The Aran Islands...a preservation of Irish culture

Everyday is so eventful I am starting to fall behind on my updates but I am doing my best to keep you all informed and document my adventures!

This is about my trip to the Aran Island, specifically Inis Mor. The primary language on the island is Irish, or Gaeltachtaí, and many mainland Irish students come to immerse themselves in their native language during the summer seasons. There are only 896 permanent residents on the island at the moment so everyone literally knows everyone. Tourism is their biggest form of income and the moment you get off the ferry you are bombarded with offers of horse drawn carriages, bike tours and mini-bus tours.

Although it is said that the best way to see the island is by bike, as I am not able to ride one, I decided to take the mini-bus tour instead. It was my first mini-solo excursion since arriving in Ireland and I must say I quite enjoyed the alone time for exploration, admiration and self-reflection. Because we had a tour guide on the bus we learned plenty of tidbits about the island and their history. First of all, because the make up of the island is mostly of hard limestone, the people of the past made their own soil to grow food from seaweed and sand. Furthermore, because there is no wood, they use to burn and buy turf from the mainland of Ireland by trading it for rock fish.

The world heritage site, Dun Aengus, was absolutely magnificent and you could feel the energy resonating from the ground into your being. Said to be created in 1000 B.C., although it is some kind of fort, no one really knows the purpose of this massive structure. You are left to your imagination to dream up what it would have been like to live so long ago and reasons for creating such a structure. There are little shops at the bottom of Dun Aengus and I purchased a set of authentic hand-knit gloves from a feisty old lady which gave me some wise advice after witnessing a woman in the store needing to ask her husband if she could buy a sweater or not. My conversation with her,

Little old lady: "I don't know about you young girls today. Why do you need to ask your husbands & boyfriends if you can buy something? And you American girls, the worst!"

Me: "awww, we're not all like that, I promise."

Little old lady: "We Irish women, if we want something we'll get it. If we want to buy a car, I'm not going to ask my husband his opinion, I'm going to go to the dealer, find the car I want, and GET IT!"

Me: "well, I assure you some of us have our own minds and I'm single so I don't have that worry."

Little old lady: "Good girl. I hope you stay that way and stay single as long as you can. And when you're ready to get married, marry an Irish man."

the woman who went to go ask her husband: "Are you going to set her up? (laughs)"

Little old lady: "She doesn't need it, she'll find one when she's ready."

That's what you call a strong, beautiful woman. Best love advice I've ever received.

The gloves she knit were beautiful and I also bought a world famous Aran sweater to remember my time here in Ireland. They are made with pure wool and depending on the type of knit design, it represented a different clan on the island. Some were designed to look like the landscape with the rock walls, some were designed to look like fishing nets, and others had religions connotations like the celtic cross and the tree of life. They are absolutely beautiful and it took me over an hour to pick one, but I know I will cherish it forever.

The island of Inis Mor consisted of beautiful people, nature, landscape and life.

Coming into the pier

Over the cliff

One of the Seven Churches (there's actually not Seven but only Three)

The little house on the side is a Leprechaun house. Almost every house had one.

One of only 3 bars on the Island

My new Aran Sweater and gloves knitted by the little old lady :)

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Peace & Love,

Monique 

Building bonds through the purity of music: Galway Sessions

The Galway Sessions is a collective musical jam session between Sterling, Scotland and Galway, Ireland where artists come to Galway, both Scottish, Irish and across the world, to play traditional music and further the bond of friendship between the two cities. I had the opportunity to watch one of these 'sessions' occur at  a local pub called 'The Crane", and I must say it was probably one of the most favorite experiences yet.

Although words have the ability to communicate important and relevant information and writing can be considered an art form within itself, there is something about music that can only be communicated through the relationship of notes that can resonates within one's soul and bring about emotions that you never knew existed. You could tell that these artists really felt the songs they were playing and they did it purely for the love of their instrument, music & art.

What I thought was even more beautiful was what the sessions represented. It was a bringing together of two communities purely through music and even though culturally they may be different, they are able to relate to one another with appreciation and respect through their art form.

I took a few videos so I hope you enjoy. The first is of a young Scottish man playing who just came in and starting jamming. The second is of the actual session with ALOT of musicians. If you would like to know more about the Galway Sessions, check out http://www.galwaysessions.com/.

