Making new Discoveries...Multiple Choice Tests...The doorknob to the Universe...Valentine's Day Madness...IHOP...

Reaching the four week mark makes me realise just how fast this whole experience is flying by me. I can't believe I have been here for so long already and it's gonna go by in a blink. This week felt a little more routine than the previous weeks and we were thankful for the fun weekend we had after all our class during the week.

On Monday I found myself beginning my new exercise programme...after recovering from the cold I decided it was time to get back into shape, especially when there is so much offered here at Ole Miss in terms of fitness. I was at the Turner Centre every day this week doing some form of exercise...long may it continue! Class followed the normal format on Monday with nothing too spectacular to report. In Dr Blackbourn's class we continued to cover the many laws associated with special educational needs legislation. We had a revision session during Dr Chessin's class in order to prepare for our first test on Wednesday. On Monday afternoon we met with a group of four other students at the famous 'Square Books' for coffee and to begin the first of our small group bible study times we are planning to have together, really enjoyed getting to know these girls better and looking forward to the rest of the times together.

I enjoyed the observation task we were set for our Early Childhood Education class in Willie Price Nursery Unit on Tuesday morning... I had to observe a child for 20 minutes and take note of everything they did and said. I also had to ask them certain questions and record their answers. Following the observation I had to mark examples of good practice of gross and fine motor skills and signs of development in the physical, emotional, social and intellectual domains. I loved doing this, it was so interesting to have the opportunity to look closely at what a single child was doing during activity and pay such careful attention to it. I chose the brightest girl in the class to work with and was amazed at how much she knew and could do at 4 years old. In our evening class we were looking at motivational techniques that we could use in the elementary classroom, it was interesting to hear about things they use here to motivate children. The funniest example was a reward system where if the children reached a certain target the teacher would have to do outrageous activities, the example given was kissing a pig! Something that shocked me was the overuse of 'candy' as a motivator and the overriding consequences of tooth decay and childhood obesity, it is seen as an easy option. Tuesday night was spent studying hard for the test that was to present itself the following morning.

Dr Chessin's test went better than anticipated and it is nice to have completed our first multiple choice test. We were unsure as to what to expect in terms of the format of the test but I think I made it through ok as I made sure I knew the material before sitting it. The test covered different areas around the topics of planning and assessment. We had to pay careful attention to Bloom's Taxonomy and the different elements making up a lesson as well as the different means of assessment and how the ultimate goal is self-assessment.

On Thursday we spent time in Willie Price again, enjoying getting to know the children better and spending time with them, reading stories and observing activities that go on. This week the big focus was Valentine's Day...we had love bugs, boxes for our Valentine's Cards, we made posters and cards and had a Valentine's Day tea party where the children had to express good manners. America goes crazy for Valentines...our weekly trip to Walmart reminded us of that...walking in it felt like someone had thrown up Valentine's Day all over it!

We helped out our friends in the Study Abroad Office on Thursday afternoon by represented Stranmillis at the fair they had set up in the Student's Union. We spent time there answering questions people posed about Ireland and what it would be like to study there for a semester. It was also a good opportunity to chat with other internationals and discuss how their experience had differed from ours so far. Most of the international students we have met so far are here on a year placement and so have been attending Ole Miss for a lot longer than Ruth and I.


On Thursday evening we met some friends for Chinese which was really good and I was pleased cause I had missed it! After going to the cinema we were introduced to our first Ole Miss tradition...The Doorknob to the Universe... We were blindfolded and driven around in the car while being told the story which follows. We then were taken from the car and walked up a hill, told to duck at certain places and then put our hands out to touch something, turn around and look up. I totally freaked out, thinking we were somewhere completely different and that I was touching some sort of animal...! When I took my blindfold off and looked up, I realised I was at the water tower and that there was a vaguely door knob shaped object above me...it was funny and a bit stupid at the same time!

On Friday morning it was my turn to lead the Finer Things Club in Bottletree bakery. I was a bit nervous about this because the whole affair is taken very seriously and I wanted to do my topic justice. I decided to talk about Northern Ireland and specifically focusing on my heritage, what it means to me and how this can differ greatly from person to person. I also wanted to give a bit of history to our province so they would understand where I was coming from. I had prepared two videos to illustrate what I was talking about and I think my audience where impressed...at least they all felt as if they knew a lot more about Northern Ireland by the end. I think coming here has made me appreciate my roots a lot more, especially because of how much Americans love Ireland.

We went to visit our friend on Friday night and enjoyed spending time in her house making cookies and just chilling out together. I'm starting to make really good friends here and they're so nice to have around and spend time with.

Enjoyed my Saturday this week...Ruth and I ventured to the square on Saturday afternoon and spent time pottering around the little boutiques there. We were window shopping considering the prices of Oxford shops but we still enjoyed just perusing the quirky shops that litter the square. We spent a long time in Square Books Junior, where the primary school teacher came out in me! I loved reading and looking at lots of the different books and scheming up ways I could bring them into a lesson. My favourite book was about a Bunny that had a Big Bad Mood that kept following him and no matter what he did it wouldn't leave him alone...in the end his friends came over and made it all better! We ended up in Square Books where I sat and read for an hour, feeling very cultured and chilled out...

On Saturday night we headed out of Oxford and visited Southhaven for the first time. Loved going somewhere new with friends and especially enjoyed the shopping at the Mall we went too where they had big brands like American Eagle and Aeropostale. It was nice to get some new clothes but it wasn't long before we called it quits and had to get something to eat. Our original choice for dinner told us we'd have to wait for an hour which seemed much too long for 4 hungry girls so we saw IHOP (International House of Pancakes) and made a bee line for it, not really being too fussed at the idea of pancakes for dinner. I had heard so much about this place, especially from my sister (!), that the tourist in me came out and we had a great time there, the food was awesome!!



For church on Sunday we were back to Christ Presbyterian which I really enjoyed and then First Baptist in the evening for the women's bible study, starting to see so many familiar faces and know so many people that it doesn't feel as foreign anymore.