Tuesday, 2nd Day of School

    Today was my 2nd Day of school. I got up a little bit later, instead of waking up at 6:50 AM, I got up at 7 AM. I got on my fancy clothes, then I was ready to go. Today, I did not get any bacon for breakfast, I just left. I got a Scone, and a Hot Chocolate from Coffee Angel. The Scone did not taste like ones Ive had in Grand Rapids. It was still good though. I ate my Scone and walked to the Bus stop. I finished my Scone and Hot Chocolate before Bus 46A came. I got on it and went to St. Andrews. I walked down the quick path by the Radisson to get to School. I went in and went to Registration my first class.

     Next, I had Biology for 2 periods (80 Minutes) in the same class room as Registration, so I did not have to switch rooms. We just learned about the Scientific Method which I already knew. That was basically Biology. Next, I had History, and we talked about 1900-1920 area. We talked about WW1 and how WW2 started and Rockefeller and Carnegie which I had learned at the beginning of Last year. Then I had Math, and I learned to Factor equations with x in it. In CAD, Its about learning how to use a Computer program to build 3D objects. Its hard to learn how to use but its a really good software.

     We had lunch after that. I got a sandwich again. In Spanish we watched a Video about a Tomato throwing festival in Bunol, Spain. They have a festival every year where they get together with 100,000 Kilos of Tomatoes and throw them at each-other. That was interesting. Its typical for Girls to wear white shirts and Boys no shirts.

      Those were some Images from La Tomatina in Bunol. It looks crazy! Last, every Tuesday, we have the last 2 periods of school for Lecture. Mr. Hickmott talked to us about the trip that all Transition Year students were going on Wednesday - Friday. I am going somewhere that I cant pronounce or spell the name but it means "Water" in Irish. We got to leave school early today because we had no more lectures to do so I got to leave at 3:10 instead of at 3:50. Mr. Hickmott said we may get out early again Tuesdays, and he said we have to leave straight away and we cant hangout in the hallways or else he will have to keep us until 3:50 Every Thursday.

      So Tomorrow, Im going on a trip and I need to pack tonight. I heard we are going to be doing things in the water like Canoeing and Kayaking and things like that.


        -8/30/2016

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!

     Today, was my official first day of school! I got up at 6:50. I had a new alarm clock and it worked. I got on my uniform clothes, and my black shoes, then headed downstairs. I made sure that I had my Wallet that had my Leap Card (what I used to ride the bus). I went downstairs and I had some bacon that My Mom made for me. Then, Me Levi and My Mom went and got some pictures.

      Then, I walked down to the Bus and got on the Bus. When I got to the Radisson, I got off the bus and walked to St. Andrews. I walked in, and I went to registration which is basically a 10 minute class with my Form teacher that just informs us with daily news. Then, I had to find the rest of my classes that I was going to for the rest of the day. I had English first, in room 4.05 and I went there, and the Teacher said that we were suppose to spend the first period with our Form Teacher. My Form Teacher did not know that so I just waited in the Cafeteria for the first period. 

   Next i had SPHE, which is Social, Personal, and Health Education. I went to the room that it said on the chart in House Area 1 which was incorrect so I had to go to room 8.01 I had to ask my way to spanish then Irish (but I didnt have Irish I had American Studies because I came from the US). It was just a crazy day trying to find my way around everywhere. My last 3 periods of the day were for Visual Arts in S.02 which is the 2nd floor of the new building. 

       Everything was just so confusing. They said for the new building that the rooms on the Ground floor started with G, then the first floor was F, then 2nd floor was S. I just asked a ton of people. A Period is 40 minutes at St. Andrews so about 10 minutes less from City in Grand Rapids. I had lunch I got a Sandwich and a Drink. I got a Smart Card at St. Andrews. It allows for me to buy a lunch without me having to take cash to School. Eventually I got to go home. On the way home, I got an Icecream Bar. It was good to be home so I could get out of my Uniform. 

    The first thing I did when I got home was change into Comfortable Clothes! Then, I saw that my new piano had arrived! It was very nice!

