Four weeks in Ireland went by faster than any of us ever could have imagined. Getting on a plane and heading home was harder than we thought it would be too. Though all of us missed our friends and families, there was not one smiling face heading into that Dublin airport on our final day. The cobblestone roads, the friendly people, the countless sheep, the stone walls winding through the farms, and, of course, the great pubs left an unforgettable impression of Ireland on all of us.

I also know Ireland changed me. Besides the fact that now I have plenty of great new stories that originate from across the Atlantic, I have experiences that have left me feeling more independent and worldly. I managed to learn some of the country’s history, which was just as brutal and sad as America’s, but the knowledge made me appreciate how Ireland got to where it is now. I know I’ll never forget how beautiful the country is too. More than once, the rolling emerald hills and cold stone castles and giant cliffs that suddenly dropped off to the navy sea left me absolutely awestruck. I already miss the land that stole my heart. I know I’ll be returning some day to experience all of it once more.

When I thought about United Nations (UN) conventions, I thought only the smart, rich, and famous could attend to provide input based on their vast areas of expertise. It turns out that my idea isn’t far from the truth. Everyone in attendance has done serious research or works in politics or has years of education based on their interests. Then there’s us. Of course, our group is filled with equally brilliant minds, but to say we were a little star-struck by our first couple days in the conference may be an understatement.

The huge topic of discussion among the UN is the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which is a treaty meant to promote the creation of policies and legislation that will result in equal rights for all people with disabilities. It is very interesting hearing from representatives from countries across the world and having them explain their country’s current state of signing, ratifying, or implementing the treaty. Poverty, education, and funding are common reasons why many of the countries are struggling with the treaty. To my surprise, the U.S. is actually one of the few who has signed the treaty but not ratified it. Ironically, the U.S. is the same country who came up with the idea in the first place!

However, what I have found to be the most interesting so far is hearing from representatives who come from countries that have signed and ratified the treaty yet cannot manage to enforce the concepts that the treaty encourages. I’d like to think that everyone from the around the world truly benefits from this conference because of these confessions. It certainly benefits us students by opening our minds about issues we had never even imagined before.

After spending two-and-a-half weeks in the lively Dublin, we have finally made our way into the heart of Galway. It can’t be denied that every single one of us were reluctant to leave our new favorite Irish city for one on the other side of the country. After all, we had finally figured out Dublin. We knew where to get food, where to shop, where to party, where to get tattoos… But Galway? How could Galway possibly top Dublin? Well, it really can’t, but that’s only because comparing the two cities is like comparing pizza to ice-cream. Both are definitely good but also utterly and completely different masterpieces.

The first time I walked the streets of Galway, I felt like I was entering a carnival. Musicians played on the streets, artists made chalk creations on the sidewalks, and ribbons and flags hung between the quaint shops and restaurants. All of it was so…charming. If Dublin is the ideal, fast-paced city, Galway is the charming, artsy town that makes the perfect counterpart. The only downside to our arrival is that the rain finally arrived with us. However, I felt like a true Irish woman when I was drenched during the onslaught of rain that fell into Galway’s streets earlier today. Instead of cowering and perhaps scrambling to find an umbrella, I threw my hood up like all the locals and kept shopping. It was all part of the experience, and the rain was a particular part of Ireland that I was happy to indulge in.

Monday we went to a therapeutic horseback riding facility. As soon as we arrived, we were given a wonderful show where two of the barn’s regular riders went around the riding ring with their volunteer assistants spotting them from either side of the horses. While the assistants made sure the riders didn’t fall, the riders were the ones who really did all the work. They made the horses halt, walk, trot, and turn. During this, the instructor told us about how beneficial a sport like horseback riding is for all ranges of disabilities. For example, adjusting to the horse’s movements and staying balanced in the saddle are especially beneficial tasks for someone with cerebral palsy. It offers freedom from a wheelchair, which promotes feelings of independence, and improves posture and muscle tone at the same time. For individuals with autism, experiencing the different textures, such as feeling the leather of the saddle, the short hairs of the horse’s coat, and the brittle strands of the horse’s mane provide tactile sensations that can either sooth or stimulate depending on the instructor’s directions. Similarly, the facility developed a special trail through the facility where the horse can walk over pavement, gravel, and a wooden bridge to provide different auditory sensations.

On Saturday the nine of us took a small bus on a three hour ride that started bright and early at 7 a.m. out to Cork. We were on a mission to kiss some rock I had never heard of at some castle I also had never heard of. Why would we do such a thing, you ask? According to legend, kissing this stone (the Blarney  Stone) presents the kisser with the gift of eloquence (also known as the gift of gab).

I was definitely skeptical of this trip, and my apprehension  grew when I heard the rumor that the locals of Cork sneak into the Blarney castle at night to pee on the stone. However, like everything else I’ve done in Ireland so far, I ended up really enjoying myself on our trip. Firstly, the beauty of the castle and its gardens is highly underrated. I definitely would like to go back to Cork just to explore the area again. Waterfalls, flowers, tall trees, an idyllic river to cross over, and a garden full of beautiful yet deadly poisonous plants amazed me. Secondly, the coolest part (particularly for someone who’s a HUGE Harry Potter fan like me) was the fact that the poison garden had some of the plants that were referenced in the Harry Potter movies (wolf’s bane and mandrake).

