From Galway... back to DUBLIN!!! I have a home now :)

Hello all, again! Update number 2 and by the next email I’ll have my blog up with pictures!

Well, I went to Galway with the hopes, dreams and aspirations of teaching and living there. Low and behold what happens? I meet this awesome Australian couple (Dave and Emily) who are Primary teachers as well and both were teaching in Dublin last school year. They had a vast amount of information for me and led me to a site called http://www.educationposts.ie/ where you can search for teaching jobs online OR sign up FOR FREE to get teaching jobs texted to your mobile phone! You’ll never guess where I met them, they were staying in the same hostel dorm as I was! I’m telling you, it’s like fate! So, I check out the site, sign up for the textasub service and start to get multiple jobs sent to my mobile.

Dave did inform me that the area where I will get more work is Dublin, and this makes sense there are way more schools and a much larger population. I phoned inquiring about 2 of the jobs that were 3 month positions and bang, instant interviews. So I celebrate, Guinness of course, with my new Australian friends, (don’t worry Baba and Grandma, I didn’t celebrate too much, I only had 2 pints, I’m responsible, I swear!) got a good nights rest and continued my quest for jobs in Galway. There’s a few postings, I inquire, send off CVs(resumes) and even contact a few schools. Unfortunately, no jobs there right now… but that’s okay! I have 2 interviews in Dublin and it was a smart thing to do, getting a return bus ticket(only 4 extra Euro for return).

I of course wasted no time meeting more people, I met up with this gal named Kelly, an American from North Carolina, we had a pint and then went to a Salsa club with live music for another pint and entertainment. I don’t dance Salsa, and Kelly doesn’t know how to Polka, so needless to say we just watched the great band and a lot of really good dancers. We had some great chats and of course just overall good times! We even made plans to meet up again in Dublin!

The next day I went back to the Cliffs of Moher. If you’ve never seen these they are stunning, 700 foot cliffs right on the Atlantic, what a sight! In 2 years it’s amazing how much has changed and is still changing here. This is the last year that the Cliffs will be free, they are building a new visitor centre to accommodate their 700,000+ visitors each year and will be charging an admission fee. I was actually saddened by how they are wrecking the natural beauty, I’m sure it will be nice when it’s done, but I’m cheap, keep it free! Ah well, you can still go past the area they have set out and walk along the cliffs where there is some private land and a whole lot of natural beauty left.

My last evening in Galway I went out for pints with Desiree, a girl I met who’s from Argentina, to a pub called Monroe’s. This pub was highly recommended by my good friend Travis, I thought it was just okay and Desiree didn’t really like it. Travis has done much better introducing me to the Celt (where I’ll be taking Kelly when we meet up in Dublin!). We went on a mission looking for a pub with good music and found a place called the King’s Head, they had a live rock band who played everything from Led Zepplin to the Killers. They rocked! I’ve decided if I can’t find Karaoke in Ireland then I’m just going to find a band who needs a singer!

After all my fun (and a bit of work) in Galway I made my way back to Dublin, a 4 hour bus ride, stored my bags at a hostel and put on my good clothes. The interview went great, the school is for students with severe disabilities and I would have been teaching 5 children with a full time teacher’s aide under me. The principal was excited that a male was applying because there are only female teachers at the school and she was very keen on me. I told her I had another interview on Monday and would call her then.

I went to my interview on Monday, got there, phoned the principal (because I didn’t know which door to enter) and he sadly informed me that he hired someone in the morning. I let him know I was just outside and he felt really bad, he invited me into the school, we chatted and he asked for a copy of my CV to keep on file. If it doesn’t work out with the teacher he just hired he’ll call me in 2 weeks, or he might have something in January. I was a bit ticked that he hired someone knowing I was coming there to interview, but I guess they are hard up for teachers in some areas. Anyway, I did get a tour of the school and the chance to sit in on a class and chat with some of the students. It’s weird, I really miss teaching! By the end of June I was feeling so burnt out I couldn’t wait for summer and now I can’t wait to teach again! Going there, interviewing and having the opportunity to sit in on a class was not a waste of time, it was a good experience and besides I have that other job that the principal was practically begging me to start! RIGHT!???

So I call her, and she informs me that the person who was filling in for 2 weeks has decided to stay, WHAT!!?? I didn’t know there was a person filling in. So now I’m feeling a multitude of emotions, some good, some not so good, almost freaking out, but not really.

