Cwrs Cymraeg 2005 - Wrap-Up
Cymdeithas Madog
returned to Rio Grande, Ohio in 2005 for "Cwrs Cymraeg yr Afon Fawr" ("The Great River Welsh Course").
The 30th annual Cwrs Cymraeg Welsh language week was held July 17 to 24 on the campus of the University of Rio
Grande in Rio Grande, Ohio.
Cymdeithas Madog Presented
Cwrs Cymraeg yr Afon Fawr,
Gorffennaf / July 17-24, 2005
University of Rio Grande,
Rio Grande, OH
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Cwrs Cymraeg yr Afon Fawr
by Sarah Campbell
This past July 17-24, the annual
Cymdeithas Madog Welsh course was held at the University of Rio Grande in Rio Grande, a small town with a large
Welsh influence and a very Spanish name located near the Ohio River in southeastern Ohio. As always, the week was
packed with Welsh learning and activities. Cwrs Cymraeg yr Afon Fawr (the Rio Grande Welsh Course or the Big River
Welsh Course) was hosted by the Madog Center for Welsh Studies at the University of Rio Grande and the Cardigan
Club. Jeanne Jindra, president of the Cardigan Club, and Dr. Tim Jilg, director of the Madog Center, were most
gracious as the local organizers, and we owe them a big thank you-Diolch yn fawr, Tim and Jeanne!
What happens during the week
at Cwrs Cymraeg? To put it simply, lots of learning and fun. The course officially starts with a reception given
by the local organizers on the first Sunday evening. With nearly 70 students, young and old (though young at heart),
from all over North America, our old friends greet one another and meet the wide-eyed newbies. Here we meet the
board of directors, who oversee the scope and details of the course, as well as the tutors, all fluent Welsh speakers
and patient teachers.
The daily routine begins early
Monday morning with a plenary session led by the three lead tutors (Kevin Rottet, Meredith Roberts Rehbach, and
Marta Diaz). We receive announcements, instructions about the day's or week's events, a Welsh song or two, and
the daily Welsh proverb such as "Gorau cam, cam cyntaf " ("The best step is the first step").
On to our classes in which we
study the Welsh Language. We had seven levels this year from beginners to fluent speakers; the beginners' class
was by far the largest and only such an experienced and dedicated tutor as Meredith Roberts Rehbach could have
managed to bring everyone along making great strides during one short week. As one student put it, Meredith kept
everyone "active and involved." We had two new tutors on the course this year: Annette Evans from Toronto
and Winston Evans from Chicago, both of whom are recent arrivals to North America from Wales. Students again appreciated
the skill, enthusiasm, and humor all the tutors bring to the classes.
The classes met in the morning
and afternoon with a break for lunch and a midday plenary session. These sessions are an interesting mix of speakers
and performers on a variety of Welsh-related topics. For example, Welsh poets were extolled. In conjunction with
his photographic exhibit on display in the Greer Museum on campus, Rev. Gregory Griffith spoke of the "The
Poetry of R.S. Thomas and the Landscape of Wales." In addition, highly acclaimed Welsh poet, Menna Elfyn,
was beamed into our auditorium in a video conference straight from Trinity College Carmarthen in Wales where she
teaches creative writing. She spoke about her latest work, Perffaith Nam (Perfect Blemish), which explores imperfection
in search for completion and answered questions from the audience. All very high-tech, and we have board member
and tutor Kara Lewis to thank for arranging the event.
After the afternoon class, students
can attend special workshops offered by the tutors. The topics vary but include reading Welsh, learning about contemporary
Welsh music, and working on the Course Newspaper, this year called Mwstwr
Madog.
On Wednesday, we have a special
tour of the setting of the course; in this case, the land where many Welsh immigrants chose to settle. This year
we had a bus ride through the Welsh Scenic Byway, stopping at the Welsh American Heritage Museum in Oak Hill, Ohio,
where Docent Mildred Bangert showed us the collection of Welsh books, bibles, photographs, clothing, etc. We moved
on the Tyn Rhos Church where spontaneous singing broke out among the group. The tour ended with supper served at
the home of our guide, Dr. Bill Thomas who is a descendent of John Jones Tyn Rhos, one of the many Welsh immigrants
who settled in this area.
The evening activities are always
great fun. On the first night we dance at the Twmpath; then we stir competitive emotions at Quiz night. Thursday
evening we watch a Welsh film, and on Friday, the Eisteddfod, an odd mix of the sublime and the ridiculous in which
we celebrate our own great poets and writers. Winners this year were Betty Belanus (beginners' level), Bill Roberts
(intermediate level), and Rebecca Redmile (fluent level). Saturday, we have yet another class, a banquet commemorating
the week, and finally the Noson Lawen-a joyous medley of laughter and performance with class skits, singing, a
science lesson, the lively and lovely sounds of the dulcimer, ending with the superb Cwrs Choir singing "Dim
Ond Gair" and "Clychau Aberdyfi," directed by Meredith Roberts Rehbach.
Sunday is a time for goodbyes.
Some of us attend the nondenominational church service, a quiet time of worship and song led by Meredith. When
we leave, we are all exhausted yet exhilarated by the adventure.
Remember:"Gorau cam, cam
cyntaf" for learning Welsh, so come to Cwrs Y Cwm Canol (The Central Valley Course), Cymdeithas Madog's all
Welsh all week, next July 16-23 at the University of the Pacific's beautiful campus in Stockton California.
© Cymdeithas Madog
22 Tachwedd / November 2005
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