Tag Archives: mitchell scholarship

Theorizing Ireland

Unfortunately, I must admit that I am not, by my very nature, an optimist. I am instead the cliché “realist.” I worry too much, plan too much, stress too much and think too much for optimism to settle deep within … Continue reading

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Mitchell Experience: Reflection 1

When I first arrived in Belfast the climate and the landscape met my expectations—it was cold and drizzling rain with beautiful hills and valleys as far as the eye could see. I thought I would be alone for the first … Continue reading

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Gora Mila Maith Agat

“When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty, my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup.”  — Sam Lefkowitz Today is Thanksgiving! Now, for somewhat obvious reasons, Thanksgiving is not a holiday that is celebrated … Continue reading

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New Adventures

I knew that I could look forward to my time in Ireland when, upon landing at Dublin’s shiny new airport, I was greeted by free luggage carts. That’s right: when moving to a new country, a free luggage cart (are … Continue reading

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Reflections on Northern Ireland

I arrived in Belfast sleep deprived and dazed. Frantic packing and an overnight flight had me in need of a home-cooked meal, coffee, and a warm smile or two.  Luckily, the Irish island is filled with all three. I spent … Continue reading

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Until Next Time

It is over now: a year of developing close relationships, meeting new people, humanizing a country and culture to best of my abilities, and living-learning at a different academic institution.  Towards the conclusion of any program, I tend to mentally … Continue reading

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An Irish Experience

A couple of weeks ago, I was observing the firefighters of the Dublin Fire Brigade on one of their ambulances. We had received a call to respond to a young man who had been assaulted. When we arrived at the … Continue reading

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Gratitude

I have settled back in the United States and am enjoying my work in Washington D.C. as a Fellow at Emerson Collective, an organization that advocates for and invests in the public good.  Ireland seems at times a world away: … Continue reading

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Parting is such sweet sorrow…

I have been back in the United States for a few weeks now, and have found a lot of time to reflect on what an incredible year I had in Ireland. The first question I get from everyone the first … Continue reading

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What a Feeling

I rode a lot of buses in Ireland, crisscrossing the island many times  (occasionally in other modes of transport). Some people really dislike the sometimes 4+ hour rides along windy, curvy roads, around and over the hills, stopping to drop … Continue reading

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The Irish Goodbye

I write this reflection from 37,000 feet above the Atlantic on my final flight home from Ireland. Perhaps it’s because I am in a tin can flying through the air at hundreds of miles per hour, or maybe because I … Continue reading

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Spring Fever in Belfast and Abroad

“Yeah, you guessed it. I fell. Cut up my right arm, bruised my left, and was once again left limping away (this time physically and not emotionally) from another attempt at a sort of spiritual moment we were sharing. And that was before I even got to the river rocks…” Continue reading

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