Welcome to Belfast

A year and a half ago I moved to Belfast and fell in love. The people here make me laugh and the scenery makes me smile. I can think of nothing better than the way I feel when I step outside and look into the grey sky, green hills, and yellow cranes!

I came here to study comparative ethnic conflict at Queen's and to hopefully understand why Northern Ireland has become such an important symbol of peace for the world. What I've found is that Belfast, like many other places in the world, is a work in progress. Some days I'm confused and some days I'm frustrated. Some days I'm really upset and sometimes I'm thrilled. Everyday, without fail, I am hopeful that life goes on and that people can make a difference.

Nearly everyday I take photos and jot down wee notes and ideas about what I see and experience, just as a way of processing some complicated realities. I've decided to share some of these things to challenge myself to take a stance on some issues, generate some discussion, and to remind myself why I'm here.