Dungarvan, My Hometown

Dungarvan, Ireland. . . What can I say? It was a wonderful experience and I am truly grateful to the town and all the people who have helped make it my new home. The friends I've made, the adventures I've had. . . I am going to miss it so much but I know that the Irish of Dungarvan will always welcome me back and I look forward to returning! To the memories, great adventures and people, and having the time of my life! Thank you to everybody who has made this a great trip I will never forget!

Dungarvan, my hometown http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZpTHHoMGLY ( a lovely video by Damien Geoghegan!)

I’m so blessed to have the opportunity to explore wonderful new places thanks to my amazing family. Without them I would not be having the time of my life here in Dungarvan and be traveling around Europe. It’s difficult for me to summarize my experiences so far because there has been so much that has happened that I am in awe. The sweet little town that is Dungarvan has become another home to me. The beautiful views of the town as you travel toward it, the bay front, the constantly changing tide, and the people all make for a serene and friendly environment.

            What do I love about Dungarvan? Well what isn’t there to love? The people, the sense of a community, the fact that it acts as an ideal location for traveling to Europe and around Ireland, and the chance to immerse myself in the culture! The Irish are truly warm, welcoming, and hospitable people. I was stunned that the Mayor of Dungarvan and town council had welcomed us upon our arrival. The Irish in Dungarvan are a hard working group of people that can make their way and also enjoys themselves, despite whatever challenges they or their country might be facing. This is how I live my life; I am a hard working person who wants to make positive change and also knows how to have fun despite whatever life may present.

            Words cannot express my gratitude toward Dungarvan. You have all helped to make wonderful memories for me that I will cherish throughout life! Thank you for all that you have done for me, and may God bless you all. 

-J.GIBSON

Reflections and Thoughts

I am a quite person, I normally don't talk much or function very well in a large social setting. I'm an introvert by nature, but when I am passionate about something I come out of my shell and make it known. This was the case for Ireland. I've had the opportunity to travel and try new things. I've been to Berlin, Prague, Venice, Zermatt, and Cinque Terre and am now starting to see the world. It's bizarre though, before this trip I've never traveled. Well, with the exception of going to Toronto, Canada and Erie, PA but being from Buffalo, NY I don't really count those. I am now starting to see the world and my eyes are starting to open to all that around me. I mean, we learn about the world in school and I think we really don't appreciate the significance of it. For example, when we went to Berlin we got to see the site of the Berlin wall and visit Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Sure we learn about it, but do we really value it and understand it? For me I did not until I actually saw it with my own eyes. The same goes for Ireland; I knew of Irish culture but I really did not value it until I came here and was actually involved in it. Dungarvan, my hometown . . . 

-J.GIBSON

Final travels! (And the start of summer, woot!)

OK, so my final travels were in Italy and Switzerland and OMGSH I LOVED ITALY SOOOOOO MUCH!!!! Me and a few friends went to Venice first where we were just lost in the beauty of the city - we went on a Gondola ride, got to see Piazza San Marco, ate authentic Italian food and had a blast. We also went to Zermatt Switzerland and went into and on the Alps!!! Can you believe that?!!?! The Alps! I felt like I was on top of the world! Finally we went back to Italy in Cinque Terre and it was soooo gorgeous!!! Cinque Terre was one of those places where you can retire when you get old - there were so many couples and they were so cute! Our hotel was in Riomaggiore and the territory itself was made up five little villages - each one had its own special beauty. I know I keep saying it was truly beautiful, amazing, etc. but believe me  it was breathtaking and no words I use can ultimately do it justice. It's one of those places you just have to visit and experience for yourself. I was in paradise and honestly I never wanted to leave!!! :)

-J.GIBSON

Done with Finals!!! (And almost school, ahhh!!)

