On the 11th day of August I landed in the capital city of Dublin, Ireland.  With my kin, I explored the historic Dublin such as St. Patrick Cathedral and the monumental Guinness Factory.  Next, I travelled west towards Galway.  Along the motorway I was mesmerised by the overwhelmingly radiant green countryside, and the distinct handmade stone walls that line each property.  Throughouy my exploration of the Cliffs of Moher and Kylemore Abbey, the age of the Emerald Isle appeared to me.  The strata and layers of rock gave me an insight of how much further Ireland goes back in the history books than the United States.  Ireland is thousands of years older than my home country.  I also realized how much I can learn from the wisdom of a culture that has existed countless centuries before my home. In the States, everything is constantly expanding, developing, and updating, which is nice but at the same time takes away from the history of the country. Contrary to this, the Irish understand the natural beauty and preserve the pristine landscape.

 

Initium Novum

 

Made my way across the pond                               

Met new friends and built a bond                               

It opened my eyes, changed my view

Inspired growth, and gave me a clue      

Somewhere down the road I’ll find my way          

make a difference, then perhaps … I’ll stay 

  

This weekend Caroline and I were invited to Sunday dinner at our friend (and fellow SCL Sports Mentor), Aimee’s house. Aside from the Maguires, Aimee was my first point of contact for SCL, and I’d say she was the first friend I made in Ireland. I still remember her coming to pick us all up from the airport… a tiny package of a person but just extremely vibrant and full of good energy.  Whenever someone asked her where she was from she would always proudly declare, “Island Magee! It’s the place to be!” This Sunday allowed Caroline and I to see, first-hand, that there’s quite some truth to that statement.

 

Aimee’s house sits on a tight road, only big enough for one car at a time. There are only houses on one side of the street, and on the other side lays a wide expanse of greenery, complete with roaming cows and sheep. Past the fields of green to the right, you can even see the Irish Sea… and that makes up the view she gets to enjoy every day as she walks out to her car. We had chicken, potatoes, turnips, carrots, peas, and Yorkshire pudding with homemade gravy for dinner. We were each probably given three times an appropriate serving size but we cleared our plates happily. (We are American, after all 😉 ) When we were finished, Aimee took us down to Port Muck, a small shore right down the road from her house, where people like to fish and relax while enjoying the scenery. We could easily see Scotland from up on the hill off the shore, and Aimee was telling us stories about jumping off rocks into the ocean, despite the year-round freezing temperatures.  The entire scene was so picturesque, and I couldn’t imagine having a place so beautiful just down the road from my house. Aimee told us that it’s her favorite place in the world.

 

When we returned to the house, we were given another heaping portion of food, this time pear crumble, for dessert. It was generously coated with homemade custard, thick and steaming from inside the bowl. When we were done this time, none of us could find the willpower to move from the couch for at least 30 minutes. Instead, we found entertainment in Aimee’s two year-old niece Courtney, who seemed to be prepared to do anything to avoid a “nappy change.”

 

It felt amazing to get out of our usual environment and go somewhere new. Other than the Maguire’s house, we haven’t had much opportunity to experience the inside of an authentic Irish home and enjoy the comfort and hospitality that seems to go hand-in-hand with that. I found myself not wanting to leave… even as we drove away I wished her house were more accessible so we could visit whenever we wanted to! Before I came here, I remember past scholars advising us to accept any offer we would get to have dinner at someone’s house. At the time I thought that might be a little awkward… but it turned out to be everything but. It was the best change of pace to forget about all of our responsibilities and get away for a little… just the same type of feeling I used to get from going home on the weekends during college. As far as lessons learned, I happily discovered that, 1. I love Yorkshire pudding, and 2. Island Magee, is indeed, the place to be. But until next Sunday dinner, I’m back to cereal three times a day. 🙂 Thanks Aimee!

After being in the country for only thirty minutes, I able  experienced a true Irish summer. When I stepped off the plane it was a cool 50 degree summer day. As I walked outside of the airport it immediately became 65 degrees and sunny. On the ride from the airport to the University of Ulster it began raining heavily or “spitting” as Pat and Aimme would say. 

