By Brody Blythe Caniglia, University of Washington
Hello! I have successfully returned from my trip to Ireland. I’m here to share my experiences and insights that I’ve gained during my travels. As said in my last blog, the purpose of this trip was to learn about Ireland’s resistance and resilience through subjects like art, advocacy, and healthcare. It is a fairly broad topic. There is so much material that can fit into a topic of that nature. This was intentional so that each student would have the ability to decide their own research route and determine the specific focus of their projects at the end of the trip. During my time in Ireland, what stood out to me most was the relationship between Ireland and Catholicism.
What I’ve learned is that Ireland holds a complicated relationship with Catholicism. I came across many people who openly identified as Catholic – which makes sense! Catholicism is the most popular religion in Ireland, and it has been for centuries! When Ireland gained independence from Britain in 1922, the Catholic Church really became a dominant power. Locals looked to the Church for necessities and support, and it provided both. Catholicism helped the Irish build an identity that was unique from the British. As time went on though, corruption slowly showed itself within this power. Too many cases of exploited women and children. Too many instances of keeping inhumane priests safe from justice. These were truths that were unearthed. The people could no longer look to the Church for advice without feeling like their morals were being tainted with. The Catholic Church lost the power and trust that was granted to them. So now, Ireland stands in an interesting spot where the majority of people are Catholic but don’t partake in any church activities. I find it extremely fascinating!
Two separate church ruins in Waterford, IRL. There are so many more throughout the city. There was even one that had a clothing store built around it! Really shows how prevalent they were.
This experience has enlightened me on how valuable and special it is to gain knowledge through interactions with strangers. Academically, I’ve learned that each person has new and unique information to pass on. I should never limit my sources and remain open to learning in any capacity and circumstance that I can. Some of the conversations I had with locals on the morning bus taught me much more than I would have imagined. Professionally, I’ve learned how to bond with those that I’m working with. I’ve built stable relationships where everyone pitches in to hoist each other up.
Research in global contexts is so beneficial because it shows how limited your perception of the world may really be. It allows you to see big and small differences between your home and different environments. Global research showed me that I can’t fully understand anything until I’ve witnessed it for myself.
I believe I’ve gained skills in self-reflection and contextual research. Going on this trip really taught me to self-reflect on my own experiences and learn how to utilize that to better understand a foreign environment. I was able to understand certain aspects of daily life that I took for granted and learned to think critically about why these aspects of daily life differ so greatly around the world. I learned to piece together small, distinct details that helped build comprehension for a bigger historical picture. I wouldn’t have learned to do this without this trip as I’ve never had to rely more on my surroundings for information rather than the internet.
An important message to me from this trip is that resistance and resilience can exist anywhere. They don’t always need to be so obvious in things such as fights or speeches. They can be present in unexpected forms such as poetry, dance, music, graffiti, food, and so much more. The form in which they’re expressed is not as important as the intent behind them. Something like this shows the diversity that exists within humankind and highlights the beauty of the indomitable human spirit. No matter what, every person has the power to make a statement!
I want this project to showcase that I’m willing and eager to step out of my comfort zone. I believe that creates one of the best foundations for learning and tends to cause more good than harm. This project has shown me all the fantastic experiences that can stem from traveling abroad to explore and familiarize yourself with a different culture. I don’t know what is specifically next for me, but I know this trip has instilled me with a drive to learn so much more about subjects I know nothing about. I’ve been shown that there is always more to understand than initially thought. I am so grateful that I was able to do something of this caliber and it’s an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.
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