OK, so on Wednesday, May 1st I had the last of my exams. The first exam I had (actually, going back to week #4 here) was in Dr. Reed's class. I studied as much as I could and was involved in the class but I don't know! Before the exam I was sure to say my Irish prayers, hehe! On Tuesday, April 30th I had my Irish exam. Once again I felt pretty OK about (I don't like to say I felt great for it, because it's my luck that I think I did great on something I actually did pretty horrible, hehe) and I was in and out of the test. On May 1st, I had Dr. Peterson's government exam and right after Dr. McFee's exam! Oh boy, were they doozies! All I could think about was those last exams standing between me and summer! I was able to get through them though and I believe I did an OK job. I guess I'll have to see! I can't believe I've finished my Junior year of college and am going to be a senior!!! Where does the time go?!?!?

-J.GIBSON

Galway Trip!

Alright, let's get back at it. Some time ago Tom Keith took our group out for our last outing :( (I know, so sad) but it was quite possibly the best saved for last! TK's wife, Carmel and the two daughters, Mimi and Joan joined us as well. I'll tell you, the Keith ladies can sure cook a great Irish meal! The spectacular moment for me was seeing the Cliffs of Moher . . . the views were absolutely stunning! We had to be careful though because the wind was blowing so strong at certain points that I've felt like I was going to be swept off the cliff! If that did happen it would've been nice to fly with the pigeons . . for a few moments at least, hehe. It was truly a spectacular moment and I am truly amazed to have seen such sites. We also got to see a sheepdog demonstration! Now the sheep themselves are pretty cool, but it was also cool see to instructor command the sheepdog to heard the sheep and cattle! As we made our way back to the hostel, the Keith ladies were cooking dinner for us! It was sooooo good - if that is one of the many things I will miss it will be the great Irish meals haha. The next day we also went to the Aran Islands! It was absolutely gorgeous, incredibly sunny and nice. I had spent my time walking, that's right, walking the Aran Island. My peers had decided to take a tour bus but I wanted to spend time "in" the beauty of it all - and boy, was it incredible!!! This was a great trip and I am glad that I didn't miss out!

-J.GIBSON

A nice evening with the Keith family

So, there was a weekend night where all my classmates went to karaoke - I didn't go. Now you might be thinking why? Why not get up there with a few drinks in you and sing till your hearts content? Well that's because I went to a local bar in town where I had met up with the Keith family and watched two of their many children perform. They were on acoustic guitar and were singing as well to some Irish tunes and some American ones as well. Now, being a musician I absolutely love live performances. Any chance I can go see one I will and I felt it was the right thing to do. I had a lovely evening chatting with the Keith family while enjoying some great music. Surely my peers had a great time at karaoke, but I know I had a much better night just relaxing with the Keith's and enjoying their children put on a show. What caught me off guard was when Joan, one of the daughters and announced into the microphone "We're going to bring up our American friend, James, to play a few songs." What!?!?!?!?!!? I couldn't believe it! Now as a musician I always have a few songs for occasions as such but I hadn't played in two months! (Because of us coming to Ireland and not having my guitar here!). Luckily it went really well, the crowd enjoyed my music as did the Keith family! It was such a nice night I'm glad I got to spend it with the Keith's :)

-J. GIBSON

Dungarvan Festival of Food!

It was a glorious day for food! Sunny, people, food as far as the eye can see, and . . . oh yeah the wind was really strong that day haha! I started my time with the Festival by volunteering to monitor trash cans for two hours. Now that was the day before which was rainy and windy :( but luckily I had gotten there first and got to work inside the tent! The Irish are very dedicated  to the cause of recycling and appropriate waste in general. They have different containers for food, bottles, cans, and general waste. This is all over the country, for example at WIT. I stood by a trash bin and made sure people were putting their waste in the correct bin. I was glad to be a part of a cause where the Irish are devoted to being appropriate in waste management. Now, on to the festival day itself. Soooooooo much good food haha! I had tried kangaroo for the first time! Words cannot describe the tastes I experienced; I had an out of body experience haha! But seriously, the food was great and smelled delicious.

