Cross-Cultural Program:
Ireland and Northern Ireland -
News and Announcements
Orientation and Things to Bring
July 28, 1998Orientation for the Ireland Cross Cultural Seminar will begin August 25 from 3-5 p.m. in the Campus Center CC 301-302, Lehman Board Room (note the change from a different place advertised earlier). Orientation will continue August 26-28, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and August 31 8:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Also note that the list of "things to bring" which was handed out earlier is now reproduced here at the web site.
E-mail group; books; Gloria at ACIS
April 15, 1998
E-mail group
Hi everyone, I've created this new e-mail group for us through my personal account. The group includes all 28 students, Gloria, me, and Orv Gingerich. Anything sent to this emueire98@umich.edu address automatically goes to all of us. This e-mail group can be used for any questions or discussion we have before meeting for orientation in August; it can also be a fun place for us to get to know one another over the summer.That is, what we make of this group is up to your initiative. Something that might be useful is: as you work on your scrapbook to take along, you'll be of course compiling info about your family, your town, etc....send that info to your classmates here! Introduce yourself here as you would introduce yourself to a host family you're meeting for the first time. Good practice. It will also help those of us in the 'Burg get acquainted with Scott in Hesston, and vice versa.
Who wants to lead off with your introduction? (I've found that e-mail forums like this one are great for shy folks like me who otherwise don't say much.)
Books
So far I've received four requests for the discount copies of Angela's Ashes. Any others of you? I picked up those copies last night, and will go get any others Friday noon. So if you want one, reply to me by Thursday night (or Friday morning by 11 at the latest). Send your check to Gloria in campus mail: $16 (as opposed to the retail price of $25). We'll get the books to you next week.Gloria at ACIS
Gloria's off this afternoon to the American Conference for Irish Studies Annual Conference (Ft Lauderdale FL), through Saturday. For more info about the ACIS, see their sites; they also have a large list of Irish web links.- Brad
Plane tickets/passports; Angela's Ashes
April 13, 1998Hi all!
We have discovered copies of Angela's Ashes at CostCo (formerly known as Price Club). Brad will purchase a copy of the book on Friday 4/17 for anyone who wants one at the reasonable price of $16.00 (retail price for it anywhere else is $25.00). Please e-mail him to reserve a copy at bpl@umich.edu and send a check via campus mail (or regular mail) to me at CTP.
Also, I received confirmation of our flights today! Whoo hoo! I need your full name exactly as it appears on your passport by next Wednesday April 22 in order to reserve a ticket for you. If you have not applied for your passport, please do so as soon as possible!
- Gloria
p.s. Check out this Japanese fans' site about Angela's Ashes...they have photos of many of the locations, and many people's reactions to the book. - Brad
Final Ireland Cross Cultural meeting this semester
April 9, 1998Hi all, a short message to clarify some of the things I mentioned on Sunday, and the information I promised you to be thinking about as you prepare for the trip.....
First though, I spoke with Brendan McAllister yesterday of the Mediation Network for Northern Ireland. He mentioned that the peace talks are now in their final 24 hours (to end tonight at midnight). Things are highly tense, and there have been several political crises. The British Prime Minister was asked to come to Northern Ireland. He did to be part of these last minute talks. Please remember the peace talks today.
Orientation
One slight change to the orientation schedule. Orientation will begin on Tuesday, August 25 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Discipleship Center. You will go through the registration line as usual earlier in the day. We will determine the rest of the orientation schedule that day. As I mentioned on Sunday, you should fill out the Spring portion of your registration card to be entered while we are gone.What is due by the first day of orientation?
- Brief proposal for free travel week (this can be very sketchy, I'd just like you to begin thinking about it before we actually get to Ireland): Where are you going (include all cities)? Why?
- Proposal for independent individual project: Please bring a proposed subject for your independent study project. I'd prefer that the subject be as specific as possible. It can be like the example I gave, brickmaking in Ireland, or a study on a particular author or singer or artist, or soccer in Ireland, a historical event, women in the current political situation etc. If you have the opportunity, I'd encourage you to read and take notes from any resources on your topic that you find this summer. There may be fewer library resources available to you in Ireland.
- Read as much as you can about Ireland. You can read ahead in the texts, or read for your individual project. Angela's Ashes should be read prior to Orientation. If you are not able to read the book before orientation, you will need to take the book with you to Ireland and read it before we reach Limerick.