 

After the welcoming weather changes, I went to work a summer camp with my fellow University of Ulster Jordanstown Scholars Ronnie, Ashley, Ryan and Caroline. The summer camp was for about 30 children out in Ballyduff. As soon as we walked into the gym, the energy of the kids was evident as they immediately began kicking balls around the gym. One of the kids at the camp stood out to me immediately. Although he may not have been the most skilled at soccer or basketball, he just enjoyed runing around and having a good time. In one drill, he had to run to a cone and pass the ball back to his teammate. When he got to the cone, he just kept running. I had to chase him for 50 yards before coaxing him back to the group. My introduction to Sport Changes Life through the Ballyduff campers and their endless energy was an easy way to get over the change in climate.

I had the chance to work in the eHoops program last night and got to sit down and talk to some of these young people from Belfast. It was an important evening for me because I was able to connect with some eHoopers who really engaged and showed a positive response. I found myself chatting so casually and openly about topics that I would typically talk with my close friends about. We found common interests such as music, sports, food, and so many other things that may at first seem trivial. What really mattered was the connections that were solidified. Little things like this confirm to me that these connections can be sourced from almost anywhere; if you think about it, I have been here for 2 days and know nothing about these kids or what it is like where they come from. The same goes for all of the scholars. We have spent two days together and we have already been getting on incredibly. I am starting to realize that the only thing that prevents humans from having connections is ourselves. We have so many similarities, yet we find things to distinguish ourselves from one another. Whether scholar, staff, or participant in the program, it is apparent to me that we are all people. We share more interests than differences. All that really matters whether or not we care enough to discover these similarities. The choice is yours. 

As soon as we had possession of the ball, I stood up and yelled repeatedly for a time out. When everyone looked puzzled, Shelby informed me we can only call time outs on dead balls. WHAT? When we finally got our time out, Shelby and I pleaded with our girls to box out. The Meteors had just gone on a run and we lost our 8-point lead. This has to be one of the most stressful things about coaching. “If we box out, we win the game. We need someone to be a leader on the court and hold their teammates accountable,” we begged.

 

And much to our surprise, they boxed out. 3 minutes left, down 5. Hannah, one of our sharp shooting guards, hit two big jumpers to bring us within 1. One of our players Laura turned to Shelby and I on the bench and goes, “I think you two are more excited than us!” And although we know coaches are supposed to be the emotional stability of the team, we were squealing and screaming at every play, slowly inching to the top of the coaster. We hit a huge layup to go up by 1 with less than a minute left. The coaster releases into the downhill, our stomachs in throats. After getting a stop, Katie, our team captain, took the ball in for a layup and hit the “and 1.” Whistle blows, TRAVEL! The opposition drives the length of the court, hits a layup to tie the game. The whistle blows. FOUL! What a turn of events, she hit the FT to put us down 1, our hearts racing, call a timeout. The clock expires before we get a shot off. Our emotional roller coaster screeched to a stop at the very bottom, and the attendant lifts our restraints and we get off, legs weak. But were so proud of the effort our girls put in and we know we have a lot of potential for the rest of the season that we are ready to get back on the ride next week. Go Kubs!

As I attempt pack all of my belongings into the two suitcases that came over with me back in August (an utterly impossible task at this point) to move to our new home for the summer, I can’t help but be absolutely amazed at how quickly this year has gone. It seems like yesterday that I was just hugging my parents and friends goodbye, assuring them I would be back in a quick 9 months.

While I wasn’t wrong about the 9 months flying by, never did I think that I would even consider staying here longer. Yet, here I am, and I couldn’t be happier. The experience of these 9 months have been the greatest of my life thus far and truly life-changing.

From being given the opportunity to study at the prestigious Trinity College Dublin and expanding my network of friends and colleagues on an international scale, to reclaiming my lost love for basketball, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Sure, there have been a fair amount of ups and downs and several tough decisions, but the support I have received from those around me and back home has helped me through.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to give back with a sport that has given me so much. When I picked up my first basketball nearly 20 years ago, I had no idea that it would take me around the world and allow me to have an impact on so many lives. I have made countless friends, many of which have become a second family. Sport has certainly changed my life to say the least. While my adventure in Ireland is not yet over, this year and this experience will always have a special place in my heart. 

Before every game my college coach would clench his teeth before he would say “It’s the little things that matter.” We all knew that was his most hated but favorite go-to line before the start of games. He didn’t necessarily like to hear it, but he’d love to say it because truthfully, it’s the “little things” that make a big difference, not just on the court but also in life. For example, he would always reinforce the act of diving on the floor for a loose ball. Diving on the floor for a loose ball in the first quarter can make or break the game, when it’s a one possession game with 3 seconds to go at the end of the game.

