Blog post for July 30 - John Fusco

Sadly today was the last full day of our amazing trip. The atmosphere at breakfast was a mixture of sadness, excitement and fatigue. The morning was scheduled for our final school assignment, the literary café. Everyone was responsible for choosing a character to portray and packing a costume before the trip began. It was surprising to see how well everyone was able to represent their characters, even the small details including accents and mannerisms. It was quite interesting to walk around and listen to on-going conversations. Some people had ridiculous costumes and put a great deal of effort into bringing their characters to life.

When the café finished, the teachers informed us that we were short on class hours. After a short break everyone loaded up to travel into Dublin for a tour of Saint Enda’s museum. Everyone was eager to visit this historical school because it was relatable to the novel, 1916, we studied in class. It was stimulating to see the breath-taking beauty of the school’s campus. After a mandatory two hour class, we were relived of class until dinner and had a chance to do some last minute shopping in Dublin.

After our free time, we met up at our residence and split into our separate classes. First we evaluated the quality of the Georgia Hardy experience. Then we received our ISU, exam and final marks. Nobody seemed to be disappointed with their marks, which is a positive reflection on the teaching.

After packing for the final time, we gathered in the court yard for a small celebration. The staff gave out personalized awards for each of the members on the trip. Some of the awards included Best Dressed and Best Poker Face. The evening ended with a talent show where everyone was given the opportunity to reveal any hidden talents. This trip was one of the best experiences of our young lives and I speak for everyone when I say these memories will last a life time. The bonds that were created will never be broken and the choice to journey with Georgia Hardy ultimately worth while.

- John

Blog Post for July 29 - Lara De Beer

We are now down to the last few days of our trip. There are only two more days until we shall all be reunited with our families once more. Everyone is feeling very bitter sweet right now. We are all super excited to finally go home and see our family but nobody wants to leave Ireland either.

In the morning though, tensions were high as everyone was doing their last minute cramming for our exam. By 9am, everyone was gathered outside of the exam building… to find out it was closed on a Sunday. Luckily, we had resourceful Susan who quickly found us a substitute building to write the exam within minutes.

For the next 3 hours we were all working feverously away to complete 6 passage analysis and a comparative essay. By the end of the time limit, everyone had successfully completed their exam.

It must’ve been quite the sight for all of the other people on the UCD campus for you could easily pick out the Georgia Hardy kids dancing, singing or jumping for joy down the street. Although we still have to do the Literary Café tomorrow to complete our ENG 4U course, we were all elated that we have completed our Grade 12 English credit.

For the rest of the day, we were rewarded with free time. For most people, this meant it was time to get all of the last minute shopping for gifts done. Most of chose to venture to Grafton Street, which we were told by Susan, was the best place to do all of your shopping. Once we got to the area we discovered that Susan was 100% correct. There were hundreds of stores to choose from to shop at as well as a market in the local mall. One of the highlights while shopping was definitely when we found a milkshake shop that could blend any type of chocolate bar imaginable into a milkshake. They were all super sweet and filling, but so worth it.

After our shopping adventure, we all broke up into smaller groups to search for somewhere to eat. A small group of us decided to go to a local pub. The place was considerably busy but we found that there was a roof top garden seating area. It was a lot nicer up on the roof because we had the fresh air and there was a T.V with the Olympics playing on it. After our dinner we head back to residence so we would make it back for curfew on time and still have time to spare to play cards. After a few rounds of president we had to call it a night.

It’s sad to think that this was our second last night before we leave. The planning for reunions in August has already begun. We all plan on keeping in touch for a long time after this trip ends. Parents, brace yourself for a lot of tears on Tuesday.

- Lara

Blog Post for July 27 - Gemma Glenn and Brianna Tunks

Hello Lads and Lasses!

  Its Gemma and Brianna here in Dublin, Ireland! Today was definitely the highlight of our time in Ireland so far!  This morning we were awoken by Mama Sue at 7:30am. Instead of our usual morning class, we made our way to Kilmainham Gaol, the jail made famous by the Irish Rebellion in 1916. This is what our novel study is based on, so it was exceptionally interesting to see. Everyone took tons of pictures and our tour guide was awesome. The jail itself was spectacular. It was a lot larger than most people expected. Although it had many cells for occupancy, it was over crowded and the living conditions were terrible at the time of its operation. We were particularly moved by the execution stories that were told. To see the novel 1916 come to life was an amazing experience. Let’s face it: how many times have you had the opportunity to visit the place a book you’ve read takes place in? We also got to look at the last words of the Irish Rebellion leaders, such as Padraic Pearse and Joseph Plunkett. Joe Plunkett’s letter was a favourite to all the girls, as it was a love letter to his wife. The pair were married minutes before his execution, and were only able to spend 10 minutes alone in a guarded cell together.

     After Kilmainham Gaol, we took the bus to Trinity College and were able to have some free time. A group of us went out for lunch (TImmies!!) and then went shopping. Once our free time was over, we were fortunate enough to have Mr. M and Ms. Stokes take us to Trinity College for class. Ms. Skokes’ class presented their historical research analysis on the leaders of the Irish Rebellion. We then had a heated debate involving both classes on the main protagonist in 1916.

      When we got back for Trinity, we went straight to dinner, as we were on a tight schedule to go to a traditional Irish Ceili! A Ceili is an Irish party filled with Irish dancing and traditional Irish music. It was a good craic!! Everyone was eager to learn the dances and was able to temporarily forget that the ISU is due tomorrow! We were dancing so much we were sweating buckets. Thankfully, we were treated to a much needed scone and glass of water. Although we had to cut it short to catch a bus, we all had a blast!

