Two Weeks in Ireland: Day 5 Pub Crawl

Students arrived yesterday and we met briefly with them, then headed to a pub for a welcome gathering. Now, lest you think that going to Ireland involves going to pubs for drinking, let it be known that a pub is like a restaurant in the US. They are community gathering places, places where bands might play, and where history is steeped in the walls.

Our day started with guest speakers from the Ireland Association for Counseling & Psychotherapy. We're in one of the classrooms at Trinity. Not exactly an attractive room, but it will be "home" for the next 9 days.

Many of our meals are at "the Buttery" -- a small cafeteria -- within the walls of Trinity college. We had breakfast (interrupted by a fire alarm) and lunch there today. I skipped the bus tour of Dublin this afternoon so I could rest. My throat is still sore and hoarse, so I'm still not at 100%.

The pub crawl starts at The Duke.

I ate dinner in my room, then went to meet the group for a "Literary Pub Crawl". It's lead by 2 actors who intersperse history of the city along with reciting pieces from Dublin's famous authors. The 2 1/4-hour tour goes to 4 different pubs with enough time in each to drink a quick beer or take a look around. There's a quiz at the end of the tour where the winner receives a t-shirt and runner-up a little bottle of whisky. In the past years, someone from ODU has won the t-shirt; this year was no exception. Of course, it helps that the only people on the tour tonight were our students!

I have a dilemma. As one of the trip leaders, I have to address a couple of issues with 5-6 students. It's a significant enough number that it's affecting the program already. Even though we talked yesterday to determine group guidelines, and one of those is being on time, these 5-6 students have been late for the past 2 times the group has gathered for something. And I have to admit that I'm surprised at these students' behaviors. But maybe I shouldn't be...

Even though I took a 3-hour nap, I'm sleepy and ready for bed. I trust that some solutions for easy resolution will come. (Sometimes it DOES work to "sleep on it"!)

My intentions for tomorrow:
1. From a place of compassion AND firmness, speak with students about their behaviors.
2. Paint when we visit County Wicklow & Glendalough.
3. Be gentle with myself.
4. Remember to notice magic!

Yours,
Suzan