. Dublin was completely taken over by yanks this weekend and they made an awful lot of money in the process. It was actually very interesting because all the pubs had "American" or "grid-iron" football on all day and they were all waving American flags outside to show their warm welcome to all that were coming in for the weekend. Aviva stadium was super awesome and I have a number of pics to upload on here to document a bit of my day today. I'm also going to post them on facebook, so I apologize if you get notifications about them twice. Alas, I am very tired and have to prepare myself for the Gaelic football match tomorrow.
Missing you all,
Jackie
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Day 3/4
Good Evening Everyone!!
Thank God tomorrow is Friday. The past couple of days have been a blur of me freaking out and being all alone. I realized just how different music here is than it is in the states. For the past fifteen years I have been calling note values a specific term.
For example: (for the music geeks out there) If I am in 4/4 time and a note takes up the entire measure it is a......? Nope. Not a whole note, now it is a semibreve. Next question, if I am in 4/4 time and a note takes up two beats, is it a half note? NO! It is a minim. Let's keep going, shall we? If I am in 4/4 time and a note takes up one beat it is a...crotchet (Yep, that's right...a crotchet...I didn't misspell it). So since you are tired of this game...an eighth note is a quaver, sixteenth note is a semiquaver, a 32nd note (I just did theory homework with 32 notes in it..who even really uses those?) as a demisemiquaver, a 64th note is a hemidemisemiquaver (this one might be my favorite!), and finally a 128th note (for some reason they learn these here...) is a quasihemidemisemiquaver. (Did that just blow your mind? I know it blew mine).
They also use a rhythmic counting method that I have never heard before...it's not Gordon, Takadimi, number system, or Kodaly, even though it is awfully close to Kodaly. Lots of ta's and ti's...I have also taken a dive head first into the world of arranging as it is SO HARD to find good arrangements of TTBB music (all male music). Therefore I am arranging The Final Countdown, I'm Yours/Somewhere over the Rainbow (yes the Straight no Chaser version) and The Lion Sleeps Tonight (also the Straight no Chaser version). Please don't judge me for this, the boys wanted to do acapella music in which "their voices sounded like instruments". Boy should I be getting paid for this job.
That being said, I am teaching my first full lesson tomorrow to 5th and 6th years (if you are wondering what ages these boys are, please see post dated for August 28th). I will be doing a number of challenging things with the boys so I hope they are prepared to work. I am nervous because it is a different environment with different students and VERY different teaching styles. I will be teaching the Imperial March from Star Wars as well as Prayer of the Children (I included a link below to this beautiful song in case you have never heard it before).
Please wish me luck as I venture into a totally new world full of teenage boys in uniforms and accents that reuquire me to say "come again" and "I'm sorry?" about fifty times a day. It will be grand, brilliant, or perhaps even good "craic".......
My love,
J
Thank God tomorrow is Friday. The past couple of days have been a blur of me freaking out and being all alone. I realized just how different music here is than it is in the states. For the past fifteen years I have been calling note values a specific term.
For example: (for the music geeks out there) If I am in 4/4 time and a note takes up the entire measure it is a......? Nope. Not a whole note, now it is a semibreve. Next question, if I am in 4/4 time and a note takes up two beats, is it a half note? NO! It is a minim. Let's keep going, shall we? If I am in 4/4 time and a note takes up one beat it is a...crotchet (Yep, that's right...a crotchet...I didn't misspell it). So since you are tired of this game...an eighth note is a quaver, sixteenth note is a semiquaver, a 32nd note (I just did theory homework with 32 notes in it..who even really uses those?) as a demisemiquaver, a 64th note is a hemidemisemiquaver (this one might be my favorite!), and finally a 128th note (for some reason they learn these here...) is a quasihemidemisemiquaver. (Did that just blow your mind? I know it blew mine).
They also use a rhythmic counting method that I have never heard before...it's not Gordon, Takadimi, number system, or Kodaly, even though it is awfully close to Kodaly. Lots of ta's and ti's...I have also taken a dive head first into the world of arranging as it is SO HARD to find good arrangements of TTBB music (all male music). Therefore I am arranging The Final Countdown, I'm Yours/Somewhere over the Rainbow (yes the Straight no Chaser version) and The Lion Sleeps Tonight (also the Straight no Chaser version). Please don't judge me for this, the boys wanted to do acapella music in which "their voices sounded like instruments". Boy should I be getting paid for this job.
