I'm Bert-Who Knew?

You Are Bert

Extremely serious and a little eccentric, people find you loveable - even if you don't love them! You are usually feeling: Logical - you rarely let your emotions rule you You are famous for: Being smart, a total neat freak, and maybe just a little evil How you life your life: With passion, even if your odd passions (like bottle caps and pigeons) are baffling to others

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Cafes at the shops

Did you know that almost every grocery here in Belfast has a cafe as part of it? It's great to think that you can go in, have a bite to eat and then do your shop. OR go in, do your shop, stop for a pot of tea and a scone (or the like) and then head home again. Yesterday, Fiona and I did our weekly shop at the Tesco near school. I think I've got nearly enough for the next week/week and a half. I love trying new products. I found a Tesco's Finest shrimp salad sauce (just add the shrimp) that looks really nice. I've gotten used to open face toasted prawn sandwiches and hope to make my own! The other foodie item that has been big the past couple of weeks at our Wed. Mod. Lang. lunches are jacket potatoes. Think a baked potato turned on end, cut with an X shape and then filled with some unusual for the American fillings: coleslaw, baked beans and cheese, chili (okay not so odd), curried chicken and fruit and the famous chicken tiki (my current fav). On Wed, Joan and I decided to try something new: tuna mayo and sweetcorn. Sounds awful, don't you think? Just to show how much we know, it was lovely! Imagine tuna salad (no pickles or eggs) and some fresh or frozen corn. Very nice indeed! Today we're waiting for my parents to come, I'm trying to keep the house neat (good luck!) and I've got a Shephard's Pie in the fridge for lunch. Did I really make it myself? Yep! Well, I diced the veg (carrots and onions), opened the can of peas, cooked the mince witht he veg. The only parts that are not homemade are the mash which I had to add milk and butter to (it was preped mash in the dairy case) and the sauce which came from a packet-but other than that, I think it counts! Mr. E will also have the choice of apple/pork sausage balls and chips.
tata
ML and EE

Travel buddy!

When I first met Joan it was as part of the Mod Squad (the modern language teachers), and so it was very m uch an issue of remembering whose face when with which name. That said, Joan was easy to remember because she looks like my friend Pam from home! While their personalities are very different, Joan has become a good friend. About six weeks ago she invited me to go to Exploris and Mt. Stewart. We had such a good time I invited her to come along on our daytrip to Ayr Scotland. We had a blast. So, Joan, thanks for travel memories, laughs, taking over staffroom three (the office!), lunch at Cafe Culture and the works. I'm going to miss you come January!
In other news, my Mom and DAd are on their way as of tonight. Today I'm waiting for friends and neighbors who are on their way from Indiana to spend the night with us, before heading out to tour the island, both North and Republic. Today we finished at Noon, as it is the start of half term holiday. Had lunch with my friend Fiona (and future in-law!) at the Tesco cafe, and then we were off to do our grocery shop. Got everything on my list and then more (go figure!). Fav's these days are the multi flavoured crisps (got Brie and Cranberry, Pepercorn and cream cheese, and another kind which I don't remember!), sauce for making open face prawn (shrimp) sandwiches, the always present chocolate digestive biscuits!, and a do it yourself Christmas cake kit (maybe next year I'll do a "real" one). I'm off to get Mr. E from nursery in a bit!)
xoxo til next time!
Michele

My Neighbours!

Wow-we've got really wonderful neighbours here. I've never lived someplace where kids play freely from house to house and garden to garden. At first I was not at all sure about this as I like to keep taps on Mr. E. That said, I've really been blessed by wonderful neighbours here. Paul and Louise and their boys Adam and Louis (who is in E's class at school) have been so good to us. From visiting in kitchens and drinking tea, to having us to tea (food this time), feeding E-he always eats better there!, to taking him for a few hours so I can have Mama time. We've also done some traveling together: up to the coast and to Carrickfun park (the most amazing playground with stone castle and pirate ship) to Tesco, McD's, the chippy's, etc. E has made awesome friends and so have I . It was Paul who walked E to school with me on the first day, and Louise who sits and chats. I also love the fact that Louise works for-wait for it-Scholastic books here in NI. She's promised to get me into the Christmas sale! So very cool. And guys, who can forget the 3:30 AM visit. Thanks so much. We're going to miss have you guys as neighbours ehre. Whose yard will e play in?
xoxo,
Michele

Thanksgiving

It's almost November, and I've been thinking about how very much I have to be thankful for this year. Bear with me as I spend the new few posts saying thanks to people here in NI.
For Fiona, who drives me to school every morning and takes me home at night. For talks about our kids-both the good and bad. You are going to make a great Mother-In-Law. Can we set the date for Naomi and E's wedding yet? Thank you for putting yourself in charge of my cultural education. I can't wait to learn how to make Christmas cake (five weeks early) or Christmas Pudding either. Christmas crackers were just a mystery til you got here to answer my questions. I love that you love Pumpkin pie and know how to make it from a real pumpkin. For trips into town-and crazy stories. Thank you! For having me over to tea-making amazing food, letting me get dressed and ready at your house before prize night, mothering me, and letting me fuss. Thanks so much. I know that the words are not enough, but I have no doubt that I've made life long friends.
love,
Michele