 

That being said, I think about it all the time after every coaching session I do with the kids. After every coaching session on Saturday mornings, the kids are dying for me to “dunk it, dunk it.” To me, dunking is one of those “little things.” To the kids I coach, it makes a biggg difference and it matters! The difference is the gigantic grin on 35 different faces after I finish slamming a few dunks down for them. Being able to put a smile on that many faces is ultimately part of why I came to Ireland…to change lives in a positive way!! It might be hard for me to believe that it’s part of what they look forward to when they come to training or my basketball games, but it seems to be something they can’t go without!

 

Sometimes those “little things” you might not think twice about can make someone’s day or can be very important to them. So who’s to say that the “little things” are actually little, because to someone else they can matter or be pretty BIG…   

 

Victory Scholar: Darryl Durham

Sport League: Conference Carolinas

Present University: National University of Ireland Galway

Alma Mater: Belmont Abbey College

 

I recently read this story, and after a year reflecting on my life and how to best LIVE it, I think it is important to share.

 

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

 

The Mexican replied, “only a little while. The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”

 

The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.” The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

 

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”

 

To which the American replied, “15 – 20 years.”

 

“But what then?” Asked the Mexican.

 

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part.  When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions!”

 

“Millions – then what?”

 

The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”

____________________________________________

What inspires you?

 

In the culture I grew up in, I was exposed at an early age to the importance of success. Success was measured in high grades, college degrees, professional degrees, high paychecks, big houses, and “happy” families. I am lucky: my family supports me no matter what decisions I make. I didn’t appreciate the pressure (both internal and external) and influence this has had on my decisions so far in life. I have succeeded, even excelled, by those standards. However, living abroad and traveling has highlighted that there is more to life than long hours and a large paycheck. And for the first time, I am accepting that notion. I have shed both internal and external pressures I have been unaware of for a long time, and living. Life is a journey, and each decision along the way makes it more interesting.

 

Deep meaningful conversations aside, Christine and Madelyn arrive Wednesday so I get a break from dissertation writing to travel to Spain and then show them all around Ireland and I couldn’t be more excited!!

 

I meant to post this before I left to travel last week, but it all happened so quick. Finishing up classes, packing up my belongings and moving out of my apartment seemed to happen in the blink of an eye. I wasn’t ready for it, but I don’t think any amount of preparation could have truly made me ready. 

I’ve never been good at goodbyes. I realized as I was getting ready to leave that I really can’t say for sure when I will some people again, or whether I will get the chance to see again, people that I have grown to care about. It is the first time in my life that distance will have such a huge impact. Where having those moments and experiences may just be the encompass of friendships, and that will have to be enough.

But I wouldn’t trade a thing. The classmates who became a family for the short period of time we were together, the teammates and the laughs we shared along the way, the coaches I’ve worked with who have helped inspire me to be a better person, the kids I’ve helped and hoped to have touched in some way, the people I came across who have made Ireland a country that is truly remarkable because of the people that live here, and the friends who I have made that I’ll never forget.

I’m off now, traveling around Europe by myself for the next six weeks. But thank you to Sport Changes Life for this truly amazing experience, one that I will never forget! As I am in Spain right now and it’s only appropriate, adios followers!

Do any of you remember the last few days of school when you were young? The clock couldn’t move fast enough and the anticipation of the wonderful summer activities to come made each second. Minute. Hour. Drag. Along.

That feeling of anticipation has been at the back of the mind all week, but today has been particularly challenging. This weekend marks the beginning of both our KUBS coaching debut and our Liffey Celtics league play. As the games get progressively closer my nervousness and excitement seem to increase exponentially. Although I know it will only make things worse, I am sure to be checking the clock every 2 minutes for the next day in an attempt to make it speed up.

In addition to coaching and playing, I am looking forward to a little team bonding over burritos before checking out a couple of the local Men’s Premier League teams duke it out. So many great memories to be made this weekend, now all I have to do is get through my final class of the week without breaking my watch!

A couple special shout outs: Happy birthday to my wonderful sister-in-law Emily Smith & congratulations to my roomie Katie Ganser on being named Social Media Scholar of the Month. Woooo! 

