Getting settled in
When we first arrived at Correymeela I was just floored at the natural beauty of the area. The cliffs overlooking the ocean were fortunate enough to become the objects of several pictures that I took. Everything from the hills covered with sheep to the fences along the roads screamed "You're in N. Ireland!" Needless to say it was a very nice sight to see after spending what seemed like forever flying.
The staff at Coreymeela was also a pleasant surprise. They were very hospitable and really made us feel like we were welcome. One person especially sticks out- Oka. She was one of the nicest people I have ever met and she went out of her way to make our stay comfortable and entertaining. The time we spent at Coreymeela was very relaxing and I look forward to visiting there once again before we leave for home.
Entering Ireland was hard to believe for quite a while. I had never been to a country other than the United States before, and was excited about what was to come. Traveling to Corrymeela from the airport was amazing. The landscape throughout most of what I've seen of Ireland so far has been nothing but magnificantly beautiful. As we entered the facility I was unsure of what to do and had no idea what to expect. I left my stuff where everyone else had left their things and I went to the dining area to eat some food. Nothing seemed very different about the food eating, or the fact that they expected us to clean up after ourselves and help with the dishes.
I can't say I really had any initial culture shock as we arrived, but as time progressed throughout the first day and especially the second I began to see a greater difference in culture. Before I had gone to bed on the first night I was sick of tea as I had probably had ten cups since I first stepped foot there. And the beds were a bit smaller than I had expected (not too much of a surprise though for a camp like atmosphere). On the second day we had an opportunity to see a bit of the country side, and that was the point that I fell in love. I was in heaven staring over the cliff at the rocks and the ocean. There was green as far as I could see on the large, rolling masses of land to my left. The chill of air was silenced by the warmth of beauty expressed through the landscape it encapsulated. No matter how elegantly I say it, I don't think my words could ever express how amazing the imagery was to me. Tears welled up, and I felt at peace with the nature. The Bi-polar weather accompanied by that nature, although a bit of a surprise, was well expected, and welcomed with frozen, open arms. The passion of what I saw in the first few days in this country was a poets dream. And if this rich culture and beautiful landscape isn't enough to make you at least a bit of a romantic, then nothing is.
Daniel Begley
About two weeks ago, our entire group made the trek to Derry, the city that we would be calling home for the next fourteen weeks. The city itself is not that big, but it felt huge when we first got here and were trying to find our way around. In our first days here, before classes started, we had a lot of free time to explore the city and get a feel for it. We were immediately immersed in the culture as we sought places to hang out and gather together. Derry is full of cute restaurants, diners, and pubs which serve as good gathering places. I was struck by how friendly and helpful many of the people in the city were. They could obviously tell that we were Americans and unsure about how to get around, and several times people went out of their way to point us in the right direction or give us helpful tips about how to navigate the city.
The Monday after we arrived in Derry we started classes at the University of Ulster’s Magee Campus, located in downtown Derry. We are taking five different classes (one each day) and they deal with a variety of subjects ranging from conflict transformation studies to politics to history of Northern Ireland. In each of these classes, we have a suggested reading list and we will be required to turn in a paper or a project at the end of the term. So far I have really appreciated the subject matter that we have been studying, as well as our professors’ willingness to engage our questions. We will continue taking classes for five more weeks, and then we’ll start our internships. I’m excited to see how this semester continues to unfold!
Hannah Kehr
Having lived in Derry for two weeks now, I am beginning to feel at home in this new city and different culture. I was welcomed to Derry by my host family, the Canavans, and spent my first few days here getting settled into my new home, exploring the city, and starting classes at Magee College. I love the city so far; it has an interesting and unique history and there is much to do, whether it be taking a walk along the River Foyle, eating Irish stew in a local restaurant, listening to a band at one of Derry's many pubs, going to see a futbol match, or walking along the historic walls of Derry.
Our time at Magee has been interesting as well. We are taking five classes which include a History of Northern Ireland, Irish Lit. and Culture, Peace-Building via Reconciliation, Politics and Government of Northern Ireland, and International Conflict Resolution (A Case Study of Northern Ireland). The classes are mostly lecture and our assignment for each is to complete a 2,000 word essay due at the end of the term. We are also asked to do some reading outside of class in order to supplement the lectures. Because the history and political situation of Northern Ireland is so complex and unique, it has been valuable to learn about these topics in an in depth way while also interacting with the people here and actively experiencing this culture. I have really enjoyed meeting and talking with new people and being immersed in this culture so as to gain a fuller understanding of it; I hope to continue to get a better understanding of the political situation here and to study methods of working towards peace and reconciliation.
