To begin, the most noticeable part of Ireland has been the weather. From what the locals have said, not too different from Pittsburgh! That is to say, take every sunny day for granted and never get caught without a raincoat. The area itself has been wonderful to explore so far! Being able to see such a rapidly growing area that at the same time is rich in history is very valuable. Our initial tour in the morning took us through the most populated areas of Dublin, full of modern stores and restaurants, and our guide would frequently chime in saying it was the exact spot of a revolution hundreds of years ago. Ireland has had plenty of uprisings! The most interesting thing I learned today was the tale of Joseph Mary Plunkett, an Irish revolutionary who married his fiance mere minutes before being executed. A passing local even chimed in to note this occurred in the Kilmainham gaol, an impressive display of country pride and sapience.
When taking all this information in, it is important to recognize how this helps in my journey as a business-oriented professional. Knowing the extensive history of uprisings, conflicts, and economic growth gave me invaluable insight into how the Irish mindset and identity has evolved into what it is now. Being able to recognize the history of where a person comes from and what topics are closest to their heart is not only good practice as a person, but can be extremely helpful as a consultant. This can come into play in decisions, how one approaches negotiation or simple conversation with a local, and how to best step into their shoes to understand their goals. A knowledge of historical context and what has previously succeeded in a country allows one to give the best advice possible, as going in blind and making recommendations using only my US upbringing would be practically useless to an Ireland-based company.
After my first two days and with a site visit tomorrow, I am already having a great time!