Music express that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent - Victor Hugo

Peace & Love,

Monique

First week in Galway...and I never want to leave

The entire reason I came to Ireland was to study at the Centre for Human Rights in the National University of Ireland- Galway. Little did I know that Galway where the university is located is probably the cutest city I have ever been to. Furthermore, it reminds me alot of my hometown of Seattle with their artsy feel, constant art & music festivals, harbor and green landscape. You never realize how much you miss those little things until you are force to live without them for a long period of time. Words cannot describe how lovely this place is and the pictures do not do it justice but here is a look at what I have discovered so far...

 This is just outside our street on Kirwans Lane called Quays Street which turns into shop street...

The Beautiful Harbor...

My walk EVERY MORNING to school...

 The National University of Ireland - Galway...the school I get to study at...

I am soaking up as much as I can because I know it will be over before I know it. I am learning about topics I am passionate about from the top professionals in the field, I get to experience this beautiful country, immerse myself in the culture on a daily basis, and meet wonderful people along the way...who could ask for anything more? 

I hope all of you are facing each day knowing that the sun is shining on your life and nourishing your development on a constant basis. Sometimes the gray skies of difficulties appear and block the sun from directly warming your face and they might even cause you to get a little wet by the rain clouds of self-doubt and insecurity. However, we need each element to push us to be stronger in any weather, to learn from the puddles of mistake and harsh winds of reality. But when we break through and overcome the elements, the clouds break away and once again we are able to feel the warmth of the sun, with more appreciation, hope and understanding. I am constantly learning through the trials and tribulations of life but I also revel in them because I know that they are helping me develop into the person I am destined to become. 

I hope each and everyone of you are living the life you hope, dream and deserve.

"You cannot help but learn more as you take the world into your hands. Take it up reverently, for it is an old piece of clay, with millions of thumbprints on it." - John Updike

Love and Peace,

Monique

Dublin...Finale, day 2!

WOW, so before I get to Dublin let me just say...I pretty much NEVER want to leave. Galway is so cute, reminds me a lot of Seattle with its artsy vibe but still a European flare with the cute shops and colorful streets. But I will indulge on those details in a later post...

My second day in Dublin consisted of the Guinness storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol, the war memorial and a few surprises along the way. We decided to do the hop-on hop-off buses and although its never cool to look too much like a tourist when your time is limited, it really is the best way to see more of the cities in a condensed period of time. And an additional plus is that if you get the live tours the bus drivers are usually HILARIOUS.

The Guinness factory is definitely a MUST SEE. Even though I can't drink beer (I'm allergic, sad...I know) there was plenty to see and learn. It's relatively large with seven floors and took us a good part of the afternoon to get through. The building is designed to look like a tall glass of Guinness and as you go through each floor you learn how the beer is made. As a law student it was interesting to see the contract that the original creator of the beer Arthur Guinness signed for the lease of the building...45 pounds...for NINE THOUSAND YEARS! That is the most impressive enforceable contract I have ever seen in my life. There were plenty of cool things to see like the old advertisements, the process of making the beer, learning how to pour the perfect pint and the 360 degree glass bar at the top where you can see all of Dublin.

The next place we went to was Kilmainham Gaol (or Jail) and it was one of my favorite experiences in Dublin. I had very limited knowledge of Irish history and if you want to experience & feel the history resonate deep within your soul while learning about the struggle of independence in Ireland this is the place to go. Those who were part of the Irish Rebellion were held in these cells and eventually executed. One of the many stories that touched my heart was that of Joseph Plunkett who was captured after the rebellion and the day before being executed, married his fiance Grace Plunkett in the jail church. They were only allowed 10 minutes together as husband and wife. He was executed five hours later. Grace also spent time in jail fighting for the same cause as her late husband and during that time painted a mural of Madonna on her cell wall and it is still there today. She never remarried. Now that is what you call honest to goodness true and everlasting love.

The War Memorial was a nice little walk through a cute park and as you go up these steps are greeted with a beautiful memorial and garden. It helped that the weather was absolutely perfect...

After a full day we headed to get some drinks but on the way we had some interesting encounters such as Irish people jumping off a bridge for Lupis and a pigeon in the Tommy Hilfiger store...

We ended our day at this famous bar...

...and discovered my new favorite drink!

That was my quickie Dublin trip! Hope you enjoyed it and I will be updating you on my experience here in the dream like city of Galway soon...Slán agat! (goodbye in Irish!)