Believe it or not, I’m not talking about finishing the mocks or anything. But you know when something finally pays off? Utter Delight.
On Wednesday, I went to the Gaeltacht as part of school preperation for orals, with about 70 others. We were in Gaoth Dobhair at Colaise Cholmcille, & I have to say, it was brilliant! I’ve already spoken of my nerves in relation to Irish, and I decided I could really benefit from being immersed in the language! It turned out to be true, because I’ve been thinking in Irish as a result & English feels strange! Basically we had four classes a day, then a céilí or Tráth na gCeist or something later. Yesterday our ‘activity’ was an oral. I was freaking out, I’m not confident in Irish after Junior Cert, but I managed to go in, and come out with a “Go hiontach!” & 78%! Needless to say I was delighted, I felt so happy that I managed to actually speak. When we started Irish Oral two months ago, my voice shook & I wanted to cry after being asked questions (I don’t know why.) and I’ve built myself up to a B2! And just to top it all off – We spent that night in Maggie Dan’s, a pizza place with a few of the girls playing irish music, & teachers giving prizes. The girls that did Irish dancing, played music, & won the quiz all got vouchers, then there were prizes for the people that made the most effort – & I got one! In that moment, I just genuinely got a sense of “I can do this.” I mean, I love Irish, I just feel it’s a weak subject And I was a lot happier with 78% in irish oral than 86% in german. I think the moment you do well in your worst subject is definitely a happy one! But, basically, the trip was amazing & definitely worthwhile, so I’d recommend a trip there. Obviously the cost is pretty prohibitive, it put me off summer courses, but the 5 days cost me €180 with no extra cost. Personally, it was worth it. Agus, mo chairde, sin é. I need sleep. I’ve forgotten what it is, & unfortunately, I have school tomorrow. Which means results. Slán!

To quote the little old women at my bus shelter, “It comes earlier and earlier every year”. Okay, so they were talking about Christmas and I would normally complain too about the early arrival of everything Christmas-related but not this year. Everyone seems so down and out about the Budget and just the state of the country in general that I say, why not talk about Christmas? I don’t know about you all but for me I can think of no happier time. Two weeks off school (even longer this year though), mouth-watering food, busy shops, a nice cosy fire at home…Okay, snap back to reality Ciara before you break into song. What I was trying to say when I started writing this (yes, would you believe that this actually leads to something exam related?) was that while I have no problems discussing Christmas now, I think it’s too soon to start talking about about Christmas Tests. The sad thing is, the Christmas Tests are before Christmas. Crap.

Yeah, the second we arrived back last week the teachers started calling out prescribed chapters for the exams and before you know it, everyone has made study timetables and Granny has started lighting the candles for them at mass. I’m sat here wondering where to start with all my study…Times like this I’d really like a crystal ball. Or a photographic memory. Maybe if I get Granny to light an extra big candle I might get one of the two. I think a trip to the library is in order this weekend, without my friends in tow because let’s just say they make it hard to study…ever play Hide and Seek in a library? I have. I need to finish the second draft of my History RSR anyway.

In other news, we got our Drémires this week. I know, the fun never stops in my life! For anyone who doesn’t know, it’s like a mini Irish book with essays and grammar tips, etc., aimed at LC students. It’s handy but I find the comprehensions too complex. I’ll stick to my Foinses for the most part, thank you very much. My French teacher advised our class to pick our documents for the oral in the coming two weeks. Is she serious? The oral is months away! I don’t know what to pick, any ideas? I was thinking of a picture from the Gaeltacht but I just know that’ll put me in the Irish language state of mind that I really have to avoid, considering it’s a test of French. She said it could be a picture of anything but the other class’ teacher told them it really should be French-related, so they’re all picking French movies (the same one) and French celebrities. Unfortunately I’m not as absorbed in the culture, although I like croissants (cliché much?).

I’m going to start studying in a few minutes (I promise) and then reward myself with some TV. The Apprentice- I’m addicted! And I do Business so it’s practically educational.

