shanmckeown – GW Blogs from Abroad

The Challenges of Finals Period Abroad

AdminMay 7, 2015December 17, 2018

After having the amazing opportunity to travel to new places throughout Europe during my spring break, I’m now entering the period that all students dread, regardless of what continent you’re on: finals. Tackling finals in a new country, let alone in a new university with a different academic culture than your own, can be a difficult process. Finals period can be one of the most difficult parts of being abroad. As an abroad student, it’s easy to be distracted by everything happening around you. Of course you’d rather check out a cool new place and spend time with your new friends that you’ll be forced to say goodbye to soon. Therefore, I want to discuss the challenges of a finals period when you’re abroad, as well as how I’m currently overcoming them.

I’m studying a the British university of Queen’s University in Belfast. I’m sure you’ve heard how British academic culture is different from American academic culture. The rumors are true. The biggest difference I’ve notice between academic culture at GW and academic culture at Queen’s is the pacing and a greater sense of independence at Queen’s. At GW, it’s typical to have a mid-term exam, at least one paper, and a final exam, if not other assignments scattered throughout the semester. At Queen’s, there’s less assigned work for you to actually hand in, especially in the beginning of the semester. For example, I’m taking one course that requires only a final exam in the form of a 5,000 word paper. However, this one paper will be worth my entire mark. Therefore, there are pros and cons to this system. On the one hand, it may seem like you have a lot less work to do. However, in reality, your professors are expecting you to be working on this one assignment throughout the semester. Like I said, there’s more independence. They won’t be checking up on you or the progress you’re making, but if you aren’t doing any work until the end, it’ll show in you overall grade. That being said, it’s also a less stressful finals period if you are careful not to cram everything at the end. Unlike GW, we have more than a few reading days to prepare for exams. Rather, we have at least a couple weeks, if not more, depending on your exam schedule. Furthermore, each class is worth more credit here, so while I have to tackle five finals at home, I only have to worry about three here.

Therefore, there’s a lot of aspects of British academic culture that, in my opinion, makes for a less stressful finals period. However, the fact that I’m an abroad student makes it more difficult. It’s hard to not become distracted by all of the opportunities and events that seem more fun than spending the last month of your abroad semester in the library. In order to overcome this struggle, I’ve decided that the best approach to finals while you’re abroad is simply balance. You shouldn’t be in the library as much as you might be at GW. Let’s face it- in five years, you’d rather accept a grade that might be a little below your average than miss out on an opportunity that you might never get a chance to partake in at home. That being said, the biggest key to remaining unstressed is planning ahead. Here in Belfast, many students have adopted a ‘work hard, play hard’ attitude. This is a good rule to follow while abroad. Really, it comes down to using you’re study time wisely. When it is time to study, and when you have any spare time, put good use to it. Work hard in the library, rather than waste the time on Netflix or procrastinating. That way when that once and a lifetime opportunity comes along, or even a fun night out with your friends, you can enjoy your time and your abroad semester to the fullest, while also knowing that you’ve got a good grip on your academics.

Living in an Interface Community

AdminApril 15, 2015December 14, 2018

By Shannon McKeown

Northern Ireland, and specifically its capital Belfast, has a long history of inter-community violence rooted in a deep ethno-sectarian divide. This divide stems from clashes between Protestant Unionists, who want to remain a part of Britain, and Catholic Republicans, who wish to be a part of the state of Ireland. Violence began as early as the 17^th century when the English and Scottish came to Northern Ireland (then considered ‘Ulster’) in order to establish plantations. The conflict came to a head in the 1960s, which began a period known as ‘The Troubles’ in which there was an increase in violence on both sides, usually instigated by paramilitaries, and many causalities. In the 1990s, an initiative for a peace process was established, ending in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. More than fifteen years later, the ceasefire has continued to hold and with the exception of a few rare cases, politically motivated violence has ceased to exist in the city of Belfast. However, although the city is now a much safer place to live, there is still a substantial lack of trust and interaction between the two communities. While peace was established on the surface, there is still a lack of a deep-rooted peace.

Living in Belfast during their period of reconciliation has been an eye opening experience. Many aspects of living in the city that may seem strange to someone from the United States are a part of the daily life of Belfast citizens. There are protestant communities and catholic communities, and they do not interact with one another. In some cases, peace walls higher than the Berlin wall separate the neighborhoods in order to avoid confrontation between them. While there is technically ‘peace,’ it is a separate peace.

Interestingly, one of the issues that has the most potential for a violent confrontation is the flag. In the United States, it is an ordinary sight to see the American flag hanging from houses and buildings. In Belfast, the flags are a symbolic reflection of the divide. In unionist neighborhoods, the British flag is present, while in republican neighborhoods, the Irish flag is used. You immediately know which side’s neighborhood you are entering. Due to this, parades and marching are also a form of contention here in Belfast. The unionists celebrate the protestant victory against the Catholics in battle that took place in the 17^th century every 12^th of July. There is a great deal of political tension on this day if the Unionists march near a Catholic neighborhood.

This semester, I am able to participate in a service learning aspect of my Irish History course. This past week, a classmate and I spoke to two men who are in charge of a community watch program. These two men grew up throughout the Troubles and have seen the worst of the violence here in Belfast. These activist programs, and their leaders, hold a great deal of respect in their given communities. Throughout the Troubles, there was a great amount of distrust of the police force on the Catholic side. To this day, many citizens feel more comfortable approaching these activist organizations than the police when issues arise. While the organizations will suggest going to police depending on the issue (as the trust in the police force has grown stronger in the past decade), they can often resolve the issue more effectively on their own, consulting with the leaders of the other community’s activist groups if need be. One of these men explained a situation in which he helped to defuse a potentially serious clash. There was a Protestant gathering during one of their holidays and out of mere curiosity, a group of Catholics travelled to the other neighborhood to see what was going on. However, the Protestant community perceived the group of Catholics as a threat and were fearful of them. The Protestant community knew to call this man, the leader of the community watch organization, in order to call back the Catholics. He came and they listened to him, and the problem was resolved quickly. However, if police had come to breakup the gathering, there was a chance that it could have escalated from an interaction born of curiosity into a violent clash acting upon instinct and distrust.

