Hey guys! It's Dan coming at you with the first UNM CLPS blog from Northern Ireland. So far so good, I arrived here in Belfast safely and I am very much recovering from the jet lag.
I got some pictures here for everyone to look at from our travel experience just getting to Belfast.
I got some pictures here for everyone to look at from our travel experience just getting to Belfast.
After a full night of flying I finally arrived in Belfast, I barely had enough time to rest before the group and I got a brief tour of the city with our guide, teacher, and host Derick Wilson. After some refreshing coffee and scones Derick brought us to where we are staying at the Farset International in the heart of Belfast, where the is amazing.
After dinner Derick and a local Ivan gave us a more in-depth tour of the city. They took us through both Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods where we got to witness first hand the struggles that Northern Ireland has been going through. Within the city Derick explained to us that there are over 27 miles of 'peace' walls, most of them are about fifteen to twenty five feet high to protect neighborhoods from bombs, but were constructed to separate the protestants, and the Catholics. I have never before seen in my life so much physical division between people, and on the walls are messages warning passer-by's which neighborhood they're in. Many of these walls are littered with graffiti, and murals.
Well I am really hungry, and breakfast is right next to me. So I will make sure to post more developments as they come.
