Michelle Defoe, member of Gekinoo'imaagejig teaches abroad
This fall as UMD´s Block ll Elementary Education Teaching cadidates were filling out their student teaching packets one of our own members, Michelle Defoe, asked what GST was, which is Global Student Teaching. She asked if Ireland was a possibility, upon further inquiry at the University we found that indeed Ireland was part of GST. Michelle enrolled in the University of Morris' study abroad program with the help of UMD's international education office. And so the ball started rolling.
Michelle was admitted into the Gekinoo'imaagejig program in the Spring of 2003. In August of this past year Michelle gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Shannon. Michelle knew there would be obstacles in going to Ireland as she was not going as a lone college studnet but with her baby in tow. Luckily with the support of her mother, Patty, she wouldn't be alone in a strange land wiht her baby. On January 6th, 2006 after much paperwork, putting all their personal belongings in storage, Michelle, Patty, and Shannon headed off to Dublin, Ireland.
Michelle is teaching at St. Brigid's School in the heart of Dublin. Her time at St. Brigid's will be spent between two different classrooms and two different age groups.
When talking with Michelle recently she had to laugh at some of the cultural differences between the U.S. and Ireland. She was teaching a lesson on shapes and had just talked about a circle and how it looks like a pizza. She then moved on to a rectangle and asked if anyone could tell her something shaped like a rectangle and one young lady raised her hand and said "a rubber." Michelle, wide-eyed, almost said, " no my girl that would be a circle," but then remembered that "rubbers" are what the Irish call erasers. Those kids are certaintly keeping our Michelle on her toes.
Thanks to modern technology we have been abel to keep in contact, visually, with Michelle via Apple's iSite camera, it allows us to converse back and forth in real time. It also allows for Michelle to keep on top of her Ojibwe language studies with the rest of her cohort members. Over break Michelle, her mother, and daughter are planning a trip to Wales. We are hoping for some pictures of her visit to post on the sight, so keep checking back.
It took a lot of time, envergy and commitment on Michelle's part to see this experience through and we know that it has tested her patience and endurance. We are so proud of her and wish her all the best on the rest of her time abroad.