Last night Kerri and I were invited to spend some time with on-duty PSNI officers near Dunmurry, South of Belfast city centre. We got picked up at 7:30pm and started the evening by getting a tour of a major PSNI police station in the Lisburn area. As all of the police stations we’ve seen over here, the place was a fortress. Fences and security gates, cameras everywhere, and as one of our escorts noted “mortar proof walls”. It was a far cry from my own neighbourhood police station. They just built a fence around it a few years back, and I still have no idea why they needed it.

 

Inside the station we were first taken to the booking area where offenders are brought to be processed, fingerprinted, held, and/or questioned depending on the situation. It was a pretty enlightening experience listening to the staff tell us how they operated. We repeatedly heard that the goal is to try and be as reasonable as possible, and to interact with suspects on a very human level. Personally I don’t know how they do it after hearing some of the types of verbal abuse that gets thrown at the officers. Either way, it was part of our ‘scared straight’ moment; both Kerri and I agreed we’d rather not spend a night there.

 

After that we went to the CCTV (closed circuit televisiion) area of the station. From here the CCTV officers can observe what is happening all over their jurisdiction both in real time and over recorded video. We saw a few highlighted examples of how the use of CCTV has directly led to arrests, and the power this one small room wields. Next time I rob a bank I’ll be sure to check for cameras first.

 

To finish off the night our two officers took us out to patrol their assigned area. We made a few stops along the way and actually ran into a few kids we recognized from the eHoops programs. It was interesting to read peoples expressions as we drove by, as Kerri and I continually forgot we were driving around in a cop car. The big excitement of the night was when a neighbourhood kid on an overlooking hill ran up and tossed a brick at our car. Don’t worry, we drove off without any damage being done. And though the officers said they would usually turn around and chase down the offender, in the interest of our safety they let it slide (thanks guys).

 

It was a very interesting night, especially because we have heard so much about the PSNI work conditions and how the public at large views and treats officers of the law. I think the most rewarding part of the night was watching the officers stop and talk to some eHoops kids who were messing about. Because they now have a personal relationship, the interaction was very civil and understanding. You could tell that these kids had relationships with the police, and respected and trusted them much more now that they would have previously.

 

So a big thanks to the PSNI for having us out last night. It was a great experience and my only complaint is that we didn’t do it sooner!

This is how I have felt since arriving in Ireland. It is hard to believe that I have been here for over a month now. The adventure never stops and the people that I meet along the way are unforgettable. Only last week I was able to venture to Dublin with four new friends on a day trip during my free time. 
On arrival in Dublin it gave me that city feel which made me feel a little at home since Carlow is a very small town compared to where I am from. We took in the view of the city; however there was nothing quite like the view when I got to the gravity bar in the Guinness Factory. I felt like I had reached the top of the world. There was a breath-taking 360° panoramic view of Dublin city and beyond. I soaked in the warm and friendly atmosphere. My experience definetly reaffirms the stereotype that the Irish are so friendly time and time again. I was able to sit and reflect on my experiences so far and I honestly did not think there would be a view that would come close to that one.

I was proven wrong again; Ireland is just full of surprises. I was told to take full advantage of the beautiful days in Ireland as there are not many. A day last week was truly amazing. The sun was shining so a few other friends and I went on a small road trip. We set off not really knowing where we were going. I have mentioned the small windy roads before, but this time there was sheep on these roads. I couldn’t believe my eyes, sheep just crossing the roads. Anyways, after driving for forty minutes we pulled in to a view point and even though the sun was shining and looked rather warm I got out of the car and nearly froze (I still have to get use to this weather). After I got over the coldness, I was able to see the view which was amazing. We were at the top of the valley looking down; a stream traveling through the valley with some county houses. It was like something you would see in a picture.

I sat down and at that point I realized how lucky I was to have this opportunity. I have been introduced as a top American basketball player to the schools and club teams that I have been coaching and that they are lucky to have this opportunity, however I feel that I am the lucky one. I am teaching these kids basketball, something I have grown up doing and love. The kids don’t realize how much they are teaching me as well. I like to believe that anyone who steps on the court can teach you something new whether it is patients or a different way of doing things.