That being said, I am teaching my first full lesson tomorrow to 5th and 6th years (if you are wondering what ages these boys are, please see post dated for August 28th). I will be doing a number of challenging things with the boys so I hope they are prepared to work. I am nervous because it is a different environment with different students and VERY different teaching styles. I will be teaching the Imperial March from Star Wars as well as Prayer of the Children (I included a link below to this beautiful song in case you have never heard it before).
Please wish me luck as I venture into a totally new world full of teenage boys in uniforms and accents that reuquire me to say "come again" and "I'm sorry?" about fifty times a day. It will be grand, brilliant, or perhaps even good "craic".......
My love,
J
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Teaching in Ireland
It's the end of day two here. School is wicked different here than it is in the states. I will give you all a brief overview so if I use terms they will be understandable. I am teaching at Blackrock College, a posh catholic high school south of Dublin. So, here is the general gist of Irish education as a whole...If you don't care, skip to section B...
Section A:
Primary School (the most concise explanation I found was on Wikipedia):
1) Junior Cycle:
For students at Blackrock this year is mandatory and is an important part of their schooling process. After transition year, the students begin in their senior cycle, this goes as follows:
-The Senior Cycle: culminates with the Leaving Certificate Examination. Students normally begin this aged 15–17 the year following the completion of the Junior Cycle or Transition Year. The Leaving Certificate Examination is taken after two years of study usually at the ages of 17-19.
The Leaving "Certs" are like our SATs and are provided in three different categories:
Part B:
Ok, so now that I was long winded about Irish education, I feel I can talk about what I am teaching. My first day was terrifying and I felt so out of place the whole day. My cooperating teachers are very down to business and do not seemed too concerned with my growth and development which tends to leave me feeling in the way for most classes. It appears that I will have a good bit of freedom and will be thrown in by the end of the week (SCARY!). I have some ideas already, and I will be teaching mostly transition year students (also known as 4th year students), 4th year choir, and 2nd year choir. I am trying to pick out music for the two choirs but I don't really know their skill level which makes finding music very challenging.
The boys all seem pretty well behaved, but I noticed that teachers are rather strict in the classroom and the teachers get pretty sassy with their students. For example, today I heard teachers say:
-It's day one and you are already on my nerves.
-You are 6th year students and you are supposed to be setting an example, but clearly you have yet to rise to this challenge.
- When I am talking, no one else is talking. If there is any part of this that you don't understand please let me know.
I don't really know how to be like this with students, I am much better in an environment where people don't fear me but respect me because I am helping them realize their greatest potential. I believe all students should be given some freedom to grow as young learners. It appears that this happens less here than it does back home.
I have been given little direction during my first two days and have realized that in order to get the most out of this experience I must rise to the challenge and take a running start into the storm that lies ahead. I hope that the past three and half years of training have left me well prepared for the next ten weeks and I will find it in me to portray myself as a good enough musician.
Praying for guidance,
Jackie
Section A:
Primary School (the most concise explanation I found was on Wikipedia):
- Junior Infants (Naíonáin Shóisearacha) (age 4-6)
- Senior Infants (Naíonáin Shinsearacha) (age 5-7)
- First Class (Rang a hAon) (age 6-8)
- Second Class (Rang a Dó) (age 7-9)
- Third Class (Rang a Trí) (age 8-10)
- Fourth Class (Rang a Ceathar) (age 9-11)
- Fifth Class (Rang a Cúig) (age 10-12)
- Sixth Class (Rang a Sé) (age 11-13)
1) Junior Cycle:
- First Year (An Chéad Bhliain) (age 12–14)
- Second Year (An Dara Bliain) (age 13–15)
- Third Year (An Tríú Bliain) (age 14–16)
For students at Blackrock this year is mandatory and is an important part of their schooling process. After transition year, the students begin in their senior cycle, this goes as follows:
-The Senior Cycle: culminates with the Leaving Certificate Examination. Students normally begin this aged 15–17 the year following the completion of the Junior Cycle or Transition Year. The Leaving Certificate Examination is taken after two years of study usually at the ages of 17-19.