- Photo Album (will be part of your Cross Cultural Understandings Grade). Should answer the following questions and provide supporting information:
Please include photos for each area, and include enough text to explain each. My preference is that the photo album be in a three-ring binder so that you can add text pages and memorabilia along the way, but you may present the album however you wish, as long as you are convincing in your answers to the questions above.
- Who is your family? (siblings, parents)
- Where do you go to school or work? (major? job?)
- What is your hometown? (where, what is it known for?)
- Where do you go to church? (what's interesting or remarkable about your church or community)
- What do you do for fun? (hobbies, sports, pets, etc)
Passports
Please let me know if you have trouble getting your passport. If you do not have your passport in hand by August 1, 1998, please e-mail me.Parent/Guardian permission Form
You don't need to have your Parent/Guardian sign this unless you are under 21.International Student ID card
I talked with the Dean's Office, and it is your responsibility to purchase the student ID card. The $20 fee will likely be recovered in savings to you during your personal travel. The card gives you significant discounts on lodging, museums, travel, etc.On the application form, please follow the instructions for filling out the information and have Dave Detrow sign the School Declaration portion. For Departure Date and Departure City, please list 9/1/98, Washington, D.C. For the Arrival Date and Arrival City, write 9/2/98 and Shannon, Ireland.
Our new Address
We now have a new home address and phone number should you need to get in touch with us after 5:00 p.m. or on weekends:Brad Lehman and Gloria Rhodes
Rt 5 Box 177
Harrisonburg VA 22801
540-867-5335Misc.
Good luck finishing your work for the semester! I will be in my office most of the summer. Please feel free to contact me here or at our home address if you have questions or need clarification on something.Preparation
Practical things to think about as you get ready to go (from J.Daniel Hess, Whole World Guide to Culture Learning):
- Get your passport early, verify all the facts, sign on the signature line indicated
- Apply for International Student ID
- Bring "contacts" list of people in the host country (connections are important and you may find yourself in need)
- Address book, travel guide, maps, journal, photo album, novel from host country
- Make a list of important names and numbers, address and phone numbers at home. Include emergency numbers and addresses for all credit cards, and documents you will be bringing
- Will you be able to dial direct from the host country to your home? Will your calling card be accepted: Find out now. You should take a calling card, and have whomever you are calling, call you back if possible.
- Are your eyes in good condition? Take along an extra pair of glasses and contacts (and contact fluids for the semester -- you may not be able to find your brand) - items like these will be very expensive in Ireland with the prices and the exchange rate. You won't want to replace a pair there.
- Get a general physical before you go.
- Wean yourself from electrical appliances if possible. If not, get all adapters and converters that you'll need.
- Don't take anything you don't want to lose (engagement ring, important jewelry or papers)
- Get your teeth cleaned and checked. Repair work is better, more convenient and less expensive here.
- Take along several personal photographs (copies of your passport mug shot are fine, or you wallet sized copies of your school photo)
- Get comfortable walking shoes that are good for five miles a day. Practice walking, and break in your shoes long before we leave.
- Try to get two good nights of sleep before leaving.
- Take lots of ziplock bags and several plastic grocery bags
- Pack one change of clothes in your carry-on luggage (you can have your day pack and a purse, fanny pack, or camera bag).
- Take about $50 in cash for arrival but put the rest in travelers checks (or a take credit/debit card and get cash there -- this is what I did).
- Take about half of what you originally pack. You'll be able to purchase necessities if you leave something behind.
- As you travel, save stubs and receipts, you don't want to throw away a valuable ticket voucher. Later when you get home, you can figure out what to throw away. In Ireland, you will be able to recover any sales tax paid, but you must keep receipts.
- Take any prescription mediation (enough for the whole semester)
- Local gift items for your hosts - remember that Ireland is first world, baseball caps, T-shirts, homemade items, crafts, something special to your hometown or area
Final Ireland Cross Cultural Meeting this semester
March 30, 1998The final Ireland Cross Cultural Meeting of the semester is scheduled for this coming Sunday, April 5, from 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the West Dining Room.
This will be a very important meeting with specific details on our travel schedule, syllabi, required texts, assignments, summer tasks, and 98-99 registration. Attendance is required.
Please contact me directly by phone (x. 4493) or e-mail if you have questions or concerns.
