Getting acclimated to our new city -- June 22/23

Over 18 miles of walking in two days.  Many neighborhoods and cobblestone roads and lots of sunshine.  And before you say, "oh yay, it's normally rainy in Dublin," I'd take the rain at this point.  Dublin, like so much of Europe, is not set up for "typical" summer weather in the 80s.  With no air conditioning practically anywhere, it is really hot -- we're hopeful that it'll go back to more typical Dublin weather of the upper 60s and low 70s next week. (And, we definitely SO thankful it's not as hot as it is for our friends in France right now -- 111 F -- yikes!)

Monday (6/22) was orientation day for the program.  Our program providers, Big Pond, (https://www.bigpondeducation.org/), did a great job helping us get our bearings.  We did a Dublin 101 class session, and then had a walking tour and a welcome dinner at Market Bar.  

On our walking tour, we saw the famous "Molly Malone" statue.  

Not sure who she is and want to learn more?  Here's a quick overview: https://epicchq.com/story/a-brief-history-of-dublins-mysterious-molly-malone/ 

The welcome dinner at Market Bar (https://marketbar.ie/) was a lot of fun with tapas family-style dining (hard to choose a favorite dish, but I think I'd have to go with the hake -- it's a mild white fish that melts in your mouth).  

On Tuesday, June 23, our class started in earnest.  We did an overview of Social Determinants of Health, the US Healthcare System, and probably my favorite Art and Health.  My co-teacher, Dr. Brady, designed an awesome activity that gets students thinking about what art actually is -- and then connects it to things like music and art therapy, etc.  It also set us up perfectly for our afternoon visit to the Book of Kells (more about that in a minute). 

We only had about an hour and a half between class and our afternoon activity today, so rather than coming back to the apartment, I went scavenging for some lunch.  The first thing I found...was a cookie.  When she offered to warm it up, I was sold.  After that, I just couldn't figure out what I wanted -- so, I ended up going to a part deli, part convenience store called "Spar."  I had a delicious hot cajun chicken sandwich.  

The college professor in me wanted to spend some time wandering and exploring Trinity College today before our Book of Kells tour.  In my head, it's similar to Oxford -- and in reality, it had that same kind of vibe.  Since it was so warm, there were students and faculty and visitors sitting everywhere outside.  One thing that I found kind of odd was that you can't just walk into buildings -- I wanted to check out the library and they were like "nope, students only."  I'm guessing it's because there are SO many visitors to see the Book of Kells that they want to protect the academic environment, but it was kind of odd to me. 

  

So, what is the Book of Kells?  In short, it's an illustrated version of the Gospels.  But, there's a lot more to it than that -- it's an Irish cultural icon.  Read all about it here: https://www.visittrinity.ie/what-is-the-book-of-kells/ .  The books in the Long Room are being cleaned -- so many of them weren't there right now, but that was OK.  My favorite part of the experience was the virtual reality portion that showed a 360 movie of how the Books came to be and the building of the library (think like the Van Gogh virtual exhibit that was all the rage a couple of years ago).    

  

After our time at Trinity College and the Book of Kells, I met up with the family for the evening.  They went to Howth today (where we go on Sunday...so, I'll share my experiences with it this weekend).  We went over to Phoenix Park (biggest urban park in Europe!) and walked around for a little bit and then found a cute food truck park for dinner.  

More class tomorrow morning and then off to a cooking class/conversation about sustainable agriculture! 

Travel day is ALWAYS hard -- June 20/21

 Travel day is ALWAYS hard.  From hours in the airport and on planes to the constant worry of missed connections and lost luggage.  But, the good news for the trip from Lexington to Dublin (by route of Philadelphia) is we were lucky.  Everyone made it relatively on time -- and equally importantly, so did the luggage! 

Imagine my surprise when I got off the plane in Dublin, and one of the first things I saw was this logo: 

Funny that the Kentucky-born Papa John's is a big hit in Dublin-- so big that it made it to the airport.

All of our students made it from their various connections by about 10 AM Dublin time -- so, 5 AM Kentucky time.  We hung out, drank coffee, and tried to keep each other awake until the whole class arrived.

The goal for the rest of the day was to get our bearings, pick up some food for our apartments, and just STAY AWAKE.  It's almost 8 PM here -- and I'm about to turn in. 

There was a festival in the nearby neighborhood of Stoneybatter and some of us walked around to check it out and find a bite for dinner. It was completely packed -- but, we did manage to find a good place to eat called "All Bar Chicken."  I enjoyed a hamburger made from Irish beef (and yes, I recognize the irony at a chicken restaurant) and my family enjoyed chicken sandwiches and chicken tenders.

                                                                                                                                                                                

And, yes, things are a little bit different this time -- my family is joining me for 1 week this time.  They'll explore while I work and we'll try and spend time together each day! 