-J. GIBSON

Outing #2

Prague, Czech Republic! OK, so at the end of the Berlin trip (that Thursday, to be exact) myself, Gabbi, Mimi, Ricardo, Suzanne, and McKenzie all left that evening for Prague! We were all sooooooo excited!!! :) We packed our bags and left for the train station that would take us along to our next adventure. The ride into the country was beautiful - lovely landscape that was well taken care of. Arriving in Prague was like stepping foot into a fairy tale city - seriously. The structure and design of the buildings (the whole city actually) was built with so much detail into it, that even the pot hole covers has a nice design on them. I couldn't believe how well taken care of the city was in terms of its details and structure. We had spent our days visiting the tourist sites such as the Charleston Bridge, Old and New Town (lots of museums and tourist shops) and the Old Jewish Quarter. It's funny for the last one because on our final day Suzanne and I (Everybody else had left early to get back to Ireland) had accidentally stumbled into a 5k race that was going on haha! The nightlife of Prague was just out of this world. We went to a legitimate ice bar - you read that right - a bar made of actual ice!!!! Now we could only stay in there for 20 minutes, but it was sooo awesome having a drink and "chilling" (heh, get it?). After that we went to what is claimed to be biggest dance club in Europe - and boy was it fun! It had several floors in which each one was its own genre of music - now naturally I found myself in the "Oldies" section dancing to the greatest hits of MJ, Kool & the Gang, and other old time, funky stuff! Prague is a beautiful city that I seriously recommend to anybody to visit if they want a true, European experience.

-J. GIBSON

Outing #1

Berlin, Germany! OK, so it's been a hectic time lately - studying for midterms and FINALLY having a free weekend to travel along with all of us going to Germany! Now, I've read up on this country and can understand their history and significance, but being able to actually go to it and visit was just so cool! There was just so much to do in Berlin - I visited the site of the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, Brandburger Gate, the Sachsenhausen Holocaust Concentration Camp, the Berliner Dom, The Reichstag, the museums and sooooo much more! Being a history buff was like a dream come true in this country - I mean I got to walk the same grounds where not to long ago (about 70 years) one of the most bloodiest and truly shocking conflicts and violations of human rights occurred. I can tell you I was amazed and disgusted at the same time. I thought how could this have happened and yet people just returned to their "normal" lives? Shocking . . . Anyway on my downtime I experienced the nightlife of Berlin, that is the restaurants and bars which were really great! The currywurst and local craft brew drinks was a great combination for lunch and dinner haha! Back to this, I really enjoyed Germany and would love to visit again in the future because along with seeing the sites, you just have to take the time like I did to walk around and be "lost" in the atmosphere.

-J. GIBSON

My Experiences

I’m so blessed to have the opportunity to explore wonderful new places thanks to my amazing family. Without them I would not be having the time of my life here in Dungarvan and be traveling around Europe. It’s difficult for me to summarize my experiences so far because there has been so much that has happened that I am in awe. The sweet little town that is Dungarvan has become another home to me. The beautiful views of the town as you travel toward it, the bay front, the constantly changing tide, and the people all make for a serene and friendly environment. Tom Keith (who has practically become a guardian to us all) has been absolutely phenomenal in taking care of us - he has taken us on trips around the country to see the best and most important sights for what defines Ireland. Just recently we got back from a weekend trip to Galway where we saw the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands! Ah, such beautiful views . . . Anyway, I just want to take the time and say thank you to Tom Keith and his family, the Dungarvan Mayor and town council, and the town I like to call my "home" - that is my other home - Dungarvan an truly wonderful place that has been nothing but a great time for me. Thank you to everybody who has made my experience truly amazing!

