Today marks the second day of being in Northern Ireland. After landing at the Dublin Airport, we met Conor, the program director for the Holy Trinity Youth Center. He took us to our hotels in Belfast to get settled in, and then we interacted with the children there and today. I played soccer (or football) with the kids majority of the time. After that, we visited the Peace Walls, which hold significant symbolism. They are barriers built to separate Catholic and Protestant communities during the Troubles, and they still stand today as a reminder of Northern Ireland’s divided past and its journey toward peace.
The next day, we visited a botanical garden and the Ulster Museum in Belfast. The museum included topics spanning from the history of Earth and all the minerals, to the history of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Something that challenged me was learning about the history and political divisions in Northern Ireland. It’s more complex than I realized, and hearing different perspectives has helped me better understand the region. Overall, I’m excited to continue exploring and learning
