After checking out of our hotel, we started our day with a kayak trip. Upon our arrival, we were joined by experts who would guide and accompany us on the kayaks. After explaining the instructions to us, they gave us wetsuits and shoes to put on before getting into the water. Most of us didn’t want to get our own shoes wet, so we were shown a graveyard of leftover shoes from previous visitors to choose from.
I was a little nervous to kayak, but it turned out to be more entertaining than I thought. It was also helpful to have Mr. Kelly double up with me in a boat, making me feel secure. Later, though, Mr. Kelly switched boats, so I paired up with one of our program coordinators, Sean. We worked well together and won first place in a race against my peers.
Our next event for the day was visiting a sheep farm. One of the farmers would yell commands at their sheepdog, who would then move around the sheep to control them. The farmers then explained how they used different directions for other sheepdogs and the process of properly training them. They also used their herding skills to participate in competitions with the prize usually being dog food.
The most enjoyable part of the sheep farm was getting to feed the baby lambs. We were given baby bottles filled with milk. Once the gates were unlocked, the lambs went loose, running to whoever had milk. Unaware of how hyper they’d be, I accidentally squirted the milk on one or two of their faces, blinding them for a moment. This delightful moment made me notice the difference between the lambs and sheep as the adults were more obedient and relaxed, while the babies were livelier and playful. The babies were also oblivious, as they wouldn’t eat the hay on the ground of their pen, but when I picked it up from the same place, they seemed to enjoy it much more.
Our final event for the day was the ferry that was taking us to the beautiful Aran Islands, where we would go glamping for the next two days of our trip. The ferry ride was rocky, tilting back and forth, but I enjoyed the swaying because it reminded me of a roller coaster. The view was also gorgeous to look at when the land faded the deeper we rode in the water. I sat at the top of the ferry with my friend, Willa, looking at the clouds and giving them shapes. I saw one that looked like a heart. We also debated whether it was a whale we saw in the ocean or two big rocks just floating in the water. I still think it was a whale, but I guess we’ll never know.
All in all, it was an eventful day that made me appreciate Ireland’s lifestyle and culture, but I would like to mention Ireland’s artistic expression captivated me the most on this trip. Every art here has a purpose. From the first day here, you realize each piece was meant for something. Whether that be murals created by children in Belfast to emphasize peace and community, or artwork representing Ireland’s past with religious divide and war, every piece of art is intentional. Many of them, unfortunately, come from tragic moments in people’s lives, but the art expresses how they choose to show those experiences. Their art is spoken history, and so are the stories they pass through word of mouth. Ireland is a nation of speakers.