Colleen Loverde

Colleen Loverde is a senior dance major and journalism minor at Point Park University from the northwest suburbs of Chicago. She is highly enthusiastic about engaging in work that is creatively and intellectually challenging. She is currently in the process of auditioning to perform with a professional contemporary dance company. Most recently, she has been invited to participate in Springboard Danse Montreal as well as Northwest Dance Project’s Launch Project where she will have the opportunity to work with some of the world’s top dance companies and choreographers. Colleen is passionate about discovering connections that exist among people and ideas and acknowledging cohesion and integration as necessities for growth and development. She is an avid learner, curious human, willing collaborator, crazy liberal and a playful weirdo. Any free moment she has is spent researching through reading books (as well as adding copious books to her Amazon cart…) or listening to a multitude of podcasts (aspiring NPR aficionado). She is obsessed with satire and secretly dreams of being adopted by the triumvirate of Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and John Oliver and or hosting an episode of SNL. You can find her engaging in silly shenanigans, enlightening discussions or a combination of the two.

Pre-Trip Blog:

28 April 2017

As a recent graduate of Point Park University (officially upon the completion of this course 🙂 ), I am in sentimental and rather emotional state to say the least along with many of my fellow graduates. In the midst of the goodbyes, there are lingering feelings of anxiety and excitement with regards to the uncertainty ahead: Where am I going? What will I be able to accomplish? What is out there for me?

In the volatile transition state, there is nothing unordinary about such questions. Prior to right now, our lives have been structured around maintaining certainty.

Find a school. Check!

Pick a major. Check!

Pick a minor. Check!

Follow the curricular patterns for said major/minor. Check!

Don’t get me wrong. The evolution and growth that I have made as a human being would not have been possible without the incredible environment of Point Park. I have had countless opportunities to challenge the status quo and dive headfirst into “uncertain” creative endeavors. The Point Park dance and communications departments have provided the perfect balance of structure and freedom in order to expand my creative and conceptual thinking and actions.

However, we, the graduates, are left to our own devices. Now, without a larger system in place to provide us with certain guidance, the world looks big, scary and uncertain. We instinctively let fear creep in. It is only natural. With fear comes an egoistic tendency. We are primarily concerned about ourselves. We grasp for confirmation of our individual meaning and importance.

As I approach the departure date for Iceland and Ireland, I am most excited about getting out of my own head. I was lucky to attend last year’s International Media trip to London, Bruges and Amsterdam. My aspiration to act as a global citizen was reignited because I embraced the uncertain circumstances that come with immersion in another culture. I am passionate about immersive experiences as they always challenge my thinking beyond my own desires and perspectives.

Throughout the semester, I have loved learning about the unique and complex cultures of Iceland and Ireland. It is exciting to think about how much more I will learn by being there. The cultural immersion involved in travel keeps me motivated to keep on growing. In order to grow, I must continuously knock myself out of that fearful headspace.

So I am ready to say goodbye to scared Colleen and hello again to the Colleen with aspirations to embrace all uncertain challenges that lie ahead. 🙂

Day 1: Reykjavik

May 14

Day one in Iceland begins with a brief introductory drive through the landscape from the Keflavik Airport to our hotel located in the center of Reykjavik. I left the plane feeling drowsy, but I was immediately awakened by the brisk clean air and stunning scenery throughout the tripto our hotel. The Icelandic landscape is stark, but hardly bleak. We drove along the Atlantic coast and observed the bumpy, jagged imperfect space inhabited by the lava of the island’s volcanos. The mountains hung high in the background and the land was spotted with the colorful homes of the residents. The sky was gray and the wind was strong, but the expanse of the unique landscape coupled with the charm of the residential homes made for a highly intriguing viewing experience.

At this point, we were barely in the country for an hour and I was completely in awe. I have never seen anything like Iceland. The rugged landscape coupled with the cheerful homes hinted at a culture of open-mindedness and creativity as a means of living. I thought I had an idea of what Reykjavik had to offer, but so far the city has exceeded my expectations.

Urban cities have an unsurpassed vigor due to the variety of minds inhabiting and contributing to the overall experience of the community. Cities are the hubs of creativity. However, sometimes the political desire for economic strength results in the habit of stifling creativity. Cities may cling to “tried and true” standards of functioning and fail to evolve with the times. The resistance to urban development and evolution is a resistance to creativity. Standardization and homogenization take precedence to innovation. Such a resistance can take shape in the physical and visual space of the city itself. When innovation and creative expression is lacking within public spaces, it is subsequently lacking or loosing ground within the collective customs of an urban community. (Check out Amanda Burden’s TED talk “How Can Public Spaces Change A City’s Character? http://www.npr.org/2016/01/08/462285380/how-can-public-spaces-change-a-citys-character) Based on my initial observations, impressions and interactions during my first day in Reykjavik, I would say that the city acts as a breeding ground for creativity and innovation.

Artistic expression, and thus creativity, is inherent to the culture of this city through its architecture, public artwork and the overall embrace of color. 😍

Fair warning here: I am biased with regards to my aesthetic tastes and preferences. There are various ways in which creativity can be embraced. In this case, I assimilate with Reykjavik’s aesthetic because I associate my own creative experiences with the philosophy of finding connections among seemingly different entities. An abundance of different artistic voices and colors can seem chaotic and overwhelming to some. I, however, find beauty and peace in the ways in which seemingly unlike things can coexist. Reykjavik is exploding with a utilization of creative voices. I found myself giddy at the vast array of artistic expression that was available to me in a short walk to the cozy bar with the vibe of 1920’s Vegas. I have included some of my colorful findings below. 💃

One of my personal favorites had to be this “Perfection” instillation mural below.

The definitions of perfection are listed in plain black ink, much in the way they would appear in a dictionary: Fixed, unchanging, lifeless, devoid of personality or reality. The last definition listed is “the action or process of improving something until it is faultless”. The definitions are surrounded by colorful depictions of the words that real, living individuals associate with the standards of perfection: Expectations. Loneliness. Illusions. Chains.

The artistic additions reveal in both intent and action the beauty as well as the utility that comes with the embrace of the creative/innovative voice. To me, this work acts as the ultimate symbol of the identity of Reykjavik. Perfection (standardization/homogenization) is sleek and faultless until someone points out that it is not. The abundance of creative expression reflects the communal intent to recognize standards and continue to think beyond the supposed limitations. Reykjavik is a progressive city politically, economically, socially and artistically. Perhaps each mode of progression is indicative of the other.

To me, this possibility is electrifying. In Reykjavik, I see the ultimate potential of the best that humanity has to offer because creativity is heavily embraced. ❤️

With all of that being said, I cannot wait to soak up as much as I can during my final few days in Iceland. Reykjavik has already provided me with utter joy simply through the nature of its existence. It is crazy to think how much creative and intellectual stimulation I will soak up in my final few days in Iceland.

I will leave my first official post of my adventures with a a few words that I noticed while leaving the cozy 1920’s style KEX Bar.

“Feel free.”