The castle was in surprisingly good shape, and it was fascinating to see the rooms labeled as the “earls bedroom” or the “priest’s sanctuary.” The only unfortunate part of the day was going up several flights of terrifyingly narrow and steep steps to reach the stone at the top of the castle. They were honestly a claustrophobic’s nightmare.  Yet when we reached the top, we could see the entire stunning area. Then we each kissed the stone. Whether the legend is true or not or whether the gross rumor is real or not (which I seriously doubt considering the security of the castle and all those steps to climb), I felt extremely accomplished after locking lips with that rock. After all, not everyone can make it to Ireland and drive to Cork and climb through an entire castle AND still have the confidence to kiss an ancient stone that likely has a bunch of strangers’ saliva all over it. But each one of us from our little group did it with a smile.

Earlier this week we were visited by a representative from the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI). She explained that her group looks into all types of disability and works to create policy that will affect the services provided for them. She really emhasized that Ireland is fantastic at this initial step. Implementing the policies is a whole different matter. The main goal is to satisfy both the services who aim to help the disabled and the individuals who are actually disabled. The two parties do not always agree on what they think they need. Struggling to raise money to enforce the policies is an issue too.

Another aspect of of the DFI is the research they have undergone. They have looked into the community to discover what the people throughout Ireland think about disability. The results were surprising. Many people don’t see disability as a political priority. They don’t know about the struggle with finding support or raising the money or even the extra day-to-day effort it takes with being disabled or caring for someone disabled. Overall, our visitor encouraged us to open our eyes and understand the battle that is still continuing for those disabled to have proper care and help in life.

After spending several hours touring through Northern Ireland, I am convinced that this country is truly unrivaled in beauty. Ever seen the color green? Well I gaurantee you’ve never seen all its possible shades unless you’ve explored Ireland’s countrysides. As someone who’s from a rural area in America, I believed that if you’ve seen one pasture, you’ve seen them all. Nope! Ireland’s pastures are carved by rolling emerald hills, sprinkled with weed-like (yet stunning) patches of yellow flowers, and claimed by herds of lazy sheep, horses, and cows that look like they belong in a child’s picture book. Utterly gorgeous.

Of course the beauty doesn’t end with the land. Many of the open fields end abruptly at the Atlantic. Considering that the site I visited was a relatively touristy space, I expected the sight of murky, navy water with bits of trash floating about. Once more, nope! The water was clear. Clear! As in, I could see through it. It also never seemed to end. Standing at the edge of a cliff, I could look out and see how the hazy, light blue sky simply became one with the water. Everyone respected the beautiful area and as a result, it looked well preserved.

The only thing that might obstruct your glorious view throughout these sites is the occasional charming farmhouse or possibly…a castle? Yes, I spotted a real castle that puts Disney’s to shame. Poor Cinderella should feel embarrassed with her frivolous abode compared to the stone walls that once made up a king’s luxurious center of ruling. But wait, there’s more! This seemingly random castle in the middle of a field at the edge of a cliff is used for Game of Thrones. It’s the one used for the Greyjoy’s castle (also may be known as the Ironborn’s castle). How cool is that?

There were plenty of other sites along the way, and with each stop our tour group received a history lesson based on the area. My favorite piece of information was this: A long while ago, Ireland had a king (sorry, I can’t recall which one in particular). He wasn’t liked much, but eventually he died. When he died, the citizens of Dublin were requested to mourn the loss by painting their doors black. Because the people disliked the old king so much, they painted their doors every other color but black. That is why the doors of Dublin are famous for being wildly colorful throughout the city. Now I can’t wait to see and learn more.

On Tuesday, May 31, our little band of Ireland fanatics went to St. Michael’s House. This facility began with the mother of a child with autism who put an ad in the paper in hopes of finally finding some support for her son. The community’s responses were overwhelming. Many parents and siblings in the area needed similar help, and as a result, the House was formed. Years and years later, I found myself amazed at what the facility had become.

Staff and patients were very welcoming as we toured the area. It was a relaxed environment, and the patients radiated happiness. However, what I loved most about this place was the goal of the program.  Our guide/director of the facility proudly explained that the House really tries to get the patients immersed in the community. They want the people to have jobs, hobbies, life skills, and relationships. The point of the program is not to separate the patients from their homes and neighborhoods so they can get a fixed treatment that’s composed of a checklist of steps, but instead the patients learn how to become beneficial members of society by actually being part of the society. In other words, they are provided the opportunities and aid to be more independent while learning how to handle their disability. I think a lot of people not disabled wish they could enter a program like this to basically understand how to be an adult.

For the patients who are not physically or mentally capable of being more on their own, the facility works with them in smaller ways. Some of the projects that the program encourages the patients to engage in are simply meant to promote feelings of accomplishment. At the same time, these projects often benefit the community. Building farie houses for children in the local park to play with and to expand their imaginations is just one example.  As someone who assisted in the activity therapy field, I know how challenging it can be to come up with projects that are both mentally stimulating and fun without being overdone. In other words, I left St. Michael’s House utterly impressed.