Quiet Day

Ahhhhhh, the joy of waking this AM only to remember that it is a weekend and I didn't have to get up. An extra hour of sleep is wonderful! That said, the time we got up was 7:30 AM! Oh, dear! We are enjoying a quiet day at home. We've been playing on the computer and watching TV. After breakfast we walked to the library (love the library ladies!) got new books, and a new video for E, then went to the post office to buy stamps and mail postcards. Oh, yes, and used their ATM. Off, then, to the MACE shop across the street to pick up something for lunch and a packet of crisps for Ethan. I made Chicken Tika for lunch and E is having ravoli. I've figured out how to make okay iced tea (which was very much missed!), so I'm having some of that as well. We're going to some costal town (could be one of many) with our neighbour Louise and her boys Louis and Adam this afternoon to drop Adam with a friend.
Yesterday was great! I got to chat with a friend that I haven't had a chance to see in awhile. You know there are just some people that you can catch up with in a nanosecond-it was somewhat like that-and very n ice to talk again. Oh, and to make things really good, yesterday at the shop I found OREOS! They come in a multi-pack box. Each packet only has four cookies, and there are four packets in a box-still, complete and total joy! Funny thing is that they have instructions on the side of the box! Got to love NI!
xoxo til soon!
ML and EE

Parent's Morning

This morning was parent's morning at E's school. I had the first few periods off so that I could take him to school and then attend the meeting for P1 paretns. It was so nice to see him playing on the Infant school playground with his friends. The children line up-greet the teacher (Good Morning Mrs. McComb) and then march into the classroom.Something about this little ritual really touched me. I think it was seeing him in his little uniform with his class, all lined up. Anyway, parents were then invited into the school hall for the P1 meeting. The school nurse did the usual talk about health etc, and then we had a practice Jolly Phonics lesson by Mrs. Breen (the other p1 teacher). The program looks really good and I know that E is doing well in it. He had his second sound test today and is batting a 100 percent average. Smart kid! Tonight he brought home his first reading book, and so we did that along with his phonics and sight word list. I'm glad that school is a good place for him. I hope it continues to be! Open day is in a month and I think I'll go to that as well. I love finding out what he did at school.
Michele

Ayr Scotland

Yesterday, E, our friend Joan and I went to Scotland for the day. Being able to go to Scotland for the day is totally odd to me. We had a wonderful day-I've wanted to go to Scotland from the time I was about 11, so it was very exciting to say the least! Joan picked us up at the house at about 5:45 AM (very, very, very early for a Sat. morning!) and we drove to the StenaLine ferry dock. I am so amazed at how child friendly everything is here-the dock had a play area with various toys and a really amazing mural of famous children's stories. We got onboard the ship at 7:30 and then set sail for a small town on the coast of Scotland. The ship had a food court including Burger King, a cinema, a kids play area and a kids cinema. Watching the water via the large windows was great. The trip takes about 105 minutes. From the port town we got on a tour bus for the 1.5-2 hour ride to Ayr. E decided that a nap was in order there and on the way back! Woo hoo! It is an amazing time as you see so many beautiful things: wide open land with farm animals-sheep and cows, though a few horses, cottages, and bits of old stone castles, etc. The hills are beautiful, as is the water. In Ayr (birthplace of Robert Burns 1759-1796 and author of Auld land syne)., we got to see tons of amazing buildings as well as lots of great shopping. We also walked part of the river walk, saw part of the new university as well as the most amazing building, which a local thought used to be a hospital/nursing home. I did do some shopping and found a wonderful Stewart scarf, a few Christmas pressies, and a couple of things for my Dad who used to live in Scotland in the 60's. We also ate in my first and second pubs of the trip. The first was an old church turned pub (a bit odd maybe). The food was good and the room still had the feel of it's first use. The second one had a great outdoor play area with playgrounds for each age group (yes, at a pub!). E played with the local kids and I had a really nice pot of tea! Back then to the coach, the boat and home. We got home at about 10 PM-and we were totally tired! Today we are cleaning house, watching Dora, and making "tea" for our wonderful friends Fiona (maths teacher at school), her husband NOel, and kids James and Naomi (both about E's age!). I'm doing an American meal of meatloaf, mac and cheese, corn, and then stewed apples and icecream for pud! Have a great day and there is another round of postcards on the way!
love,
DM and EE
PS-E has his first full day of school tomorrow-during the first half term the kids only go til 12:15, and now he'll stay til 2PM.

Then my classroom started to shake......

