The biggest shocks came from taking a Black Taxi Tour.  A Black Taxi Tour goes to west Belfast and explains historic sites of the Troubles and all the murals that have been painted.  The “Peace Line” is actually a twenty-five foot wall that stretches over three miles and has remained longer than the Berlin Wall.

Cages protect the back of the houses from rocks or worse thrown over the wall.

Bobby Sands was the first of the hunger strikers to die.

It is common to see barbed wire or broken glass attached to garden walls.  The last of the British military left only a year ago, and there are still road checkpoints to enter the Shankill areas.  I was surprised to see this as present, not relics.  The first stop on the tour was to see the murals on the Catholic side. The images inflected the tone of martyrdom including Bobby Sands and the hunger strikers.

On Falls Road stories of occupation around the globe serve as a human- rights-current events-newspaper…in art.  The famous George W. Bush mural was painted over when Obama got elected, and a mural on Gaza went up before January.  Next I saw the Peace Line up close.  On the protestant side was a graffiti wall with messages of peace.  Further from the wall are murals on the sides of houses commemorating William of Orange a militant protestant monarch whose participation in The Battle of the Boyne solidified the persecution of native Irish Catholics, paramilitary men with snipers, and British flags everywhere.

The connotations reeked and my stomach turned a little bit.  To be fair, it is the same as the celebration Columbus Day in America.

Oliver Cromwell Mural

The sniper follows you around the neighborhood, pointing at you from each different angle.

I don’t want to choose sides or commend violence of any kind, but in the states it is taught as unification with Ireland vs. with Britain.  This is true, but it was also an issue of civil rights.  Catholics couldn’t get jobs, were often denied voting rights, and even forced into internment camps.

Northern Irish people keep asking me, “Why did you come here?” Witnessing and getting to know the people of Belfast is exactly why I came here.  One Northern Irish man made the joke to me, “History is current events.”  And where has it ended up?  Peace?  Apathy?  Fear?  Separation?  Unification?  Are they into it?  Are they over it?  The magic eight ball swirls and shakes.  The answer is not yet clear.

I have now been here for over a month and feel like for the most part I have adjusted to my life here in Mérida. However, there are still many things I just don’t understand. For example, no one here uses street names except for Prolongación de Paseo Montejo. A few days ago, I tried to go get more pictures taken for my visa. I took off on foot instead of waiting for the bus knowing the store was somewhere near the Office Depot on Pronlongación Montejo- about a 25 minute walk. I walked up and down the Paseo and could not find any place that takes photos. I called my host mom, Rebecca, and she tells me “Find the grocery store on the corner. Turn right and walk a few blocks. When you see the curtain store, turn left and you’ll eventually come across it.” Well, after a good hour of sweating, walking up and down various streets and asking everyone if they know where this photo shop is, I find one- two stores down from where I started. I was exhausted and frustrated, but at least all my walking gave me the opportunity to get a good sense of where other things are located that I can’t see from the bus (aka I found a sushi place that has dirt cheap sushi Wednesdays and Thursdays and is suppose to be one of the best sushi places in Mérida).
Another perk about living here is that no day is the same. For example, Mondays and Wednesdays I wake up at 6, eat breakfast, grab the bus and am in class from 8-2, no breaks. By the time I eventually make my way back to my house, I am exhausted and STARVING. Tuesdays and Thursdays are my favorite days. I only have my Spanish class at three in the afternoon and thus have the morning to do whatever I need to get done. Often times I go to the launder mat these days. Its run by an old man who went to live in México (if you here someone say I lived in México, it always refers to the D.F.) and returned because he missed the friendliness of laid back Mérida. He greets everyone with a smile and loves to share stories about his life and listen to our opinions about our study abroad experience. The rest of the morning I normally spend with Rebecca and normally get a little cooking lesson. But if you think I’m going to come back an enchilada or taco expert your mistaken. My favorite dish I have learned so far is how to make Kiwi’s- a baked mixture of ground meat and tabouleh that was brought over by the Arabs. Yesterday we ran errands and went to three grocery stores trying to find out favorite yogurt (if Alpura exists in the United States BUY IT. Its delicious!). During our travels we stopped by Parque Aleman because Rebecca wants to start walking there. This park has free exercise machines, and when we got out of the car we decided to investigate how they worked. A 65- year old and 20- year old began to run from machine to machine bursting out laughing during their “attempts” to exercise. Everyone else in the park must have thought we were absolutely crazy, but we enjoyed ourselves.
There is one thing that bothers me about this study abroad experience and it is how easy it is to speak in English. If I talk with my parents- English. My friends- English. If I don’t talk to anyone any specific day, I have to write an email to someone in English. Although my Spanish has improved, I have realized it is much better if I don’t use any English during the day and am forced to speak in Spanish the whole time. I feel like my speaking skills would improve much faster if I never had to speak in English.
But all in all I am content in Mérida. It is no longer deathly hot which makes a huge difference. I can sleep in my room now without sweating and find the city much more enjoyable overall. I love my host family and spending time with them and can’t wait to see what the next eight months will bring.

