My future plans

In 2010, I will do a number of things. First, I will start a new job at the college. I will work in the educational technology department. Also, I will present at the TESOL Arabia conference in March. In addition, I will have a paper published in a book coming out in March.

There are also some things that I am planning to do in 2010. I am going to start writing a new paper about Web2.0 tools and learning. And in the summer, I am going to visit Thailand with my family. Finally, I am planning to do less active sports so that my back doesn’t get worse.

In the long-term future, I would like to do a number of things. I would like to have a job where I could work from home. Also, I would like to work for myself, perhaps an educational technology consultant. Finally, I would like to have enough money so as not to worry too much about the future!

My life now and ten years ago

Bangkok                                      Sharjah

In this essay, I will write about the changes that have happened in my life over the last ten years.

Ten years ago I was single and had no children. If fact, ten years ago I don’t think I had met my wife yet! I lived and worked as a teacher in Bangkok and was generally having a good time after working very hard in Japan. I did a lot of running back then and was about 8 kilogrammes lighter than now. I also had a bit more hair back then.

Now, I’m married and have two daughters. I’m living in Sharjah and have just started a new job as an educational technologist. I’m still playing sports although I have to take it easier now because I hurt my back last year. Ten years ago I loved travelling. I still do but I don’t really get the time for it now.

My favourite childhood place - Blackwater

When I was a boy, every summer I went to a place called Blackwater. My family had a mobile home beside the beach and we stayed there for two months. From what I remember, the weather was usually very good, but I’m sure that it probably rained a lot. I did lots of things there. When the weather was very hot, we played on the beach and swam. If it was raining, we listened to music and sometimes went into Wexford to watch a movie. After rain was the best time because it was easy to catch fish in the river.

As I got older, I spent less time there because every summer I played on a lot of sports teams. But when I went there I used the beautiful long beach to train on. I still liked to swim but as I got older the water seemed to get colder! When I left Ireland after university, I rarely had the chance to visit Blackwater but last summer I took my family there. It was nice but my wife, Gai, always complained of the cold!

my year in 2009

2009 had a lot of ups and downs for me. Some bad things happened, but some good things also happened.

Some of the bad things that happened to me are as follows. First, my job was very boring in the first half of the year because I had many problems with my manager at work. Also, I had some health problems during the year. I hurt my back because I played too many sports. In addition, my savings continued to drop because of the bad economy and the weak dollar.

But luckily some good things also happened. First of all, we were able to have a great summer holiday because we travelled to five countries in Europe. Moreover, my job was much better in the second half of the year. I won the Nikai Award for teaching and got a prize of 25,000 dirham and a TV. Finally, my job changed at the end of the year and now I will do some interesting work next year.

Easter in Ireland

The date of Easter Sunday changes every year but it is always in spring. The weather is usually sunny but sometimes it can rain or even snow! In Ireland, people do many different things at Easter. On Easter morning, we usually go to church to celebrate Jesus returning to heaven (but I rarely go). After that, we always have a big dinner with our families. Children usually get chocolates and Easter eggs. Painted eggs are sometimes hidden in the garden and the children must find them. We often visit our relatives in the afternoon but we sometimes go to watch a sports event. We never go shopping on Easter Sunday because all the shops are closed.

An Irish recipe - Colcannon

This is a recipe for Colcannon, an Irish potato and cabbage meal.

For this meal, you need these ingredients:

• 500g of cooked potatoes
• 250g of cooked cabbage
• 2 tablespoons of cream
• salt and black pepper
• 1 onions, sliced thinly
• a little bacon fat

You make it like this:

• First, mash the potatoes, mix with the cabbage and cream and add salt and pepper.
• Then, cook the onion in the fat until it is soft and beginning to brown.
• Next, put half the potato and cabbage mix on to the onion and fry for 4-5 minutes until it is brown and crispy.
• After that, cut into 4 pieces and turn the pieces over carefully.
• Then, put the other half of the potato and cabbage mixture on top and after a few more minutes, cut and turn again.
• Finally, the colcannon is ready when the bottom is brown and crispy.

My hometown - Naas

My hometown is called Naas. It is in the eastern part of Ireland, in the county of Kildare. It has a population of about 20,000 people and it is the 17th biggest town in Ireland. Most people who live in Naas work in Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The symbol of Naas is the snake, even though there are no snakes in Ireland.

It is a very old town and its Irish name, Nas na Riogh, means “meeting place of the kings”. There are many interesting old buildings in Naas such as the old churches, Jigginstown Castle and the Moat. There is a walk around Naas where you can see all of these old buildings.

There are also many interesting things to do in Naas. There are three race courses around the town and there are also many golf courses. There is a canal where you can go boating. In addition, in August there is a big music festival in Naas called Oxygen. Almost 100,000 people go there.

Naas is now a busy town and there are many different types of restaurants and pubs. Fletcher’s pub has the best Guinness in the town and they have won many awards.