After looking at a few apartments we found the perfect one for us. We didn’t get our first choice, the huge huge huge apartment right by the beach. The landlord wanted someone to stay for at least a year… too bad, that would have been nice and some of you could have come over for a visit!

The 2nd most perfect apartment is ours though and we’re moving in tomorrow. I’ll post some pictures once we moved in. There will be enough space for you to visit as well. Please do!

With our biggest worry out of the way we can start to work on our homework and catch up on some sleep (if the church will let us).

…it’s a thunder storm keeping us awake at night.

The church is across the street and woke us up every hour on the hour and ALL OF SUNDAY morning. *Hahah, it’s ringing as I’m typing this. It’s calling me*

Last night there was an enormous thunder storm. I’ve never heard anything like it. The streets are flooded now and the bus didn’t show this morning to bring us to school. We decided to walk to school on the non-existent sidewalks. Back in Ireland you have bring rain boots, here you bring flip flops to walk through the deep puddles… It was absolutely crazy. We’ve never been so happy to see our university!

And, to cheer you up, some girls on walking down the street…

Hello all,
I’ve arrived in Malta 🙂 It’s hot and sunny.

Some of my friends are already here and we’re happy to see each other again. It’s funny to see everyone in new clothes… Looks like everyone had a chance to trade in their winter sweaters for their summer dresses.

We’re staying in student accommodation for about a week and will start house hunting right away. Cross your fingers.

After visiting with my family near Paderborn I took the the train back to Hamburg. I jumped off in Bremen, met my friend Daniela and her baby for lunch and ice cream, and then continued the journey down to Hamburg to see my dad again. What a life!

Now my body is catching up with me, my stomach feels squeezy from all the good-byes over the last week of months and my eyes are a bit teary.

Tomorrow I’m off to Malta. I’m looking forward to seeing my IMEC family again. They have become such a big part in my life and I’ve missed them all summer.

He usually likes hanging out with me, but he needed his diaper changed…

On our way to see our family.

Love Love.

An update from the Prime Minister’s Award: Here is a link to the Exemplary Practices publications that represent a culmination inspiring ideas by award-winning educators 🙂

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/pmaece-ppmepe.nsf/eng/h_wy00450.html

One of the nicest airport pick-ups to date: My dad, my sister and John, AND my nephew Lennert.

I’m so glad I decided to fly to Germany before heading south to Malta. I can’t remember the last time I visited twice in one year! And everyone is keeping me busy which means I don’t have time to miss home too much…

I’ll upload some pictures when I’m more awake.

Love, A

After seeing my friend Anne a couple of times this summer I was so inspired that I just had to start a new idea book. It’s just a way to document some of the good ideas (my research proposal, art activities, books, readings, projects with children….) for future reference… I’m so happy.

Anne has a children’s bookstore with beautiful, magical, kind books. She is also an Early Childhood Educator and Children’s Yoga teacher. She is amazing. Check out kinderbooks.ca or www.facebook.com/kinderbooks to see her page. Anne is thinking about starting a blog and I hope she will, then we all can be inspired by her and have a look into her idea book/blog.

Great Nanna and grandpa Warren came for a visit from Ontario.

Earlier that day Evan and I had breakfast with my mom and Bob. They shared their favorite summer treat with us: frozen champaign grapes. We made some for Nanna and Warren and they LOVED them.

Now, why are you still reading this? Go buy yourself some champaign grapes and put them in the freezer. Wait. Enjoy. Yum. Yum.

I’ve decided to put in one day of homework before I go to Malta. I’ve worked on most of my summer tasks…

1. I’ve read and commented on a thesis from one of the students who did her research in Malta (still one more thesis to read, but I can do that on a rainy day).

2. I’ve searched for all sorts of articles that talk about the Early Childhood Educator as Professional and the state of Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Canada.

3. This last task was especially tricky… I have copied my presentation about ECE in Canada from the Dublin folder to the Malta folder. Done.

Now that I’ve put work and homework behind me, I am free until I leave for Europe next week. It will be bittersweet: I will miss my people here, but I will get to meet my new nephew on the other side 🙂