If I had to use one word to describe this past week, it would be “camaraderie”. I felt grateful for so many people this week. From exploring the city with new friends, to taking a girls trip to Galway, and performing my music with EUSA students showing up in the audience, I have felt so connected to people who I didn’t even know five weeks ago. The ability to connect with strangers, to the point where they don’t feel like strangers anymore. More on that later.
On Monday, there was a small fire to put out at work, regarding the late cancellation of a multi-day event. A local organization decided to cancel two out of their three programs. This allowed me to sharpen a hard skill: writing a neutrally-worded email that makes it clear who is at fault. Drafting such an email is an art, and I am lucky to be learning such a skill while in Dublin. Irish people are not very direct communicators — there is famously no word for “yes” or “no” in the Irish language.
On Tuesday, I went to the campus pub quiz with some of the Pitt students. It was fun, and our team did pretty well. While at the bar, I met a Boston student who is from the Greater Pittsburgh area. I had fun arguing whether or not he’s from Pittsburgh (he’s not).
On Wednesday, I helped set up for my workplace’s Songs for Pride event. The unexpected joy of working in the arts is that your days can suddenly be filled with whimsy. Your morning may start with menial data entry, and then you’ll get the notion that tomorrow’s event should have a photo station, and the rest of your day is spent making Pride-themed masks. I don’t consider myself to be a very visually creative person, so I was pretty proud that my flag-themed masks turned out somewhat aesthetically pleasing.
Luckily, I was able to redeem my novice mask skills by killing it onstage. Thursday evening, I performed as part of the Songs for Pride lineup! I sang one of my original songs “The One”, as well as a cover of MUNA’S “I Know A Place”. I chose the latter song because it speaks to why Pride is important. Too many people are made to feel inferior because of their identity. Our society still allows for queer and trans people to be targeted with impunity. MUNA’s anthem makes it clear that we have to build a place where queer people can be safe, love freely, and live without fear.
I let students in our program know about the event, and my heart was warmed when I looked out in the audience and saw my new friends. Later, we got food and chatted about weekend plans, including attending Saturday’s Pride parade. This was my first Pride celebration in a large city, and Dublin did not disappoint. The parade was two hours long. Unfortunately, the busses were heavily delayed, so I only caught about 15 minutes of the parade. I saw dance routines, dazzling outfits, and people holding hands in the crowd.
When I finally found my friends, I noticed that they were chatting with a few people I didn’t recognize. The two girls ended up joining us for the evening, adding two more to my growing list of friends I’ve been lucky enough to make this summer.
A soft skill I have developed is starting conversations with strangers. I consider myself to be a shy, more introverted person, and I can feel overwhelmed when I am expected to make small talk, or speak to people I don’t know. In Dublin, people talk to strangers a lot — in pubs, on the bus, in a restaurant. I have really impressed myself with how comfortable I’ve felt making small talk, engaging in banter, and being upfront about my interests and politics. My coworker quipped that I’m becoming more Irish every day, and some of the other students in the program have commented on my ability to make a new friend whenever we go out.
I feel lucky that I was able to find a group of students with whom I feel safe with. On Sunday, we took a day trip to Galway, stopping to get brunch, check out a church, and shop at the local flea markets. We went to a cafe that was ranked within 100 best coffee shops in the world. I drank my iced Americano too quickly to get a photo.
While in Galway, I learned about the significance of claddagh rings, and how they celebrate friendship and fidelity. I’m not a ring person and the stores didn’t sell in my size, but I knew I didn’t need a ring to express my gratitude to the group of students I’ve met while working here in Dublin. Ring or no ring, I have a feeling we will be connected to each other for a long time.
