Day 13
Day 13 - 17 February 2009
Master Piece
Online Friendship
I have known Krista since 2005, after we’d first met in an online forum. Since then we have been talking in chat forums for hours and hours, and at several occurrences we’ve been staying up talking till morning! Krista is from Estonia, is a year older than me and she is one of the sweetest people I know. It is hard to explain it, but a friendship where you write to a person rather than speak, and where you mostly cannot see the person you are talking to; it just allows you to be more open. We quickly became really close. In a way, despite mostly meeting her online, I don’t see my friendship with her as any different from those of many of my other friends. In the summer of 2008, Krista was about to graduate from Tartu University, and I immediately decided to go there and be there when she graduated. And I am so glad I did; she was just as an amazing person in real life, and her family was so nice! I also got to see how she lived, and we went to Tallinn, and Tartu and I was really amazed over how nice it all was. Sadly, I had to leave after barely a week, but I left with memories for life. I do find differences between us which can only be grounded in our different cultures, but in the same time I find how alike we are, and that is what makes us such good friends! Christmas 2008, Krista moved to Australia where her boyfriend lives, which meant that the time zones and the lack of time from both parts meant that we cannot speak as often and as long as we used to, not to mention that visiting becomes harder, but I truly believe that our friendship has many great years ahead.
Linnéa (English group)
Let's cook!
I brought with me to Achill all the necessary documents printed that I needed later on in case there were no time or chance to print them in the island. These were the list of the possible recipes we could easily cook in the youth hostel in respect of variability and simplicity. I also brought a paper where the students could apply for being a help – every evening different people possibly – by cooking and by doing the washing up. We filled it in on the train back to Dublin and we also took a vote about the meals to be cook. Before the journey I published a document, too, about traditional Irish food (like Ulster fry, coddle and champ) to give some idea to the others what to choose if they decide by dining out in Dublin. After arriving to the youth hostel we went to explore the surroundings whether there is a shop or supermarket where we can do the shopping. As we came to Dublin from Achill, we brought with ourselves the food that left there, so we easily could prepare some delicious spaghetti for the first evening. After a short discussion we decided to collect the students’ distribution in the mornings at the same time and also the list of names who wanted to take part of the common dinner.
Szilvia Pruzsina (Hungarian Group)
An Irish Farewell
Our last evening together We all gathered for the very last time in a typical Irish pub called “Boars Head”. Our social managers booked a private room for us. It was a good opportunity to chat, dance and listen to Irish music. All participants enjoyed the atmosphere and we even started to sing national songs. We exchanged stories about our funniest, curious, different and unexpected moments of the last two weeks. Some of us were still torn between the very different worlds of beautiful but lonely Achill Island, the bustling streets of Dublin and the way of life back home in our countries. Everybody used the chance to talk to the students who were in other workshops during the intense programme that bonded the group stronger together. We started to exchange postal addresses and came up with plan to visit each other. It was a very entertaining evening full of laughter and celebration of the unique experience of our journey.
Assja Tietz (German Group)
