Hey Everyone!

Two weeks ago I spent five days touring the Erris Peninsula in County Mayo. The scenery was amazing, the people were friendly and we spent our stay at the Kilcommon Lodge; a hostel right next to the bay. The purpose of our trip was to learn about the Corrib Gas conflict which has been ongoing for the last ten years. Basically this is an ongoing conflict between Shell and the people of the area about building a pipeline through an EU Special Protected Area of wildlife as well as having the pipeline too close to residential areas for it to be deemed safe. Shell has refused to redirect the pipeline and the people have refused to allow Shell to construct it. It is a very interesting conflict and is one that I cannot give proper justice to with such a small amount of writing.

This week and the next few weeks I am in Belfast and Derry- two areas that have seen more than their share of conflict and violence during the 30 year period of sectarian fighting known simply as The Troubles. Two days ago we spent the night in South Armagh, a border town between the North and the South. Although it was a part of Northern Ireland I never saw a Union Jack, but instead saw the tricolor of the Republic flown proudly almost everywhere. The actual border area is non-existent, with only a change in the signage from kilometers per hour to miles per hour as a notification of your border crossing.

During my stay in Belfast I am at Stranmillis University College, a college of Queen's University Belfast, were I am staying in a dorm room. Some differences that I have noticed about Northern Ireland compared to the Republic of Ireland are that they have hot water from the tap, that their showers have actual water pressure instead of a trickle and that the heating in the buildings is much, much better.

I hope to take tons of pictures while I am up here and I'll do a better job of keeping everyone updated too. Miss you all back in the States!

P.S. - I have to submit six photos for my Center for Global Education photo contest by tomorrow. If you have any favorites from the photos I've posted please let me know!