The Leaving "Certs" are like our SATs and are provided in three different categories:
| The Leaving Certificate Programme - This is the most widely taken programme in which students must take at least five subjects, including Irish (with the exception of those entering the system after 11 years of age). Those intending to pursue higher education at a third-level institutenormally takes this examination and access to third-level courses depends on results obtained. |
| The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) first introduced in 1989 is similar to the established programme detailed above, however there is an added vocational content and a concentration on technical subjects. Pupils taking the LCVP take five Leaving Certificate subjects (including two vocational subjects); a modern European Language and three link modules on Enterprise Education, Preparation for Work and Work Experience. |
| The Leaving Certificate Applied - The Leaving Certificate Applied is a two-year Leaving Certificate available to students who wish to follow a practical programme with a strong vocational emphasis. The primary objective of this person-centred programme is to prepare participants for adult and working life.While certification in the LCA does not qualify for direct entry to third-level courses, students who successfully complete the programme are able to proceed to many Post Leaving Certificate courses. The framework of the LCA consists of a number of modules grouped under three general headings: General Education; Vocational Education and Vocational Preparation |
Part B:
Ok, so now that I was long winded about Irish education, I feel I can talk about what I am teaching. My first day was terrifying and I felt so out of place the whole day. My cooperating teachers are very down to business and do not seemed too concerned with my growth and development which tends to leave me feeling in the way for most classes. It appears that I will have a good bit of freedom and will be thrown in by the end of the week (SCARY!). I have some ideas already, and I will be teaching mostly transition year students (also known as 4th year students), 4th year choir, and 2nd year choir. I am trying to pick out music for the two choirs but I don't really know their skill level which makes finding music very challenging.
The boys all seem pretty well behaved, but I noticed that teachers are rather strict in the classroom and the teachers get pretty sassy with their students. For example, today I heard teachers say:
-It's day one and you are already on my nerves.
-You are 6th year students and you are supposed to be setting an example, but clearly you have yet to rise to this challenge.
- When I am talking, no one else is talking. If there is any part of this that you don't understand please let me know.
I don't really know how to be like this with students, I am much better in an environment where people don't fear me but respect me because I am helping them realize their greatest potential. I believe all students should be given some freedom to grow as young learners. It appears that this happens less here than it does back home.
I have been given little direction during my first two days and have realized that in order to get the most out of this experience I must rise to the challenge and take a running start into the storm that lies ahead. I hope that the past three and half years of training have left me well prepared for the next ten weeks and I will find it in me to portray myself as a good enough musician.
Praying for guidance,
Jackie
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Sundee
Happy Sundee everyone!
I hope that everyone is resting up today and getting ready for yet another work week. I just went for a run/walk through Herbert Park which is about a five minute walk from my apartment. I got about two miles in and my knees started to give out...which is terrifying seeing as I have the half coming up in two weeks (side note, I really miss my foam roller).
Tomorrow school begins! I'm slowly becoming more nervous about the thought of teaching here. I knew I would be in the classroom here, but I don't think it hit me until today that I will actually be standing in front of students in two days. I know it will be a great experience that I will walk away from it a better educator, but it's still a little unnerving.
Went to our local pub yesterday, which really is just like Cheers, and watched an all Ireland hurling semi-final. Hurling is insane and if you have never heard about it or seen how it is played you must Google it immediately. I had never given any thought to the speed in which sports are played, but after watching the way sporting events are played here, American sports look like molasses! The four of us got tickets for the all Ireland football (gaelic football, which is neither "grid-iron" football nor soccer) semi-final between co. Dublin and co. Mayo. That game is at Páirc an Chrócaigh (Croke Park) which was a stadium built only for indigenous sports. This mostly means that no British games can be played here because people here REALLY don't like anything British...at all. We are so excited to go to this game as it is such a tradition within the country AND co. Dublin is playing in the match.
I hope everyone finds a beautiful day in whatever part of the States they are in. In case any of you are not on Instagram or you don't follow me, I'll post some nice pictures of the park that I took on me walk this morning.
Love,
-j
I hope that everyone is resting up today and getting ready for yet another work week. I just went for a run/walk through Herbert Park which is about a five minute walk from my apartment. I got about two miles in and my knees started to give out...which is terrifying seeing as I have the half coming up in two weeks (side note, I really miss my foam roller).
Tomorrow school begins! I'm slowly becoming more nervous about the thought of teaching here. I knew I would be in the classroom here, but I don't think it hit me until today that I will actually be standing in front of students in two days. I know it will be a great experience that I will walk away from it a better educator, but it's still a little unnerving.
