My trip has come to an end, so I felt it necessary to take the time and reflect on my journeys through Northern Ireland... I plan to keep updating the blog with what happened each day as something to look back on so if you still happen to be reading it, thank you and here goes...
Trying to explain what these past two weeks in Northern Ireland has meant to me is beyond words at the point. I have had the grandest opportunity to experience Saint Patrick’s country with 5 other sincerely amazing individuals, meet some of the most welcoming and hospitable people from the Ulster-Scots Agency (even some of their families), and learn more than I ever could have imagined.
As 6 strangers came together on July 3rd, we all met each other in Dublin airport (or in some cases at the train station) with different ideas of what these next two weeks would be like and what we would encounter – both in our placements and with one another. But as this experience has finally come to an end, I can proudly say that any and all expectations were far surpassed.
Some 30, 20, or even 15 years ago many people might not have chosen to vacation to Northern Ireland because of the ongoing Troubles this beautiful country was experiencing among its own people. However, although tensions in some areas undoubtedly still exist, the amount of progress which has been made speaks louder than words – especially when we got to experience Northern Ireland during parading season surrounding the 12th of July celebrations. As it was pointed out many times to us during our stay, the new buildings which were made with glass rather than solid concrete or bomb-proof foundations are a sign that the cities, villages, and people have and wish to continue moving forward from this troubled period of their past.
All that we young ambassadors have experienced and the long-lived memories we will walk away with could not have been made without the best person for the job, Dr. Tim Campbell – the director of the Saint Patrick’s Centre which I have mentioned so often throughout these blog posts. His caring, full-hearted, and young spirit makes him the absolute best man for the job of carting all 6 of us around non-stop for two weeks and never faltering with enthusiasm for Saint Patrick’s country and our overall well-being and experiences.
Although we have all departed from this beautiful country, I can confidently say a piece of us will stay there and with one another. One of my fellow young ambassadors put it quite nicely by saying: it’s truly a privilege to have had an experience that makes you sad to leave behind. I look forward to my next journeys as a Young Ambassador of the Saint Patrick’s Centre and spreading the message Saint Patrick had done during his time in County Down with family, old and new friends back home.
Thanks so much for following my travels, even if they were a bit later than the actual timeline I got to experience them in… but I think if I had gotten the chance to post every night, I would have been doing something genuinely wrong.
‘Ta for now!
Colleen
Trying to explain what these past two weeks in Northern Ireland has meant to me is beyond words at the point. I have had the grandest opportunity to experience Saint Patrick’s country with 5 other sincerely amazing individuals, meet some of the most welcoming and hospitable people from the Ulster-Scots Agency (even some of their families), and learn more than I ever could have imagined.
As 6 strangers came together on July 3rd, we all met each other in Dublin airport (or in some cases at the train station) with different ideas of what these next two weeks would be like and what we would encounter – both in our placements and with one another. But as this experience has finally come to an end, I can proudly say that any and all expectations were far surpassed.
Some 30, 20, or even 15 years ago many people might not have chosen to vacation to Northern Ireland because of the ongoing Troubles this beautiful country was experiencing among its own people. However, although tensions in some areas undoubtedly still exist, the amount of progress which has been made speaks louder than words – especially when we got to experience Northern Ireland during parading season surrounding the 12th of July celebrations. As it was pointed out many times to us during our stay, the new buildings which were made with glass rather than solid concrete or bomb-proof foundations are a sign that the cities, villages, and people have and wish to continue moving forward from this troubled period of their past.
All that we young ambassadors have experienced and the long-lived memories we will walk away with could not have been made without the best person for the job, Dr. Tim Campbell – the director of the Saint Patrick’s Centre which I have mentioned so often throughout these blog posts. His caring, full-hearted, and young spirit makes him the absolute best man for the job of carting all 6 of us around non-stop for two weeks and never faltering with enthusiasm for Saint Patrick’s country and our overall well-being and experiences.
Although we have all departed from this beautiful country, I can confidently say a piece of us will stay there and with one another. One of my fellow young ambassadors put it quite nicely by saying: it’s truly a privilege to have had an experience that makes you sad to leave behind. I look forward to my next journeys as a Young Ambassador of the Saint Patrick’s Centre and spreading the message Saint Patrick had done during his time in County Down with family, old and new friends back home.
Thanks so much for following my travels, even if they were a bit later than the actual timeline I got to experience them in… but I think if I had gotten the chance to post every night, I would have been doing something genuinely wrong.
‘Ta for now!
Colleen