     In St. Andrews, Every day of the Week is a different Schedule, so Tomorrow, I will have to figure out the Tuesday Schedule!

          -8/29/2016 

Grocery Shopping, School Tomorrow.

     Today, I got to sleep in until about 11 AM. I got up, and the house was silent. I wanted to eat, so I told Oma that I was going to go to get some Hot Chocolate at a Coffee place on our street. I went down to see if Coffee Angel was open, and It was closed. All of the other Coffee places that I walked by were closed also. Probably because it was Sunday. I walked down until I went into a Spar, and I bought a Blueberry Muffin and a slice of Banana Bread to go. I took it back to the house so that I could eat it in the kitchen. 

     Spar, and Tesco are basically Mini versions of Meijer, and they have fresh products, and grocery things also. They have different candy in Ireland also. Some of the familiar things I see here that I also saw in Grand Rapids were Doritos and Skittles. 

      I got back to my house, and I ate my Blueberry Muffin, and Banana bread, then I was hanging out in the house until we were all going to go to the St. Stevens Green Shopping Center. (Mall) It is basically a mall by our house by St. Stevens Green (the green park by our house). We all started walking there. We got to the Mall and we went up a floor and went to T.K. Max. Its like T.J. Max in Grand Rapids. We dont know why it is T.K. Max instead of T.J. Max. We got some more things for the house, and a backpack for me. 

     Next, we got a new alarm clock for me from Argos in the Mall. I had brought an Alarm Clock to Ireland, but when I plugged it into the wall in my room, it stopped working. I think the volt difference burnt my clock and it stopped working. We also went Grocery Shopping at Dunnes. We got a lot of food for the house. I wanted to get a 2 Liter water bottle because it was so big. We went out and started to walk home. On the way home, I realized that I had left my Credit Card in Dunnes, I had taken it out to see how much change I had to get a water bottle even though I couldn't get one. I had to run back to Dunnes by where the 2 Liter water bottles were and my Credit Card was still there thankfully. Then, I was able to buy my Water Bottle. 

    Thats how big the Water Bottle was. It was 2 Liters. I eventually got back to the house and we were having Indian food for Dinner. My Mom made it and it was really good.  After dinner, we played some card games like 7s and Crazy 8s. It was fun. We read some of Harry Potter, and My Mom gave Levi a Haircut.

    I tried weighing myself on the Scale in the bathroom, and I was about 50 KiloGrams, which I found out, is about 8 Stones. I have no idea what a Stone is worth but I think one Stone, is 6.3 KG. So about like 14 Pounds. I have a picture from the Losbter Festival Yesterday where Levi found a Wind guy.

     Tomorrow is my First real day of school. It starts at 8:50 but I am going to try to get there at about 8:20 so that I can figure out all the classes that I have for Monday and Tuesday, because on Wednesday through Friday, Im going on a trip!

             -8/28/2016

Went to Ex-Pat Party, & Lobster Festival!

     Today, We were going to go to an Ex-Pat party for my moms work. It was all people who my mom worked with and now they all moved to work in Ireland. We first went to return some of my School Uniform clothes that did not fit me. Then, we walked to My Moms friends Rons house. From there, He drove us to Johns house for the Ex-Pat party with all the people from Perrigo. The house was way up in the country on a high hill we had to drive on for a while. Here is a picture of Me and Levi standing in front of the House:




     The house was really cool. It was made out of rocks but looked new inside. There were 2 floors and a lot of space for grass and running around. There was food like Burgers and Hot-Dogs. We got to hear a Bagpipe Performance from Johns Wife.

     We stayed at the party a while, until about 5 PM. Then, we were going to go to Dalkey for a Lobster Festival. My mom wanted to compare what the Lobster tasted like here compared to in Maine. 

 

     The lobsters were more dark and black shelled then in Maine. I did not have any, but everyone who had some said it tasted good. I just ate some of the French Fries that came with the Lobster. After that, we went to the DART, and took that to Pierce station, and walked home from there.