It was the middle of 8th period and the floor and windows in my room started to shake. The girls looked worried, but thank Heavens I had been told ahead of time. I knew what to expect, so I told the girls to look out our windows-just in time to see a RAF helicopter land on our school's front lawn! How cool is that! The first form (11 year olds) got an hour to talk with the pilots, see the inside, take pictures etc. They also got freebies of pencils, pens, posters and stickers. The next period (also the last of the day) was my free period, so I went out with my friend Joan to help do crown control. Joan and the other girls, decided that I needed to take pictures with the crew, and introduced my as their American teacher. I got some good shots upclose (I knew there was a reason I took my camera today!). which was great! I'll share them as soon as we figure out the camera conection issue. Anyway, Mr. E is very pleased with his poster-I thought I'd stick the stickers away for scrapbooking-is that awful? Tomorrow night is prize night-so it will be a late one. Gemma from the daycare is coming to stay with E, while I'm at school.
Take care and love from NI,
ML and EE

Mama Said There Would Be Days Like This...

Oh, wait, it was the Fulbright people! Things are fine, but I find myself wanting to go home-to be with people who know me and my teaching. People here have been wonderful for the most part, but sometimes it is just easier to be where you can just be yourself. Yesterday we starting talking about food that we missed. A twinkie does sound really nice, though I normally don't care about them. It feels like endless winter because we've been wearing jeans and the like from the time we got here at the start of August. I miss my car and the easy of going somewhere. That said, I am thankful for all the people who make my life do-able here. Tomorrow night is Prize night which means that I don't get to see EThan til about 10PM. I have to get up an hour earlier at home, but at least I get more Mommy and E time. I miss that.
Mama cansada

A Much Better Day!

What can I say? God is so good! It has been a really nice week. We got my friend from college off to Dublin and then Indiana on Tuesday morning. It was great to have company, and we welcome more! I made my Mom's mac and cheese this week and it was a wonderful taste of home! We were also blessed with a meal from my friend Fiona and her family on Monday night! Yummy food, and great friends to share it with! On Wednesday a friend at school got some good news and so we went to Belfast Castle to celebrate. The castle is amazing-beautiful gardens and amazing house. I want to go back to the shop there! We had a creme tea (think scone with fruit topped with homemade cream and jam!) Yum-what were we thinking dumping all that yummy tea into the harbour? (just kidding-I do know!). The idea of tea is so very calming. I hope it is a habit I can continue once we are back home! I made a roast chicken and left over mac and cheese for tea last night and our friend Joan came over to eat with us. It is always nice to share a meal with friends! I am so glad that it is soon to be the weekend. We're off to Marks and Spencer's for more uniform pants for Mr. E. Speaking of Mr. E, he brought home his first phonics test today-perfect score. He was quite chuffed (pleased) with the sticker on his sounds book. He also has two more words to learn-and already knows them. His class starts full days on the 16th. Up until this point they have been going from 9 til 12:15. The days will extend to 2 PM and they will have lunch there. For now he will be having a school lunch. I've run out of ideas for packed lunches and will be glad to give that a rest! It's hard to believe that just two months ago this was all so new. I still really enjoy being here, but for the most part things seem more "normal". I'm looking forward to half term break at the end of Oct. as my folks come over then! OH, and I got a note from the teacher today, because I'd sent E an apple turnover for snack. Only plain cookies and fruit are allowed. OH, well!
Michele

3AM

It's three AM and I can't sleep. In fact, I just watched ABC's World News Tonight which is on every few nights here. I am having a really tough time of it this week-I'm pretty homesick. I'm also pretty sick, which I am sure does not make things easier. Then, tonight my DS comes home to tell me (for the second time) that someone has made a comment about not liking him because he is "brown". The first time this happened it was about a week into school and we had a little chat about how people can say not nice things, but that God made him a beautiful brown and loved him very much. Last night it was about kids telling him that he was naughty because he was brown. I knew that we would have to deal with this at some point, but age four seems so young. In some ways it makes me want to pack up my bags and get on an airplane. I know this type of stuff might happen at home, but there he has a family and not just his mom who has come with him halfway round the world. All of the other culture shock stuff, the other issues, seem so little next to this. I don't want him growing up thinking that his skin color makes him bad.
Mama triste,
ML

Sick-again!

I'm sitting at my computer at 8:02 AM local time. I'm not at school because I'm sick yet again. Remind me that I'm almost NEVER sick at home. I keep telling myself that I am in a new space with lots of new germs. Still, I hate missing school. That said, I have an awful ear ache, etc. I really can't hear out of my left ear and the right one is starting to hurt. Oh, and I'm losing my voice again. Damp weather-ick! I've been very down in the dumps abotu being here the last couple of days. Then, this AM, while reading two of my Fellow Fulbrighter's blogs I've noticed the same about them. Maybe it's normal? Que piensas?
On a positive note my friend Melissa from college has been here this week. It has been wonderful. We've been into the city a couple of times, taken the open top bus tour, shopped a bit, and checked out a new area of town. Mel has also been hit on by an older guy (like late 40's!), who told her that she had amazing eyes. Oh, boy! She is set to leave very early tomorrow morning, and the house will seem very empty without her. I'm sure that I will be feeling a bit teary then. I've gotten used to having someone adult to talk to. Oh, and the fact that she has cooked one night, hoovered, and done tons of laundry add to the fact that she is an amazing visitor. Only four weeks til my folks and our neighbors get here. In addition, my friends, the Browns, may be coming for Turkey day! That would be awesome!
Til next time!
adios from Belfast!
Michele and Ethan