Hi Everyone,
It's hard to believe that it will almost be a week since our pilgrimage officially ended. Even though I have enjoyed spending quality time with my family and friends from home again, I already miss Belfast and Dublin! There will always be a special place in my heart now for those cities.
When I was shopping for back to school supplies the other day, I came across some decorations students could buy for dorm room walls. I saw these stickers of a huge peace sign and other smaller symbols to be placed around the peace sign. The first thing I thought of when I saw this was Belfast, and how much simpler life would be in the city if peace finally existed there. I decided to buy it, and plan on displaying it in my dorm room in remembrance of those affected by the frequent physical and verbal violence due to religious and political conflicts in Belfast.
I find myself looking at pictures from our trip at least once a day, and remember all of the memories our group experienced. But the students and chaperones made these pilgrimage memories even sweeter for me. I wouldn't have traded a single person within this group for any other individual. It can be a challenge to spend 9 days with the same group of people with various personality traits, but in the end we were all able to share a strong bond with one another that will last for a lifetime.
It's interesting how particular moments, like signing a peace wall in Belfast and getting to see the beautiful coastlines of Ireland, can be embedded in my mind as if they happened yesterday. But I mean really, how could any of us ever forget what we've experienced in Ireland and Northern Ireland? I know I'll never forget this travel adventure!
--Beth
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