    We came home late and were very tired from all the dancing. Everyone went to bed straight away to prepare for a long work day ahead of us!

Slán go foil, or goodbye for now!

                   -Gemma and Brianna 

Blog Entry for July 28 - Andrew Wilkes

Hello from Dublin, as you know our time here is narrowing down, and you have all been missed so very much.  I am pleased to tell you all that everyone is safe, and we are all enjoying our trip.  Everyone is getting along with each other, and we are making our last few days of our trip really count.

As our trip narrows to an end, the stress and work load increases.  Today we spent the first half of our day working on our ISUs. The stress level for some people got a little high today but everyone was successful with completing their work and handing it in on time.  Our next step to finishing our classes was to study for our final exam, which will be taking place tomorrow morning.  To study for this exam we have to read over all of the stories and poems that we have covered over this last month.  We are all getting anxious to finish our classes and just enjoy our last few days in Dublin with no stress.

            Due to the fact we do not get a supplied supper on Saturday, people were getting very creative with their meals.  It could of consisted groups of people running through the rain to the Centra near our residence to get pizza, or making food in the different common rooms.   

            I know I can speak for the whole group when I say that we are all having an amazing time on this unbelievable experience.  We’ve enjoyed every moment of this month, and I cannot wait to meet up with all of these amazing people again the near future.  Finally I hope all of my fellow classmates do well on the final exam tomorrow, and we can’t wait to tell you all about this amazing experience.

Andrew Wilkes

Blog Post for July 24 - Morgan Lindner

Today was our last day in Galway some of us stayed back in the morning to have breakfast at the residence thinking we could sleep in. only to remember that we had a tour of the campus this made a slight change in our plans so we went on our walking tour and learned more about the buildings we had been passing every day we had been there such as the solar panels on the engineering building the tour ended at the collage area in which the picture above took place. From this we shortly after went to class in which we analyzed poems after class we were given free time some went into town others back into residence waiting to go the movies later that night. The movie we went to see was the new batman movie the movie was great the walk to the theater however was a different matter something about walking about in the rain on the highway just doesn’t sound inviting but we all walked to batman none the less the walk home however was more inviting with all our feet wet and tired we really just wanted to go to bed and the fact that the rain was now gone also added to the quality of the walk home as did the discussions about the movie but in the end we all made it home and went to bed knowing that in the morning we were off to Dublin.




- Morgan

Blog Entry for July 26 - Brynne Duffy

Today, Thursday July 26, 2012 was our first full day in Dublin Ireland. In the morning we had yet another day of class as we finished up our poetry unit. Later, when class was over and our assignments had been handed in, we made our first journey into the city of Ireland.

The first destination was the famous Guinness Brewery. We boarded a double-decker bus and began the journey towards downtown Dublin. Once we arrived at the Brewery, our loving, “mamma Sue” took pictures of the whole group, with many of the group member’s cameras. Little to say, she did an exquisite job, despite the technological challenge with the most simplistic green camera. All the photos looked great and everyone was happy with them.

Once inside the brewery itself we were aloud to explore in smaller groups. Many of us saw the amazing view from the top of the factory, which stretched over the entire city. Some people also stopped for lunch within the brewery and got their own special treats. Not to worry parents, the students had specific tickets explaining how we are too young to be having any of the famous drafts.

There was lots of historic things to see, as there was floor dedicated to the development and brewing process of the famous Guinness beer.

Many people may not realize, but the Guinness brand is also connected to the Guinness Book of World Records. Believe it or not, too girls on the Georgia Hardy trip, namely Lara DeBeer and Brynne Duffy, were apart of the world’s largest dance of the Macarena. The school, Ancaster High made history when 1861 people danced on the back football field, to promote awareness for world diabetes day.

After we finished in the Guinness Brewery, we walked around the city of Dublin and Suzan showed us some of the highlights of the famous city.

Tonight, most of us are working on our various assignments, as the trip is nearing its end. Despite the fact that many of us miss the people at home, this England and Ireland trip has been one of a lifetime and one that many of us will never forget.

- Brynne Duffy

Ps. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! 

Blog Entry for July 25 - Shelagh Hulbert

So today we have arrived in Dublin and it is actually sunny and rather warm. I wouldn’t say hot because Canada is hot right now but warmer than we expected. Saying farewell to Galway was hard but saying Dia duit (pronounced dia gwit) to Dublin. That’s hello in Irish by the way, and while we are not in the parts of Ireland when it is commonly spoken we often see it on signs and other such things. I will miss corrib village, their key cards had a fish on them where as these one are just red and silly. Corrib was a lot smaller and quainter, everything was closer and easy to find. I fear that I may get lost in this monster of a campus. It’s a little out of town, the campus, not out of city limits of course but far enough away that the idea of walking to O’Connell Street makes me cringe. But Knowing Mama Sue, it is unlikely that we will take the bus, and I hope it’s not as far as oxford was. The thing is we walk and walk during our free time till was can’t stand the pain in our feet and legs any longer, and then we have to walk home. 

Any who enough of the complaining, I love Dublin! Although I have been here once before it was still so exciting to see all the shops and street, everything is so much smaller in Europe I love it. I have family who live here and it is awesome to see them again, they come to Canada sometimes but they can only do that so much. We started work on our ISU’s (or at least I just started) and they are due Saturday, understandably every one is a wee bit stressed. It helps that we have had a fair amount of class time, today and all of next Saturdays class, dedicated to it especially when the teachers have every right not to. They did however pull a mean joke by telling us they would drop the ISU just to see our faces. From their perspective it must have been funny but to us it was just disappointing. We only have a few days left on the trip and wow has time flown, Dublin is the last leg of the trip and we will enjoy it.

- Shelagh