Dia dhuit! Is mise Shreya, reporting live from Dublin– a capital city filled with rich history, culture, gorgeous landmarks, and delicious food. After an 8-hour sleepless flight and 24-hour rush to pack, drive, and arrive to Ireland, I did not think I would be capable of doing anything other than checking in to our apart-hotel and collapsing in bed, but the beauty and liveliness of the city was refreshing and absolutely energizing! I was surprised at how comfortable people are with walking and the close proximity of shops, historical landmarks, and universities in the city–you can basically walk everywhere! My Fitbit sure is happy with me reaching the 10,000 step goal for the first time in forever.
The highlights of our second day in Ireland were two historical tours: a two-hour walking tour and three-hour bus tour. Both of them were incredibly informative, with our tour guides being wonderful storytellers passionate about Ireland and Irish history. It was interesting to learn that women were treated as equals to men in the Irish Republic and were actively involved (and held leadership positions) in the Irish War for Independence, especially when women in the England, Ireland’s colonizer, were being excluded from political, cultural, and professional affairs due to their sex. Gender inequality continues to be a prevalent issue in modern society, with wage gaps, treatment in the workplace, and stereotypes adversely affecting women across the world. Ireland’s continued commitment towards becoming a more liberal country has also manifested itself by their legalization of abortion, gay marriage, premarital sex, and regularisation schemes for undocumented immigrants–types of legislations that even some countries that are considered “superpowers” have yet to pass.
As a business consultant, knowing the historical and cultural context of a country that you intend to develop a business partnership with is important because it allows you to gain a deeper understanding of their perceptions and behaviors. Learning about another country’s history and culture conveys to the other party that you not only respect their history and values, but are also willing to work alongside them to ensure that your work will not devalue or discredit their culture. For instance, understanding Ireland’s strides towards becoming a multicultural, diverse society and the historical events that have led to such strides will help a business consultant understand how to develop an organizational strategy, market products and services, and collaborate with other organizations in a way that caters to the target market in a new country effectively.
Another thing I realized at the end of the historical tours was how much better I would have fared in history class if my lessons at school were structured like the interactive historical walking tour of Dublin that we experienced today. Our walking tour’s guide, Darragh, was a great storyteller and shared not only crucial aspects of Irish history and the war for independence, but also tidbits of historical gossip that made the tour a lot more fun and engaging (Did you know that although the portrait on the walls of ‘The Lord Edward’ pub doesn’t depict him as such, Lord Edward was a really attractive aristocrat who was basically a celebrity in Ireland in the 1700s?) One of the most interesting things I’ve learned from today’s excursions was that the policemen in Ireland (known as “guards” do not carry firearms with them. Even the higher-ups, while they have access to firearms if need be, do not carry it on their person. This was established to differentiate the Irish guards from English policemen who used brutal measures to keep Catholics in check when Ireland was still an English colony.
Stay tuned for more updates on how this program progresses and join me as I continue to learn about Irish history, heritage, and business culture! Coming up: Site Visit to the Microsoft Headquarters in Dublin and a trip to Croke Park.
Sláinte,
Shreya.