While this distrust between communities is very evident, community programs are currently at work that aim to bridge the gap. While the older generations grew up throughout the Troubles and are naturally more distrustful of the other side, there is a substantial effort to unite the youth in workshops and activities in order to work together towards a more united future.

My Top 5 Favorite Things to Do in Belfast

AdminMarch 8, 2015December 14, 2018

By Shannon McKeown

1. Ulster Museum

The Ulster Museum, located within the beautiful Botanic Gardens, is the perfect afternoon activity that doesn’t cost a dime. Founded in 1821, it is currently Northern Ireland’s oldest museum and features displays in art, local history, treasures from the Spanish Armada, botany, and geology. For anyone unfamiliar with the area, the museum offers a large range of information regarding local history and the history of the unionist & nationalist conflict. The museum also has collection called “Art of the Troubles,” which includes work by artists in response to the Troubles, the time period of the city’s heightened violence that began in the 1960s.

2. Black Taxi Tours

In Belfast, Black Taxi Tours are a main attraction. These tours will take you to different areas of the city, but the most well known tour is of the political murals of the Falls and Shankill. These areas are either unionist/protestant or nationalist/catholic and are completely segregated. The most famous ‘peace line’ in Belfast lies between these two neighborhoods. While many believe that the Troubles are completely over, this wall, taller than the Berlin Wall in most areas, is a reminder of the segregation that still exists. Furthermore, both neighborhoods (as well as sections of the wall) feature an array of political murals, some highlighting their own history and others focusing on international issues.

3. The Giant’s Ring

The Giant’s Ring is a henge monument located just outside of Belfast. It is a man-built circular enclosure that dates back to around 2700BC, predating the Egyptian Pyramids. While the activities that took place inside the mound can only be speculated upon, it is thought that it served as a meeting place or as a memorial to the dead. Just east of the center of the circle is a five stone tomb. Furthermore, a ritual site was excavated in the area adjacent to the site in the early 1990s. These days, the ring is part of a series of paths near the River Lagan and is a beautiful rural site for those who want to escape the urban environment for an afternoon.

4. Friar’s Bush Cemetery

Friar’s Bush is Belfast’s oldest Christian burial ground, with some graves dating back to the early mediaeval period. There is a legend that St. Patrick built a church on the grounds, while it is also said that an order of friars established on the land. This site can be found on a map dating back to as early as the 1500s. Furthermore, throughout the penal laws that discriminated against Catholics practicing their religion in the 1600s, Catholics would often meet in secret for mass at this site. It is also a burial site for many victims of the Great Irish Famine of 1845-51. Taking a tour of this site is a great way to spend an afternoon and learn more about Belfast’s complex history.

5. St. George’s Market

St. George’s Market emerged as long ago as the 1600s, and the present award-winning market was built between 1890 and 1896. Friday includes a variety market, with products ranging from antiques to fresh produce and coffee. On Saturdays, you can enjoy the ‘city food,’ and the craft and garden market, while Sundays include food, crafts, and antiques. It was voted the UK’s Best Large Indoor Market in 2015 and is a great way to get a taste of Belfast’s food and culture.

My First Week in Belfast

AdminFebruary 2, 2015December 14, 2018

By Shannon McKeown

It’s hard to believe that its already been over a week since my arrival in Belfast. This past week has been a whirlwind in the best way possible. I have moved into housing, attended two orientations, met a variety of new people, and now feel ready to take on my first week of classes that start tomorrow.

Upon arrival last weekend, I attended an orientation with other students in my provider program, Institute for Study Abroad-Butler (IFSA-Butler). Since there are only 9 people in this program, it was easy for our advisors to show us a bit of the city and help us begin to get acquainted with the area. On Friday, the night of our arrival, we visited the Crumlin Road Gaol. It is the only remaining Victorian prison in Northern Ireland and holds great historical significance regarding Belfast, as well as impressive Victorian style architecture. Although it was freezing cold throughout the tour and many of us were fighting off exhaustion from our overnight flights, it was a great experience. It was intriguing to learn of the prisoners’ conditions and the prison’s practices, especially in regards to the prison’s internal tension between Protestant and Catholic prisoners throughout the height of the Troubles.

The rest of the week included moving into our university housing, attending Queen’s University international orientation, and a chance to explore the city further. Belfast is an amazing and resilient city. While it is still less of a tourist destination than Dublin, this has been changing in the past decade with the decline of their internal conflict. Around every corner, there is something to do. There is an array of restaurants and shops, popular sites such as the Botanic Gardens and St. George’s Market, and historical sites such as the Ulster Museum and the Crumlin Gaol. I also look forward to exploring the beautiful rural areas outside the city.

While the sites are beautiful here, I have been most moved by the people that I’ve encountered. It is not an exaggeration to assert that every person I’ve encountered here has been the epitome of friendly and has been eager to help in any way possible. As they say here in Northern Ireland, the craic (fun banter) is great. That being said, conversations here are also proving to be one of the greater challenges. The Northern Irish speak fast and their accent can be truly difficult to understand. I spent last semester in Jordan, and it seems to me that an Arab accent is actually easier to understand than the Northern Irish. However, it’s a challenge I look forward to overcoming.

All in all, I’ve had an amazing first week in Belfast. I look forward to starting my classes tomorrow, adapting to and learning about the culture here, and exploring the city further.