In summary...

I think all my fellow travelers would agree that it would be impossible to sum up our trip in just a paragraph or so. The picture above, I think, nicely depicts the laidback and relaxed spirit of Galway, which was, despite the noise, far and away my favorite city that we visited. Other highlights for me include our trips to Glendalough, Kinsale, and Inish Mor, partciularly Dun Aonghasa. I only wish that we could've had more time to explore other parts of the country.

Travelling abroad for the first time really gave me a different perspective on American life. There are things about it that I cherish and things that terrify me. It was interesting talking to the local people and getting their perspective on America and global issues that concern us all. My take-away perception of the Irish people is that they are, for the most part, hardworking, fun-loving, passionate, and intelligent.

Overall, I had an excellent time on this trip, and I am so glad that I got an opportunity to meet some fabulous people, see some beautiful and wonderous things, and learn more than I had ever imagined I could. What an amazing experience.

We safely landed back in the States Friday evening, June 3rd, about 6:30pm. I really hated to leave Ireland. The trip was amazing! After we left Dublin and started exploring the rest of the country (Carrigaline, County Cork, Cobh, Galway, Aran Islands, and so on) I really got a feel for Irish culture. I actually played some tunes with a few guys on the street and sat in on a session in Galway. The Aran Islands were absolutely beautiful and I loved Galway!

I learned a lot about teaching abroad. You really have to think fast and make changes if need be. When you travel with a large group things do not always go the way you want them to either. I am looking forward to reading what my students put together for their final projects. We had a wide range of opportunities to explore Irish culture and everyone picked something different to research. I think everyone learned a great deal while having a great experience at the same time.

I am truly still in awe of Ireland and I will go back – hopefully to teach again. I think that I would adjust the course to concentrate more of the history of women and the women’s movement more than popular culture though. I find it intriguing that women did not get the right to vote until 1972, yet the last two Presidents have been women (the first elected in 1991). So, why have we not had a female President? Is it our difference in political structure or is it oppression? Hummmmm…..

Anyway! For some photos visit My Albums

I will add more as they come in from students.

just a quick note..

to say that i think i have learned the most about irish culture by having the loudest room in the hotel. i'm on the first floor, directly above the busiest area of night-life in the city of galway. it stays busy until about five in the morning or so, and only gets increasingly louder as dawn approaches. yes, i have learned many a fine thing about the irish people by trying to sleep in this prime location.





:)

Our trip is almost over

I spent the entire day yesterday in bed, recovering from what was apparently a vicious 24-hour stomach bug. My illness was not at all helped by reflecting on the typical Irish cuisine. Eck. But that's over, I hope. I felt well enough today to get up and go to the Aran Island of Inishmore, and I'm very thankful for that. The island was absoultely beautiful. We went to the Seven Churches (of which only two were actually churches, and the rest domestic buildings according to our driver), which were ruins about 1200 years old. They were surrounded by graves (or memorials, as seems more likely, since the island only has about three inches of soil on top of limestone), some more recent and some so old their faces had been weathered blank. I was particularly struck by one such stone, which had only the faintest traces of lettering remaining, yet was adorned with fresh flowers. Very odd. We walked up a long, rocky hill to Dun Aonghasa, a fort that was built in 1500 BC or so. Hard to believe something from such an ancient time could still stand--you don't get that kind of historical perspective in America. Another interesting thing about the islands is that it is one of the few places in Ireland where the native language of Gaelic is still spoken regularly.

On Sunday we saw the Cliffs of Moher, which were absolutely soul-shaking, though a little overcrowded and touristy. We also drove through the Burren, which is like being in a completely different country, as the majority of the landscape is made up of limestone plates. I'm shocked at how diverse the landscape is here. At some points I feel as if I'm in a jungle. Other times it looks like a wasteland. But always beautiful.

Today we went to Blarney Castle which was just awesome. I couldn't believe we were walking up (very steep, windy, WET, stone) steps that were constructed hundreds and hundreds of years ago. It was like being in another world--everything all crumbling and made out of stone. I kissed the Blarney stone, which was a more involved process than I would have imagined. You have to hold onto some iron rails and lean WAY back to get to it. Pretty exciting, I thought--though I don't feel as if I have been blessed with eloquence. I bought a picture of it which is just hilarious. After that, some of us (myself included) went to the beautifully quaint little port town of Kinsale. I couldn't believe how nice the weather was: it was actually warm enough to take off my jacket. In May! Imagine that. Tomorrow morning we leave Cork and head to Galway for four nights.