Wow. I have been in the United Kingdom for just over a week. Today I woke up this morning and everyone was like why are you smiling so much wide. I just laughed. I thought to myself it’s a beautiful thing to be here, to wake up in another country unlike your own and know that there are any great and enriching encounters waiting to happen, new things to learn or to try, and vast amount of cultural experiences. Though I am in a new environment I understand I must keep my guard up. People love to spot an American and take advantage of them.
I really wish I didn’t have an American accent, because always ask me if I am American when I speak. Secondly, I wish I could speak pigeon. Lots of people speak pigeon here. I’m curious to know what they talk about.

This week I registered for my classes. I ended up having to change a couple of them, because the times conflicted with the other classes. So I ended up taking Politics & Journalism, Race, Nation, and Identity, and Conflict & Media. Classes start next week. I am excited. This week was called Freshers Week. The school had various events planned including, company, societies (school clubs), and sports fair.I joined four clubs. I joined the Fashion Society, Asian Society, United Nations Modeled Society, and the Bible Study Society.

Since I only been here a week, I’m still also adjusting to the culture and trying to meet new people. The second one is a little bit harder for me to do, since I am more of introvert. Hopefully, with the start of classes I will be able to come out my shell more on campus.

Since I have been her I have hung-out a couple times with my friend from Saint Louis, who lives in London.
Actually right now I’m sitting at her coffee table in London. Last night was one of her friends birthday parties. The affair was not like anything I had ever seen in the United States. I can’t even really explain it. But overall it was really kool.It feels really good to know someone who not that far away.Saturaday I will head back to Cardiff. Then Sunday I will go with some Cardiff’s international students on a tour of Wales, where we will get to see castle and a manor, then have lunch.

Well I have to go now, but check back next week or so to see how my courses went.

I’ve been here over a week now.  I once heard the advice, “When traveling, take note of what surprises you.”  This is the format I will take in catching you (my readers) up on my adventures.  In my premonitions post I hesitated to say that I expected the UK to have bad food even though that is the stereotype.  The food is heavier than what I am used to, but because of the Troubles farmland hasn’t been developed into agribusiness.  Local, organic, cheap, and tasty all go together when grocery shopping. There is a proper way to eat with a knife and fork and it is much more efficient than how I learned to eat in the U.S.  I was surprised that classes do not start until the 28^th.  The international students have had orientation, and now we just wait.  Because of orientation I have met more Germans than Irish students.  This is changing though as more local students move in.  People walk everywhere.  I knew there would be walking, I just assumed buses would be used daily.  The city is small enough that you can get most places within thirty minutes.  I expected Europeans to dress highly fashionable.  Belfast women wear sparkly, revealing outfits that would be called “tacky” in the states. But these are just small surprises.   My next entry will continue with the chief astonishment.

September 11, 2009

Made it to Belfast!  Not sure what time my body thinks it is.  I started in Austin on the 10th leaving late morning.  I couldn’t keep my eyes open.  Then I was quite the insomniac from Newark to London.  It gave me a chance to read a good portion of “Belfast Diary” a journalist’s account of the Troubles.  I feel more oriented with both the history and geography of the area.  At Heathrow I had to make a mad marathon to recheck my bag for Aer Lingus.  I was hiking with all my stuff on me going through customs and immigration, then back through to security.  The gate was in a far corner of a hallway that would be cut by sliding glass doors that were locked.  I made it in time, bought a cup of coffee, then was told I couldn’t bring it on the plane.  I slept most of that flight too, but had a window seat/birds eye view of the island.  It’s beautiful.  There was another success of my route, even with the stressful airport experience.  Instead of taking a cab I found a bus for seven pounds that dropped me off a block from the orientation hotel.  IFSA-Butler reps were right there when I walked in, and within a few minutes I was cleaning up, resting, and getting acquainted with my roommate.