It is feeling of expressive freedom in Reykjavik that ignites my own passion and excitement moving forward. It is now the mantra guiding me through this adventure. Feel free to come along. 🙂

Day 2: The Golden Circle/Reykjavik

May 15

Today was the day of ultimate connectivity, but not in the commonly used context associated with technological innovation. “Connected” is used to describe our current technological lifestyle in which we can spread information faster and easier than ever before. The use of devices to share and view experiences is viewed as an action of collective connectivity. The Internet is a beautiful tool. It is the reason that I am able to share my current adventures immediately. Through my blog posts the next view days friends, family and anyone with Internet access has the opportunity to get a glimpse of my own experiences and perspectives. They may choose to respond to my expression, I may communicate further and a collective and connective dialogue may ensue. Connection feels fantastic and is justifiably embraced by the human being. However, there is danger in overindulgence in connection through purely technological means. As our opportunities to communicate quickly and efficiently increase, we become hooked to the rush of immediate feedback. We share in the hopes of validation and become addicted to the moment of elevated status. But in reality, we move onto the next post rapidly and subsequently the value of the last diminishes. This cycle repeats itself over and over again and we are never fulfilled or satisfied because we are constantly searching for that next rush. The connections are often fleeting and superficial and we are left searching for that rush, but through it we are never able to find a state of satisfaction.

(Warning: Hippy Dippy flower child coming in!!🌼)

Instead of feeling connected with my fellow humans through means of the Internet, I felt connected with the Earth and all its parts. We made our way through Þingvellir (pronounced Thingvellir) National Park, the Geysirs and the Gulfoss waterfall. Each experience was humbling and profound not because the sights made for pretty pictures. But rather, each wonder was absorbed through the full observation including all of senses. I almost hesitate to include photos because they hardly do Iceland or our world justice.

Þingvellir National Park was our first stop along the way. It is the site of the world’s oldest parliament as well as the separating point between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The historical and geological implications only heightened my awestruck state.

The Geysir site was one of our next main stops. The hot springs erupted approximately every eight minutes. It is a truly ecstatic feeling when you see and feel the eruptions, water spraying and all.

However magnificent each site was, I was impacted most by my encounter with the Gulfoss waterfall.

In order to get to the vantage point in this photo, one has to walk along a massive cliff with an enormous distance to the water below and only a rope separating a spectator from a long fall. Once next to the top of the falls, I climbed to the highest and closest spot to the falls. The ultimate power and danger of the waters is breathtaking. There are moments up there in which I felt my pulse quicken as the animal in me perceived the danger that was present. However, as I stood and continuously processed the endless and intricate details, I felt present and peaceful. It is immensely empowering to be present and in tune with the guiding force of nature. I felt not small or big, but rather connected with the collected whole. There is power in connectivity with all the forces of nature. My encounter with Gulfoss made this truth crystal clear.

I had the opportunity to engage in a fully immersive sensorial experience with some of the most magnificent natural wonders of the world. These encounters reawakened my recognition of the wondrous details and interconnectivity between humanity, other living beings and the natural environment in which we thrive and fail. Physically inhabiting the space with such natural wonders allowed me the opportunity to ruminate over every detectable sensorial detail. Doing so swings me back into the reality of my place in this world as a small, but integral piece in a world much bigger than my immediate perception.

The natural wonders of Iceland have left me feeling curious and empowered. I could not have dreamed of a better way to connect. 🙂

Day 3: Promote Iceland, Grapevine, Music Videos & Blue Lagoon

May 16

I just returned home from a beautiful, joyous and relaxing trip to the Blue Lagoon with some pretty snazzy people.

Our excursion to the famous hot spring was the conclusion to a lovely day filled with learning, reflection and fun surprises (We were asked to be extras in a music video for the Icelandic artist Cora during our lunch break! Her video for her song Overnight should be out on YouTube in about four weeks.). By this point in the day, we were goofing around and reflecting upon connections that we have made in our lives. It was simple, no frills attached. We all felt completely at ease and in touch with ourselves, which seemed a fitting state to the end of a reflective day. The quote from today that best sums up the experience is as follows:

“Answer the door in the clothes you are already wearing.”

Such is the mantra of Islandsstofa (Promote Iceland) who since the 2010 volcanic eruption have led the marketing campaigns that play a major role in Iceland’s booming tourism industry. We had the opportunity to visit the company and get an inside look into how their branding strategies have catapulted the totality of Iceland’s tourism industry.

The ultimate key to the success of tourism and thus of the company is the embrace of the authenticity of the people of Iceland.

This mantra is representative of the marketing company, but more importantly, it represents the core values and behaviors of the Icelandic people. Icelanders are open, progressive and authentic. Such qualities imply a desire to make connections that are genuine. They are generous and yet direct and so the company decided to showcase their humanity as the main attraction of Iceland. In all of their campaigns, Promote Iceland partners with locals from all regions of the country to bridge a connection between potential tourists and generous locals.

Their ad campaigns are both touching and cheeky. Genuine human connections are revealed, but never at the expense of standardization or homogenization to appeal those who might not be interested in experiencing the true reality of Iceland.

Icelanders embrace the unique, the weird, the progressive, the curious without apologizing for doing so. Their authenticity comes from the strive for integrity. They take risks to be themselves and better themselves through connection, but never at the expense of truth. In addition, truth cannot be revealed from an source that is not genuine. Islandsstofa must remain open and genuine themselves in order to mindfully reveal Icelanders’ authenticity. The purest values of authenticity infiltrate the workplace in Iceland as a precursor to success that is continuously reimagined.

This also rings true for the Icelandic cultural publication The Grapevine. The only on grassroots authenticity that has not left the workplace since.

The directors were kind enough to host us during a busy work week. They operate in a tiny apartment turned office in downtown Reykjavik. The publication is funded strictly form ad sales as they do not want Icelanders or tourists to have to pay for cultural information.

They brought us into a tiny rustic conference room. The 25 people who traveled with the class were dispersed throughout the room, some of us sitting on the floor. The equally casually and stylishly dressed directors stood at the front of the room and talked plainly and openly about the imperfect, but continuously creative realities of The Grapevine. Most of the departments had little to no formal training or schooling in their respective positions. They function on the basis of trial and error, continuous collaboration and genuine desire to represent the integrity, intellect and beauty of the Icelandic artists and culture. One director described the paper as a freak phenomenon and another plainly and unapologetically disclosed that there are times in which they have no idea what the fuck they are doing.

It is that genuinely creative and unapologetic spirit of the staff that keeps Grapevine fresh and constantly evolving. There is no prescribed or learned standard to creativity. They have created their own path in their own way in order to serve a genuine purpose beyond their personal success.

They did not preach a perfect system, but rather one that works due to constant innovation that comes from a real place.

Much like Islandsstofa, Grapevine works because it is real.

In Iceland, true integrity comes from an embrace of evolutionary creation and innovation, successful that is unapologetically authentic.

It is important to be all that you are and all that you can be in both a professional and personal sense. Today’s interactions reaffirmed the necessity of active authenticity in order to live to the fullest capacity of our humanity.

With that being said, I unapologetically leave you with me in true goofy form.

I look forward to seeing you and your weirdest and realest selves soon.

Day 4: Travel Day to Dublin

May 17

Today takes on a bit of a different tone than the previous days in Reykjavik have. We were operating in a transition state: not quite here nor there when the realities of life “mess up” our plans and test our patience. We left Reykjavik today and preceded to Dublin to embark on the rest of our adventures in Ireland. I was a bit blue leaving Iceland as I wish we could play and explore the connections we had made even deeper. However, discoveries await us in Ireland and there was no time to waste!

Seriously.

