| Lea's Latest Writing |
| AIDS |
| STDs |
| Mattie Stepanek |
| Highlights Magazine |
| Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah |
| Cell Phones for Soldiers |
| Staying Connected-Tidewater Parent |
| 2004 China Journey |
| 2001 RTW Trip |
| Supported by |
| Hampton Roads - Site of the Week 11/1/00 |
| Lechinois.com |
| Best Viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer |
|
|
[ Up ]
Ireland Journal
(Lea) In Ireland I continued a tradition that I started at the
beginning of the trip - buying and reading the local paper. By doing this I have learned
much about other countries' politics and news. In addition to concerns
about issues in the US, I am now more concerned about problems throughout the
world. Some of the problems I now think about are the intense poverty I read
about and saw in Nepal and India, the human rights violations in Vietnam, and
the ravages of AIDs throughout Africa. I have also learned a lot about the views of locals
about America and the decisions we make. It was at first amazing to me how
knowledgeable other countries' citizens are about America's politics - and this
was way before September 11. From India to Egypt, even the local cab
drivers would ask my view on George Bush and Colin Powell. Throughout the
year I have read and heard praises and criticisms of the States - especially
recently with the war in Afghanistan. As a patriotic person, my first
reaction to any criticism of the US is defensive, but I have learned to actually
listen and read opposing views in order to understand another viewpoint. I have learned that every country is some way
affected, whether politically, economically or emotionally, by almost every
decision America makes. Being the richest and most powerful country in the
world is a great responsibility and also gives us the power to do so much
good. This trip has taught me I need to do a much better job at
understanding what is happening in the rest of the world. When I vote for policies and government representatives, I now feel I need to
understand the impacts not just on the US, but around the world. I feel
lucky to be from a country where my opinion actually counts and I can make a
difference.
(Keith) We spent a quick week in Ireland and met my cousin Megan and Taylor. After some difficult logistics (September 11 canceled our original plans to meet in Istanbul), we finally got together for a couple of days in Dublin. Though not the prettiest city, Dublin has great character. Pubs line every street where the Guinness flows freely and Irish music can be heard late into the night. We took a quick tour to one of the seaside towns (Dun Laoghaire) south of Dublin for the weekend. These folks have a tradition of swimming in the ocean (especially on Christmas day) . . . not too strange until you start to think of the temperature in Ireland; the water couldn't have been much over 60 degrees.
Check out our Ireland Photos.
[ Home ] [ RTW 2001 ] [ Lea, Keith, and Grace's Lives ] [ 2003-2004 China Journey ] [ Photo Albums ] [ Site Map ]