Northern Ireland - One Year Later

May 9

abbyclane — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:05:25 +0000

This time last year I was in Italy, getting ready to start the journey back to NI and back home.

All I can say is I was excited, I was hesitant, I was scared, I was already missing NI and the people, I didn’t want to go – but I also did. Basically, my brain was confused. Italy was a good time to wind down, but it was weird, after having stayed up all night until 7 to see everyone off.

This was a strange time for me at least. Anyone else? Kind of weird that now a year has really passed since all of this.

Andi is still stinky- one year later.

eileencs — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:27:16 +0000

Okay.

HI EVERYBODY!

1. I miss you all to pieces.

2. Sorry I didn’t get on this bandwagon sooner. (Thanks for putting it together, Blogmaster Andi!)

3. How’s the graduation stress level? Mine is nearing catastrophic.

4. Occasionally this past semester I have played the “what was I doing one year ago right now?” game…and here you’ve all been playing that game TOGETHER. ON THE INTERNET. Shucks, I’m behind the times.

5. Anyone know how the new group is fairing with Nigel? I bet they aren’t as good at critical friending as we were…

6. I would do anything for that cheese/hotsauce snack right now. And a REAL Guiniess.

Hey, let’s all get together this summer- for realz.

-Eileen

P.S. I made a zine about N.I.- with the comics/journal stuff I did while I was there… remind me to give you all a copy.

Borderlands trip, recent thoughts on Northern Ireland

Jo — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:17:11 +0000

Hi guys… I haven’t written in way too long. I am trying to figure out how to embrace this graduation thing, get my stuff done, live my life. During the past few days, I have been thinking a lot about Northern Ireland. About you all, about different sessions we had. I wrote about our last session with Derick in a paper recently. About being a ‘critical friend’ and a ‘critical lover of your tradition’. I remember the fusion of the intellectual, academic and emotional. That still resonates with me, as does so much. I am hunting for the funds to get back there this summer, hopefully through graduation gifts. I am really aching for it now.

I just checked my journal for April 25th, and it was the day we went to the Borderlands. We met the Sinn Fein guy, traveled to places we hadn’t yet seen-Portadown, South Armagh, so near the border. And Nigel shared with us his own history. I remember recently sharing a bit of my Northern Ireland experience in a class on “transformational learning experiences.” As I talked, my teacher cried. It was really a strange moment for me, as I further realize how being there changed me.

Anyway, some excerpts from the journal…

Of the Sinn Fein rep: “He danced around questions, as we had seen before, and didn’t give us anything beneath the surface.”

“Glenny’s Hill…the list…van was silent, we could feel this”

“Can a shared space also be contested?”

“Nigel is incredible, has showed me so much…”

As I sprint towards graduation, reflection feels impossible. Surrounded by the paperwork that culminates my college career, I wonder where it has gone, what it was. So much of who I am today was shaped or further defined by HECUA, The Junction, Northern Ireland, you all. For a multitude of reasons, I am sure. I hope that we find the time to connect before leaving Minnesota. I know it’s there, we just need to figure it out.

Lawrence McKeown

abbyclane — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:13:16 +0000

Today in my courageous resistance class we were talking about terrorism and well, all you might think about basically. All of this (and my ability to use talking to him as an example) reminded me so much of that very very difficult classtime with him. At least it was for me. I remember not knowing what to say or do, knowing that this man had done something so bad….but he was so normal. He seemed so rational. Basically, it all just didn’t make sense. And it just reminded me (and does now today) how incredibly complicated these things are…

And that’s all…but just wanted to mention it.

Obama on the Belfast Agreement

atwiton — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:51:03 +0000

LINK

I know, I’ve been neglecting the blog.

Jo — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:09:50 +0000

Poignantly, my journal entry for April 9, 2007 is looking one year ahead, to today. We were a week from leaving Derry, as Abby mentioned. Our time felt unfinished, our projects barely touched. I write: “One week left in Derry. Where has the time gone? Agherton feels like centuries ago, but this is just too finite. This city has explored us, brought us together and opened its heavy gates. The internship, the routine, family dinners, Peador’s, late night conversations…writing keeps me from reading (for the ISP), from stepping into concrete tasks, from beginning what is the end of this- can’t I just sit here awhile longer?”

Looking back now, I can almost remember writing this journal entry. I was missing home, but already missing Derry. I had left the Junction, and started at CIC for a bit with the two halves. I was growing increasingly nervous for the research projects.

And, apparently, I was thinking about the moment I am in now, I write: “HOLY SHIT, I AM GRADUATING!…A year from now, I will be Joanna Fullmer, Magna Cum Laude, BA in Political Science and Social Justice. I must refuse to equal anything, this is not the sum of my countless parts…I can’t even touch tomorrow, but a year from now is impatiently knocking on my door…It’s dollar signs in every corner of what I’m trying to do. I just want to WORK FOR PEACE, GIVE SOMEONE SERENITY”

It’s really amazing for me to read that now, as I struggle to get my thesis on paper and found out today where I’ll be next year. I miss last spring, the group, the place I was in: physically, spiritually. I miss being not quite where I am today.