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt

Last night was the last eHoops session with the West Belfast group for myself, Kerri, and Brittney. It was definitely an emotional night! Throughout the entire night I was thinking, “Man, this is the last time I will see the boys!” I’ve grown so close to the lads over the past 5 months and it is truly hard to say good bye! Each wednesday night they came in with bright smiles on their faces ready to learn and play sports. But as we were leaving for the last time we saw some sad faces. I quickly reminded them that we will stay in touch and for them to do the same. I will miss every last one of them.

 Brittney said it best “Nothing better than a team that becomes your family!” A special thank you to everyone in the West Belfast ehoops team for letting us be apart of the family!

 

#HandsIn #123eHoops

From running to cycling…However this time, I wasn’t a participate, I was a volunteer for the second best cycle event (after the tour of France), called the Giro D’ltalia. It took place May 9th-11th with the Grande Partenza, which means “the big start”, right here in Belfast. All throughout Belfast the town was covered in pink because the overall winner would wear a pink jersey (Maglia Rosa). A lot of main roads and side streets were closed just for the cyclist to come through. Spectators would come out hours before and get a good spot to catch a glimpse of the cyclists and because they were going 55km per hour, you couldn’t take your eyes off of the road. Just to be in the atmosphere was a feeling an amazing feeling in itself. Yet again, I am so thankful for being given the opportunity to not only watch an event (live) that 174 countries were watching via television, but more so to actual be apart of it. Sports will forever change my life! #belfast #victory #giro #scl #happydays 

We just finished our first weekend of games here in Belfast! On Saturday, we had a great win in our first game of the season.  Our team fought hard and pulled it out against a tough Killester team.  On Sunday, we played a very experienced DCU team.  We were down by double digits in the first half, and struggled against their physicality and transition game.  When we stepped on the court in the second half, we really came together and fought back to tie the game.  Although we ultimately ended up losing a close game, I was really proud of how hard our team fought until the end, and our perseverance throughout the game. 

I have to say, I didn’t really know what to expect going into these games.  The games are extremely physical, and the game overall is a big adjustment to what I am used to.  I am really happy to be out on the court again.  Some things I learned about Irish basketball this weekend:

You are not allowed to call a timeout as a player on the court unless it’s a dead ball (Made this mistake many times this weekend!)

You are allowed to fall on the ground with control of the ball and it not be called a walk (I complained many times about this, but I was told it was allowed!)

I’m really proud of how hard my team fought against two tough and experienced teams.  We know we have a lot to work on, but I’m really looking forward to getting better as a group.  Looking forward to our next game this weekend against our fellow scholar Katie!  Also, congrats to the guys on their big tournament win, and to Jared as the Tournament MVP!

I was asked a few weeks ago by the founder of SCL, Gareth Maguire, “Hey, B Would you like to take a leg on the marathon? 5th of May. It will be good fun.” I then thought to myself: Sure why not! So I told him yes. Now let me tell you, I had no idea what a marathon really involved, besides running. It wasn’t until our package of materials and directions came in that I realized what I had gotten myself into. I had gotten myself into running as a part of a relay team in the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon for Sport Changes Life. By the way, the Marathon was 26 miles and my role on the relay team was the last leg of the race. Even though I didn’t know, at first, what I was getting myself into, I can truly say that I am so grateful that I did it. To see people not involved in the race coming out, cheering on the sideline–with high fives, passing the runners water; powerade; energy bars; candy, and oranges was an amazing display of teamwork of all forms. Also seeing all the runners from different parts of the community (even the world) come together not based on their age, race, religion, gender, or abilities; but just to run a marathon (in the rain) is another reason to speak of how sport brings people together and goes along with the whole meaning of Sport Changes Life. I, personally, would like to thank SCL again for this opportunity and for the relay team who finished with a time of 4:17. #victory #scl #belfast

It is definitely different being on the other side of the white lines. And by white lines, I mean the sideline and baseline of the basketball court. I’ve recently started coaching a girl’s secondary school team once a week and it’s been a blast, but also somewhat different.

 

Throughout my entire career (up until now) every time I went to practice, all I had to worry about was showing up on time and giving it all I had. It’s definitely a change. I’ve always known how much coaches prepare for practice, but I don’t think you really realize it until you actually have to do it. Now, instead of just showing up and playing, I have to prepare a practice plan and think about how I can teach these kids and get the most out of them.

 

I’m not going to lie, it can be difficult at times, especially when I’m trying to think of fun and effective drills, but I love being able to give back and teach these girls, most of whom have never played basketball before, all of the things I have learned throughout my career. It truly is rewarding to see how these girls progress and really want to learn the game and get better! I’m so excited to coach them and see how much they grow as the season goes on.

