Kill me!
I no longer care about Bill Clinton, George Mitchell, or (as if I ever did) George Bush and the American Involvement in the Peace Process!
make it stop!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
I need the smell of summer.
I'm exhausted; body, mind, and soul.
Being used as a resource more in the last two weeks at MNI has really put the drain on me and I'm having trouble understanding meetings I find myself taking notes at. I don't know the context, but I am expected to follow what is being said.
It's too hard sometimes. Sometimes you just have to leave work to sleep.
I'm ready to be home, but I'm really NOT ready to leave Belfast. It's hard to reconcile these two thoughts.
Being used as a resource more in the last two weeks at MNI has really put the drain on me and I'm having trouble understanding meetings I find myself taking notes at. I don't know the context, but I am expected to follow what is being said.
It's too hard sometimes. Sometimes you just have to leave work to sleep.
I'm ready to be home, but I'm really NOT ready to leave Belfast. It's hard to reconcile these two thoughts.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Haven't done this in a while.
I'm slightly disappointed in myself for not writing in my blog more. Now it's my last week in Belfast, and I don't have a lot of writing to show for it. So, of course, when I actually have some legit writing to do, I'm going to waste some time by writing in my blog instead.
This week really kicked my ass. It was the week of the conference, and that meant a couple of 12+ hour days. It got really long, and I ended up getting sick. Even though I hate writing non-analytical stuff, I feel as though a recap is necessary for my sanity.
Monday:
Day in Derry. Long early busride, class, dinner and wine with friends, long busride home. It was a very nice day, but it was a very long day. About 7am to 10pm.
Tuesday:
First a typical day at work, then at 130pm we had to start stuffing delegate bags for the conference. The girl that was supervising us was pretty incompetent, so I had to become the organizer and problem solver. Even though SHE was paid for exactly that. I don't know why she's working for an event organizing company, because she mentally checks out the moment shit hits the fan.
Worked from 830-7, then decided I needed a beer. I called Ariel and she met me at the Parlour. A pint turned into two beers, which turned into two beers and a pitcher of cocktail. Got home at 945pm completely wasted.
Wednesday:
Emailed to say that I was going to come in late (because I knew I'd be out until at least 730), set my alarm for 1030, and settled back into sleep. Then the maintenance men came in (at 730am) with their hammers and drills and best singing voices. I cut my losses, got up, and got ready for work slowly. I had to dress up, so I took my time to look really nice. I got to work at about 11.
There was a meeting (or conversation) of big-wigs in the mediation world, and I was chosen to be notetaker. It started at 230 and ended at 430. I was supposed to be at the waterfront hall at 430, but Peter said that he was keeping me anyway. He asked me to accompany some of our (esteemed) guests in the taxi to the hall. This was an assumption that I am responsible enough to be a real MNI representative, and I appreciated being asked.
Of course, i got to the Waterfront later than I was supposed to, but I just jumped in and began helping with the registration and left the waterfront for a long walk home at 730pm.
Thursday:
Woke up at about 6am to talk to Mike for a little while before I started the longest day of my life. Got ready and left my room at 745 for the three mile walk to the Waterfront. I got there a little early but began registering right away. Worked through coffee break, then got to attend the plenary until lunch. Lunch was delicious (and free!) so, naturally, I ate more than I should have. Then I watched a discussion and attended a workshop.
After the workshop, there was more work to be done, so I worked until dinner time at 7pm. I had 2 glasses of champagne at the drinks reception, and proceeded to have 3 glasses of wine at the dinner/concert. Basically, Rob keeps filling my wine glass so he doesn't need to feel so bad about refilling his. haha.
There was an AWESOME concert that melded Irish and Scottish music and dancing. It was WONDERFUL. When I asked Rob what time it was and he said 11pm, I was slightly shocked to find out that I had been at the venue for about 14 hours. By the time I got home it was a 16 hour day, and I crashed out only to be woken up at about 3am by people outside my door. I literally screamed at them and went back to sleep.
Friday:
I woke up at 6 the next day with a sore throat and a tired body (probably due to the 3 mile walk at midnight). I resolved to go home from the venue early, and I knew there would be no stopping me. So I did the registration, attended the most BORING workshop ever, and went to lunch. Then I ducked out of that bitch faster than you can say slacker. I just about fell asleep on the WALK home. I got into my room, took off my clothes, and fell into my bed. I slept from 230 to 630 and it was unbelievable.
There was something really great about this week and something not so great at all. I enjoyed being able to see all of these important people together to talk about the work they're doing in their respective communities. I did realize, though, that mediation isn't my schtick and I'll never be able to pretend that it is. This makes me feel bad because I feel like a fake sitting in the offices of Mediation Northern Ireland, drinking their coffee and eating their biscuits. I don't know, there's just something about it.
