Ladies and gentlemen, we have done it. For the first time since coming to Ireland, I’ve left the country. All the way to…Northern Ireland. What was the most surprising thing about this day trip up north was that crossing the border into Northern Ireland, effectively another country, is as easy as crossing between state lines. There’s literally just a painted line on the road. This was quite a shock for me. Growing up in the United States, you always hear about border laws, restrictions, issues, etc. Even getting from the U.S. to Canada requires a passport check. The trust between European Union countries, to say that “if you let them in, they’re good enough for us,” is so…heartwarming? to see. It’s made me think about the relations that we, the US, have with other countries. I wonder if one day we will have that sort of relationship between Canada and Mexico. Or if, on the other hand, that the European Union dissolves and border controls are set-up. There is a higher probability of the later happening, but I really hope it does not, and I hope that the EU can serve as an example of democracy that is not just idealized.

At first, I was going to delete my thoughts above about country borders, because it was bordering on a too political  subject, or even that it was just too ramble-y. But I think that by leaving open questions out there about an issue that a lot of people are iffy to discuss can hopeful open up the conversation. It also anticipates growth, mostly in what I hope to learn about the country that I am in and it’s geo-political standings. I hope to be able to talk to more people who live in the EU and see and feel it’s day-to-day life cycles, instead of just reading up about it on the internet. More to come.