 

 

My year in Ireland is starting to come to a close as the Mystics national league and like many other teams in the area, seasons have been over for a while now. Just recently the division one women Titans team I’ve been coaching since September have just completed their season as of a week ago. The Titans lost to a very talented Claregalway team in the Cup Championship game. I’m so proud of my team for playing hard and improving all season long. Their hard work has shown as they finished second in the league this year and as the runners up in the cup championship. 

 

It was funny when I first started coaching this team I wasn’t sure how things were going to go as the team is such a mix of women ranging from the ages of 16 to over 35 years old. Nevertheless all of the girls treated me with respect at all times and were always eager to learn more. I found coaching this team to be so rewarding because I could see their progress and their confidence on the court improving just within the first two months of coaching them.

 

We surprised a lot of people when we beat other good teams in the league such as Moycullen and Corrib more than once this season and we knew the powerhouse in the league Claregalway was going to be a real challenge. The Claregalway team has many of my teammates from the Mystics team on their roster and ironically their coach is my Mysitcs head coach. The championship game basically felt like I was coaching against my national league team.  Despite an early 8-0 run by my squad, the more polished Claregalway team then took control for the rest of the game. My Titans continued to work hard throughout the entire game, never giving up once. I was very impressed by my team’s poise and resilience through this game in particular. I’ve learned a lot from this team and I’m so happy I got the chance to coach them this year. 

 

I recently was approached from a player I coached at Swarthmore College as she needed advice on an important decision she had to make regarding her future. I first was blown away and flattered that she reached out to me about such an important decision. It was when we were discussing her different options regarding the decision that it dawned on me that I could influence someone so much just within one year. As a coach I didn’t realize just how much you are looked up to or respected by your players. It felt really good to know that I could help her out even after a year of being apart from the team.

 

I didn’t think coaching would be as rewarding as it has been for me over the past few years, but it has exceeded my expectations. I want to thank all of my players that have made it so enjoyable for me and want you to know that I’ll always have your back! #ProudCoach 

Hi! Long time, no blog, I know, and I apologize for that! It has been a crazy few weeks with Trinity Ball and Varsities, exams, a quick trip home, and Easter.

 

Trinity Ball and Varsities at the beginning of April all rolled into one weekend made for a busy, but amazingly fun weekend. Although we lost in the championship game to fellow Victory Scholars Brittney, Kerri, and Caroline, it was a great experience with amazing people. I met so many wonderful people that weekend and will carry those memories with me for the rest of my life.

Following the weekend of fun, it was nose to the grindstone with only one week to prepare for exams. I had an unlucky draw of six exams over a span of 3 days, so there was considerable pressure. Once it was all said and done, I was thankful to have them done and over with. It will be another couple of weeks before results are in. Keep your fingers crossed for me that they are all positive!

The day after exams, I hopped on a plane across the pond for the first time since August. I made it home to Iowa just in time for Easter weekend. My grandparents were able to venture up from Texas. It was great to see them! I spent much of the 10 days at home relaxing away and soaking up some rays while reading the Da Vinci Code, which I highly recommend if you haven’t already read it (but skip the movie, huge disappointment). I was able to see some friends and eat all of my favorite local foods as well. It was exactly what I needed to refresh and rejuvenate to finish out the year strong.

After a bit of a wild trip back involving several delayed planes and running to catch connections, I have safely returned to Dublin (miraculously, both of my bags made it as well). I am still quite jetlagged, but extremely excited to be back. It is time to get to work on my thesis before I start my internship at the beginning of next month!

First off I have to thank my teammate Louise for doing that lovely tape job displayed in the photo. She is a professional Gaelic football player for Kerry and a physiologist. I was able to actually practice in less pain after rolling my ankle a few days ago. Needless to say, I need to order some new ankle braces.

Anyways, the past few days I learned so much. Things in life won’t always be comfortable and if the things I were accomplishing were super easy, then everyone would be able to do it. We are reading a book in class called The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell. (Coach Clark actually gave me this book upon naming me captain my junior year) Before I got a little stressed and forgot about self-reflection, I should have rushed to re-read about this law.