More later.
This week really kicked my ass. It was the week of the conference, and that meant a couple of 12+ hour days. It got really long, and I ended up getting sick. Even though I hate writing non-analytical stuff, I feel as though a recap is necessary for my sanity.
Monday:
Day in Derry. Long early busride, class, dinner and wine with friends, long busride home. It was a very nice day, but it was a very long day. About 7am to 10pm.
Tuesday:
First a typical day at work, then at 130pm we had to start stuffing delegate bags for the conference. The girl that was supervising us was pretty incompetent, so I had to become the organizer and problem solver. Even though SHE was paid for exactly that. I don't know why she's working for an event organizing company, because she mentally checks out the moment shit hits the fan.
Worked from 830-7, then decided I needed a beer. I called Ariel and she met me at the Parlour. A pint turned into two beers, which turned into two beers and a pitcher of cocktail. Got home at 945pm completely wasted.
Wednesday:
Emailed to say that I was going to come in late (because I knew I'd be out until at least 730), set my alarm for 1030, and settled back into sleep. Then the maintenance men came in (at 730am) with their hammers and drills and best singing voices. I cut my losses, got up, and got ready for work slowly. I had to dress up, so I took my time to look really nice. I got to work at about 11.
There was a meeting (or conversation) of big-wigs in the mediation world, and I was chosen to be notetaker. It started at 230 and ended at 430. I was supposed to be at the waterfront hall at 430, but Peter said that he was keeping me anyway. He asked me to accompany some of our (esteemed) guests in the taxi to the hall. This was an assumption that I am responsible enough to be a real MNI representative, and I appreciated being asked.
Of course, i got to the Waterfront later than I was supposed to, but I just jumped in and began helping with the registration and left the waterfront for a long walk home at 730pm.
Thursday:
Woke up at about 6am to talk to Mike for a little while before I started the longest day of my life. Got ready and left my room at 745 for the three mile walk to the Waterfront. I got there a little early but began registering right away. Worked through coffee break, then got to attend the plenary until lunch. Lunch was delicious (and free!) so, naturally, I ate more than I should have. Then I watched a discussion and attended a workshop.
After the workshop, there was more work to be done, so I worked until dinner time at 7pm. I had 2 glasses of champagne at the drinks reception, and proceeded to have 3 glasses of wine at the dinner/concert. Basically, Rob keeps filling my wine glass so he doesn't need to feel so bad about refilling his. haha.
There was an AWESOME concert that melded Irish and Scottish music and dancing. It was WONDERFUL. When I asked Rob what time it was and he said 11pm, I was slightly shocked to find out that I had been at the venue for about 14 hours. By the time I got home it was a 16 hour day, and I crashed out only to be woken up at about 3am by people outside my door. I literally screamed at them and went back to sleep.
Friday:
I woke up at 6 the next day with a sore throat and a tired body (probably due to the 3 mile walk at midnight). I resolved to go home from the venue early, and I knew there would be no stopping me. So I did the registration, attended the most BORING workshop ever, and went to lunch. Then I ducked out of that bitch faster than you can say slacker. I just about fell asleep on the WALK home. I got into my room, took off my clothes, and fell into my bed. I slept from 230 to 630 and it was unbelievable.
There was something really great about this week and something not so great at all. I enjoyed being able to see all of these important people together to talk about the work they're doing in their respective communities. I did realize, though, that mediation isn't my schtick and I'll never be able to pretend that it is. This makes me feel bad because I feel like a fake sitting in the offices of Mediation Northern Ireland, drinking their coffee and eating their biscuits. I don't know, there's just something about it.
More later.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Back again.
So I haven't written in this blog for a week! I've been using my private blog more, though, so I guess that could explain it.
I've also been spending a lot of time reading up on politics in the States. I used to be completely disinterested by them, but I think it was Obama's speech on race and Richardson's subsequent endorsement of Obama that really pulled me in. I'm a sucker for reading a good speech, and I'm a sucker for Bill Richardson. But we all knew that.
Yesterday during 'big tea' at work, we were talking about politics and I felt unbelievably well-informed. If I thought I was moderately well-informed before, then I've become a 2008 GENIUS. ha. right. That's not the case, but I felt good after spending a couple of weeks really observing the issues before us for the 2008 election. It helps that Clinton fudging how much she actually did in Northern Ireland really brought the campaign to a local focus for me here. Granted, the Bosnia lies were the ones that got to the forefront (NI faded away, inevitably, with Saint Patriack's Day), but it really put together the paper I am doing on American involvement in the Northern Irish peace process and the election.