We woke up at 2 AM to depart at 3:15 for our 6:45 flight to Dublin. Most of us were groggy, sleep-deprived and anxious to make a smooth and safe transition to our next destination.

However, life rarely goes according to plan. For a few people, the actual consequences of screw ups were much more impactful. The airline had messed up the boarding passes for the group and they did not have a ticket for our classmate Nikki. Unfortunately, the issue was not resolved and she will have to fly out to Dublin tomorrow.

For Nikki and our professors, there was a tangible, immediate and valid reason to stress.

However, combine that with an exhausted group of twenty somethings and some trivial little mishaps and annoyances and you’ve got yourself a heaping pile of short-sighted, passive-aggressive, snappy and all around loopy tension. Essentially, we had a bit of negative energy coming in.

It is when those few little things stack up that the group’s patience and engagement is tested.

Luckily, in the midst of the collective annoyance, we were all slowing finding ways to enjoy the imperfect situations at hand. Today was a marvelous learning and reflective lesson if nothing else and such introspection will only improve our attitude within our means of travel going forward. They say that you get a better grip on who you are by how you handle the annoying trivial situations.

That being said, I had some marvelous moments upon our first day in Dublin amidst the dark gray cloud of exhaustion.

Once we arrived in the city, we were given a couple of hours to eat and stroll around. At first we were a bit peeved because we thought we would have rather spent that time sleeping so we could feel refreshed for the rest of the day’s activities. This feeling did not necessarily leave the group (exhaustion is ultimately one of the most powerful physiological dangers). However, once we banded together in our vulnerable, exhausted state, we found ourselves giddy and laughing. We took a stroll around Dublin, took in some sights and were ultimately pleased with lovely weather, tangibility of a rich history and the company of those in a similarly weak and vulnerable state.

We were tired, but we were tired together in a wonderful place. 🙂

Towards the end of the stroll before we were to reconvene with Joe (our spunky and lovely tour guide!) to visit the Irish Parliament house, I had the most wonderful unexpected encounter with a local.

We were walking past some Amnesty International representatives who inquired if we wanted to have a conversation about abortion rights in Ireland. For those of you who may not know, Amnesty International is an international global movement advocating for human rights in over 150 countries. I had spoken with representatives previously in New York City, but at the time I was not of age to sign up to be an active participant in the program.

A young Irish woman about my age managed to get my attention. I hesitated at first as I was unsure of how much time I would have, but I figured that we were close to the meeting point so I decided to strike up a conversation.

The young representative’s name was Maeve and she was absolutely lovely to talk to. She introduced me to the background of Ireland’s abortion laws and assured me that if we disagreed about anything that she would be more than happy to listen to any perspective in order to gain a deeper understanding. We talked about women’s rights in Ireland and America as well as the connections between our studies in school and our livelihoods. She studies law and media communications and we struck up an intriguing conversation about the connectivity between different areas of study. We stood in the middle of the foot traffic in Nassau street and almost lost track of time. Luckily, we were able to exchange information in the hopes of reconvening for further discussion of women’s rights issues. It was such a nice little treat to connect with a compassionate local and it got me excited for the people who I would get to meet going forward. 🙂

After Maeve, our patience (and alertness) were tested while visiting the Irish Parliament building. It was extremely informative and fascinating, but the desire to attend such a visit at a time in which we would be able to better represent ourselves (when rested) pervaded the entire group. For all of us, it was challenge to enjoy the entirety of the experience when our focus was consumed by our frustration at not being able to enjoy the entire experience… Ironic eh? What a vicious cycle. And we were all whirring around within it.

It seems so silly as I write it. But hey, there is the lesson right there. Look at things outside of the immediate emotional reaction within the situation and you can find a way to handle things much better the next time around.

Luckily, we were brought back to that goofy, vulnerable connective state through the exhaustion when we attended dinner at Dublin’s oldest pub, “The Brazen Head”.

At the end of the day, we seemed to realize without vocal articulation, that we were ultimately in a wondrous place with a great group of people. We reassessed what was important and we were able to look forward to tomorrow with fresh (and rested!) eyes.

So let’s get to bed and refresh. Tomorrow is a new day in Dublin, and an even more exciting adventure awaits because we will be able to appreciate the things that are going right that much more.

Day 5: Dublin

May 18

Today was a day primarily centered around the media visits at Dublin City University for an Irish Media lecture as well as an inside look at the inner workings of the Irish magazine publisher Harmonia. Each encounter was wonderfully informative and engaging for different reasons. The lecture at DCU provided us with an extensive background of recent Irish history and the relevance of media to history in the Republic of Ireland while the people at Harmonia provided insight into the inner workings of the company that produces the best-selling magazines in Ireland.

At DCU, we were clued into the history of the Troubles and how the media played an integral role. In the Republic of Ireland in the early 20^th century, nationalism, conservatism, economic protectionism, chronic unemployment and mass emigration were rampant. One of the most striking points of the conflict is that many parts of these issues stemmed from the imposed domination of Catholicism. To provide some context, the new Irish constitution that was composed in 1937 was written from a Catholic angle and ignored the values of citizens of Protestants. It was hardly progressive with regards to equal rights. For example, the constitution makes clear that a woman’s place is in the home and that mothers should not work so as not to neglect the duties of the home.

The censorship of media played a massive role in preventing progressive ideals from proliferating and made Ireland seem stale and stuffy. Any content that included references of sexual promiscuity or Irish republican views was officially banned. Films that referenced sexual affairs were edited and re-released without the sexual content regardless of whether or not it was integral to the storyline (The Graduate was edited to exclude any sexual references…I would be curious to see what was left 😂). As a result of the censorship, all of the creative people were leaving the country to take their talents elsewhere along with those emigrating due to a lack of jobs.

By the 1990s, rapid social and economic change took hold and Ireland became much more progressive. The Republic elected its first female president, homosexuality was decriminalized and divorce was legalized. What is interesting about this period is that the media played a massive role in pushing against the conservative ideals. Prior to the 90s, the media played a central role in limiting voices and perspectives. However, the media became the main driver in pushing against such limitations. Television especially played an important role in normalizing progressive lifestyles such as homosexual relationships.

Media is present in our lives now more than ever and it is clear that media is highly influential with regards to our perceptions and perspectives. Media has immense potential and power. There is something poignant about seeing its power through the perspective of another culture. As media students, we are constantly reminded of the power of communication, but it often best resonates when we see it through a different perspective. The DCU lecture was an excellent way to get us thinking and asking questions with regards to an Irish perspective rather than an exclusively American perspective. Such a perspective will help us to think bigger going forward into our other Irish media visits. 🙂

After DCU, we headed to the Harmonia offices on the outskirts of Dublin. Harmonia is home to a variety of different lifestyle and women’s magazine titles and it is the largest magazine publishing company in Ireland, so I was surprised by the small two-level office building. Upon our entrance, we were immediately welcomed into a space with comfortable seating and greeted by members of the company’s creative team and then members of the business team who asked our names and what our career goals were. Everyone was extremely personable and willing to share insight into the intricacies of the company. I appreciated how eager they were to share the details of how the teams and individuals operate. In many cases, large companies may tend to list their accomplishments rather than provide insight into how the people within work together. It became immediately clear that the success of the company is due to the staff’s adaptability, versatility and communicative skills with one another. The fact that so many members of the team from various magazine titles were present and genuinely interested in talking with us showed just how important they regard personal communication. If one cannot effectively communicate with the people who are in front of you, regardless of different positions, how can one communicate to a national audience? The people of Harmonia are an excellent representation of operating in the field of communication with the highest integrity. The greatest communicators pay attention to how they communicate within each interaction. It was truly humbling to see highly successful people interact mindfully.