Maxwell’s best point is that a leader must give up to go up. It’s obvious that this entire experience in Ireland is a learning lesson and I will acquire better leadership skills, so I need to be willing to make sacrifices in order to lead well. His next point is that, there is no success without sacrifice. He states “effective leaders sacrifice much that is good in order to dedicate themselves to what is best.”

I also failed to think about it from another perspective in that leaders are often asked to give up more than others. At then end of the day I have to do what is best for the team. Will I make mistakes? Yes, Will I have all the answers and understand everything? No, but the point is to learn, keep an open mind, stay positive, and never make the same mistake twice. I have to be willing to give up a little bit more than the next person for the betterment of my team in the classroom, on the floor and in the community.
Maxwell also pointed out that leadership success requires continual change, constant improvement, and ongoing sacrifice. I’m the furthest from a selfish individual, but I learned over the last few days that even though I think about other people, I also have to be ready to adjust to the changes that will happen within myself, and those that are out of my control. Ultimately, the higher I go, the more I may have to give up and it’s not a bad thing. It’s what I have to do to be a leader and to help others. I learned I will have to give up to go up.
(Special thanks to Shane, Marc, and Gareth for taking the time to listen to me, teach me, help me grow, and stimulate my mind with a lesson on cultural adjustment ☺)

It was my first Easter away from home. Although I was home sick from missing my grandmother’s Easter dinner cooking, I mean..my family. (lol) I must say I had a great Easter in London this year. I have never been to London before, and it was surely a sight to see. I went to London with my friend from Lincoln University–where we got our undergrad degrees. At Lincoln we met a girl from London whom we now call “Tea-Time” and she remains one of my best friends from Lincoln, today. Although she is now entering into her senior year at Lincoln University and is in the US instead of her home (London), hearing that Pelle and I had planned an Easter trip to London, she soon told us of how her family insisted that we stay with them. Well, that we did. Pelle and I are so thankful for everything that the “Tea-Time” family did for us on our Easter trip to London. We got a change to see famous sites such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and even where the 2012 Olympic events were held. Overall it give me a chance to see another part of the world that I have not seen before, and for that I am grateful. Now with less than a month left, it is back in the books for me as I prepare for my last final on May 15th.  #happydays #london #gradschool #finals #easter2014

This past week a new Ehoops group was started and the turnout on the first day was much more than I had expected.  The new group was from Carrick.  A few weeks ago we went to Carrick to deliver sports equipment to local community groups and community leaders.  While there, we also saw several of the murals around the neighborhood which depict political messages or the markings of the different para military groups operating in the area.  It was interesting to see how common it is for a paramilitary group’s mural to be just a few blocks from a community center.  I have seen similar murals in the many towns surrounding Belfast and they provide background information to the different areas as you travel to around Northern Ireland.  These murals also seem to serve as a storyline for the events and turmoil that has affected certain areas.

The Carrick group was set to begin on Monday, but I was coming from six hours of class and did not know what expect with this new group.  When I walked into the gym, there were already 40 Ehoopers playing basketball and soccer.  This was beyond anything I had expected.  The three previous groups I had been exposed to consisted of small groups with at most 15 participants.  Also these groups were usually separated by gender with Ehoops and Shehoops.  This group from Carrick was different because the genders of the participants were mixed and offered a more inclusive sample of the population of Carrick.  Having this mixed group showed the growing reach and influence of Ehoops and its effort to positively affect the young people of Northern Ireland.  

What a crazy few weeks, sorry for being MIA! I have officially finished my second and final exam period of my masters program, celebrated Easter in Dublin and had a great trip with Ben to Paris for a little culture and a lot of baguettes, pain au chocolat and crepes, and my first adventure to the Cliffs of Moher. Needless to say it has been a stimulating month and a half and I have spent these last few days chilling out trying to get back in the swing of reality. Summer is fast approaching with my dissertation deadline, and I have decided to extend my stay in Ireland at least until I can hand it in!

 

Reality is setting in as friends and classmates that I have made this year are moving home or to new destinations, and I find it hard to believe that I have been living and studying in Dublin for 9 months. One of my good friends Kirk from my masters program is moving to Israel in the next few days. She has this cool tradition of learning to cook “traditional” foods from all of her international friends—she is from China! So we are having a big cookout (inside because I don’t have a grill!). Although I will be sad to see her go, it just emphasizes how great of a year this has been. In addition to playing and coaching basketball and working in the community, I now have an international network of friends from whom I have learned so much. Not to mention so many people and places to visit!!  