A few photos...

Here are a few photos from Photobucket...I'll get them in order later today or tomorrow. But, this gives you a quick view anyway! I must get ready to go to MAss in Ireland! YAY!

http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h155/mollykerby/

Catching up!

I am trying to catch up a bit because I have had trouble finding time to upload photos. I also am having problems with Snapfish so you may have to wait for the albums. We have learned quite a bit about the history of Ireland over the course of the last few days both from tours and talking to the local folks -- non-stop for those of you who know me well. On Thursday we went to #29 museum/house, which was a home owned by woman in the last 1800's giving a glimpse of what it was like to be a woman in the time period...including middle and lower class. Then we visited the General Post Office -- the headquaters of the Easter Rising in 1916.

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Later Thursday afternoon, we visited Kilmainham jail where the officials in charged of the Easter Rising we sentence to death and shot for their role in the rebellion. Many women fought as well but were sentence to life because of their gender :) Sometimes it pays to be a woman! Here is a photo of two jail birds (Sandy Peterson and I) holding a Red Towel.



The highlight of my trip, personally, was our trip to Glendalough to visit St. Kevin's 6th Century monastic community. It was totally awesome! I wandered the grave yards and walked by the two rivers for a couple of hours -- what a magnificent experience.

The whole crew left Dublin Friday for County Cork. We stopped at Cohb and toured the site where many Irish immigrants left for the US during the rebellions and the Great Potato Famine. It was way cool but was closing as we got there (long story) so we did not have much time to spend there.
Saturday, we went to Blarney Castle and I got to kiss the Blarney stone! I will either have good luck or and STI when I come back :)


We will be heading to Galway tomorrow, so I will try get some photos to you next week!

Cork

Well, we left Dublin today and spent all day on the coach bus. (I'm GLAD I brought some Dramanine on this trip.) We went to the coastal town of Cobh, which was previously called Cove and Queenstown, and was the last port call stop of the Titanic before it set sail, and also where the survivors of the Lucitania were taken. It was also the port that tons and tons of ships set sail from to take Irish immigrants to other countries during the famine, and to take convicts to Austrailia and Britian. The place we went to there was called the Cobh Heritage Center. Pretty interesting. The coast was gorgeous. Yesterday we went to Glendalough and saw the ruins of an old monastery. It was absolutely amazing. It was in a valley in the Wicklow Mountains and there were two lakes. It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen in my life. We've also been to two gaols (jails): Wicklow Gaol (not that impressive) and Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin, which is where all the rebels associated with the 1916 Easter Rising were executed. It was really awesome, if a little depressing. Now we're at our hotel in Cork. It's really nice! As you can tell, I've been learning a lot. Hard to believe the trip is half over.

Just a day in Dublin!

If you read down you will see what we did today from the students perspectives. I am really humbled as an instructor teaching in another country. I feel a little over-whelmed on the one hand, yet so charged by what I have learned as a new student (myself) of the world. Doing such in-depth "research" on the "streets" makes me wonder how much I really know about my own country and culture. Do I "really" know who or what I am as an American? Some of the young folks we have met here know more about us than we know about ourselves.

More later...

catch-up

not sure if the others are blogging today or not, but i thought i would at least just so i can remember things. on monday we went on the Molly Malone tour and learned a little bit about Irish history and culture. We ended up at this really neat little pub where we talked to an older local man who knew a lot about literature and was really interesting to talk to. We went to the Gaiety theater to see "Year of the Hiker," which I really enjoyed--I was really impressed with the production quality. Yesterday was more of a laidback day. We went shopping at the Dundrum Shopping Center not too far from where we're staying, and then Kanya, Megan and I just went back to the hotel to hang out for a little bit. I discovered that trying to wash clothes in a tiny sink is not something I want to have to get accustomed to. Later we went to see traditional Irish music at this place called Taylor's Irish Nights. It was really neat, even though the musicians didn't play the song we requested. Today we went to an old Georgian style house that had been restored and took a tour through it. The movie they showed us beforehand was a little cheesy but the house itself was pretty cool to look at. I don't think I would have wanted to grow up during that time, since the children's rooms were up about 87 stairs. In a little bit we're going to the jail. Tomorrow is our last day in Dublin. I'm ready to get out of the city and into the more rural areas. I wish we had more time to spend in Galway and Cork, but I'll try to make the best of the short time that we do have there. Adios!