A few themes: I've finally found a routine and a close circle of friends. I'm noticing some religious//political differences. Also, I'm just ready.
I have my volleyball crew, my flat/neighbors crew, my Parkrun crew, my hiking crew, my studies crew, and my Reaching and Teaching Ministries crew (will post pics of them at a later date). Featured here is my Halloween neighbor/flat crew. I am/was on a budget, so a few buns on my head and some whiskers would have to do for a cat LOL. Londonderry is known for their Halloween bashes. They had an elaborate parade, fireworks, and even a fairgrounds with roller coasters. It was nice, don't get me wrong, but the sky was spitting rain all night and it was unbearably cold. Here is the Benavenagh Mountain Trail. We couldn't find the trail up, so just found some paths mapped out by sheep and ended up following some at one point. It was incredible.
As for the religious issues I've noticed, you can't just mention religion to anybody. My first day here I asked some British people what they thought about the issue, and they told me to not speak to loud... and then ignored my question completely. Then, I told my boss at the charity shop I volunteer for that I met a guy who played on the Coleraine Gaelic football team, and she said that she wasn't offended but that the word "Gaelic" here wasn't widely accepted. I've noticed any time I talk about the issues, I haven't found a safe space really. Except for my Irish Women's History Class. In this course, we talk about how women were not only separate from men in school, but they were also separated by class and religion. Their "religion" was just something they were labeled by after birth. It had nothing to do with their actual beliefs.
I totally get it. Bloody Sunday is still SO new; there's a museum in 'Derry for the whole incident, and it is ran by relatives of those who were murdered... I understand the tension. Also, just a side note, I haven't talked to anybody who is for Brexit happening, despite the Great Britain-Derry tensions.
Also, I've reached this point in my study abroad experience that I'm ready. I have so many plans. I only have a few free weekends left and am looking forward to them and to making the best of them. I want to take everything in as much as I can because who really knows when the option will arise for my return (which I have every intention in doing).
I'm ready tackle these next 6 weeks.
And I'm also ready to be home in 6 weeks. Does that even make sense?
I have my volleyball crew, my flat/neighbors crew, my Parkrun crew, my hiking crew, my studies crew, and my Reaching and Teaching Ministries crew (will post pics of them at a later date). Featured here is my Halloween neighbor/flat crew. I am/was on a budget, so a few buns on my head and some whiskers would have to do for a cat LOL. Londonderry is known for their Halloween bashes. They had an elaborate parade, fireworks, and even a fairgrounds with roller coasters. It was nice, don't get me wrong, but the sky was spitting rain all night and it was unbearably cold. Here is the Benavenagh Mountain Trail. We couldn't find the trail up, so just found some paths mapped out by sheep and ended up following some at one point. It was incredible.
As for the religious issues I've noticed, you can't just mention religion to anybody. My first day here I asked some British people what they thought about the issue, and they told me to not speak to loud... and then ignored my question completely. Then, I told my boss at the charity shop I volunteer for that I met a guy who played on the Coleraine Gaelic football team, and she said that she wasn't offended but that the word "Gaelic" here wasn't widely accepted. I've noticed any time I talk about the issues, I haven't found a safe space really. Except for my Irish Women's History Class. In this course, we talk about how women were not only separate from men in school, but they were also separated by class and religion. Their "religion" was just something they were labeled by after birth. It had nothing to do with their actual beliefs.
I totally get it. Bloody Sunday is still SO new; there's a museum in 'Derry for the whole incident, and it is ran by relatives of those who were murdered... I understand the tension. Also, just a side note, I haven't talked to anybody who is for Brexit happening, despite the Great Britain-Derry tensions.
Also, I've reached this point in my study abroad experience that I'm ready. I have so many plans. I only have a few free weekends left and am looking forward to them and to making the best of them. I want to take everything in as much as I can because who really knows when the option will arise for my return (which I have every intention in doing).
I'm ready tackle these next 6 weeks.
And I'm also ready to be home in 6 weeks. Does that even make sense?
Halloween in 'Derry
Pic caught of me in pure bliss
Loved the way the sun was hitting the landscape
Cliffhanger
Taken from where we ate our packed lunch
Trying to capture the waves of grass created by the incessant wind
One of the many species of mushrooms growing at high elevations
Took the road back down to the train station because the way up was way too strenuous and underdeveloped
Wow. amiright
First sighting of wild sheep. ended up following them for a little
They said there was a lake on top of the mountain. We found it hard to believe them for the first hour of straight incline.
Believe it or not, we started all the way down there.