The longer I’m back at school, the more blissful Friday evenings are. Seriously, I’m as happy after school finishes for the week as an OAP on pension day!

The downside is the large menacing pile of school books in the corner of the room. Naturally, as a Leaving Cert student (those words still send a shiver down my spine), I have lots of homework and tests to study for. I am quite proud of myself though because I did a big long Irish poetry question on Thursday night that’s not due until Monday. At least that’s that out of the way.

Speaking of Irish, I didn’t mention anything in the last post about my time in the Gaeltacht. I went for the first time (and sadly the last time) this summer. If anyone is looking for a good one to go to, Coláiste Chamuis Camus in Co.Galway is the place to go! Obviously I’m going to be biased when I say that but it has an excellent reputation. They were an amazing three weeks- I met the nicest people and my Irish has improved enormously (it got to the point where I was sleep-talking in Irish). I’m so confident speaking as Gaeilge now that I’m actually looking forward to the Oral! The idea of a French Oral, however, still scares the beyjasus out of me. Anyway, we were doing some Irish listening in class a few days ago and it’s so much easier to follow it all. Fuair mé beagnach gach ceann ceart!

I’ve noticed that nearly everyone here seems to have gone to the Higher Options exhibition and I feel so left out that I wasn’t there! I only found out what it was three days ago so I’m guessing since we’re here in the isolated West of Ireland, my school didn’t bother suggesting it. Reading people’s blogs about it, it seems similar to something I went to last year near my school and am going to again this year. I really just attend those things for the free stuff.

I’m going to keep this short for today because I feel a cold coming on and want to go rest. Eh, I mean, study.

As the title suggests, the mocks season is quickly approaching! Judging by the amount of mock related questions on this site, you’d swear it was the end of the world! It really annoys me that everyone is looking to find out what’s coming up on the different papers. Like seriously, what’s the point doing them if you know what’s coming up? The whole point is that they’re a run through of what’s coming up in June. And if you know what’s coming up in June, we can talk more

I start mine this Wednesday. My timetable isn’t too bad, I suppose, three full days and four half ones. There’s none I’m really dreading, usually it would be Irish and French but I feel I’ve done enough for them this time. I probably should feel a little bit more worried about the exams, but any fellow sixth year I’ve talked to has proclaimed they’re screwed, so I suppose I can take some comfort in that.

I had my mock Irish oral during the week. After spending 3 weeks in the Gaeltacht over the summer, I didn’t think too much preparation was necessary, so much so that I lost my sliochtanna the weekend before and read it for the first time in the exam! Needless to say it didn’t go half as well as I thought, I most certainly won’t be trying to wing it come the real one. I still managed to get 99/150 for ten minutes of awkward conversation so I guess it wasn’t all bad! French orals are the week we come back after mid-term however; they are one thing I am not looking forward to! Speaking French has never been a strong point of mine, and never do I regret not going on a French-exchange back in TY more so than now!

I was fortunate enough to attend an Open Evening in UCD a few weeks ago for people interested in Actuarial and Financial Studies. It seemed pretty good, I got to chat to one of the lectures about the course and it seemed pretty interesting, the only think is they expect the points to rise this year so that’s a bit of a bummer seen as they were 530 last year.

Sport seems to be one thing that’s going right this year. Tomorrow our schools in the Dublin Colleges football final, so with a bit of luck, we’ll bring home some silverware. This is my fourth final with the school, and yet to win anything, so fingers crossed, it would be nice to leave the school with something! Cross-country season is back in full swing. We were up in DCU last Wednesday for the annual invitational, and our Senior team came 3rd so all in all, a good day out. The West-Leinster event is on this Thursday however, so that means I’m in school at 8 in the morning for Biology, off to the race, and then back to start Maths paper two in the evening, fun or what!

Thursday week I finish with Economics and then off for a week. No plans as of yet but looking forward to it immensely!

Best of luck to all doing exams, remember, come August they count for nothing! Bon courage!