Went to our local pub yesterday, which really is just like Cheers, and watched an all Ireland hurling semi-final. Hurling is insane and if you have never heard about it or seen how it is played you must Google it immediately. I had never given any thought to the speed in which sports are played, but after watching the way sporting events are played here, American sports look like molasses! The four of us got tickets for the all Ireland football (gaelic football, which is neither "grid-iron" football nor soccer) semi-final between co. Dublin and co. Mayo. That game is at Páirc an Chrócaigh (Croke Park) which was a stadium built only for indigenous sports. This mostly means that no British games can be played here because people here REALLY don't like anything British...at all. We are so excited to go to this game as it is such a tradition within the country AND co. Dublin is playing in the match.
I hope everyone finds a beautiful day in whatever part of the States they are in. In case any of you are not on Instagram or you don't follow me, I'll post some nice pictures of the park that I took on me walk this morning.
Love,
-j
Friday, August 24, 2012
Rain, Rain...All the day
First rainy day today. We went into Dublin this morning, walked around Trinity College and then found our way to Grafton Street. This is a large mix of different kinds of shops, bars, and restaurants just south of the River Liffey. Things in the city are incredibly busy because the Tall Ships Festival is stopping in city centre for three days. It is essentially a bunch of tall sailing ships that "race" from port to port. We were hoping to stop by and see it but the sheer number of people made it quite impossible to walk around. Thus, we came back and plan to go around the corner to the local pubs for dinner and drinks.
I went to Blackrock yesterday in order to explore the area and to take a look at the school. It is BEAUTIFUL. The grounds are incredibly fast and there are about twenty rugby fields to play on. The school looks very majestic and the 'castle' (where the boys board) was outstanding. We weren't able to get inside the building so we will have to do some exploring on Monday but the trip down was well worth it just to see the vast expanse upon which the campus lays.
I hope things in the states are well for everyone!
Feel free to drop a comment or email, its nice to hear about everyone.
My love,
Jackie
I went to Blackrock yesterday in order to explore the area and to take a look at the school. It is BEAUTIFUL. The grounds are incredibly fast and there are about twenty rugby fields to play on. The school looks very majestic and the 'castle' (where the boys board) was outstanding. We weren't able to get inside the building so we will have to do some exploring on Monday but the trip down was well worth it just to see the vast expanse upon which the campus lays.
I hope things in the states are well for everyone!
Feel free to drop a comment or email, its nice to hear about everyone.
My love,
Jackie
Thursday, August 23, 2012
This is crazy.
So my meeting with Marie and Joe was lovely! I learned a great deal about was partition was like and how a single island could be both two separate countries but still "Ireland". It appears that most everyone refers to both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland as just Ireland. Those living in Northern Ireland are allowed to carry both Irish passports and UK passports, but they still identify mostly with their Irish heritage. I was also brought up to speed on football (not American football, which here is "neither American nor football"), Irish hurling, rugby, and Gaelic football.
My roommates and I then went to Temple Bar, a South Side if you will, and had a few drinks. RED ALERT** the craft brew tradition does NOT exist here!!! The only 'craft' they sell are American craft beers like Magic Hat and Victory. I even went looking for a bar that advertised a great selection of Irish Craft beers and found that there were only ten selections on drought two of which were Guinness and Smithwicks. It was certainly not Hough's impressive tap wall.
It appears that everyone I meet is shocked that I am not rolling in money like Kim Kardashian (they are also shocked when I speak in full sentences), surprised that I am not like the guests on Maury or Jerry Springer, and most importantly...they are amazed that not everyone in the US acts like the fine people on the Jersey Shore everyday. This moment was when I realized the implications 'reality' TV has on the social image of the United States. The rest of the world sees us as our 'reality' TV portray us...this was certainly hard to swallow.
The best part of the night was when my roommate Kat approach four young gentlemen about a question we had and upon talking to them found out that all four of them were in seminary school. That's right...all of them were studying to be Priests. We talked with these polite gentlemen for a number of hours and even took a picture and instead of saying 'cheese' we were prompted to say 'celibacy rules'.
How about that for a first night out in Dublin....
Sláinte (Cheers and Good Health)
J
My roommates and I then went to Temple Bar, a South Side if you will, and had a few drinks. RED ALERT** the craft brew tradition does NOT exist here!!! The only 'craft' they sell are American craft beers like Magic Hat and Victory. I even went looking for a bar that advertised a great selection of Irish Craft beers and found that there were only ten selections on drought two of which were Guinness and Smithwicks. It was certainly not Hough's impressive tap wall.