Plan B!
I need to find a place to live in Dublin, with access to the city centre for all the substitute teaching jobs I will be getting. AGHGHGH, trying to find a place now is very difficult because all the college students are looking for places and anything posted is usually gone in 1 hour, plus the fact that the Dublin housing market is crazier than Calgary’s. So I found a place on http://www.daft.ie/ and phoned to make arrangements to see it in the morning.

At this point I’m feeling a bit down, but luckily another new friend of mine, Megan, invites me to see a play at Trinity College. It’s their Fringe Festival and the play entitled “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” and was hilarious. Megan’s another American gal I met at one of my hostels in Dublin, she’s doing her Masters at the Trinity College in Dublin and has been a great friend! I think I’ve really left an impression on her, you should check out her blog and the sections dedicated to me. She even let me crash at her new flat for the weekend, so I had to make her omelets, you’ll see what she thinks of them in her blog.
(I feel so special)

http://yourmeganmurphy.blogspot.com/2006/09/so-long-steve.html
http://yourmeganmurphy.blogspot.com/2006/09/welcome-back-steve.html
http://yourmeganmurphy.blogspot.com/2006/09/omelets-and-80s.html

So, after a much needed fun and entertaining evening I went to see the place I was considering letting (renting). The landlord is great, he picked me up at the rail station, showed me around the area, took me to the place and introduced me to one of my potential new roommates. I chatted with her for a bit while he was on the phone, asked her lots of questions, looked around, asked the landlord lots of questions and made my decision. I put down my deposit and took it! The rent includes a fully furnished single bedroom (including brand new bedding and a bottle of wine), a kitchen fully equipped with all the stuff you need and even a weekly maid and gardener! Now, this place may sound like a lot, but it’s small, the room is very small, but that’s how it is over here and really, what more do I need? So for those of you who’d like to come visit I can offer floor room for 1 in my bedroom (I might even give up my bed) and I might be able to bribe my new roommates for use of their room if they happen to be away. OH, the other great thing about the place is the area is only 15 minutes to city centre (Dublin of course)!

This calls for celebration! And what better way to do it than with Guinness! (like I need an excuse) Kelly is in Dublin and we make plans to meet up. I took her to an amazing bar that was built in an old bank, and you’ll never guess the name of it, ya it’s called The Bank (haha). Then she made me take her to the Celt, I talked so much about it when we were in Galway that she just had to see it. Ah, the Celt, still great! (Travis, you do good work, some of the time, haha). Live music, great Guinness and just an overall classic Irish atmosphere. We grabbed a bite after, walked down the Temple Bar area (lots of street performers every night) and then I walked her back to her hostel and we said our goodbyes. The hardest thing about this traveling thing and meeting great people is that you connect with someone and shortly after either you have to leave or they have to leave, ah well, such is life. Who knows where I might run into the many people I’ve met here in the future!

I’m moving in today and to top off a wild and crazy adventure with ups, downs and complete turn arounds… I have my first teaching job tomorrow! It’s just subbing in a school, but from what I’ve been told there are very few Male Primary Teachers (much like home) which is an advantage for me! Not only that, once they see me in action I’ll be subbing everyday at many different schools (that’s right, I’m that good! Haha). After I substitute teach for a few weeks I’m hoping to grab a few 2 or 3 month contacts so I can experience a few different schools here. Who knows where I will end up, that’s the adventure!

So, I’m doing well, having a great time, meeting amazing people and everything is falling into place (with a bit of perseverance of course).

Hope all is well back home, send me updates, missing you all lots!

Stephen Horyn

From London, England to Dublin, Ireland...

Hello All!

Well, if you haven’t heard I’m embarking (or rather have embarked) on an adventure of a lifetime, moved to Ireland to teach and live! I was kicking around England with my good friends Travis and Trista from Saskatoon last week, there was a bit of chaos and confusion when I first arrived in London but eventually I found them!

Travis and Trista had planned to go to London quite a while ago to see the BBC Proms Concerts in London, and because of my plans to move to Ireland we decided to get together! I stayed in London with them for a night and even went to one of their BBC Proms concerts, it was an amazing experience. The next day we rented a car and drove to Stone Henge. It’s pretty stunning and huge, unfortunately you can’t get close and touch the rocks but we did find another Henge in the area where we could get very close to the rocks.

We drove a lot, and I have to tell you, I’ve really missed driving on the left hand side of the road. And those round-abouts, absolutely brilliant! They really work! We wanted to explore more of the coast line and checked out some small towns near the ocean. I can’t remember the names of the towns but we did a winery tour, took a hike to find an old church and then went to this cool town with a beautiful beach and a fair with games and rides.

