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Skunky's Adventures
Skunky's Adventures
All About Me :)
All About Me :)
Hello! My name is Skunky. I am the (unofficial) class pet of Mrs. Ice's 2nd grade classroom. I was created by a student in Mrs. Ice's class and given to Ms. Thomas before she finished her student teaching in Kentucky. Ms. Thomas received so many cute drawings of skunks like me that she decided to bring one of us along on her trip! She loves skunks. Plus, she thought that bringing me along would make it feel as if her Norton Commons students were with her, too!
I will be traveling around Ireland with Ms. Thomas for the next month, exploring amazing new places and learning all about Irish culture and history. Follow along to read about all of our exciting adventures below!
Cheers,
Skunky and Ms. Thomas ;)
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
3 April 2023
Our first stop was in Dublin, the capital city of Ireland! Ms. Thomas and I went on a tour of Trinity College. Trinity is the most famous university in Ireland. Ms. Thomas thought that Trinity was beautiful, but still says that WKU -her college back home- is the best university in the world.
I learned that Trinity was created by order of Queen Elizabeth I in 1592- over 400 years ago! Students have been studying here for hundreds of years. I got to meet many of Ireland's brightest students during our visit.
My favorite spot on campus was definitely the Old Library! Ms. Thomas said that the library smelled like the pages of an old book when you open it. I was briefly worried that she'd discovered a new favorite scent, but she promised me that she still prefers the coffee-like stench of skunk spray over the scent of old books. (Which she said all of Mrs. Ice's students would agree with.)
Someday I hope to be the first skunk to attend college. Maybe I'll get to go to school at Trinity!
Cheers,
Skunky
My New Friend, Freyah!
My New Friend, Freyah!
7 April 2023
I am happy to report that Ms. Thomas and I have made a new friend. Meet Freyah! She is an Irish Doodle puppy who lives at the house we are living at in Westport. Freyah had never met a skunk before because skunks are not native to Ireland. Imagine never having smelled the delicious scent of skunk spray before! How tragic.
We got off to a rocky start at first (as you can see in the photos below). Freyah thought I would taste as delicious as I smell. I did not want to be chewed on though, so Ms. Thomas had to make sure we didn't get too close to one another for a while. I think she's warming up to me though... ; )
Cheers,
Skunky
Freyah admiring my beauty.
2. Freyah deciding she'll take just a little nibble.
3. Ms. Thomas putting us in solitary confinement for our own good.
University of Galway
University of Galway
12 April 2023
Today's adventure: Galway University! I have been visiting many schools during my time here. Galway was a beautiful city. Some university students complimented me, saying that I was a very cute skunk. Ms. Thomas agrees.
The campus was so lush and green. I found a beautiful patch of flowers on campus. Can you find where I am in the picture below??
Cheers,
Skunky
Westport House, Westport
Westport House, Westport
13 April 2023
GUYS- I was thrown in a dungeon today! Did you know that skunks can be imprisoned? I certainly did not, but apparently it's true. They told me that my crime was smelling too delicious! During my time in the slammer, I learned about the history of the dungeon I was trapped in.
Atop the dungeon sits Westport House. Westport House is a 400-year-old historic home in the town we are living in. The house was built atop the ruins of a castle once owned by the famous 16th century Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley. Apparently, the dungeon was once used by the pirate queen herself! Legend says that when Grace was young she wanted to join her father's crew but was told no. Grace snuck onto the boat disguised as a boy (she'd cut her long hair and worn mens clothing to go undetected). Once the boat was far out at sea, she revealed her true identity! She was allowed to remain and soon demonstrated excellent seafaring abilities. Eventually, Grace became a fierce pirate captain and struck fear into the hearts of her seafaring enemies.
Thankfully, Ms. Thomas used her superior sleuthing skills to sneak down into the dungeons below the house to break me out. Maybe one day I will be as fierce and brave as Grace O'Malley!
Cheers,
Skunky
Ms. Thomas and her friend from WKU, Kaylee! We made our way into the house's gigantic kitchen for a quick look around.
I got a photo with the statue of the legendary pirate queen, Grace O'Malley, herself!
Me in front of Westport House!
Westport House as you approach from the sea.
