Adventures in the Unknown: First Day Abroad

So we decided to get breakfast in (London)Derry at this little place called Wetherspoons in the Diamond. I guess it would help if I told you all what the Diamond is, huh? I guess you would call it the town center in the States, but it's this little area that's "squared in" in by the streets surrounding. In the middle is this statute with an angel on the top with a sailor on one side and a soldier on the other.

After breakfast we went down to get bus passes so that we'd be able to get to our service placements throughout the week. We ended up exploring the Service placements in the Creggan Country Park, Rosemount Youth Center, and the school in the Fountain.

As soon as we entered the bus, it was like we traveled back to the '60s in the States. Everyone knew each other and were talking to each other and being friendly. It was like the community life that you see in the movies with people talking and having fun.

I think it was at that point that it hit me that I was in Ireland. Kuz said "You know, the world really isn't that different", and I guess he's got a point. It's not that different: the land looks the same, and yeah, some cars are different (Driving on the opposite side of the road than the States? Hello, still getting used to it), and the people all look the same. The only difference is the person's mindset, and I really think the biggest difference here in Ireland is that people here take relationships more seriously. I feel like people in the States are more concerned with money and wealth and advancement and having a really prestigious job, where Ireland is more about relationships and having a good time with each other.

While we were walking into the Fountain, it was very clear that the Fountain was a Protestant area. Right after we walked under the bridge/walkway, the atmosphere changed. Maybe it was the colored sidewalks (British colors), but to me it felt like it was the last remaining colony (like a zombie apocalypse was happening outside and I was in the only remaining human colony). Very different feel to it.

After dinner, a group of us decided to go out and visit the pub and find some live music. First we went to the Cellar Bar, which was nice but dead. NO one was in there except our group, so I walked up to the bartender and asked what was up with this pub. She responded that it was a disco bar that only got busy on the weekends. So we are planning a return trip when the disco is in full swing. (note: I'm not sure if disco has the same meaning as disco in the States. I'm assuming it has the same connotation as a club in the States. I have no idea).

So we ended up with the rest of the people in our house at a place called Castle Bar. We walked in and there was live music playing and a couple people being loud and having fun. I sat down at the bar (what better way to meet people, right?) and got a Guinness (first one! Surprisingly I like it haha) and started talking to the bartender. And no coincidence, he said he just moved back from Pennsylvania (small world, huh?). It was so awesome! The guy next to me was pretty fun to talk with (a drunken Irishman who was not holding back anything). But then this random guy showed up with a fake dreadlock and started talking about how America should switch to socialism and started rambling about politics. But the best part was the group of students from the university who played music in the corner. Such a great first pub experience!

Next stop, Dublin in the morning for the weekend!