Rachel – Armagh Project 2014

reuniting with Dublin

Rachel — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 20:46:38 +0000

This weekend was my third in the capital city, and I think it really cemented my love for its energy and culture. I also think I finally got my bearings on where everything is (it only took me attempting to get back to the hostel from O’Connell St. without a map, then really studying said map in order to un-lose myself). One thing I kind of viewed as a downfall the last time I visited was how multi-cultural the city is — it’s hard to get a good sense of Ireland amid all the foreigners and tourists and souvenir shops. BUT, maybe the third time’s the charm, because this time I couldn’t miss the Irish influence overlaying everything else. The history is rich in all aspects — political, theatrical, literary, and so on — and the city honors that. Dublin doesn’t feel as fast-paced and mission-minded (is that a thing?) as, say, NYC: the people are still friendly and many of the shops are still closed on Sundays. Yet there’s a vibrant nightlife and plenty to see and do. And I get the sense that, unlike some of the bigger U.S. cities, strangers actually WANT to meet and talk to each other in Dublin. I have various hypotheses on why that might be, but I’ll just say that I’ve probably changed too, since my last visit to the city in 2012, and that we’re much more compatible now. I was a little sad to leave.

Rachel — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 23:33:22 +0000

Humans like to categorize everything, including themselves. As others have said, we like to feel like we belong but also like we’re distinct from other individuals or groups of people. Many people i know take pride in being “different” from others.

However, I do think that globalization is taking away a lot of the unique traits of many regions of the world. For example. I remember being sort of disappointed when I got to Ireland and the majority of music I heard in public spaces was American (though there was some British thrown in). The movies playing at the Omniplex are all American, and a majority of the books for sale in the secondhand stores are by American authors. Where’s the Irish art and pop culture?

On the other hand, while the internet may be a huge factor in globalization, I think it’s also a tool for creating or propagating individuality — helping individuals find music, for example, more suited to their particular tastes, instead of relying only on the radio to find new music. Regional bands can gain a substantial following in their area, even if they never achieve national or international fame. The indie music people are listening to in Michigan is not the same as the indie music they’re listening to in Florida. I’m sure this can be applied to other aspects of life and culture.

So perhaps in my mind, developing a regional identity can be a response to globalization. I don’t think we as humans WANT to be the same as everyone else. We want to connect with people but we want those connections to mean something. I think a “global community” is superficial at best and that, beyond a certain level, it’s hard to truly identify with people with whom you don’t share a real space.

Or maybe regionalism can be viewed as a different sort of evolution: groups of people adapt to their geographical environment, and to thrive in different environments requires different skills/traits but also different preferences. Not everyone wants to live in a big city, or in the mountains, or in a hot climate. And I think having geographical location in common is one of the first, easiest, and oldest ways for individuals to connect with one another.

who says a fence has to be boring?

Rachel — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 21:51:48 +0000

I like to wander the city (as does everyone in the group, it seems) and take advantage of my time outside the busy and industrious Baltimore. Armagh has a lot of character, including colored front doors and interesting fences. Here is one of those interesting fences; as a bonus, it’s painted a lovely blue-green.

I enjoy it when thought is put into practical or utilitarian things — ornate architecture or ironwork on a fence, little flourishes or details that show some planning on the part of the artist.

The texture of moss: a lesson

Rachel — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 22:13:06 +0000

I realized just now that the best visual textures have contrast, which creates interest. And I think the most interesting history and stories also have texture, or contrast. We noticed today (or perhaps in my case, noticed again) the contrast throughout Armagh between new and old, particularly regarding architecture. I love to see urban spaces and buildings repurposed instead of torn down and rebuilt, and I think Armagh has done this pretty well (though buildings like the Marketplace Theatre demonstrate some tasteful modern design as well). I’m also intrigued by contrasts between natural and industrial, the man-made and the wild. I love to see them integrated, which I suppose is sort of demonstrated by my interest in the moss in the photo growing on a wall along the road.

Second first impressions

Rachel — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 21:49:50 +0000

The things that I remember here from two years ago look about the same as I remember them, and if the things I’ve forgotten have changed; I wouldn’t know. Around a Pound is still here, to my delight, as is Sainsbury’s. I think some new shops have moved into town, and I’m excited to explore them in a day or two when the jet lag wears off.

The hostel itself has changed, mostly for the better (remodeled rooms and fancy new signs) but I am disappointed that all the furniture in the lobby where we used to gather for the wi-fi is gone. We have a new hangout now, in the recently un-christened “Quiet Room,” but it means that the warden at the front desk has to sit by himself there in the sterile new reception area. It probably makes for a boring night.

I already have explored and taken pictures of a lot of the sights of Armagh, so I’m looking forward to immersing in a different way this visit. I’m also going to try my hand at writing a 10-minute play, though at the moment I have no idea where to start. Maybe tomorrow I’ll figure it out.