Reflecting on my time in Ireland, it feels like a whirlwind of leaning about culture and privilege. My time abroad has proven to me that my identity does indeed impact how I see the world. I had a very specific image in my mind of what Ireland would look like- rolling green hills, breathtaking greenery, small stone houses and an abundance of livestock. Quickly after entering the country my expectations were shattered by the reality of industrialization, especially in large cities like Dublin and Maynooth. While this is obviously not true of the entirety of the country, the traditional image of Ireland is less common than one would imagine. The people I have met in Ireland see the world in a vastly different way. My identity provides me the privilege of excess. Once I told people I was from America, it was more common than not to recieve comments about the ridiculousness of excess that is promoted by American culture. Whether it be food, wealth, or power- Ireland’s history has instilled the value of hard work and philanthropy in its citizens, rendering them incredulous to the idea that one would amass more resources than they need. Coming into this space, I was absolutely inspired by how hard the Irish work for what they have and how they aspire to help others who do not have the same privileges as them. One remarkable aspect of Irish citizens was their awareness of the world around them. Without exception, every person I interacted with was excited to discuss the political situation both in America and worldwide. While this is a topic that engages a large margin of American citizens, the Irish fervently backed up their opinions with data, facts and specifics. This was a breath of fresh air to me, a welcome change from the opinion and emotion based reasoning of many American citizens today. Overall, my time in Ireland was breathtaking. It introduced me to people I would have never met otherwise- people from Indiana to Scandinavia to Nigeria. The perspective it has given me will prove to be invaluable for the rest of my life, broadening my worldview and putting my privilege and culture into perspective of the greater globe.