- Gloria
Deposits, passports, itinerary
February 24, 1998Some important items since our Sunday meeting:
First, our passport applications have arrived! I have put applications in campus mail to each of you who did not indicate that you already have a passport. After looking over the application, it is clear that the easiest way to proceed is for each of you to apply individually for your passport. The instructions on the application are clear. You will need to turn in the application in person at the courthouse here in Harrisonburg or at a Federal or State court (or certain post offices) in your home area.
You will need:
Second, a cash deposit of $750.00 is due to student accounts by March 13, 1998. I apologize to those whom I told that students would be billed for the deposit. Student accounts will not bill cross cultural deposits. The money is needed on hand to purchase airline tickets and help cover other expenses already being incurred on your behalf. If this causes major difficulty for any of you, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss options.
- certified copy of birth certificate or previous passport
- drivers license
- two photographs size 2x2 taken within the last 6 months (we recommend you use King Photo in the mall; approximately $10 and ready in under half an hour)
- $45.00 check or money order to Passport Services
- $25.00 office fee for Harrisonburg office
Third, we have put a tentative itinerary up on our website. I would be happy for your comments concerning the itinerary. It is subject to change until the last moment, so please don't be surprised when it is revised. The weekly schedule is likely to be Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday classes; Friday, Saturday, Sunday exploring; Monday free. The weekend travel is sketched out on the web site.
Fourth, the date of our next meeting is March 15, 1998. We will have a St. Patrick's Day party at our house (251 W. Gay Street) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Please let me know if you have conflicts, we'll try to resolve them. I'll send directions later.
More later! Please keep in touch if you have unanswered questions!
- Gloria
Intent to participate; Spring semester meetings
January 15, 1998This is a final reminder that Confirmation of Intent to Participate forms for the Ireland Cross Cultural are due tomorrow, Friday, January 16. Please let me know if you have questions or are unable to get the form to me by then.
The following is a tentative schedule for Spring semester meetings of the Ireland Cross Cultural group. Please put these dates on your calendar now, and let me know if they don't suit you.
February 22, 5:00-6:30 (West Dining Room)
- Lauren McKinney, leader, and members of the 1997 summer cross cultural to Ireland will tell about their experiences.
- More on passport applications
March 15, 5:00-6:30..? (Discipleship Center?)
- St. Patrick's Day celebration
- Stay late (optional) and watch a movie with Ireland themes such as...
- In the Name of the Father
- The Field
- The Commitments
- The Crying Game
April 5, 5:00-6:30 (West Dining Room) final meeting before summer break
- packing tips
- summer projects
- syllabi and reading lists
- Gloria
Meeting scheduled January 11, and other instructions for Christmas break
December 10, 1997[an error occurred while processing this directive]Hi everybody,
I arrived home from Ireland on Saturday, November 22th, and with the exception of a horrible head cold, I had a very successful trip, learned tons, and feel good about what got accomplished for the cross cultural. Most notably, I met with Mervyn Love, our liaison and assistant in Ireland. We were able to make good headway on a tentative schedule, and we discussed the details of how we will work together and objectives for the group in Ireland.
I will give you a full report about my trip (complete with slides) when we meet in January. Please plan to join us on Sunday, January 11 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the West Dining Room. You may bring your tray from the cafeteria or pack a supper. At that meeting you will receive Intent to Participate forms and information about passports. I will also show slides from my November trip, and give you an update on our tentative itinerary. Please let me know if you will be unable to attend.
Please be planning to meet once per month during the spring semester. We will try to find times that suit as many people as possible. If Sunday suppers will regularly not suit you, please contact me by e-mail. The monthly sessions are required, and will be very important as we begin work on passports, tickets, course requirements and other items of importance.
Assignments will not be heavy over the spring/summer, but I plan to give you a syllabus for each of the five courses by April. You will then be able to purchase books before you leave EMU for the summer.
If you do not currently have a passport, please locate the official record of your birth certificate (usually a plastic card) while at home over break. This will be required for your passport application.
You should also discuss the cross cultural with your parents and try to make a final decision about participating. You will be required to sign the statement of intent to participate in January, and by early February you will need to make a down payment.
As you make your decisions about participating in the cross cultural, please let me know so that those still waiting can be given the opportunity to join the group. If you already know that you will not be going, please e-mail me as soon as possible. Also, don't hesitate to call if you have questions or concerns about the cross cultural.
Don't forget to use the web site over vacation.
We're looking forward to seeing you in January!
Have a happy holiday!
- Gloria