Our second week in Ireland finds us in class in the mornings, eating lunch, sean-nos dancing, going on runs, homework, and eating dinner. Oh, and wednesday nights we go dancing with the ladies! After this week, the pattern will probably continue much the same minus the sean-nos.
Monday was a day of recovery from the Superbowl party at Eamonn Keane (a multi-Guinness Book of World Record holder); class, dance, and homework, we crashed at about eight o'clock and slept straight thru until our alarms at seven thirty! Charlene's dance class was about the grief of leaving home Monday, and the exploration of that emotion thru discussion and movement.
Tuesday's class was about arriving at Ellis Island in America, and exploring the emotions of frustration, fear, confusion. This included finding a personal niche in the new community, as the emigrants would have felt. These emotions were again explored thru dance and movement. Tuesday evening found Anna, Jen, and myself creating a masterwork of " Irish pizza" for Tarrin, Micah, Kayla, and Elaina. Mmmm, with a wonderful blend focattia bread, Alfredo sauce, and a mixture of white cheddar and mozzarella cheese, perfection was achieved! This delicacy of a meal was topped off with garlic bread, dipping sauces, and an apple tart! We're looking forward to what those four make next week!
Our last sean-nos dance with Charlene found us in a dance off with the other students. This dance off represented the challenges that many of the emigrant would have felt, from competition to making friends. We also went dancing with the traditional Irish dance ladies Wednesday night! Such a blast! The little, old lady who taught the hour and a half session was so full of energy, and quite rambunctious for her age; if we were not moving in the right manner, she would grab us round the waist and show us the correct way. We learned multiple dances with steps that include the basic 1-2-3, the swing, lead, bring your partner home, basket, wheelbarrow, chain, seven seven, and more! Us CSS girls were goofing off with the electric slide and will be teaching them this dance in two Wednesdays, once we're back in Louisburgh!
Today, Thursday, dawned gloriously sunny! Jen, Anna, Sam, and I took full advantage of the lovely weather to take an afternoon walk. Bill dropped us off north of Carrownisky Beach, a few miles (maybe 4-5) away. We explored the sand and surf, all the while snapping pictures and galavanting in the sun all the way to Carrownisky Beach! The sun was amazing, although the wind carried a bite to it! After our enjoyments of the Atlantic, we turned to start our long walk back. And boy, was it long. About two hours later we made it back to Louisburgh, all the while doing our best to jump into ditches when cars were passing on the teeny, tiny, winding stretches of pavement!
Tonight, we packed for our three day trip to Galway, and are off to eat snacks, have a few drinks, and watch the Princess Bride at Nathan's cottage! A great end to great week!
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