In addition to the media visits, I had the opportunity to chat with a local about American politics. At DCU, I chatted with a man named Paul whose adorable dog I had been eyeing. He asked if I was American and proceeded to ask me how I felt about Trump. I tend to hold a left leaning perspective, and so I expressed my distaste and concerns. He listened attentively with the patience and openness that I have come to expect from people with similar views to my own. After sharing my perspective, I will admit that I was surprised to hear him share that he tended to have a center-right perspective. He was not a huge fan of Trump, but he expressed a higher level of acceptance than I anticipated to hear. To be honest, I was deeply moved by the fact that he was eager to share his views despite the fact that our views did not exactly align. I shared this with him and we proceeded to discuss our perceptions of the divisiveness of the American political climate. We talked about how the problem is not so much that there are different viewpoints, but that each side is so apprehensive or aggressive when it comes to having a conversation with someone with a different perspective. The fact that I assumed that he agreed with me because of his welcoming demeanor is an indicator of how discomfort is commonplace within American political discourse. Paul openly welcomes people who disagree with him in his life and has learned a lot by doing so. It is far too simplistic to assume that the Irish are able to maturely converse about opposing views (the history of the Troubles illustrate deep integral rifts among different groups), but I am moved to constantly reassess how much a discomfort with disagreement plays a role in our intense political divide in the states. I conclude my day with a big thank you to Paul for showing me acceptance in the face of our opposing views. 🙂

Day 6: Dublin

May 19

I am highly impressed and inspired by the lovely people that we had the privilege of interacting with today. We met with some of the top professionals of Heneghan PR (including Nigel Heneghan, Managing Director) as well as Michael Chester, the President of the Press Photographer’s Association of Ireland. The day to day work of public relations and photography professionals are quite different and such differences were apparent through the presentational stylings of the Heneghan professionals versus Chester. However, despite their differences in personality, each person was immensely generous and authentic with their time and information. Although I am not studying within the field of public relations or photography, I learned a lot about the importance of working for the right balance of professionalism and ballsy-ness that is true to one’s own personality.

To be frank, the Heneghan PR professionals were indeed more “polished” while Chester was openly and unabashedly irreverent. Neither one was better than the other; in fact the immediate contrast of the two meetings highlighted the infinite means of becoming an authentic and successful professional.

We met with Heneghan PR in a local hotel conference room where they set up comfortable seating, coffee, tea and pastries. There were a number of professionals of various positions present to answer questions including Nigel Heneghan, Managing Director, Eoghan O Neachtain who handles public relations and is the former press secretary for the government, and Mariah Halken, the intern who hails from South Carolina. Each professional had their hand in explaining the inner workings of the company and outlining their role within it. It became clear that despite the hierarchy that is present in all major companies, each person on the team is acknowledged as a valuable player in the day to day workings of the company.

Even though Nigel Heneghan is head honcho, he is still highly involved in communicating with clients. He is a hands-on manager who regards the establishment of genuine relationships as a key factor in the company’s success as an influential communicator.

Eoghan O Neachtain has prestige as a press secretary and thus a history of experience within national politics. He is an identifiable figurehead/”celebrity” and yet took the time to share his knowledge about public affairs and more specifically crisis communications.

Mariah Halken also had the opportunity to share her perspective and answer questions and the company’s most recent intern. Although she is at the “bottom of the totem pole”, her role within the company is given equal weight and respect. All of the professionals recognized the importance of her role in the company and the relevance of sharing her perspective. She was perhaps the most impressive to me because she was an excellent speaker, she was confident in sharing her perspective and she was real with us with regards to her experience without over-editing because her boss was in the room. One of the most notable tips that she shared was her decision to create her CV with a creative edge instead of strictly following a template. Although Heneghan PR appears to be a rather business/corporate forward company, it does not negate the necessity for creativity, risk-taking and progression.

All in all, the professionals of Heneghan PR were genuinely enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge. The professionals work closely with one another and value the importance of each role within the company. Although I am not necessarily interested in pursuing the corporate focused public relations line of work, I found our interactions with Heneghan PR to be remarkably inspiring because of their generosity and transparency.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have Michael Chester who is likely one of the most driven, dedicated, vibrant and authentic professionals that I have ever witnessed. He had slides prepared, but he willingly deterred from the prescribed patterns of the prepared presentations whenever he recalled an entertaining anecdote about his career experiences. He is head of the Press Photographers Association and he is not formally trained as a photographer, but that is not to say that he did not dive in fully and invest his whole in learning the skills that he was never formally taught.

A part of me wishes that I had recorded some of his presentation because the pure unadulterated passion that Chester displayed was unbelievable. After the even-keeled presentation from Heneghan PR, we were initially taken aback by Chester’s bold and unconcerned demeanor. But then we found ourselves laughing, smiling and highly amused by his unedited dialogue. He was crass in comparison, but he is confident in who he is and additionally has this emboldened drive to continuously learn and improve himself. His forwardness and generosity made clear that his free-wielding tongue did not come from a vulgar place, but rather a real and honest place. An irreverent nature does not translate to unprofessionalism nor does a polite demeanor qualify a professional. There is value in establishing that balance of the bold and the polite nature that should be assessed in the individual. Chester is a magnificent reminder that personal success does not come from following a clear and specific set of guidelines. He marches to the beat of his own drum. Since his unconventional vibrancy and character are purely a part of who he is, his success comes from his truth to himself and his persistence in the face of challenging the perceived limits of his potential. He got to where he is because he tapped fully into the potential of his creative mind. He lives honestly and mindfully and if one can do that, one will evidently find personal success.

Day 7: Dublin

May 20

Free day, fun day, loads of inspiration day 😍 (it likely seems a bit excessive an annoying how much I use the word inspiration… perhaps I will dabble with synonyms such as “invigoration”… stay tuned)!

I have been thoroughly impressed by the media visits that we have had in Dublin, but I was excited to have a day dedicated fully to my own personal explorations and intentions.

One of my best and worst qualities that I possess is the overly enthusiastic desire to do all of the things and see all of the things in spite of a limited amount of time.

So I think, alright I can probably make it to about 4 museums, 3 churches, 2 neighborhoods, a few music venues and meet all the member of U2 (okay that last quip was an exaggeration, but there is a very genuine and naïve part of me that would like to believe that all the rest is possible in one day). There is an intense load of untapped history and culture that I have yet to experience in Dublin, but I shall say I am quite energized by the fraction of activities that I partook in today.

The bulk of my day was spent at the National Museum of Archeology and the National Gallery of Art. Although my overly ambitious heart would like to soak in the wonders of each and every display and exhibit, I find myself relishing in the historical, societal, cultural and philosophical implications of each artifact or artwork that catches my eye. (Full disclosure, they all do…) My curiosity gets the best of me when I am at a museum and while I intend to see as many displays as possible, I find myself so overwhelmed by the quality of craftsmanship and the implicit history and culture in an artifact or piece of art. Needless to say I am a SLOW mover, a note taker and an intensely connection based thinker in that I am drawn in and stimulated by the endless complexity and connectivity of humanity.