 

I have to go prep the burgers, but I want to wish Kirk safe travels and adventures in her next journey!

 

Also a quick reminder that applications for next years Victory Scholarships are due Wednesday 30th, so act quickly! 

Hi everyone! I’m sorry it’s been awhile since I’ve written one of these. It’s been a pretty crazy, but great, few weeks here. On Sunday, Susie, Mairead and I headed to London for a few days.  London has always been on my bucket list of places I most wanted to visit, mostly because of some of my favorite movies have taken place here – Notting Hill, Love Actually and Harry Potter to name a few. Well, the city definitely lived up to all of my expectations. Even though we were only there for close to 48 hours, we were able to fit a lot in with our time. This was mostly due to the fact that Susie is a great travel partner, taking charge of where to go and how to get there in efficient time. Mairead and I certainly would have been lost without her!

 

Over the two days, we took a City Cruise along the water at the London Eye.  On this ride, we were able to see sites of the Tower Bridge, Big Ben and the Shakespeare Globe to name a few.  I certainly recommend these cruises to anyone traveling, as they have been my one of my favorite parts of my trip to London, as well as Paris a few years back.  From there, we had lunch with one of Susie’s good friends.  We must have made a good impression because we were invited to their apartment for a homemade meal that night.  They cooked us dinner, and I have to say the meal was klass.

For anyone who has seen Notting Hill, I felt a bit like Julia Roberts character at dinner. As the only American, there were many jokes on my behalf, and conversations and phrases I could not pick up on. It was all in good fun, and we all had a really great time.  At night, they took us into the city for a night on the town. We were extremely grateful for their hospitality, and showing us the way around the city.

 

Our days consisted of a lot of walking and tube riding, but it was well worth the blisters I now have on my feet!  We saw Westminster Abbey, where Kate and Will got married. It’s just as beautiful in person as it was when I watched the wedding!  We saw the changing of the guard in front of Buckingham Palace. This was unlike anything I had ever seen. The whole street was closed off as men on horses came riding in for the change of the guard in front of the palace. There were hundreds of people surrounding the palace just to see this happen. We stopped in Notting Hill, which is one area I really wanted to see. My mom and I share a love for most of the same Romantic Comedies, and Notting Hill was certainly one of our favorites growing up. The whole area was beautiful, and just as I imagined it would be. We also walked through Portobello Market.  On Tuesday night, we were fortunate enough to have gotten tickets to The Lion King. This was my first time seeing the show, and I was most certainly impressed.  It was incredible to see how people could bring such a legendary movie to life on stage. 

 

I’m so happy I decided to take this trip, and even happier I had some great people join me to make it so memorable! My only regret is not staying longer, but I know I will be back one day soon because I still have so much to see! Hope everyone had a great Easter holiday!

Chris and Michele were great hosts in Galway, and James (Diana’s classmate) welcomed us into his home. I appreciated all of that, but no offense, Jay-Z in Dublin at the O2 might top last weekend. I was a little under the weather and lost a little focus in Galway, but I’m fully recovered and have some business to handle in Dublin before I have a blast at the concert.

Don’t get me wrong though, I loved the atmosphere in Galway. The live art you see in the street, which included singing, poem writing, and unicycling, was a fresh breath of air for me. I was probably the biggest tourist on Shop Street, interacting with the locals and getting a self-portrait drawn. Galway was relaxing and the people were genuinely nice, as they are in most parts throughout Ireland. It wasn’t too fast either, it was just right.

I know Dublin will be even more exciting and this concert will be packed! One of my teammates, Aisling, is going too. Me and Diana will be sitting a little higher though because we just got the tickets; might even be what I call the nosebleed seats. Guess we will invest in binoculars and tissues if needed, but when you are with good people, you can have a great time doing absolutely anything!

Also, unlike my fellow victory scholar Brittney, I couldn’t see Beyonce so I’m settling for her husband. Like I said earlier, before I went off on a tangent, I have business to take care of in Dublin on Saturday. We have an away game against DCU and I’m looking forward to that game because it’s a rival. They are one of the top teams in the league. Basketball may be a little different over here, but my teammates are still very competitive. I know how bad they want to win, we had our best practice tonight, and I’m looking forward to contributing to that win and then winning with Jay-Z at the concert. **Drops mic and walks away**