Hiya,
Soooo, it's been ages since I've updated. Everything is going swimmingly here, so far.
I just got back from visiting a friend in Berlin, which was an really interesting experience. Berlin was honestly not what I expected at all. I would definitely go back to Germany, but would probably try some place like Cologne or Munich. Berlin was large, dirty and everyone was a bit rude. Dora, the friend I went to visit, lives outside the city about 30 miles in a village. Her home is within walking distance of a gorgeous lake, which used to be a resort spot for East Germans before the reunification. I had a wonderful time, went to museums, the zoo, swimming, enjoyed the sunshine! But, as a location the city leaves a bit to be desired.
Might be heading over before my job starts to visit another friend in Bristol, before he moves to the Caribbean. He has a job working at a museum there, sounds amazing! But, that means my last friend from Olaf is moving away from Europe :(
Other than that just been enjoying Galway! Found a place to live in Dublin, it's not amazing, but it works. Nearly impossible to find a six month lease, so I was a bit limited in my options. Haven't met the housemates yet, so we'll see. The landlord is lovely though, the location is great and the whole house has been recently updated.
My job doesn't start until the 24th, so I am enjoying some down time and what remains of the summer weather.
Hope all is well with everyone!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Internship?
So it's been an interesting past week. Tuesday company I applied for an internship called me and told me I'd be wait listed for the position, ie I was candidate number 5 for 4 slots. So that was a huge bummer. But, onward and upward, right? So I found a place to live in Galway and applied for jobs like crazy and got a pretty promising lead on a position for administrative assistant at a multinational toy company. So job and house pretty much sorted. Then yesterday, I get a call from said internship telling me that one of the 4 dropped out and offering me the position contingent on my references and a physical (which is standard practice in Ireland). So now I am super excited, but also a bit nervous that something is going to go a bit wonky with internship and I'm gonna end up back a square one. So we'll see.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Still waiting...
Hiya everyone,
So got my visa and have started my course for the FE1s. The FE1s are equivalent to the Bar in the U.S. except you only have to sit four subjects at a time. Once you pass those 4 you have 5 years to pass the other ones. I'm currently taking a review course, since all of this material is new to me. I am up to my eyeballs in homework and trying to memorize case law. I'm prepping for torts, equity, company and contract. Still waiting to hear back about IBEC. Fingers crossed on that one. Other than that just finishing up my term of service with Americoprs and enjoying the beautiful weather. Went to the one of the beautiful beaches this weekend with a friend, played some bocce ball and gave a new bar a try, so work hard play hard :) Hope all is well with everyone!
So got my visa and have started my course for the FE1s. The FE1s are equivalent to the Bar in the U.S. except you only have to sit four subjects at a time. Once you pass those 4 you have 5 years to pass the other ones. I'm currently taking a review course, since all of this material is new to me. I am up to my eyeballs in homework and trying to memorize case law. I'm prepping for torts, equity, company and contract. Still waiting to hear back about IBEC. Fingers crossed on that one. Other than that just finishing up my term of service with Americoprs and enjoying the beautiful weather. Went to the one of the beautiful beaches this weekend with a friend, played some bocce ball and gave a new bar a try, so work hard play hard :) Hope all is well with everyone!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
VISA!
GOT MY VISA FOR IRELAND! Thank you so much to everyone who wrote letters for Sam and I! I am legally allowed to reside and work in Ireland for the next year!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Waiting Game
Hiya everyone! It's the most gorgeous day here...so lucky to have an office with a window. Really wish I could be outside to enjoy it, but this weekend is supposed to be equally sunny so I am looking forward to taking advantage of that.
Sam finished his course and got excellent marks! I am so happy for him. Next year he enters into the general arts degree and will pick two subject areas to focus on for his major. He also won the Mayor's award for his work with Foroige (for the youth in Irish), the youth organization he volunteers with.
I am still waiting to hear back from IBEC about my internship. I was contacted by them in late April saying that they had not yet reached their decision. They are narrowing it down to 6 out of the 16 who where interviewed and then there will be a final interview round of which they will select 4. I am slowly but surely studying back issues of the Industrial Relations News in preparation for what I am hoping is the opportunity to advance to the final round. I hope, hope, hope I get it. I know it would be an insane amount of work with a very steep learning curve, but it is my dream internship! With everything that is happening both within Ireland and within the EU there is so much for me to learn from interning with an organization that is so intimately involved.