By far the highlight of the England (and Wales, yes, I didn’t know they were different countries, now I do) was finding Karaoke in a small town called Avenbury, Wales. It was a total fluke, we were just trying to find a B&B to stay the night and head out somewhere for a drink and some food. I apparently have this innate sense for Karaoke (I’m pretty sure it’s a sign that I need to be in Japan). I sang a few songs, we chatted it up with the locals and get this, an Englishman comes up to me and asks if I’m Canadian! Then he asks if I’m from the mid-west, I’m in shock. I asked him how he knew and he said it was just by listening to me. Apparently he’s been in the Navy, traveled the world and met many Canadians. Travis and I had an enlightening chat with him and he gave me his contact info if I’m ever in the area again, fantastic!

I had to leave them on a Wednesday evening to take a 13 hour bus/ferry ride from London to Dublin. It was an experience, it was cheap, and the toilet was broken on the bus! After riding all night and getting maybe 3 hours of sleep I went to Maynooth to complete the process of getting my Irish teaching certificate. I submitted everything (I made sure to phone months ago and ask about all the documents I needed) and after a few days I went back to see if it was all in order and was informed I needed more detail in certain areas. So I phoned the University of Saskatchewan and the Alberta Teacher Certificate place and was able to get them to email me the additional information in the form of letters. I made my 3rd and final trip back to Maynooth and they accepted my application, so now I can teach in Ireland (legally that is). I’ve sent out 17 applications, 15 for teaching and 2 others for jobs misc. jobs.

I’ve been hostel jumping, it’s been great! I’ve met so many amazing people from all over the world. At the Ashfield Hostel (which by far has been the best, free wireless!) we had a pool/billiards mini Olympics with Canada, USA, France and Israel representing, unfortunately USA won. Afterwards we drank a lot and that didn’t really matter anymore, haha. It amazes me how people from all parts of the world decide to leave their country and travel, then we meet up and are able to connect because we actually have a lot in common and have a great time! I’m not sure I really expected this, I’m not sure I really knew what to expect, but it’s been unbelievable. That’s not to say I haven’t considered throwing in the towel and coming home, I’m pretty sure I almost had a breakdown, after my second trip to get my Irish Teaching Certificate I wasn’t sure I could make a go of this. I pressed on, made phone calls, did what I needed to on the internet and most importantly met people and drank Guinness! So I’m still in go mode.

I’ve also been calling people up that friends from Canada have told me I should phone when I get to Ireland. I met up with Rob (a good friend of Patrick’s) for pints, or rather he met up with me at the Celt while I was with a bunch of people I just met. After the Celt (and after I dropped my Guinness, I swear I wasn’t that drunk, some girl was dancing and knocked it out of my hand, and wouldn’t even buy me a new one!) Rob took us to a few different pubs and showed us around. Good times!

I also went out for pints with a really nice couple (Carmen and her husband, who’s name I can’t spell) who live in Dublin and were contacted by my hairdressers co-worker to contact me and show me a good time. Well, if that isn’t crazy enough, I’m in my hostel (The Four Courts Hostel) and there’s an American girl (Emily) from Chicago in the bunk above me, we start to chat and I invite her out with us. Carmen and her husband picked us up, took us to a great pub just outside the city centre and showed us a good time. I’m going to go over to their place today for a BBQ.

During my time in Dublin, between getting my Irish Teaching Certificate and drinking Guinness I’ve been able to see many sights including visiting the Brewery for the second time in my life, oh how I missed it! Did I mention I love GUINNESS! Besides the Brewery the other sites I’ve enjoyed have been walking all over Dublin with one of my many new international friends, Megan. We went and saw a Crypt with mummies and even got to touch one. They’re preserved because below St. Michan’s Church there is the perfect atmosphere. Went to the National Gallery here in Dublin, and the Natural History Museum where I was taking many pictures (funny poses with stuffed animals) and then was told I wasn’t allowed to take any, oops!

So now my plan is to take a bus to Galway on Monday, I’ve enjoyed my time in Dublin, but I’d rather be a in smaller centre where the living is cheaper and I’m closer to the Cliffs of Moher (Audrey, you know what I’m talking about). I’ve been chatting with a lot of people and they’ve told me there’s much opportunity there. I’m going to get there, check the papers and just go school to school network and sell myself (oh ya, breaking it down Old School!). All I’m looking for are short contracts or substitute teaching.

Well, that about sums up my time here so far, I’m going to start a blog site so I can post pictures. I’m sure missing everyone, hope all is well. Send me a message, I’d love to hear what’s happening around your part of the world.

Take care,
Stephen Horyn