A Few Good Days

Hey ya'll!

Back from a couple day hiatus.

Thursday was my last day at the Pat Finucane Centre. Understandable, since we leave on Tuesday, but still.

A part of me feels like that the work I was doing isn't finished. And I know that I can only do so much and that I got through as much as I could, but I have a nagging feeling that I could have done so much more. And granted, I know that what I did helps in the long run, and even right now (an article I found tied in so well with the book that was launched by the PFC on Collusion that the local newspaper did an article on it), but I still wish I could have done more.

But at dinner last night, this quote was said and I think it made me realize that what I did was actually very helpful.

"As a kid, you want to help everyone with everything. But as we grow up and mature as a person, we realize that we can't be a superhero. We need to concentrate our efforts and realize that what we do, no matter how small, makes a difference"

I am super grateful for the opportunity that I had to volunteer at the PFC and work with some amazing people. Dr. O, before the trip, told us to take a gift to give to our placements as a going-away gift.. I decided that something Baldwin Wallace related, while it symbolizes the program, didn't really symbolize me. Don't get me wrong, I love BW and it's become an integral part of who I am, but I am always a Steel City Son. So I decided that I would give a Terrible Towel as a gift. Of course, Paul laughed at the fact that I was giving him a "tea towel", but they enjoyed the fact that I thought of leaving something. Paul then handed me a copy of Lethal Allies as a thank-you, signed from the Centre. And it's printed backwards and upside-down, so it's one of a kind.

BW also gave a donation of 150 pounds to the Centre to help keep the work they are doing up and running.

Friday was my day off. Which sucked, because everyone else was still working. I got so frustrated being couped up in the house and trying to write my paper that I ended up going to see Nicole and Angel down at their Service Placement, the Bogside Artist Studio. They're painting a mural in the backroom, and I must say it looked fantastic (and almost completed). I was sitting there and looking at the pictures on the walls of events that happened, and I was struck by one in particular. The painting was of Paddy Bogside (that's what one of the Bogside Artists called him) in front of the "Free Derry" Sign (the white wall one in the Bogside). It was almost like he was making a political speech.

Looking at this picture, I tried to imagine being at the start of the Troubles. At the Battle of the Bogside. How these people erected a wall and painted a big ol "Screw You" to the UK on it while the British Army looked on. How they took action and decided that enough was enough and they weren't going to live like that anymore.

And I thought to myself, If I was in a community that felt like we were being oppressed (rightly or wrongly), would I step up and take action? Would I be able to stand for what I believed to be right? Would I risk my life, and subsequently my family's, to take a stand?

Oh how Northern Ireland has made me think.

Saturday I went with Taylor and Devin to Dunluce Castle. We took a train up to Coleraine and then a bus that dropped us off at a stop that was Bushmills (the distillery might have been around there. I'm not sure). We had to walk about 2 miles to get to the Castle Ruins, which was not a big deal because 1) It was a gorgeous day and 2) Again, the scenery was breathtaking.

The ruins were cool. I mean, if you're a history person or a medieval person you'd be more excited, but to me it was the ruins of a house. But a really cool house.

The coolest party was the view from the castle. If you looked out you would see water (Naturally. It's on a coast), and to the left in the distance you could see a city. Dr.O asked if we saw Scotland, so I don't know if that was it or if we could actually see Scotland, but it was still a great view.

I still don't think that it's hit me that it's my last few days in Northern Ireland...

Our Cow Friend that Stared Us Down as We Walked By