It hardly seems possible, but the Study Abroad flew by quickly and we’ve been back now for two weeks.  Watching all of the student presentations Tuesday night brought back all of the memories and feelings.

We arrived in Derry our first a long bus ride from Dublin and checked into our warm and delightful abode for two weeks, The Clarence House.  The location was perfect; just a few short blocks (but up a very STEEP hill) from campus.  Mr. Slevin is the proprietor of this fine establishment.  He prepared our full Irish breakfast each morning and even set up a special 21st birthday celebration (complete with a lovely cake and high tea) for Stephanee Bridges on our second day in Derry.

We were treated so very well by the faculty and staff at Northwestern Regional College, with special notice going to Willie O’Donnell.  He arranged all of our bus transportation and coordinated our off-campus tours.  We were especially honored to be invited to their students’ Cabaret Night.  We were also invited to take part in the NWRC Talks Back event where students had a chance to “talk back” to local officials and business people and share their concerns (which mirror those of our students here in the U.S.)

I also must share how warmly we were treated by Dr. Anne Tracey who went out of her way to make us feel welcome.  We enjoyed lunch with her on the University of Ulster campus (next door to NWRC) and then she took us on a tour of Culture Land, which celebrates all aspects of Irish culture.  She invited us to a party at the home of her friend, Esther, and we were blessed to meet Roy Arbuckle (a treasure of a songwriter) and to hear him and Anne Tracey sing some beautiful songs.  We were also treated to a delicious dinner at Anne’s home and a special evening on the Coleraine campus of Ulster University to see Albert Lee in concert!  She took very good care of us and I can’t say enough about how welcomed we felt.

I must also say that Eamonn Baker who is doing some wonderful healing work in Derry, Towards Understanding and Healing, was most generous with his time.  He conducted a group for our students toward the end of our stay which brilliantly brought into focus all of the lessons Randy Lightfoot and I had been teaching.  The day we left Derry, we were lucky to be part of the the Chicken Soup and Storytelling for the Soul event that he organized.  It made it so very hard to say goodbye to this special land, its rich culture and history and mostly, her warm and welcoming people.

Our last nights were spent in Dublin, which was amazing, but not the same as Derry. Dublin Video Farewell

The last evening before our departure, Marty (my husband) and I searched in vain for some live music (soccer had trumped the live music even in the famous Temple Bar).  But we were fortunate to FINALLY find some live music in the Blarney Inn around the corner from our hotel, The Trinity Lodge (hopefully I will be able to upload a short video of that)!

I must also say that teaching with Randy Lightfoot was just brilliant (as the Irish say).  He was a most amazing colleague and I can’t thank him enough for his wonderful lessons, his sense of humor and his ability to go with the flow.

Finally, I can’t close without telling you about what a wonderful group of students were a part of this year’s Ireland Study Abroad.  They all did themselves proud and were wonderful ambassadors for SPC, the U.S., and themselves.  It was a learning experience for students and faculty alike.  What a rich experience it is to be a part of a study abroad!  Thank you St. Petersburg College for making these opportunities possible.