-J. GIBSON 

Irish Heritage and Culture

At first I figured I was just taking classes here in Ireland to fulfill my graduation requirements. Back at Mercyhurst I would take a jumble of classes that really didn't work off of each other and contribute to one another in the same term. Here, I am taking a comparative government class that looks at the American and Irish government, Ethics in a cross cultural sense, learning the Irish language and culture, and an Irish literary class. After having gone through these classes (today was our last day - now we are studying hard for finals!)    I realize that they all do connect and have really worked together to help my education. There is way, way too much to write down that I've learned but I've learned it and have applied it and I think that is the greatest way to have fun while learning - is to be immersed in it. The fact that Mercyhurst gave me this opportunity to enhance my education is something I am grateful for because I have learned the Irish heritage and culture and have been involved with it. Learning of the Irish Parliamentary system, ethical issues in Ireland (such as the Magdalene laundries, financial crisis, etc), the language and the literature has really made my Ireland experience that much more enjoyable. In a local pub I would sit down and discuss these things with the Irish and they are astonished that I know so much about their country and it's history. One of the poems we read really got at me, it was the Easter Rising of 1916 by WB Yeats. Going to Dublin and actually walking the ground and being in such a place of historical importance really was amazing. There is just so much Irish heritage and culture that I've been able to be immersed in it and feel as the Irish do.

-J.GIBSON

"The Local" Scene

Here in "Fungarvan" (Hehe) there is a lot to do. I've been out and about biking, walking, and just taking the time to do some deep reflection on what I'm doing in life and how I want to achieve my goals. While doing that, I've also had time to go and check out the local scene and have some fun! The bars are really cool, Creation, Anchor, and John Keane's all have a good nightlife (it includes good dance music and a dance floor!) which is great for when I want to go out and just dance my life away! I've also been to the more down-to-earth local bars (one is conveniently named The Local) where I've had a nice pint with the locals about the country and just what in general is going on with them. It's nice and interesting to hear their story and they are genuinely interested in hearing mine. It may be an older crowd but I really do connect with the older generation - in a way that we love to talk each other's ear off about history and current news and just how their day is. One of the events they had here in town was a live band, and as a musician myself I really care for our playing. So, seeing live bands here in Ireland is really sweet! I love the traditional Irish music - it's a change from the American music I listen to. I've even had the chance to play a few songs - with Tom Keith's daughter and son! This is just a small idea of what my time in Fungarvan has been and many more to come!

-J.GIBSON

Dublin Weekend!

So our first weekend here we all went to Dublin and boy I sure did have a great time! We checked into Jacob's Inn hostel and it was nice; once again it was myself and the other gent on this trip. We had a nice sized room with good accommodations. Our first trip was a mini tour of Dublin to get the idea of the city, so where everything is and how to get back to hostel, etc. I wish the weather would have been nicer though because it was a cold and wet, rainy weekend. But hey that's Ireland! Just like Erie, PA, the weather can't make up it's mind haha! The next morning we had a three hour walking tour which our tour guide gave us the lowdown again of all the historical importance of Dublin. While in Dublin I went to the Guinness Factory - it was a self guided tour and it was really a great time! We toured it and got to see the steps in making the perfect pint and at the end we could pour our own "perfect pint." Finally we went up to the Gravity Bar which had a beautiful view of the city and made for a great time. Also, while there we got to see a museum about Irish literature - specifically William Butler Yeats. It was really cool because it gave me insight to what we are learning in Dr. Brian Reed's class (and made sense of it haha!). My time in Dublin was great and I hope that all who go to Dublin will enjoy it just as much as I did!

-J. GIBSON

CONTINUED: More Irish Fun & Update

OK, so to continue from my last post about the Irish language, one of the most interesting things I've learned is that it is seen as both good and bad. It is good because it was reinstated by the Irish Department of Education and is taught in schools and paid for by the government, but is bad because the people see it as a nuisance. Why? I've asked the locals I've met why they don't like learning the language of their country. I've gotten many responses but mainly the students have been forced into learning a language they feel is dead and is not useful today. True, I can understand their point but even knowing a few basic phrases I think would be useful. I see it in my travels; the state is trying desperately to keep this language alive but the younger generation has given up hope on it. As sad as it is, I feel the language will eventually be gone and English will dominate the country's official language. Is this something the Irish want? It's a question that I cannot answer but only think about and I hope that it does not. It is a part of the their culture and they should embrace their culture.

-J. GIBSON

More Waterford Irish fun!