I'm at my dorm right now when I should (theoretically) be at work. I am so exhausted. I think that I'm getting sick. I wake up nauseated in the morning and am super tired during the day. I also get dizzy at random times. I woke up at 7am like normal and emailed the office to tell them I'd be in after lunch. Laurie emailed me back to say it was a wise idea. I mean. I was to be there from 9am-5pm then we would have left for Ards. Ards is to be from 7pm to about 10pm. So, after waking up at 7, I would have had a 15 hour day. They way that I felt when I woke up would NOT have allowed me to get through that.
The work that I'm doing with the UDA/UVF men is super interesting. It kind of makes me want to be a journalist that focuses on the current issues that these men are going through and getting through. I guess the part of historian/researcher is good enough. The UDA man I met with on Sunday was fascinating. He's doing positive things that are unheard of in his community. He was very open and willing to talk to me about any question I had. I love it when people with very serious pasts will talk more candidly than carefully about them. I'm excited because today I get to talk to 3 UVF men, one being the brigadier. It's crazy.
Yesterday was really great. We had big tea, which is usually my favorite part of the week (partly for the conversation, partly for the scones), and laughed and joked and talked. It's always better when Brendan is there because he's such a silly man with such a serious job. When he laughs, he LAUGHS. It's awesome. Everyone is really sad and anxious to see him go. It's a strange way to observe an organization.
At 1 we went to the "Associates Day" where Brendan meets with the development team (staff, in-office) and all of the out of office associates. It's basically a big peptalk, but it served a little different of a function this time, because it was Brendan's last one. It tried to explain what he saw mediation being, where he saw MNI going, and took into account the worries of his associates. It was a good class to see and I got a good lunch out of it!
Okay, last but not least, I got my internship at the American Irish Historical Society this summer! It's so scary to think that I'll be moving to New York, but it's also really freaking cool that they want me as their intern! It's in a swanky part of NYC, so I'm a little worried about that (commuting/what I will wear/etc.), but besides that I'm excited to call the director this afternoon.
Alright, long day. I should probably do something a little more productive, but this is probably what I would be doing at work too. ha. Except for the listening to music part. Okay okay.
I've also been spending a lot of time reading up on politics in the States. I used to be completely disinterested by them, but I think it was Obama's speech on race and Richardson's subsequent endorsement of Obama that really pulled me in. I'm a sucker for reading a good speech, and I'm a sucker for Bill Richardson. But we all knew that.
Yesterday during 'big tea' at work, we were talking about politics and I felt unbelievably well-informed. If I thought I was moderately well-informed before, then I've become a 2008 GENIUS. ha. right. That's not the case, but I felt good after spending a couple of weeks really observing the issues before us for the 2008 election. It helps that Clinton fudging how much she actually did in Northern Ireland really brought the campaign to a local focus for me here. Granted, the Bosnia lies were the ones that got to the forefront (NI faded away, inevitably, with Saint Patriack's Day), but it really put together the paper I am doing on American involvement in the Northern Irish peace process and the election.
I'm at my dorm right now when I should (theoretically) be at work. I am so exhausted. I think that I'm getting sick. I wake up nauseated in the morning and am super tired during the day. I also get dizzy at random times. I woke up at 7am like normal and emailed the office to tell them I'd be in after lunch. Laurie emailed me back to say it was a wise idea. I mean. I was to be there from 9am-5pm then we would have left for Ards. Ards is to be from 7pm to about 10pm. So, after waking up at 7, I would have had a 15 hour day. They way that I felt when I woke up would NOT have allowed me to get through that.
The work that I'm doing with the UDA/UVF men is super interesting. It kind of makes me want to be a journalist that focuses on the current issues that these men are going through and getting through. I guess the part of historian/researcher is good enough. The UDA man I met with on Sunday was fascinating. He's doing positive things that are unheard of in his community. He was very open and willing to talk to me about any question I had. I love it when people with very serious pasts will talk more candidly than carefully about them. I'm excited because today I get to talk to 3 UVF men, one being the brigadier. It's crazy.
Yesterday was really great. We had big tea, which is usually my favorite part of the week (partly for the conversation, partly for the scones), and laughed and joked and talked. It's always better when Brendan is there because he's such a silly man with such a serious job. When he laughs, he LAUGHS. It's awesome. Everyone is really sad and anxious to see him go. It's a strange way to observe an organization.
At 1 we went to the "Associates Day" where Brendan meets with the development team (staff, in-office) and all of the out of office associates. It's basically a big peptalk, but it served a little different of a function this time, because it was Brendan's last one. It tried to explain what he saw mediation being, where he saw MNI going, and took into account the worries of his associates. It was a good class to see and I got a good lunch out of it!