It appears that everyone I meet is shocked that I am not rolling in money like Kim Kardashian (they are also shocked when I speak in full sentences), surprised that I am not like the guests on Maury or Jerry Springer, and most importantly...they are amazed that not everyone in the US acts like the fine people on the Jersey Shore everyday. This moment was when I realized the implications 'reality' TV has on the social image of the United States. The rest of the world sees us as our 'reality' TV portray us...this was certainly hard to swallow.
The best part of the night was when my roommate Kat approach four young gentlemen about a question we had and upon talking to them found out that all four of them were in seminary school. That's right...all of them were studying to be Priests. We talked with these polite gentlemen for a number of hours and even took a picture and instead of saying 'cheese' we were prompted to say 'celibacy rules'.
How about that for a first night out in Dublin....
Sláinte (Cheers and Good Health)
J
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
day 2
Day two is now halfway over. I am really enjoying Dublin, the buildings are all small and the area is not very densely populated which makes traveling within the country easy and not overwhelming. Despite prior belief...there is coffee...just about everywhere. It isn't commonplace coffee, but it gets me through the day just the same.
The one thing that is different than what I had expected, the people are not as nice as I thought they would be. Usually when I ask questions oon the street I get a rather quizzical look followed by a response laced with "ugh, silly Americans".
I am headed into city centre today in order to get a map. It is very strange how accustomed I have become to using my phone as a way of finding places and for pretty much everything. After having a smartphone it is really hard to go back to not having one. I am also meeting Jordan's dissertation chair today! Her name is Marie Martin and we met during her stay in Pittsburgh. Jordan had given her my information and her husband and her decided to come to Dublin for the day. I will be meeting them in a few hours and look forward to spending some time with them and getting the Irish scoop.
P.S. any ideas on how to get it home?
The one thing that is different than what I had expected, the people are not as nice as I thought they would be. Usually when I ask questions oon the street I get a rather quizzical look followed by a response laced with "ugh, silly Americans".
I am headed into city centre today in order to get a map. It is very strange how accustomed I have become to using my phone as a way of finding places and for pretty much everything. After having a smartphone it is really hard to go back to not having one. I am also meeting Jordan's dissertation chair today! Her name is Marie Martin and we met during her stay in Pittsburgh. Jordan had given her my information and her husband and her decided to come to Dublin for the day. I will be meeting them in a few hours and look forward to spending some time with them and getting the Irish scoop.
P.S. any ideas on how to get it home?
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Sunset in Dublin
8:50 and all is well in Ballsbridge. Enjoying the sunset as we watch the cricket team pack up and call it a night. I discovered the DART today and found the local full-service grocer.
Life is good. Tomorrow, is Dublin
Life is good. Tomorrow, is Dublin
Found my way
Good Morning everyone! It is 6:25 a.m. your time and I hope everyone has a wonderful start to their day. Made it do Dublin, found my roommates, and found my apartment...with some wrong turns along the way...but we all made it! Side note: at the end of our flight, we all received blueberry muffin tops. If that isn't an omen of good luck towards me, I'm not sure what is.
Ireland is just as green as you think it is and has just as much farmland as you speculated. For example, when we landed at the airport, there were cows grazing in the field located directly next to the landing strip.
Cars drive on the other side of the road, (the gas pedal is still on the right), and no one appears to be in a hurry for anything. I am clearly an American and draw attention to myself quite frequently without really trying.
My final note is that it is wayyyy harder to understand people than I had anticipated.
Pictures to be posted later.
Peace, Love, and Muffin Tops
Ireland is just as green as you think it is and has just as much farmland as you speculated. For example, when we landed at the airport, there were cows grazing in the field located directly next to the landing strip.
Cars drive on the other side of the road, (the gas pedal is still on the right), and no one appears to be in a hurry for anything. I am clearly an American and draw attention to myself quite frequently without really trying.
My final note is that it is wayyyy harder to understand people than I had anticipated.
Pictures to be posted later.
Peace, Love, and Muffin Tops
Monday, August 20, 2012
Depature Day
Greetings! I wanted to create a blog so everyone could keep tabs or take the time to blog with me.
Thank you for all the love and support from everyone as I prepare to take my two month journey to Dublin.
My love
Thank you for all the love and support from everyone as I prepare to take my two month journey to Dublin.
My love
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