          -8/27/2016

School Transition Year Meeting.

      Today, I had to go to school from about 10 - 12:30 AM. I got up at 8:30 AM, and I went on the Bus by myself and went to school by myself. I got to school at 9:30 AM. There was a Meeting in the Senior Hall at 10 AM. I just walked around until about 9:45 AM then I went to the Senior Hall and waited until the meeting started. I found my Form which was 4T and I sat with them. We tried to sit in alphabetical order. I dont know if it worked.  


     They gave us a lot of information about Transition Year. They were trying to make sure that we had Monday and Tuesday figured out because we would all be gone on a trip Wednesday through Friday. All the Information that they gave us was really confusing and I have to check a board in House Area 1 on Monday to find out some of my classes and its just confusing.

   
     After that, we went with our Form and went with our Form Teacher to a room where we got papers and stuff. Then, we each got our picture taken. Then I was free to go. I was trying to be ready for Monday and Tuesday but I have to wait until Monday to figure out everything.

     After School, I walked back to the Bus, then I stopped at Subway to get a sub then I went back Home. I ate the sub and I was going to chill the rest of the night since Oma and my Mom were going to a play.


            -8/26/2016

Went to School from 9-12 AM

     Today, I had to go to my new school because there was a meeting with all of the new kids coming into St Andrews College. We took bus 46A. I can either take Bus 46A or Bus 145 to my School. We got there, and we followed a kid that had the same uniform as I did, and he showed us a path to school. We got there and we went into the room where the meeting was going to be happening. I got an envelope of information on how to do my locker and who my teachers and stuff are.

     The meeting started and they explained how a normal day worked and all the information and stuff. I then had to take 2 tests, a Writing and a Math test. They were to tell the teachers about where we were at and stuff. I did Writing, then Math, then all the kids who were taking the Irish Language quiz, took that after Math, but about half the people did not do Irish so we all got to go home.


     I had to wear a Uniform with pants, a white shirt and tie and sweater. The tie went under the sweater so no body could see it so I dont know why they make us wear a tie. We went back the same way we came to the Bus. This time, we had to go to the other side of the street to take it back to our house. We got back to my house, then I changed into my regular normal comfy clothes, and we went across the street to our park.


       Every Thursday, the Park right across the street from my house is open to all of the public from 11-2 PM for everyone to eat lunch. There are vendors that go in and set up tents and each tent sells a different kind of food. I went to a tent that sold burritos. I got a huge burrito!

It was bigger than my hand. There was a singer / Live Violin-er at the Park. Here are some Pictures!

After we ate at the Park across the street, we went back to the house. Me and Levi hungout playing the Xbox until about 5:45 PM when we had to go down and eat dinner. Oma made Me and Levi Spaghetti, and My Mom and Oma had their own meal (i think it was soups). Tomorrow, I have to be at school at 10 AM until 12:30 PM. I am going there alone since they said "Only Students"

8/25/2016

Got School Books, Went to Subway!

     Today, I got up and it was 8:50 AM. We were suppose to go with someone to go get Me and Levis PPS Number (Personal Public Service). Its the equivalent to a Social Security number in the USA. My mom already had one so that she was able to work in Ireland. We have to get them so that we can go to school. We went to the building, and they told us to come back around 11:30 AM, so, in the meantime, we went to grab the School Books that my mom had ordered and they were in a shop waiting to be picked up. I got a portfolio, a couple books for math, some colored pencils, and a Sketch Book for art im guessing.

     I also went shirt shopping today because I needed some White Shirts for school. It was hard to find the right size but we did. I finally had all of my Uniform clothes for my upcoming School year. We ended up going back to the building at 11:30 to get my PPS Number. They took our Passports and Birth Certificates and papers that my Mom had filled out and that was it.


