The Impartial Reporter newspaper in Enniskillen
has reported on a College student, John Conlon, who will study
in the USA this coming year.
Trainee teacher to give US lesson in Irish music and
food
Fermanagh has a new ambassador to the United States. John Conlon
will bring Irish culture and way of life to America and bring
back a bit of their culture and business acumen. The 21-year-old
student teacher from Tempo Road, Maguiresbridge, is packing
his bodhran to give the Americans a flavour of Irish music -
and his grandmother's recipe for boxtie to give them a taste
of Irish cuisine!
And they can't wait to get their teeth into both.
"They have been in contact with me already and I haven't
even got there," he says.
John, son of Ann and the late William Conlon, is one of 75
students from Northern Ireland selected to take part in the
Study USA Programme. He leaves on August 22, and will spend
the next academic year studying business at Albright College
in Pennsylvania. It will be a major departure from St Mary's
University College in Belfast where he is studying to be a primary
school teacher.
It was at St Mary's that he learned of the American opportunity
and attended an information evening.
As John points out, it is so competitive when it comes to getting
a job these days, "especially in teaching", and he
thought the American experience would open more doors, provide
him with different expertise and the chance to experience a
different culture.
John was selected through a comprehensive selection process.
He was then matched with the college he thought would benefit
him the most and began packing his bags for Pennsylvania. He'll
be the first Irish student to walk the campus and bunk down
in the dorms at Albright in seven years. He believes the College
hopes he'll give its students a different perspective.
As Patrick Black, one of the organisers, explains: "In
addition to his studies John will also complete a number of
projects required for successful completion of the programme
and act as a representative for Northern Ireland by delivering
five ambassadorial presentations."
John says: "I'm looking forward to the challenge of being
able to get up and take part in classroom discussions and debates."
And as someone who is "big into Irish traditional music"
he's also looking forward to introducing the American students
to his bodhran
In addition he will be giving presentations on various aspects
of life here including the food.
"Granny showed me how to make boxtie," he smiles.
"I believe it is important that I not only 'share' Northern
Ireland with the people I meet in the US but that I also share
my own new experiences with those back home so that I can raise
awareness of American culture, and also the Study USA Programme,
in my local community," he explains.
So the former pupil of St Mary's Primary School, Maguiresbridge,
St Comhghall's College, Lisnaskea, and St Michael's College,
Enniskillen, will be sending back his own Letters from America
to readers of The Impartial Reporter.
"I believe that participation on this programme will offer
great insight into the education system of America as well as
cultural and social differences, or indeed similarities, all
of which I would like to share with my home community of Fermanagh,"
says John.
And he has already learned one lesson, that we don't necessarily
share a common language!
"I leave for the US in mid-August 2011 and already it
has become apparent through speaking with some of my future
American classmates through social networking sites that the
language will probably be one of the first of many major differences
that I will encounter," he laughs.
"I hope that I can share this experience with my local
community at home and provide them with an insight into the
adventure and mystery which are ahead of me this year. Hopefully
this will give readers from both the younger and older generations
an idea of the opportunities programmes like Study USA can open
up for a small-town boy like myself," says John.