Dusting Off the Passport

It's been three years since my last entry -- and I'm dusting off my passport and heading on another Education Abroad adventure this weekend!

We're taking a look at the Social Determinants of Health Abroad again -- this time, in Dublin, Ireland!  

Stay tuned for this year's adventures!  

The Last Day -- July 21

I'm all checked in for my flight in the morning, largely packed, and have a free day today for last minute fun before a farewell dinner this evening! 

There's an English-language bookstore around the corner from my apartment called "Shakespeare and Co."  It's a Paris institution from what I understand (and more recently, a TikTok one according to my niece!) -- and the lines outside the door would seem to agree.  Every time I've walked by, I've been like "nah, not today."  Well, today was the day.  I was there about 15 minutes before it opened and a line had already started.  I enjoyed wandering around and even grabbed a book for the plane. 

The one thing on my bucket list was doing a nice tea time somewhere -- and luckily, the stars aligned and we were able to get reservations at the Ritz Paris when my sister was in town!  What a regal experience...it felt like we took a step back in time. 

  

 

Our farewell dinner was at a lovely place called "Les Baux de Paris" (https://www.tripadvisor.fr/Restaurant_Review-g187147-d12833057-Reviews-Les_Baux_de_Paris-Paris_Ile_de_France.html).  It's been a great trip with a great group of people! 

Thanks for following along with me on this journey.... see you stateside! 

Sarah

Exit interviews, Musee d'Orsay, and Barbie -- oh my! July 20

The students completed exit interviews this morning bringing their time in France to a close.  We have a free day and farewell dinner tomorrow -- and then, it's off to the airport Saturday morning (or more fun for some who are staying a bit longer!).

In thinking about my own time here, I've created a top 10 list of musings, learnings, and just practical tips.  

10. A portable battery charger for my phone was a lifesaver -- I used it almost daily.  When you're using a navigation app to get you from place to place -- it drains your battery and fast!

9. Citymapper is the best navigation app ever  I liked that it gave me choices to take the Metro, walk, ride a scooter, catch a bus, and more.  I'll use it in big cities anytime I travel now.

8. Speaking of the Metro, it was my biggest fear coming into my time here. I made myself get on it the day we arrived -- and that was a good thing because I realized it's not that different from subway systems in the states, just more crowded.  I felt very safe here -- just watch your stuff, don't be out too late, and be aware of your surroundings. 

7.  For me, routine was important.  Yes, I went with the flow, but I also went to bed about the same time every night, got up about the same time every morning, ate about the same time every day, and cooked some of my own meals to help me stay grounded.  Decision fatigue is a real thing and being able to minimize at least some of the 8 million decisions I had to make each day (and in a foreign language) was key.

6.  The best food I ate here was probably the salmon burger in Normandy and the lemon-coconut souffle at Le Souffle.  

5. The French healthcare system isn't perfect -- but, it is a lot closer to it than the US system.  From streamlining payment and information processes with the Carte Vitale to completely covering serious illnesses to providing social supports like subsidized childcare, the system is more equal to all and that is very important to the French -- our speakers said that over and over again.  Yes, they pay higher taxes than we do -- but, the money is turned right around and put back into the system to cover basic needs.

4. Another element in the French culture that I appreciated is the more laid back approach -- to just about everything.  There's not the feeling of "go go go" that is so common in the US.  I'm sure there are times/spaces where that occur, but it isn't the norm.  The work/life balance is also much more pronounced -- when the day is done, work is really done. 

3. When traveling (basically) solo, preplanning matters. My head was spinning trying to figure out what I wanted to do from the hundreds of pages of suggestions online.  That said, I'm glad I spent the time going through them to at least identify a few things on my "must do" list.  It would be too easy to just sit in my apartment if I hadn't.  My 3 favorite activities?  Monet's Garden, the trip to to Northern France, and my street art tour.  My favorite dining activity (and the only one I made reservations for)?  Le Souffle!   

2. Staying for 3 weeks somewhere gives you plenty of time to do the tourist-y stuff -- and it's perfectly OK to get tired of the tourist-y stuff and want to do "normal" things, too.  I've seen more movies here than I've seen in the last year at home.  I really enjoyed going to church at St. Michael's and shopping for food for the apartment.  And...my fantastic washing machine only worked the first day, so I washed clothes in a spaghetti pot the rest of the trip.  But, that's a whole other story.  

1. Joe and the kids have had a fabulous month.  Since I've been gone, there've been plays and international trips and camps and dog park visits and merit badges and hikes and karate and back to school planning -- and all the things.  They've tackled them all with relative ease and it made it easier to be here knowing all was well in KY.  And...yet, I'll be excited to get on that plane on Saturday...because there's no place like home!  

I'm proud of myself.  I'm proud of our students. I'm proud of my family.  I'm thankful to have had this opportunity -- and my wheels are turning about where I might like to lead a trip myself in the future.  Elder care in Japan?  Happiness in Finland? Hmm....  