     For Lunch, we were at the house, and we all went out to eat. I tried my Credit Card at an ATM to see if it would give me cash and it did! I dont know if they will call me because I never told them that I am moving to Ireland so I will have to tell the company that if they ask. My Mom and Oma went somewhere to eat, but I took Levi to a Subway I had found on google maps. It was on the beginning of Grafton street, and it was on the 2nd floor. I got Levi a half foot Turkey and Ham sandwich and I got a foot-long Turkey and Ham sandwich with cheese, lettuce, onions and olives. We took them home and ate them at home. They were really good!


     I also went to Tesco after I had dinner. Oma made us Burgers. They were really good! I found a weird flavor of Doritos at Tesco.

     Thats about all I did today. Also, when I used to post this bolg I would be able to send everyone an Email about it but i have a lot of people so google said it cant send an email to everyone so i will try to find a way to send an email to everyone. Tomorrow im going to my new school for something in the morning. Heres an old photo of Me and Caleb and Jack   

-8/24/2016

   

Setting Up My Room!

     Today, It is the 2nd day that we are here in Ireland, and we are still unpacking things. The pod came this morning, and my mom woke me up at 8:30 AM so that we could unpack it. The 2 guys unpacked the truck and they had boxes full of clothes and other things we had sent over before we came to Dublin yesterday. My Monitor was shipped over in the pod, and one of the guys had a Screwdriver and helped me put the base to the actual Monitor part.

We carried a lot of things to different rooms. I got my Xbox One and brought it to the TV Room. Im trying to make a setup on this big table that I have in the TV Room on the 2nd floor. I also got a lot of clothes and got my room set up. I had a ton of clothes, and I didnt have a big enough Dresser, so we moved one from Mamas room up to my room because my Mom didnt need a Dresser because all of her clothes were Hung up in her Closet. Here is the Dresser I have in my room right now:

    Earlier today, I went to the store to get 2 lemons, some Cream for Omas coffee, and then I stopped at Coffee Angel to get 2 Hot Chocolates for Me and Levi, and a Cappuccino for Oma. For dinner, Oma made us stir fry. It was really good. I had poptarts after that for a Snack. Levi also got a scooter from Grandma before we left and its so fun to ride around the Kitchen in!

First Dinner at the new house 

               -8/23/2016

 

Moving To Ireland!

     Today, I was moving to Ireland! We had 8 bags that we were going to check because we had a lot of things that we were bringing to Ireland. I got up and packed the rest of my things. I had a backpack with a laptop and the Xbox 360 inside of it. That was my carry on. We left to go to the airport at 11:30 AM. My dad went with us and we got to the airport and checked all of our 8 bags. When it was time for us to go, we all said goodbye to Papa because we wouldn't be seeing him for another 2 months. It was sad and Levi ran back to give him one more hug.

     We went through security then we went to our gate to get on our first airplane. Our first flight was to Atlanta. It was only about 2 hours. We were sitting in First class, which was surprising because we usually didn't all get to sit in first class. I stayed awake on that plane and watched some of Kung Fu Panda 3. The next flight was from Atlanta to New York. That flight was about 2 and a Half Hours. On that plane, I did not sleep either. We were all also in first class again! The last flight we had was from New York to Dublin. It was the longest flight we had. It was 6 Hours long. We were all sitting in First class again! The First Class on that plane had seats that folded down into straight lines and were made into beds. They also had big TVs for each seat. It was amazing!


     Here is a picture of the Seats and a Meal I ate:

     On that flight, there was Dinner, and Breakfast. I had the Heritage Pork Loin for Dinner. It was delicious. After that, I watched a James Bond movie, then I went to bed until I got woken up for Breakfast which was a Egg Sandwich. It was pretty good. We landed in Dublin and we went straight to the Baggage Claim to get our 8 Checked Bags. We used 3 carts to carry all of our bags. We got them pretty quickly, in about 3 minutes. Then, we walked outside the airport, and got in line for a taxi. Since we had so much luggage, we got a van and we could fit all of our luggage inside of the van. I was tired, so I tried to sleep in the van, but we eventually got to our house in Fitzwilliam Square.

    We got all of our bags inside the house, and I took my luggage up to the TV room. I did not really unpack because I just wanted to hangout.



           -8/22/2016