All the way from the ‘Emerald Isle’

Hiya, my name is Lucy and I am from Northern Ireland.

When a majority of people talk about Ireland, they are generally referring to the Republic and some may not even know about the existence of Northern Ireland. Depending on where a person falls politically, they may have several opinions on whether or not Northern Ireland should exist in the first place. However, we should not be dwelling on our differences but rather think of what we are able to agree on. Both Ireland and the North are fantastic places to live. We have a wonderful culture and beautiful landscapes that instantly make it obvious why it is known as the ‘Emerald Isle”-and not only because of the perpetual drizzle. 

Both Northern Ireland and Ireland are also ridiculously expensive, especially Dublin, the cost of living has only increased within the past few years. If often surprises me how little even £10 (or 55 złoty) stretches when shopping for groceries and I do not even live in an area that is generally considered expensive.

Whilst it is a beautiful country, it was due to the faults that I saw around me in Northern Ireland that I wished to see a little more of the world. As it is a very large world and I have unfortunately seen very little of it which is something that I often fear makes me ignorant. This trip to Poland is the farthest away from the “West” that I have ever been, and I should hope to make very similar excursions much farther South and East in the near future. The lack of political graffiti and murals is certainly something I could continue to get used to.

As I am only 19, it is also the first time I have travelled on my own. I wished to put myself in situations that would challenge me, or to “throw myself off of the deep end” as I hoped to grow more as a person. I wished to broaden my horizons, meet new people and have new experiences that I would fondly look back on in years to come. I believe that if someone has the privilege to do so that they should look beyond what they are used to in their own home country and experience some form of “culture shock” at least once in their lives.

I did not wish to sit around and to waste the long summers I have as a girl still in university. As in years to come I may not get the privilege to be able to travel as much or to see the world. That is not to say that all good things must come to an end as soon as you graduate, however I would like to make the most of this time as I have it.