It was so cold in the bay that Ms. Thomas lost the feeling in her fingers (despite the thick gloves she was wearing) and her ears!!
Ms. Thomas' friend, Alex, and I on the boat. If you look closely, you can see The Island of World Peace in the background!
Clew Bay, Westport
Clew Bay, Westport
15 April 2023
Howdy friends! Ms. Thomas and I's adventure today consisted of a boat tour into Westport's Clew Bay. Did you know that there are 365 islands in Clew Bay? That is an island for every day of the year!
500 years ago, these islands were incredibly important to Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley. The islands served as perfect places to hide and ambush enemy ships. I was quite relieved that Ms. Thomas and I didn't come across any swashbuckling pirates while we were out on the water.
We learned that one of the islands, Dorinish, was once owned by the famous Beatles singer John Lennon. Another island is named (kid you not) The Island of World Peace. It is currently occupied by hippies who run a meditation center there. A boat takes groups out to the center, where they spend eight weeks in isolation with no outside contact with the world. Could you imagine not watching television, going to a store or restaurant, and being trapped on a small speck of land for eight weeks?! A skunk like me needs to be on the go, so I made Ms. Thomas promise to never leave me on The Island of World Peace.
Cheers,
Skunky
Old Head Beach, Westport
Old Head Beach, Westport
16 April 2023
Ms. Thomas and I went with our friends and supervisor, Louise, to Old Head Beach. Old Head Beach is a lovely sandy stretch along the coast. It was a bit of a drive away from our house in Westport but it was worth every minute in the car. It still feels strange to be driving on the left side of the road! We climbed over many rocks and beds of seaweed along the shoreline. The sun started to set over Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain, during our walk. Naturally, Ms. Thomas made me pose for a photo in front of it (being such a gorgeous skunk is exhausting sometimes). Ms. Thomas assured me that the beauty of Crough Patrick would never be a lovelier sight than myself.
However, I think I heard her say that her students at Norton Commons might just be her favorite sight of all... ;)
Cheers,
Skunky
Me in front of the mountain at golden hour. This lighting makes me look almost angelic, don't you think? :)
Ms. Thomas and I wanted a picture in front of Croagh Patrick. As you can see, lots of sheep wanted to be in it as well!
Connemara, County Galway
Connemara, County Galway
22 April 2023
Today's exciting adventure was a trip to a sheep farm in a remote part of Western Ireland called Connemara. The land is rocky, cold, and not great for farming. Sheep, however, thrive in this environment! We watched the farm's dog, Molly, herd the sheep. She understands signals like: left, right, go, slow down, and stop. Molly is as fast as lightning and her breed is very intelligent- much like myself!
Cheers,
Skunky
Here is a photo of Molly herding the sheep. She is on their left side to make them go to their right!
Cloondaff National School Shenanigans ;)
Cloondaff National School Shenanigans ;)
27 April 2023
Ms. Thomas has been bringing me to school and we have had so much fun! Her students love me and say that I am absolutely adorable. Which, of course, is correct. Since skunks are not native to Ireland, none of them have ever seen (or smelled) a skunk in real life before. Ms. Thomas informed them that that was a great tragedy as skunk spray smells exactly like freshly brewed coffee. Upon hearing this, her students told her that they hope to one day get to smell skunk spray... ;)
On Tuesday, Ms. Thomas' students built me a home out of magnets. I found it to be quite cozy. On Wednesday, a few students helped us put together a puzzle of the counties of Ireland. We would not have been able to figure it out without the assistance of her geography-savvy students!
In class on Thursday, Ms. Thomas tried her best to carve a portrait of me in a piece of clay during art. Pretty good, you think? She says that she will need some more practice to get it just right. Her class asked to keep the piece to remember us by. We have loved our time living in Ireland and going to school here! We will miss our Cloondaff students so much!!! :')
Thanks for following along on our adventure abroad. Next stop- Ms. Thomas' graduation from WKU!! :)
Cheers,
Skunky
Ms. Thomas' (attempted) exact portrait of me. She thinks she needs some more practice to get it just right... ;)
Ireland has 26 counties. Ms. Thomas and I are living in the county of Mayo. It is the third largest county in Ireland. Can you find it on the map?
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