My course materials for my FE1 review course arrived....HOLY COW! Me thinks I am a bit over my head with this one. It's all interesting information, but just the sheer amount of it is ridiculous. I come from a liberal arts background, I'm used to essays and analysis, not memorizing information and it's even more difficult when I don't have anyone to de-brief with. So this will keep my on my toes! Any recommendations for some magic solution to memorizing MASSIVE amounts of information would be appreciated. I know med and law students do it all the time, so it's not without hope. Maybe if I sleep with the books under my pillow I will learn through osmosis.
I need 182.5 more hours and then I am done my current job. WHOOOOHOOOO! I've learned so much this year, it was a really excellent experience that need not be repeated. This position has taught me more about corporate workplace politics and management style than I think any corporation ever could.
I hope all is well with everyone and you're enjoying spring! It's crazy to think summer is almost here.
Sam finished his course and got excellent marks! I am so happy for him. Next year he enters into the general arts degree and will pick two subject areas to focus on for his major. He also won the Mayor's award for his work with Foroige (for the youth in Irish), the youth organization he volunteers with.
I am still waiting to hear back from IBEC about my internship. I was contacted by them in late April saying that they had not yet reached their decision. They are narrowing it down to 6 out of the 16 who where interviewed and then there will be a final interview round of which they will select 4. I am slowly but surely studying back issues of the Industrial Relations News in preparation for what I am hoping is the opportunity to advance to the final round. I hope, hope, hope I get it. I know it would be an insane amount of work with a very steep learning curve, but it is my dream internship! With everything that is happening both within Ireland and within the EU there is so much for me to learn from interning with an organization that is so intimately involved.
My course materials for my FE1 review course arrived....HOLY COW! Me thinks I am a bit over my head with this one. It's all interesting information, but just the sheer amount of it is ridiculous. I come from a liberal arts background, I'm used to essays and analysis, not memorizing information and it's even more difficult when I don't have anyone to de-brief with. So this will keep my on my toes! Any recommendations for some magic solution to memorizing MASSIVE amounts of information would be appreciated. I know med and law students do it all the time, so it's not without hope. Maybe if I sleep with the books under my pillow I will learn through osmosis.
I need 182.5 more hours and then I am done my current job. WHOOOOHOOOO! I've learned so much this year, it was a really excellent experience that need not be repeated. This position has taught me more about corporate workplace politics and management style than I think any corporation ever could.
I hope all is well with everyone and you're enjoying spring! It's crazy to think summer is almost here.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Ireland Again!
Hiya,
I hope everyone had a happy Easter! I just got back from a second trip to Ireland in as many weeks. I got called back for an interview with IBEC, or the Irish Business Employers Consortium. I will be extremely surprised if I get called back for the final interview, but it was an excellent experience and I am feeling much better about the whole moving to Ireland thing. I made it into the top 16 candidates out of hundreds of applicants. I am, if I may take a moment to indulge my ego, actually extremely proud of myself. I am extremely thankful to all of the people who helped me with the process! Lets hope this level of success translates to finding a job once I am over there!
I'm back in the states, more than a little bit tired and hitting the ground running preparing for our second to last family night, for Washburn Elementary. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take on a larger role in the planning an implementing process, and got to give the presentation for the English speaking families. The feedback was really positive and it's the first time in a long time I've given a presentation, so it was great to get the practice. TEFL teaching is surprisingly excellent prep. for giving presentations. This year has had it's ups and downs, but it has really helped me learn how to make alliances and find a role for myself within an organization that allows me to utilize my skills. Both invaluable lessons for future employment.
Wishing everyone a wonderful spring! It was so nice to return to Minnesota and find that everything was green! Winter sure does make spring all the more spectacular.
I hope everyone had a happy Easter! I just got back from a second trip to Ireland in as many weeks. I got called back for an interview with IBEC, or the Irish Business Employers Consortium. I will be extremely surprised if I get called back for the final interview, but it was an excellent experience and I am feeling much better about the whole moving to Ireland thing. I made it into the top 16 candidates out of hundreds of applicants. I am, if I may take a moment to indulge my ego, actually extremely proud of myself. I am extremely thankful to all of the people who helped me with the process! Lets hope this level of success translates to finding a job once I am over there!
I'm back in the states, more than a little bit tired and hitting the ground running preparing for our second to last family night, for Washburn Elementary. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take on a larger role in the planning an implementing process, and got to give the presentation for the English speaking families. The feedback was really positive and it's the first time in a long time I've given a presentation, so it was great to get the practice. TEFL teaching is surprisingly excellent prep. for giving presentations. This year has had it's ups and downs, but it has really helped me learn how to make alliances and find a role for myself within an organization that allows me to utilize my skills. Both invaluable lessons for future employment.
Wishing everyone a wonderful spring! It was so nice to return to Minnesota and find that everything was green! Winter sure does make spring all the more spectacular.
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