Reflection 7/16

One of the reasons I chose a program in Ireland is my lack of background knowledge on the area and its history. I feel in my education, at least, I was taught a relatively loose history of the world through high school, but much of Ireland’s history-aside from the famine-was left out. The history I learned from the lectures and reading Belfast Diary was quite eye opening. I had no idea of the severity and longevity of the tense relations in Ireland, and could not have entered the country knowing as little as I did. This makes me excited to go and gain a much better understanding of the country that can only be acquired by living there, even for a short time. I have traveled western Europe with a much greater knowledge going into it, of course, but went to Turkey last summer and realized, similarly to Ireland, I was largely ignorant of the nation and its history. The time we spend in Ireland I am sure can only increase my knowledge on the people and history and I am excited to immerse myself in the culture.