More soon.

~Lauren

Howdy, I’m Brandi and the countdown is on! In about 9 days I will be leaving the U.S. to study in the U.K.  More specifically, I will spend my fall semester in “Land of Songs,” formally known as Cardiff, Wales at Cardiff University.  I am very much excited since this will be more first time going to Europe.

This Sunday I am actually having a going away party.  Many of my friends and family have begun to ask me if I started to pack yet.  The answer is no!  Prior to Thursday I had been busy prepping for the GRE.  Now that I have took my test, I feel like almost ready to leave American soil. Even though I haven’t left yet, in some ways I know have started to feel homesick apprehension.  I know some of you may be thinking that’s crazy, but it is true.  I have two little sisters and when I look at them I realize how much I’m going to miss them.

With the help of facebook, I have been able to meet some students who already attend Cardiff Uni.  The students have been very helpful in answering my questions about course work, what to bring, student life, and so much.

Two weeks ago I received my dorm assignment; I received my first choice.  To my surprise, my dorm is actually one of the farthest dorms away from campus.  It’s about 30-45 minute walk to school.  At my home university I drive to my classes and they are about a 10 minute walk at the most.  With that being said, I know for sure I will definitely have some new and thrilling experiences.  This summer I have been reading and researching Wales and some surrounding countries.  One of things I’m looking forward to is sight-seeing in other Western European countries, since airfare is so reasonable.  I also I’m looking forward to trying a traditional Welsh fruit cake called “Bara brith”.  Bara brith actually means speckled bread in Welch.

Okay, well it’s time for me to get back to work.  I will try to write once more if I can before leave.

Peace & Love,

Brandi

When people from back home ask me to describe Mérida, the first thing I always say is hot. I feel bad simplifying such a beautiful, multifaceted city to solely its climate, but its scorching here and I can’t help it. It’s a heat I have never felt before. A heat I cannot escape. Entering my room is like entering a sauna. Even sitting at my computer with two fans blowing on me I sweat. Always one for activity, I am content to lounge around in the afternoon and just let the heat wash over me, hoping that once the sun goes down the hot, heavy weight bearing over me will be lifted (So far, it has yet to happen).

But despite the oppressive calor, this city is filled with museums, art exhibits, and dance exhibitions. Every Sunday an event called Mérida en domingo takes place in the Plaza Principal downtown. There people go and enjoy typical Yucatecan night food: panuchos and salbutes. Both contain a fried tortilla, the former filled with beans, covered with chicken, tomato, lettuce, and onion. Additionally you can roam the streets and buy traditional clothing or dance traditional dances with your date on the closed off cobbled stone streets. There is some form of music or dance show every evening in el Centro throughout the week as well.

If art, dance, and music aren’t your cup of tea you don’t have to worry. Mérida is home to both baseball and soccer teams. The Mérida Leones (a wonderfully talented baseball team) are the pride of the city but the Venados are not far behind in the number of followers. A second division soccer team, the rumor has circulated throughout our group that if they had won their final game last season they would have been placed into the top soccer league in México. After hearing this news, a group of nine of us gringos decided we had to attend a game to see what all the fuss was about.

Saturday we arrived to the game via taxi- a very cheap and efficient way to travel throughout the city (the taxi including tip only cost 50 pesos for three people or less than $1.50 a person). Although we arrived an hour before the game everyone, people were already clustered about the stadium entrances, all representing their team with the baby blue Venado jersey. A group of nine Americans in a foreign country are sure to stand out and we were approached by the local news network, interviewed, and are set to be shown on local TV Wednesday night.