Thus, in order to make my feverish notetaking and doodling short and sweet, I will start out by saying that viewing the artifacts at the National Museum of Archeology informed me that the history of the ancient Irish and Celtic people is much more culturally and ethnically mixed than I was aware. The settling (and pillaging and raiding…) of the Vikings play a massive role in Irish life and culture. Most notably in the 11^th century, Scandinavian culture was highly influential in the craftsmanship of Irish artifacts. In a blurb regarding the cultural blending, it is stated, “Irish craftsmen adapted foreign art styles and reproduced them in a distinctive way.” The influence of other cultures became clear and it is exciting to see firsthand how much cultures borrow from one another in the making of something “original”. Nothing is truly original; everything is born out of influence from another culture but includes something else new and unique. It is not necessarily a conscious choice, but all cultures are born and bred out of the influence and mixing of other cultures with whom there has been contact. The richness and progression of a culture is bred through integration, not isolation. As we come across (another) period in history of isolationist nationalism among some western nations, it is lovely to be reminded of how much our past and continued development stems from cultural integration and further inclusion. 🙂

At the National Gallery of Art, I was reminded that there is an abundant number of brilliant, innovative and influential minds that are not always given proper recognition within a mainstream dictation of history. Or perhaps it is more apt to say that just because one did not recognize a brilliant mind previously does not mean that such a mind is not noteworthy.

For example, I came across the exhibition of paintings by the Irish artist Margaret Clarke. She was an obscenely talented artist, thinker and challenger in her own right and I had never heard of her. Much of her artwork was created in the 1920s in which she “challenged what was seemed suitable for women artists at the time”. She explored ambiguous subject matters with no explicit narrative which was uncommon at a time in which a female artist was expected to paint exclusively on matters of religious scenes or typical familial scenes. Her painting “Strindbergian” which is based on the expressionist play on the tragic state of humanity Ghost Sonata puzzled critics who attempted to “interpret obscurity”. There is no linear narrative present within the painting, but rather a rich, complex and indefinable array of moments that speak on behalf of the human condition. It is an intense painting and it serves as a forthright representation of Clarke’s bold, unapologetic and endlessly curious mind. It was clear to me in the presence of her paintings as well as the intense concentration of my fellow museum goers in the room that she made powerful contributions to the world of art. Although she may not be listed among the most “notable” artists, as a viewer of her work I will attest to the fact that she is indeed noteworthy.

Later in the day after my visits to the museum, I made my way to the Bray with some friends in tow in order to get further outside the city and enjoy a nice dinner by the seaside. Eating beside the ocean was peaceful and restorative and a great balance to the highly stimulating day at the museums.

It was a well-rounded and perhaps quick final day in Dublin and tomorrow we make the journey to Belfast, Northern Ireland by train. I have had a lovely time in this bustling city, although I am acutely aware of how much more I would have liked to see in Dublin. I guess I will have to come back soon. 🙂

Day 8: Belfast

May 21

Oh so fast Belfast (I am not sorry for the awful pun…). Upon arrival in this city that seems much more chill than Dublin, I am struck by the youthful and hopeful energy of the city. There are plenty of historic buildings and sites, but for some reason, the peace and calm of the pedestrian hints at a new sort of energy.

Perhaps this is my self-inflicted perception after our tour out, about and through the town. Along the way we made stops at Stormont, the government building, Belfast castle, City Hall, the Titanic museum, murals of the Troubles and the peace wall.

At every site (except maybe the Titanic museum) we were informed and reminded of the conflict and the violence that constantly erupted during the Troubles. This was not so long ago. The Troubles officially “ended” with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, but problems and divisions pervaded the town after the fact. After all, a lawful proclamation does not suddenly erase the bad blood and memories of loved ones who died in the name of their beliefs, culture and or country.

On our bus tour, we were informed of various contention points over Stormont. The murals displayed a colorful variety of perspectives ranging from pure pride, to political, to violent. The peace wall was especially poignant. It was originally built to separate the Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods to prevent violent provocations from opposite sides. It still stands today as a symbol of what once was and of hope that out of listening and attempts to understand, peace can ensue. It is covered in signatures and letters of hope and kindness that band together as a powerful symbol for the evolution of peace.

After our bus tour, I decided to take an aimless stroll before our group dinner. I was intrigued by the recently emerging little treasures of artistic expression as well as the friendly people who I happened to run into. Almost immediately after I walked out the door of the hotel, I ended up chatting with a young man from the area who could sense my curious itch to wander around. He approached me, asked if I was Australian (apparently I gave off that vibe) and gave me some recommendations of nighttime venues to visit. Honestly, I am always initially wary of any man who approaches while I am alone, but he made small talk, wished me the best and went his own way without further inquiry or hesitation. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t pleasantly surprised. It would appear that I was approached out of genuine human curiosity and friendliness. Even if that was not the case, he embraced that persona without hesitation and he was on his merry way without any inclination to look back. Maybe I am cynical, or maybe I am naïve, but I cannot seem to recall a recent encounter with a male stranger in which I couldn’t perceive some kind of an angle (to be fair, I work at a bar which can tend to breed a certain kind of environment). So this was pleasant. I felt oddly welcomed in by the nonchalant nature of this interaction. I crossed the street feeling warmed by the sun and the ephemeral interaction. J

The group dinner was excellent as usual along with the quality Guinness that came in tow. Perhaps it was my tingly good vibes regarding the human condition that I was basking in, but I ended up playing mom at the table and asking everyone to share some of their favorite moments of the trip. It was lovely to hear the perspectives of my classmates and the variety of meaningful experiences that can be had when abroad.

A few of us rounded off the night with a few drinks at a local pub where we ran into a whole picnic table full of traveling Americans. There is always a tiny “flitter” (think heart butterflies???) of elation felt when you realize that you are in the presence of someone going through a similar experience.

Maybe that elation flitter will keep on popping up the more we happen upon friendly souls? As always, I am looking forward to those little ephemeral moments of connection… It seems those moments make traveling worthwhile and oh so universally human. 🙂

Day 9: Belfast

May 22

When I woke up this morning, my head and chest were filled with pressurized mucus which is a charming state… It is the sort of feeling that makes one wonder, “Do I really need my head? I could function today without it…” Nevertheless, I kept my head screwed on (somewhat) and prepared for the day. At the very least I could anticipate an even sexier raspy jazz voice so that was a plus. I drank copious amounts of tea and looked at the day ahead with some anxious as well as some overly optimistic anticipation. We were set to visit BBC Northern Ireland and Irish News today. Both are marvelous journalistic institutions and I was looking forward to getting up close and personal with a favored international institution (BBC) as well as a historic local paper.

Prior to the media visits, I set off onto the streets of Belfast on my own again. Despite my weakened state, I knew that sitting in the stuffy hotel room was not going to do me any favors. I figured that another leisurely stroll would clear my head (perhaps both figuratively and literally) so that I could put my momentary unrest in perspective.

This morning I ventured more in the direction of Cathedral Quarter. Little alleyways that lead to charming pubs are characteristic of Cathedral Quarter. Our Belfast tour guide Laura had mentioned the area as the place to go for a boisterous music scene and quirky artwork. I glanced through the Commercial Court alleyway and noticed the “Duke of York” pub which Laura had noted as one of the most wonderful music pubs in Belfast. Through the alleyway, there were small murals on the tunnel walls and twinkly lights unlit in the early morning. The previous night’s vibrancy lingered and I was excited by the prospects of the evening.

