Our GLC course with Cathy (along with Phil's GLC course) organized an "Irish Fair" this semester because some of the students had gone on at excursion to Dublin. On June 13, from 11-16 o'clock we were to display projects, sell snacks and market items, run a pub, and try Irish dancing and singing.

We spent much of our course time preparing for that day. Various groups were formed to organize tasks and projects. I joined up with Jessica, Renuka and Lena to draw a giant Dublin streetmap showing the routes and highlights of the excursion. By the way, my thanks to them for bearing with me and my awful singing while we were sketching and coloring the map!

Because I had to work, I couldn't attend the Fair from the beginning on. But when I arrived at the Uni and saw the huge "Welcome to the Irish Fair" sign and how everything looked when all was set up and decorated, I must say that it was very impressive. I think everybody gave his/her best. Although there were certainly plenty of guests, including a number from outside the University, I had expected even more students from other course of study to visit the Irish Fair. Most of the people who came were more or less "insiders," as far as I could tell. Perhaps such special activities are more interesting for people who share that experience or who participate in it.

But I think this day was worth the effort involved because of the social aspect. The group-work and the preparation, decoration and presentation resulted in all of us knowing each other better, and we all could be proud of our achievement. In my group we definitely had a lot of fun, and that counts for more than financial success - although I must add that the Fair was financially successful, too!

Frauke Pietschmann