Then the fun began. In the distance loomed an ominous cloud, unnoticed by most who were jumping and screaming various cheers. Twenty minutes into the game, a few light sprinkles began and just as I finished putting on my raincoat, the skies opened up and a flood poured out. I have never seen it rain so hard. Families ran for cover while the hardcore fans (including us) were determined to stick it out. But after postponing the game, it was apparent that shelter was a necessity. Soaked to the bone, we all huddled underneath the edges of the stadium as the wind and rain howled by us. An hour or so later the game resumed, the unbearable heat gone for the first time since I have arrived. Four poor souls had to rake puddles of water to other less-wet areas of the field in a hopeless attempt to restore the field to a playable condition. Despite being wet, everyone was in high spirits and even though the Venados played horribly, a sense of unity filled the stadium after bearing the brunt of the storm. The energy throughout the stadium is something not often seen at American sporting events unless you attend the Superbowl, World Series, or Stanley Cup. We have all decided we will return the next game to once again cheer on the wonderful Venados- this time to victory.

I thought it might be interesting and humorous for me to write what I expect, what I’ve been told, and my questions surrounding studying abroad,  Northern Ireland, and Belfast, then later compare it to what I find.

Studying Abroad:

• Studying through IFSA Butler will allow me to have a deeper close cultural experience by getting set free in the regular Queen’s University mix.  It has been awhile since I took French in high school, even though I’ve been watching Jean Luc Godard films.  I didn’t want going abroad to a country that speaks English to be a “comfort zone.”  I figure this way I won’t solely be around international students, and will get to know Northern Ireland through getting to know its people.
• I will get to travel on some weekends and holidays to Ireland and other countries in Europe.  I know I will get lost, confused, and I will make a fool out of myself.  I’m excited to get to figure out traveling; not have it planned out in advance for me.

Northern Ireland:

• According to the Belfast Telegraph, going to clubs is very popular.  I feel I’ll be a pubs not clubs kind of girl.
• I heard from friends who have studied abroad that the Irish are the friendliest and most fun people they met.
• Beautiful countryside.  Sheep.

Belfast:

• I’ve heard the city described as “revitalizing” but not fully healed, and the citizens of Belfast have the attitude that everything is possible.  Summer riots may have dampened this.
• People only talk politics with their own kind, and it is rare and rude to bring it up in public conversation.  I want to hear what people think.  I’m curious to see how my class on Irish politics and identity in literature will be taught.
• There are political/religiously divided neighborhoods sometimes complete with walls.  I’m unsure on how this will affect my urban hiking.
• New is not taking over old in Belfast.  It is either head-to-head or bi-partisan coexistence.
• The graffiti and murals will be fascinating.

Most of the juniors in my program at the University of Redlands are going abroad this fall.  Our conversations loom into January, a magical place not just a measure of time, the first month of the year.  There is a level of presumed homesickness present in those discussions, but I don’t think that is all going through our heads in our mutual experience all around the world.  We can’t plan for the next four months, so we plan for what we can accurately imagine.  We can pack warm clothes, read the local newspapers, buy phrasebooks, register for classes, talk to people who have studied in our programs, but we won’t know what it will be like for us.  I don’t mean for this to sound dire, it is quite valuable in fact.  When I was eighteen I went to India.  Nothing could have prepared me for the swarm of the city of Mumbai going strong at three in the morning.  My attitude is in leaving my adventure open minded.  I know I want to visit other countries in Europe, but I’m not going to stress about seeing certain things, and financially affording reaching those goals.  I won’t get to see it all, but I’m going to see a lot.  And I’m not going to waste the opportunity.  In other words, John Steinbeck’s words, “we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.”  I feel confidently in the result.  I’m going to have an amazing experience.  I just don’t know the roads (light rails?) that will take me there yet.

~Lauren

Hello Readers,

I hope that I find a better way to address you, or else I might just drop the title all together so that you know I’m not just copying my diary onto the internet.  Some sort of greeting I feel is necessary though before I share my journey, before I compress you down pocket sized and take you with me.

Today is August 26^th.  Today finally feels like going abroad is not just a dream or a porch talking point.  I said good bye to my boyfriend yesterday, and am finishing up the final projects of my summer internship.  This has been my longest summer.  My college friends are heading back to school or have started classes, and the roads are clogged with elementary school and UT traffic.  (I’m from Austin, TX by the way.)  Yet for me, it is still summer until September 10^th.  Honestly, I haven’t done much to prepare for my trip yet.  Once I’m finished with my job I’ll be cramming in doctor appointments and errands.  I’ve thought about packing, does that count?  After living in the desert of southern California and dry central Texas I do not own a coat, let alone a waterproof one.  So that will be my big search among other things before the iPod is synced and I’m heading out the door suitcase in hand.  I’ve started a list.

~Lauren