When I returned to the hotel, we left for our visit at BBC Northern Ireland. The balance of extreme generosity and professionalism was particularly striking. They hosted us in a spacious conference room, provided an extensive background and breakdown of BBC Northern Ireland and its relations to the Troubles, fed us coffee, fruit and sandwiches, and gave us a tour of the TV gallery and studio.

Dan Straford (Editor) and Kathleen Carragher (Head of News) went into the paper’s background extensively, leaving out no details and making clear the connections between Belfast of today and of the past. BBC is one of the oldest news organizations that is not funded on behalf of a government or organization. During the Troubles, Belfast was divided between Protestants-Unionists and Catholic-Nationalists (a simplification as there are more gray areas) whose religious affiliations acted as ethnic identifiers over theological identifiers. Belfast was run as a divided state and there was much conflict and violence that ensued. BBC did its best and strives to do its best to provide all sides of the conflict. Unlike other local papers, the BBC did not pick sides. They received criticism, most notable from the Unionists who advocated unity with the UK, as the BBC originated there.

Although the Troubles have passed in Belfast, the BBC recognizes that allegiances still exist at the crux of the town. The society in Belfast is almost unrecognizable from what it was 30-40 years ago. However, there are different versions of history that formulate from the different perspectives. The key to understanding the complexities of reality is the active choice to listen. The BBC listens to all perspectives and reports with impartiality and independence.

As a reader, viewer and listener of BBC news, one can recognize their intentions to expose all sides of a story through active listening. The mindful attention that Dan and Kathleen tapped into when thoroughly addressing our inquiries revealed that an excellent journalistic organization begins first and foremost with excellent people. They are a perfect example of excellence as an active pursuit of integrity in all aspects of being. They were transparent in their dialogue and they went above and beyond to provide us with the most immersive and inclusive experience possible. Ultimately, they listened to us as they would listen to those whose stories they would tell. I feel quite fortunate to have been welcomed into one of the most excellent journalistic institutions.

After BBC Northern Ireland, we made our way to the small local offices of the Irish News. The Irish News is a local paper with Catholic-Nationalist roots dating back to 1891 when it was founded by the Fitzpatrick family. Irish News is quite small compared to BBC, but the integrity and excellence of the people and their work is just as impactful. Like BBC, their excellence was revealed through their continuous perseverance as well as their extreme generosity.

Seven of the staff members carved out time to talk about the paper, their department and answer questions. As a paper that has been an underdog, they had to fight for their place in local media by pushing the limits of local traditional papers.

By all intents and purposes, Irish News is defying the current trends with regards to journalistic readership. It is the only local paper in the UK that has increased readership in 16-24 year olds. Part of this increase is due to the marketing initiatives that they’ve taken on aimed to address the desires and the demands of the local community. With regards to the front page, they’ve adapted a sports focus as it is the single biggest uplift which excites and motivates citizens across generations. Additionally, they’ve developed a school initiatives of coaching days of sports and a Reader Literacy project with primary schools. Through the Literacy project, they supply newspapers to schools for critical reading. As children are exposed to the paper, they begin to like reading the news and parents are happy that their kids are not just staring at screens, but instead taking initiative to feed their long term curiosity over a short term rush. Irish News is taking on a long term, inclusive perspective with respect to their readership. Excellent journalism is not just about great content, but about actively utilizing information and content to benefit the entire local community.

Every person who spoke to us was friendly and thoughtful. I was especially impressed by Will Scholes who is the Head Writer for the Motoring and Faith Matters columns. His journalistic experience is extremely varied; he has written for just about every column and topic imaginable. Taking on different topics and perspectives keeps his mind open, fresh and actively creative. His enthusiasm about continuous learning and always doing something different drives him as a journalist. His passion and commitment was palpable. It is lovely and inspiring to see someone that is not primarily driven by personal success or status, but rather by a desire to participate and share in the endless complexities of the world. He is a prime example of excellence both as a journalist and as a human.

By the time we were finished at Irish News, my mucus filled head seemed a distant memory as I was preoccupied with inspiration. 🙂 I felt energetic despite my weakened state and I was craving more inspiration for my last night in Belfast.

After dinner, the plan was to quickly grab a drink at the pub across the street from the hotel and make our way to the Duke of York to experience the lively music scene. However, we had an unexpected chat with a local named Jean Coleman.

She was a spunky older woman of Belfast who came into the bar wearing a furry purple cardigan with a sparkling lavender rose broach and hot pink pants and shirt. The pub was relatively empty except for a couple men at the bar and the six American women (me and my classmates), so she strolled right on up to us after she got her beer and asked if any of us could sing. She started singing herself and took a seat right in the empty chair in front of us. She took no time in asking our names, where we were from, what we were doing, where we were going, again if we would sing for her. She had no inhibitions at all. She proudly shared her background and opinions whether or not we had asked, while still exuding a vibrant and genuine interest in who we were. At first it is a bit startling when someone approaches without caution or pretense. However, it was quite refreshing and humbling to converse with someone who acts purely with the intent to connect without fear or anxiety. Some were put off by her forward nature, as it is not typical of a first encounter. But it was her pure unadulterated honesty is truly aspirational. The courage to approach a group of strangers wholeheartedly is admirable. Jean is an excellent reminder that living to ascribe to normalcy may dilute authenticity. “Normal” is not always real, and all too often we are uncomfortable with that fact.

Once we left Jean, Jess (lovely classmate and friend pictured below) made our way to the Duke of York. We made our way through that tiny alleyway that I passed this morning and were welcomed by lovely illumination and electrifyingly colorful murals. The content and the way it was portrayed was stunning and thought provoking. The murals detailed the rich and complex history of Belfast and its relevance today.

Visual art made way for music when we entered the Duke of York. It is a quirky, chaotic, nifty, cheeky bar with vintage Guiness and Irish ads, photos, bottles and knick knacks strewn about every inch of the place. As we made our way to the sitting area by the stage, musician Anton Glackin’s rich voice welcomed us immediately. We sat among a starry eyed audience and enjoyed a variety of Irish folk songs and modern fare and clapped along enthusiastically. He was an incredibly jovial and generous performer. Afterwards he thanked everyone personally and even gave us a copy of his CD. I couldn’t have imagined a more wholesome, enriching way to wrap up our short time in Belfast.

When we returned to the hotel, Jess and I were deeply satisfied. We had gone over the day and all of the opportunities that we were privileged to experience. Despite my poor health, today was quite lovely and enriching. I look to our journey to Galway tomorrow with excitement and enthusiasm. If I could find such joy in such a poor state, there is no limit to what I could experience in a healthy state in Galway. 🙂

Day 10: Galway

May 23

Oh Galway you have stolen my heart. Take it. Run with it. You can keep it. It is yours.

Upon walking into town from our hotel, I cannot help but feel some inexplicable giddy, childish anticipation. Perhaps I am having a psychic/déjà vu moment of anticipatory assimilation with the majestic Bruges that I had the privilege of stopping through last year. (See http://amsterdam.pointparkjournalism.com/student-blogs/coleen-loverde/) However, it is more likely that the flutelike quips of Irish-folk saying, “Oh you will love Galway. It is a lovely spot” that keep my heart pounding faster by the minute as we approach the City Center.