OK, so as I've written elsewhere we have class on Tuesday at WIT where we learn the Irish language and the culture and history of the country. Now, I love my history and learning a new language, so being in Ireland is really awesome for me! We've been learning the language and culture and I find it really interesting because the language has been changed and molded into what it is today. It was strongly influenced by Latin, French, Scandinavian, and English and was shaped by many historical events. For example the Irish being suppressed by the English, the Penal Laws, etc. etc. What's really shocking is that the older generation know their Irish and embrace while the younger generation (our age) does not care for it as the old do! What?! The young people told me that "Lad, you know more Irish than we do!" How can this be? I'll get into this later, but for now I am loving the fact I am learning the language and can converse with the locals.

-J. GIBSON

Just some thoughts on the group and accommodations. . .

This group I am traveling with is awesome!  We all have been getting along so well, and all of the girls (30 American women haha!)…and the one other guy, are really fun to be around and are good company.  It makes me more comfortable knowing that everyone is so nice and easy to get along with. Our townhouses are nice as well! I'm rooming with the one other guy, Ricardo, and we have a lot of space. I live upstairs where there are two single beds but I pushed them together and the closet space is nice too - oh and did I mention I have my own personal bathroom? Our washer and dryer is one unit...so to do the wash takes like 6hrs haha! The Park Hotel really knows how to treat us well and I'm glad they are so nice to us and have given us great houses to use for the term.

-J.GIBSON

WIT: Waterford Institute of Technology

OK, on Tuesdays we travel to the Waterford Institute of Technology (which is about a 45 min. bus ride away) for our Irish Language and Cultures class. Seamus O'Diolluin has been our teacher and I have enjoyed his class; it's really cool to be learning the language and culture and history of the country we are in! It's one thing to learn about and just simply "know it" but to actually learn it and embrace it with the locals is sweet! Our first day we got paraded around the WIT campus being shown how to use the library, where the buildings are, and where we can eat lunch!  We got our WIT cards with picture IDs on them…my face looks like a balloon cause the camera made everyone large haha. I look forward to what Seamus has to teach us!

-J. GIBSON

The Irish food

So like I said in my last blog when we arrived in Ireland we had a very nice Irish breakfast which I really liked (I'm a fan of food, what can I say haha). The food really is different here; I'm going to miss it when I have to go back to the States. Just the other day I made a nice Irish breakfast for myself and my roommate, Ricardo. *Fun fact, we are the only two guys on this trip!* With me cooking the Irish side, and Ricardo cooking the Honduran side, we really had an authentic (and delicious) meal to start our day. It's hard to describe, but there is this certain "taste" to the Irish cooking that I really love and adore. For dinner we are responsible for either using our meal tickets or making our own and most of us just go to the Pub for dinner. They have a nice selection of food; but of course it's nothing like a home cooked meal! It'll be hard once I leave to adjust again!

-J. GIBSON

Arriving in Ireland!

So once we finally made it to Ireland we were greeted by the wonderful people of Dungarvan all the way in Dublin. We had a very nice Irish breakfast which was tea, toast, eggs, Irish bacon called "rashers", and black and white pudding - which I'll tell you isn't actual pudding haha! But it was good! Tom Keith, who is practically like a father to us all greeted us and has taken great care of us. He even took us to Kilkenny Castle our first day which was really great to see! I absolutely love history and the fact that I was able to step foot into a real Irish castle and just "be in it" really took me by surprise. As a group we were welcomed to Dungarvan by the mayor and many people made us feel very welcome here. I can say my first day was fun filled and I look forward to many more adventures.

-J. GIBSON

Day 1: Boarding for Buffalo and Heading to JFK for Ireland!

This is my first time traveling! I have never been outside the States and the fact that I am now flying for the first time is absolutely amazing! It all started on Thursday, 28 February 2013 when we left Buffalo airport but ended up being stranded for a few hours because of technical issues; they eventually got it fixed and we flew to JFK. When we arrived we had camped out at our gate (there was like a 5hr. delay) and before I knew it we were in the air for Dublin! I am absolutely excited for what Ireland has in store for me :)

-J. GIBSON