Derry Diary #4
2 July 2004
Rosemount Resource Centre
Hella Rain!

Sorry for the false start on the email message today. I pushed the wrong button. It happens when you get old and distracted.

Today, since the group didn't need to be at Brooke Park until after lunch, I came up with a great idea! Let's walk over to the other side of the river (the Waterside) and photograph the murals off Bonds Street. I am full of new and wonderful, and indeed challenging, ideas of what to do. (Well full of something).

And so we did, walk down from Rosemount, through the city centre around behind the mall to the Craignavon Bridge over the River Foyle and up into the bastion of Loyalism. Then it rained. Not a mild rain mind you, but a gully washer. Here we were, poor sots from California standing in front of a mural of George Washington, touting the Ulster heritage of some of the founding fathers of the USA, drenched to the bone looking like wet cats, cameras in hand. God has a sense of humor...or not. I have to tell you how stupid I used to be though. I thought that the when the Loyalists painted their curbs red, white and blue, it was for the 4th of July and not for the Union Jack (Britain's flag). When you think about it, my wonderful thought wouldn't be logical in a neighborhood whose people want to keep the union with Britain. After all we defeated them to gain our independance...now were friends and so it goes...

When Cal and I went shopping for a bit while the kids were taking applications for the summer scheme, we bought some toilet tissue. Of course, being thrifty I was going to buy the bulk roll. I heard Cal laughing hysterically and she brought me a package of "Velvet Quilted Toilet Tissue." I then read the tag line "love your bum" and understood why she was laughing. On the back of the package was an explanation, which I think is relevant and which I will repeat for you after you take a look at the picture below:

"All bums are different, but all bums need the same care. Velvet toilet tissue is soft and strong to care for your your's and your family's bums." I think as a public service the Northern Ireland Immersion group needs to offer you the web address of Velvet Tissue http://www.velvet-tissue.co.uk.
Remember, all bums need special care....

Sorry, I just had to put that in.

Below is the picture taken moments before I woke up the kids this morning. This is the room we call home. During the year it is used as a training center for computer skills and is open to the public. Last year we stayed on the other side of the building in the play school. The play school is in full swing so we are located in the computer suite. Anyway here they are sound asleep before I awaken them from their slumber.

It is so quiet...

And then there is the rain ...I have been looking at the weather maps lately and all I can see is clouds over Ireland especially the North. A fellow we passed who was out of the rain in the door way of Wee Buns (mmm I'm beginning to see a theme).

Tonite's dinner was an extravaganza! The feeding of 8 hungry teens and 2 hungry adults all for about $20.00. Salmon, beef with spicy sauce followed by homemade hot and sour soup. It was a hallmark of Northern Ireland Immersion cooking. I may be wrong, but in the 10 years I have been doing Immersions to this island, no group has ever cooked salmon before. It was all luscious. Given the budget, our cooks looked for bargains at the market and found them. Finding the market was another matter. Matt and Andrew deserve a cooking award and a map.

Mel and Bobby drew the duty of cleaning up in the kitchen afterwards and jumped right into it. Matt and Andrew had used every single pot and plate in the joint. But the result was well worth it. Mel and Bobby stayed behind while the rest went back to Brooke Park Youth Center for the Friday night "Disco"....glitzy, loud, with the average age of the participants hovering around 10 years old. There was a dance contest and Mel won.

Janelle gave a dynamite reflection this evening which provoked some much needed reflection. She focused on the we rather than the me of this community, and the experience offered to us in this maiden city on a daily basis. As we move forward and meet new people with new stories and new experiences, we need to be open to it. Well said and as right as rain as the lashing rain coming down outside this building. Coming up on our agenda are a day trip to Belfast as well as contacting everyone I said I was going to contact for meetings with our kids and maybe even dinner...that includes you, Scott...so be ready....

More later,

paul and Cal