Our kickass tour guide Joe leads us through the City Center, down past the bustling bars and buskers (street musicians) to the bay all the while referencing the town’s royal familial ancestry, prominent Irish speakers, young creative types and the prominence of hookers down by the bay (hooker meaning a type of ship). I find myself smiling and wide-eyed as we wind down the cobble-stoned streets and my head is whishing around to soak in the sights of the colorful buildings, boisterous pub-goers and the hypnotically enticing notes and crooning of the passion-filled buskers. I can see myself feeling very comfortable here and I can unfortunately foresee my dismay that I will feel upon our departure. I know that we will be here for too short of a time, so I am determined to experience as much as possible.

After our quick tour, we are left to our own devices for the rest of the evening. As we stumble back towards City Center trying to determine a course of action we encounter a massive band of buskers jamming, playing, moving, feeling like I have never seen before. They called themselves the Galway Street Club and to be frank they are badass. Before long a massive crowd is gathered around and everyone is entranced. This tiny peek hardly does them justice. Their collective souls and passion is intensely tangible when they are playing in our immediate space.

I found myself captivated by each musician (I know I was not alone) and my excitement and elation (yay elation flitters!) increased by the second when I saw how different each individual expressed herself/himself. The group is clearly comprised of artists from vastly different backgrounds, locations and generations. And here we go again, but there is something quite beautiful about the endless potential of human connection. This group seemed to connect out of happenstance, in fragments, through various encounters. And here we were, the observers, the audience, gathered around, collectively reveling in the connectivity of the artists and their art. The performers and audience became connected through a series of chance encounters. This group seemed to be a visual representation of the potential of random chance connections. Their relationship brought all these pedestrians to a halt in a desire to listen and connect with the art and subsequently those who had halted before them. Powerful stuff. J I would be omitting a great chunk of my mindset going forward if I did not mention my hope to run into them again. I was so curious to hear more, to interact with them on a personal level. Gosh, with a powerful experience like that, I just always want to get closer. However, once they finished their set we moved on and I hoped more than anyting that we would somehow run into them again.

For the rest of the night, we made our rounds at some of the pubs near the bay, listened to some traditional Irish music, and interacted with the locals. We met a friendly man named John in his late 50s who is a local scientist. He asked us each about our respective career paths and goals. He was quite kind and personable, he made us feel welcome and comfortable and he wished us well for the rest of our travels. Simple as that, we were off to the next place with no strange feeling or impression of anxious hesitation.

When I made my way into the Quays Pub (pronounced “keys”) to listen to the live musicians jamming out to some Billy Joel and Irish folk songs, I happened to have another lovely chance encounter. A man named Ross from Donegal sat next to me at the bar and we seamlessly started chatting about our travels, our careers and ambitions, the trials and tribulations of the service industry, our philosophies regarding human interaction and more. Suddenly three hours had passed and it was time to head back to the hotel. I felt comfortable and satisfied. There were no anticipatory looming expectations, we wished one another the best and I headed to bed my heart feeling full of joy at the bounty of means for connection.

Good tunes, good vibes and good company all to be had in a half day in Galway. And what more can you ask of a travel experience? If today was this great I can hardly wait until tomorrow. 🙂

Day 11: Galway

May 24

Oh Galway I never want to leave you. 🙂

It’s honestly a bit baffling how brilliant our first full day in Galway was. From our final media visit at Galway Bay FM all the way to remarkable chance encounters that seem like a rare oddity in retrospect…

To start the day off, we all made our way over to the Galway Bay FM studios where we were able to sit in on a live recording of the Keith Finnegan show, tour the studios, meet the sportscaster and reports and have a Q and A session with Keith. I had never been inside a radio station before and I was impressed by the passion, grit and leadership common among all the team members at the station. Galway Bay FM is the top rated and most listened to station in the county and their audience loyalty is born out of the commitment of the station to serve the community, establish trust and be a leader in disseminating verified local news first. What stood out to me most within our visit was how much the employees value the fun, spontaneity and challenges that come with the job. I am reminded of something a dance professor of mine said. The best kinds of jobs are the ones that challenge you, stimulate you and exhaust you to your core so that you finish your day completely spent but happy and excited about what the next day might bring. I saw a group of people who were busy, focused, challenged and playful and make an impact in their community. I could see that Galway Bay FM is the kind of work environment that I could produce and thrive in.

After our final visit, we had the rest of the day to do what we pleased and as soon as we stepped out of the building, the sun came out from behind the clouds and beamed down at us. It was gorgeous and sunny and I couldn’t help but scurry (yes scurry) forward in anticipation to explore.

Jess and I decided to take a series of random twists and turns in our efforts to see as much of Galway as possible. Much like my unrealistic ambition that precedes me before I walk into museums (see Day 7: Dublin), I would like to think that we can make our way through every part of town to absorb Galway in its entirety. Luckily, curiosity gets the best of us and we end up stopping in a few lovely shops along our unplanned route towards the bay. One of the stores we mosey into is Galway’s premier independent book store Charlie Byrnes. The store is stocked to the brim with brightly colored covers emblazoned on every surface imaginable and the comforting combination of intense colors and endless books invite me to stay in the store for hours… But there is much more to do and see and so I pick up a copy of a short story collection called Galway Stories complete with a richly hued and vibrant painting of the colorful Galway buildings. They say not to judge a book by its cover, but I was hooked once I read the back: “It is, in effect, the alternate guide to this beloved city and county of ours, filling in all the gaps left out by the official guides, giving a real sense of what makes it the magical place it is to live in.” I may be able to continue to explore Galway from afar until I return.

After the bookshop, we started out along the coast of the bay and continued along a path within Salthill where we followed the river further out from the City Center into the outskirts where we encountered quaint homes along the water. With the sun high in the sky, the stunning sights and the friendly faces walking by, it was a wonderful opportunity to peacefully take in and observe our surroundings without interruptions.

At the end of the path, we decided to make our way back towards the City Center and low and behold, the anxiously anticipated Galway Street Club is playing in front of O’ Flannery’s Chemists once again. Jess and I stand practically front and center of the crowd, with massive grins and open hearts (yes, quite cheesy I know, but you would say the same thing if you were there). We stayed and listened to their entire set all the while beginning to move to the rhythm. The musicians were full out jamming; their enthusiasm was full-out and infectious through their solos, their giddy dancing and their playful, familial collaborative nature. They were remarkably enticing and the pure joy that they exude and the joy that springs forth from the audience is infectious. I felt like my delight would double each second. The Galway Street Club (GSC) rekindled my excitement for the potential of art to heal, bring joy and connect to the community at one’s fingertips. Every aspect of the music, the performance and the space they created got me PUMPED. Naturally I bought a CD, I made it a point to commend them for their vibrancy and smiled at them wide like a massive doofus. 😂

Jess and I made our way to the Dail Bar in the Latin Quarter to nurse a Guinness and express our newfound adoration for GSC and lament over the fact that we would not be in Galway to come to their Friday performance at the Roisin Dubh.

All seemed lost in our hopes of reconnecting our new favorite musicians, so we headed further down the Latin Quarter and into The Quays where we watched a lovely couple of musicians and mulled over our travel experiences and our desires to stay in Galway (Perhaps a career in busking as a contemporary dancer is underway? Stay tuned!). After a drink, we headed back outside to determine our next destination.