After class, I came back to the apartment for lunch before heading to the Musee d'Orsay (https://www.musee-orsay.fr/en).  In crowdsourcing things to do in Paris, this museum came up over and over again. I saw work by many of the masters -- Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir.  My favorite piece was Degas's sculpture, "The Dancer." I also liked the 3-D silhouette art -- it was really cool. The first 3 pics are a little like "where's Waldo?" -- except it's where's Sarah? 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

I ended the day with a trip to the Westfields mall to have dinner at the food court and see the "Barbie" movie!  I know, I know -- Barbie is not my normal style, but it was fun and nostalgic...and packed a STRONG punch about smashing the patriarchy (which I loved).  My dinner was at "The Sushi Way..." where they delivered the food -- ON A TRAIN!  https://www.instagram.com/p/CuHk0Hbqydw/    

Stay tuned for tomorrow's wrap-up...

Sarah

Energetic Healing & More Cooking Fun -- July 19

Our class session today focus on complimentary and alternative medicine, with a special focus on energetic healing.  A member of our ground team here, Delphine Lechevalier, is also actively involved as an energetic healing practitioner (check here out at enelphine.com).  I wasn't very familiar with energetic healing -- after the lecture today, it seems akin to reiki to me in some ways. A few of our students got to try out the process and all seemed to enjoy it.  The cool part with complimentary medicine (think acupuncture, hypnotherapy, chiropractic care, etc.) is that much of it is reimbursable by the supplementary insurance most French citizens carry -- at a much higher degree than in the US.  As a result, more folks participate in it here than in the US as well. 

 

As luck would have it, my sister and her family are in Paris RIGHT NOW, too!  They've been planning a European trip for a couple of years -- and it finally came to fruition this summer post-COVID.  The stars aligned and we were both here the same week.  It's been great to have family here -- especially right at the end. 

We did a baking class with La Cuisine Paris (https://lacuisineparis.com/) and I would highly recommend them.  Our chef for today, Eline, was both a joy to be around and a great storyteller.  She would insert fun stories and the history of the desserts we made in between our pastry preparation.  We made baba au rhum chantilly, madeleines, creme brulee, caramel sauce, and fondant au chocolat (which tasted like a lava cake to me).  I really liked the madeleines and the caramel sauce -- but, everything was delicious.  You'll see in the pics below what we made -- and if it looks beautiful and professional, that would be my sister's. :)  I'm much more of a cook that just throws things together than someone who is precise... if you've seen my office, you'd understand. HA.  

  

  

Last day of class and last museum visit to Musee de Orsay tomorrow! 

Until then....
Sarah

  

Apples to Apples....Ish -- July 18

We're coming to the end of our time here in Paris -- just 2 more days of class (and one is a guest speaker and the other is comprised of exit interviews!).  Today, we played a game Dr. Brady designed to help the students review all the concepts they've learned this summer.  If you're familiar with the game "Apples to Apples" (or Cards Against Humanity, according to the students!), the students created a deck of cards about all the concepts they learned this summer.  Then, Dr. Brady put up a patient scenario that could happen -- and the students had to throw a card that they thought best represented an asset that the French community has as it relates to health and healthcare -- and a judge in each group got to choose the winner for the round.   From universal healthcare to diet to subsidized childcare to maternity and paternity leave, the students rocked it in pulling all our concepts together!

The second half of the class today were guest speakers and a service project making "hygiene cups" with Serve the City Paris (https://www.servethecity.paris/) for them to hand out during their meal distribution efforts.  I think the students enjoyed the hands on activity and talking to our guests (who were also college students -- just here in Paris!).  Evidently, Serve the City is found in major cities around the world -- so, check them out if you're in NYC, DC, etc!  

And the rest of today....was all about FOOD! Since we're in the last week countdown, I'm trying to check the final few things off my bucket list.  First was "Le Souffle."  We read about this place on a blog before we came -- and it 100% lived up to the hype.  I had a tomato basil souffle to start, then one with beef and gravy (or au jus) poured down inside for the main course....and the best of all -- the lemon and coconut one for dessert! They all melted in your mouth -- but, the dessert one -- it was the most amazing. If you have any reason to be in Paris, definitely check this place out.

 

  

The dessert one was one of the 👆most decadent things I've had! 

Another French "must try" is the rotisserie chicken that they cook with potatoes under it.  I know it sounds simple -- and it was -- but, it is so well done and tasty.  I walked more than half a mile each way to get it -- which after a long day -- is...well, more walking.  BUt, it was good -- and so were the potato chips by the same name. 

 

 

Tomorrow, our guest speaker is focused on energetic healing....so, I'm really excited to learn more about that.  AND...my sister and her family are in Paris for the week -- and we're doing a baking class tomorrow afternoon! Woot! 

Until tomorrow...
Sarah