Whilst Procrastinating, I Took a Day Trip to 'Merica

I can't work unless I'm under pressure. It's fine. Since I'm avoiding papers, here's a blog post to hold you all over until next week!

Last Saturday we went to the Ulster American Folk park. It's an outdoor museum, so if you've ever been to someplace like the Museum of Appalachia, you know what I'm talking about. They have actors dressed up in the style of 17th-18th Ireland and they'll tell you about how the people would have lived back then while you toured replicas and actual buildings of the time.

Chickens!

A school house

Eventually you'll make your way to the ship to America! Back in those times, the ships were called "coffin ships" because many passengers would die of disease before making it to the New World. One of the actors explained that depending on weather conditions, a voyage across the ocean could take anywhere from 3-6 weeks and there was little room to fit the passengers comfortably. They often had to sleep two to a bed and were only allowed on the upper deck with the captain's permission.

Monsieur Canard board the ship to America!

When you step off of the ship, you are greeted by a street in colonial America, complete with shops and a cobbled street.

The family making our way to America (Photo Credit: Alexi Parsons)

After you leave the city, you make your way to houses in the various colonies and the actors will tell you how the immigrants had to adjust to the land and climate of America. One of the houses even had food (Popcorn and bread with apple butter)!

There was a lot more to the park, but unfortunately we were limited on time. The park also hosts various events throughout the year and last month they had a bluegrass festival (I can think of a certain grandma who would have loved it!)

On Tuesday we went to Stormont in Belfast to meet with the local government. Personally, I was not too fond of Belfast. It has a much grimier feel than Derry and it didn't seem as warm and welcoming. Of course, it's possible that the city has that particular atmosphere because there is still a very strong tension between Catholics and Protestants in the city. Derry has that too, but my host sister explained that people and Derry are starting to look past the politics if it is for the benefit of the whole city. 

When we arrived in Belfast, we took a private bus tour of the city. We saw the murals, major landmarks, and the shipyard where the Titanic was built! However, we only got out of the bus once, so most of my pictures are behind a window.

The most bombed hotel in Belfast

The Titanic Shipyard

"The Thing With the Ring"

Looking out of Stormont

The once place we did get out at was along peace wall. The peace walls were built to divide the Catholic and Protestant territories to discourage bombings and attacks on the opposing communities and the walls also close in the evenings. Our bus driver told us that the government has been trying to tear down the walls for years, but every time it's brought up, the citizens shoot it down because they don't feel safe without them. Hearing that made me feel really sad. It's tragic how both sides can't feel at ease without a barrier dividing them.

It's also a tradition to sign the peace walls! Former President Bill Clinton signed one when he was in Northern Ireland in the 90's when he was trying to help the parties come together. We all got to sign it too!

My signature! Some of dat classical Latin - "Amor vincit omnia" = "Love conquers all"
(If you're reading this Mrs. Scholemer, look! I'm infecting others' lives with Latin!)

We took a quick lunch break after our bus tour, and then we headed off to Stormont. We were met by a lady from the education department of Stormont and she gave us insight of how the Northern Irish government works and a description of the political parties. We met with some representatives of the parties and they told us what their political beliefs are. Personally, I'm not terribly interested in politics, so I was pretty bored.

Tomorrow begins our week in Dublin! I won't have my laptop with me, so there won't be a blog post this week. I'll update everyone when I get back!

....*Sigh* Why can't I just hand in my blog posts instead of writing papers?