We were looking around the Quarter, bouncing ideas off of one another when I saw one of the guitarists from Galway Street Club walking in our direction. I had exchanged words with him the previous day in passing. He had been passing, I complimented the band, he asked where I was from, he told me he was from Spain and he thanked me for my compliments. I had seen our interaction as a polite exchange of pleasantries and I had not thought to mention it.

But at this point, I smiled at him, gave the tiniest of waves and he smiled back and walked towards us. We all started chatting and introducing ourselves. He introduced himself as Alberto and we asked him how he ended up in Galway with such a versatile group of musicians. He was incredibly friendly and open and he shared that he had lived in Germany as a busker for 7 years as a busker, he had passed through Galway and accidentally stumbled upon this group of musicians who he connected with. The rest was history and he has been in Galway about a year.

Just our chance conversation appeared to be wrapping up, he invited us to join him by the bay to watch the sunset. Jess and I glanced at one another and knew that we should take the opportunity and so we walked to the bay. We were chatting and joking around about friends and language when he spotted a large group of people across the way. It was a large portion of the Galway Street Club enjoying beers alongside some other local musicians. Alberto waved at them and asked us if we wanted to go over and join them. Honestly, Jess and I were relatively stunned in the face of the opportunity to meet the artists who we were feeling a persistently increasing admiration for.

We walked across the way with Alberto and we were welcomed by the friendly group all intermingled but tangled in separate factions of conversations. I slid my way into the vortex (their term, not mine) and found myself a part of a series of introductions with some very friendly people. Jess and I ended up mostly talking to Paul, Johnny and Kai who are all musicians in GSC (horn and vocals, guitar and vocals, and cajon respectively). They were silly and playful with one another while being equally welcoming and accommodating as they offered us beer and conversation.

I ended up chatting with Paul about what I had perceived as spontaneous hospitality that I constantly came across throughout Ireland, but especially in Galway. He is originally from New Mexico and has been living in Galway for less than a year. He attributes the warmth of the Irish people to a cultural tendency to make connections without a predictable or foreseeable benefit. There are no angles. You can meet someone, form a genuine connection and then never see them again. An honest connection does not have to last forever to have a valuable impact.

As we said goodbye to those in the vortex, it was evident how applicable our conversation was to our own chance encounter. Being welcomed by the Galway Street Club was a pleasant surprise at its initiation and ended up being truly lovely in its simplicity. I would be remiss if I did not mention that I longed to stay in Galway and seek out chance encounters with that level of sincerity.

However, to seek out an experience with guidelines in mind means that I am operating from a certain angle, doesn’t it? Maybe longing to relive a previous event deters me from embracing the present moment without expectations. Curiosity, compassion and joy took the lead today because I did not have expectations. Today was great for what had happened, but more importantly, it serves as a model for how to live fully. I am blue to leave Galway, but I can also smile and think of coming back to new experiences.

Day 12: Travel to Bunratty Castle

May 25

“In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity.” -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Most of our journey to Bunratty Castle can be summed up as a presence to the wonder of nature. We made the journey by bus and even before we stopped at our prescribed destinations, I found myself savoring the luscious, rolling green landscape out the window.

We stopped at The Burren in County Clare which is made up of naturally formed limestone pavements that are marked by a seemingly infinite number of crevices and cracks. I was skipping about and jumping from rock to rock like a child. Maybe it was groups of small children learning about The Burren from their teachers or maybe my incessant desire to play around with movement when I am in an unfamiliar physical space…either way, I felt like moving about uninhibited. Simple as that; lovely as that.

We made our way to the Cliffs of Moher and I was wide-eyed (at first equal parts excitement and terror…). The sky and the water were piercingly blue and the distance from the top of the cliffs to the water is immense (most of the birds were flying towards what was the bottom of the cliff to provide some perspective). There was a thin rope separating pedestrians from the edges of the cliffs and a far 90 degree drop to the Atlantic Ocean. My heartbeat quickened while watching other cliff-goers sit down and swing their legs over the edges of the cliff. However, the longer that I was up there and the more that I moved along to catch the views, I was able to tune out my fear of watching someone fall to their death (morbid, I know). There is peace in the bright colors, the immensity and the knowledge that I was witnessing something incredible that had been witnessed by so many others before my time and would be experienced by countless others after me.

After we arrived at our hotel in Shannon, we voyaged on over to our final dinner at Bunratty Castle (apprehensively in my case… I did not want to leave yet). We were welcomed in with a glass of Mead which is a honey based liqueur that has an alcoholic content similar to whiskey (yum!). Our professors Bob O’Gara and Helen Fallon were crowned the King and Queen of the castle and would therefore preside over our meal (I was quite fun to witness their coronation :)).

The food, drink, entertainment and company were all excellent. It was a charming (and delicious) way to spend our final night in Ireland. An event of equal parts spectacle and relaxation was the best way to wrap up our adventures.

After dinner Jess and I took a short walk around Shannon and schemed up ways to stay longer, or perhaps make the trip back up to Galway. We were so happy with the trip, but we are stubborn to leave and return home. It will be great to get back and kick off the summer (time to dance my bum off) and I recognize that my yearning to stay will bring me back to Ireland soon again. 🙂

Day 13: Travel Day

May 26

Lesson of the day:

Shit happens. And is it even shit when you think about it?

Upon hearing that our flight was delayed this morning, Jess and I jokingly starting plotting ways to travel back to Galway and attend Galway Street Club’s performance at the Roisin Dubh tonight. But alas, we got on the bus anyway and made the quick trip to the Shannon Airport where we arrived 6 hours early for our flight (we could not reschedule the bus).

There was a lot of time to read, relax and pick up some mead to take home (the sweet honey based drink). We got on the plane bound for JFK and we knew that we were coming in tight for our connecting flight. Delta Airlines was going to hold the plane to Pittsburgh as long as possible so that we could connect (there are about 20 of us in the class along with other travelers who were itching to make their connecting flights on time). Unfortunately, there were technical problems once we landed and we were left anxiously tapping in our seats until we flew out of the plane and ran to our gate like maniacs.

We missed our connecting flight by 9 minutes…

This was a bit frustrating given that we had started our travel day at 8 AM Ireland time (It was now 4 PM in NYC and 9 PM for our internal clocks) and there were no more available flights until tomorrow due to the jam-packed holiday weekend.

Jess and I mumbled that we could still be in Ireland on our way to the show…

But we weren’t. We were in New York City. Safe. Fed. Sheltered. Privileged. We stood in the face of a minor inconvenience that would not affect our health, safety or advantages one way or another.

By this point I would hardly say that I made the best out of a bad situation because it was not a bad situation.

We were accommodated and immediately booked on a return flight to Pittsburgh at 1:30 PM the next day.

So I get a few extra hours to reflect on the trip, appreciate the EXTREME patience of the Delta workers (That is some Zen right there. I would likely go off on a peeved customer at some point) and spend some extra quality time with some people that I am not sure when I will see them again once I move out of Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

Despite the minor annoyance, I appreciate this final day as an extension of a phenomenal trip. The circumstances are not ideal, but perfection is uninspiring anyways.

So I conclude my extended reflections by saying cheers! To one last day of appreciation for the people that I have met and my fellow travelers. It is you who made this journey exceptional. 😇❤

Point Park International Media Iceland, Ireland and Northern Ireland

Track the activities of the 2017 International Media trip