Okay, last but not least, I got my internship at the American Irish Historical Society this summer! It's so scary to think that I'll be moving to New York, but it's also really freaking cool that they want me as their intern! It's in a swanky part of NYC, so I'm a little worried about that (commuting/what I will wear/etc.), but besides that I'm excited to call the director this afternoon.
Alright, long day. I should probably do something a little more productive, but this is probably what I would be doing at work too. ha. Except for the listening to music part. Okay okay.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Galway.
Right now I am in the 'internet cafe' of my hostel. I've been roaming the streets of Galway all morning, and luckily made it back to the hostel right before it started pouring. I had my raincoat with me, but I'm still really glad I got back here dry.
People are seriously getting on my last nerve. There is an American (I think) girl sitting here cracking up at something on her laptop. She's really fucking bugging the shit out of me. Unfortunately, I have locked myself out of my room. How that happened, I'm not sure. So now I have to sit here and listen to her shit. Seriously? Who the fuck are you? Ugh.
The girl that is running the desk right now is a relatively unfriendly French woman, and I'll have to ask her to let me back into my room. They said to keep keys on you at all times, I guess I should have paid attention. But I just went to the bathroom!
Okay, this silly bitch is about to get backhanded. More later, I'm sure.
People are seriously getting on my last nerve. There is an American (I think) girl sitting here cracking up at something on her laptop. She's really fucking bugging the shit out of me. Unfortunately, I have locked myself out of my room. How that happened, I'm not sure. So now I have to sit here and listen to her shit. Seriously? Who the fuck are you? Ugh.
The girl that is running the desk right now is a relatively unfriendly French woman, and I'll have to ask her to let me back into my room. They said to keep keys on you at all times, I guess I should have paid attention. But I just went to the bathroom!
Okay, this silly bitch is about to get backhanded. More later, I'm sure.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Some more.
This morning I went to my favorite place in Belfast, Saint George's market. It was nice, but I have to admit, I like Saturdays better. It was a madhouse in there. It might have been partly due to the statutory holiday and more people being off. Regardless, I enjoyed it. I bought some feta-stuffed olives--they are SO good. I'll probably go there tomorrow, too, and get a crepe with ham, cheese, pesto, and onions. MMMMMMmmmmm. After the market I went to the bus station and figured out that there is only one bus to Galway on Monday because of the holiday, and that's at 345pm. It doesn't arrive in Galway until 1030. Maybe that's just enough time for a beer, a little planning, and a good night's rest. I guess we'll see how it goes.
Last night I went to church at Fitzroy Presbyterian, which is right next to MNI. It's where Brent and his wife's family are members. It's a small congregation, much different from First Pres back home, and I have to say that I enjoyed it. Although I don't know what to think about religion anymore, it was nice to feel a part of a community like that even for one night. There is a service at 8pm tonight that I may go to, but I don't think I'll make it. I'm for sure going with Brent and his family on Easter, and maybe having a meal there afterwards. I hope the weather is nice. Easter is always better when it's beautiful out.
Yesterday when I got up to my desk at work, I saw that Alex had left me a little thing of mini Cadbury eggs from the "Easter bunny." It's nice to feel so welcomed into groups. And the smallest things can be the biggest surprises.
Last night I went to church at Fitzroy Presbyterian, which is right next to MNI. It's where Brent and his wife's family are members. It's a small congregation, much different from First Pres back home, and I have to say that I enjoyed it. Although I don't know what to think about religion anymore, it was nice to feel a part of a community like that even for one night. There is a service at 8pm tonight that I may go to, but I don't think I'll make it. I'm for sure going with Brent and his family on Easter, and maybe having a meal there afterwards. I hope the weather is nice. Easter is always better when it's beautiful out.
Yesterday when I got up to my desk at work, I saw that Alex had left me a little thing of mini Cadbury eggs from the "Easter bunny." It's nice to feel so welcomed into groups. And the smallest things can be the biggest surprises.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
ugh
I am in a state of exhaustion. I just about had a breakdown today, and I think it was because I am so tired.
Also, I am TERRIFIED that I may have to get dental work done here.
I am off tomorrow so I will go buy bus tickets for Galway and head down to Saint George's market for a while. Then home to chill out. Good Friday services at 8? Not sure yet...maybe.
Also, I am TERRIFIED that I may have to get dental work done here.
I am off tomorrow so I will go buy bus tickets for Galway and head down to Saint George's market for a while. Then home to chill out. Good Friday services at 8? Not sure yet...maybe.
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