One workshop that was very impactful during my Ireland study abroad experience was the lecture taught by Dr. Johnathon Culleton on Ireland: Society, Culture and Religion. We heard about the disconnect between Irish national identity and a fixed, true narrative of the historical past.
Dr. Culleton impressed on us the impact that acknowledging the history of Ireland is deeply engrained with Irish people and their understanding of the past. History and the past are not static, or stale. Rather, they are the living embodiment of why we are where we are in the present. History is alive, and deeply significant to the present. However, the tricky part is when individuals base their identity off their own perception of the nation’s history. When personal identity is wrapped up in perspective of historical events, it is difficult to see past our own vision and into a fuller conceptualization of the past.
He brought up the questions that made me think: How do you really know who you are unless you know everything? Can you really and truly know who you are without knowing a more complete picture of one’s past? Walking through the city of Waterford, I enjoyed learning about the history of where we were staying and seeing artifacts like Reginald’s Tower still intact. There are other pieces of the old city walls still around, in various states of ruin. The way that Waterford has grown and molded itself around and among the relics of the past is inspirational. Even in architecture there is a preservation of the past and embracing of the new that is seen very clearly.
I spent a lot of time thinking about Irish identity and the meaning of Irish cultural identity on the bus rides. I thought about how much joy there can be found, even in the simple act of talking on the bus. I had the privilege to speak to some Waterford locals while on the bus and was always asked questions about what I had done so far and then given suggestions on what not to miss (most commonly, Guiness and Irish stew). It was exciting for one individual to learn that I was interested in Irish culture, arts and in healthcare-related work. She thought it was wonderful that I was hoping to learn from Irelands’ ways of doing things.
Sometimes it is easy to get stuck in an emotional rut when one hears about the harm that is being done throughout the U.S. and across the world. One thing that has been simmering in the back of my mind is that there is a lot of work to be done to create more equitable health and community systems, in more equitable and accessible ways. There is a lot of work to do, but I am not alone. My peers on the trip constantly inspired me with their questions and personal reflections during our conversations. This study abroad trip grounded me on Earth, among my colleagues, and in the global web of humanity.
We all went to Ireland with our own intersectional identities and perspectives, and then beautifully complicated them just a bit further, like a kaleidoscope. The mosaic of our experiences individually is remarkable, but the tapestry we can weave together is endless and beautiful.