I hope you all are well…we are graduating, holy shit.

reflections on April 6-15, 2007

abbyclane — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:26:47 +0000

First off – you two need to post. now who are the slackers?

Ok, I really forgive you because I know it is a very busy time of year.

Also, to counter my potential slacker-ness, in this post I am going to write about ten days, our last 10 in Derry.

April 6

With two days to go at CIC, I clearly have no idea what to make of things. I was missing home and Brad a lot, but also couldn’t get my head around leaving Derry. I mean, it had become a home! I also didn’t get to say goodbye to Richard. And seeing as though I still haven’t talked to him since, that is terribly sad. The Wednesday before this entry we met John Hume and I basically recounted how it was incredibly strange – even outside of his health concerns. A Nobel Peace Prize winner that since doesn’t care about his counter parts that won it as well? So NI, but seems so contradictory to the Peace Prize! This day, I expressed how much hope I had for the country, but how I could see how long of a process this will be.

April 9

“Progress on projects being made…relaxation…etc. Not too bad! I can’t believe I’m leaving Derry in a week though. I’ve been here for seven weeks, gotten settled in, and loved it. But now I have to leave. It is all so strange considering the profound effect this has had on my life. Promise to myself —> COME BACK.”

April 12

The day of packing. The next day was our last at our internships and we headed out for Dublin on Monday. Again in mention how it has become a home. I mentioned coming back for a day in a couple of weeks, but accurately forecasted the “then when next?” and the difficult emotions associated with a one-day visit, saying good-bye to Helen and knowing how hard the transition would be. “I’ll be back in Derry…” I write. Most of this journal entry is a frustration of not having much to say or knowing how to say what I want to. “How do I sum up Derry and CIC in here? I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to.”

“Because I am afraid I just can’t do it. I’m sitting in a well-packed up room that has lost the personality

I gave it…it’s strange. It’s all winding down…and I just can’t believe it. One more week in Dublin. Two weeks in Coleraine. One week in Italy. Back home…

I’m so excited (family, Brad, friends). But also so sad (this IS life changing). But I am reassured in the fact that I have gained so much from this that it will always stay with me. A lot of growth happened here and my heart will hold on.

‘Back home in Derry…’”

April 15

a reflection on the 14th in this writing…a quick note of things to remember

-Christie Hennessy, a concert with CIC!, Christie ended the concert with CIC’s song, which I recall being an incredibly powerful moment of reflection for me.

-Juliet Turner’s song about Stan, the South African tribe elder: “Take care of your lovely young life.”

-emotions running high, reflections all over the place, thankfulness for my friends on this trip and everything those friendships brought/bring me!

and we’re off to Dublin…

“sometimes this is more important than a paper”

abbyclane — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:59:22 +0000

that was the end note on my writings for march 29 in my journal. apparently we had quite the conversation that day, my notes on it range from the rhetoric of human rights to “WHERE’S THE REVOLUTION?” to John Stewart to Keith Ellison and the Koran. So a good talk. Previous to this my journal reads “I love this place and my coworkers. I am so lucky.” March 30 Andi and I because a parrot and banana, respectively. March 31, Andi and I attempted to surf with Helen, Finn, and Matt.

It is quite clear during these days I realized more than ever that I had pretty much fallen in love with NI, CIC, and those I was close to on this trip (Half and Jo!). So, remember that.

I also miss spring in NI, it by far beats spring in MN. If only I could figure out how/when to go back amidst hard life decisions now. AH!

Thinking of you all, hope you are well, miss you tons. Can we find a way to have a reunion before I leave this state for the summer (and probably the next year)? Please?

Google Map of Portstewart

atwiton — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:55:20 +0000

You can zoom in really far on Portstewart and Coleraine. I was trying to trace our way to school.

Click Here

St. Patrick’s Day

abbyclane — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:34:12 +0000

Unfortunately I am unable to write much – but brief thoughts on this and last St. Patrick’s Day.

1. Last St. Patrick’s Day definitely beat this one (I am writing a literature review…)

2. It is almost the same weather in Northfield as last year. Except a little more sleet like and a little less overall rain. But appropriately cold, damp, and cloudy!

3. Last year we stood outside, dripping wet, watching the shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade I’ve ever seen. Jo’s fam was in town, Eileen was unfortunately sick. That night we went out, heard some great drumming, and it was quite the pleasant evening.

4. Although I was really excited to be heading out to Galway (Andi and I began our adventure there in the car of Katie’s parents the next day), I knew I would have Derry withdrawal. Which was correct.

5. I was in Northern Ireland…and then Ireland. Now I am in Minnesota. I miss it and you both!

I must run to finish my paper, but have a great night, drink a beer for Ireland, and enjoy the week (and break if you are Jo and maybe Andi).

Photos of St. Patty’s Day celebrations in NI:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7301419.stm