Day 2: Scavenger Hunt and 1916 Walking Tour

 

After wrapping up dinner at The Norseman, in what felt like the longest day we might have ever felt, we ended the night with our first "bandana ceremony." The bandana is awarded to the student who most embodies the expedition spirit. The expedition spirit includes expanding comfort zones, being conscientious of local customs, and, in our case, fighting through jet lag. Last night, Cat Atchison won our first bandana for her spirit, enthusiasm (she was packed and ready five days before departure), and "expedition attitude!"

After the ceremony, we got some much-needed rest (I got 9 hours for the first time in months), then headed down to get a mini Irish breakfast–one bacon, one egg, one sausage, one hash brown, toast, and baked beans–to get ready for our day! 

Our first activity was a scavenger hunt in the Docklands area of Dublin! This was particularly interesting to me (James) as I am researching the impact of globalization in the "Silicon Docks." My research connects the docklands' heavy influence from major American tech firms like Google and Meta to its impact as a driving force in Ireland and even the European Union's economy. It was great seeing these buildings up close.

For the scavenger hunt, we were split into 3 groups and tasked to go around and take photos next to three locations where we were given clues. The first location we discovered was a "diving bell," which was used for construction underwater in the docklands. It created a seal underwater for the workers to breathe and work in, and surprisingly never had a recorded injury or fatality. 

The next location we discovered was an old flour mill, which will be converted into a restaurant district. The construction was also near Google's headquarters in Dublin, which actually owns and invests in much of the shops and housing in the area. Finally, we stopped by a food truck, which was a small business run by a woman who had just moved to Ireland! After our scavenger hunt, we visited a church and then went to lunch!

For lunch, we went to the Norseman again. I ordered some of the soup of the day (tomato basil) and some fish and chips! While we were waiting, we played some heads up, where we got to test our knowledge in guessing things! When the food came, I tried it, and it was very delicious! 

After lunch at The Norseman, we walked to meet Lorcan Collins, the founder of the 1916 Walking Tour of Dublin, a published author, and a proud Republican Socialist. He led us around Dublin with his flat cap and witty humor, telling us about the government, Ireland's ties with Frederick Douglas, musical icons of Ireland, in depth information about the IRA, and more. He told us specifically about his deep love for Sinead O'Connor as a musician and activist. 

Lorcan's knowledge related specifically to my (Ava's) research project on Irish literature. As an author, I knew he would be able to offer insight into literature itself, but he also spoke on the importance of language as a cultural entity. Irish literature is often considered to be Anglo-Irish as a result of cultural erasure, particularly as it relates to the rich and difficult history of the Irish language. In discussing the disappearance of the Irish language prior to the cultural revival, he said, "If we allow ourselves to lose our language, then we are lost." Much like Corwan's discussion of how Gaelic sports are more than just a game, Lorcan's feelings on language, which were also expressed by Andy, prove the deep connection to the Irish identity held by many people living in the nation

After meeting with Lorcan, we climbed to the top of a watch tower at our hostel and had a reflection circle. We talked about the last two days, specifically the highlights and misperceptions of Ireland we had previously. Then we all got ready for another exciting meal at The Norseman. I had fried Brie bites, Celtic Chicken, and The Norseman chocolate cake (a dessert that is becoming a favorite of all). At dinner, we played an abundance of 20 questions, concluding the meal by being stumped by James at his choice of "The Sovereign Military Order of Malta" for a 20 questions answer. We walked back to the hostel to present our scavenger hunt findings, and it was determined that team 3 (Ava, James, Kate, Sam, and Ms. Ducharme) were the winners. After these events, we once again held the bandana ceremony, where Cat named me (Ava) as the next bandana holder. 

We are very excited to head to Galway tomorrow!

-Ava and James