We took another day trip today to Wicklow Mountains and Kilkenny. Our first stop was a local farm in Wicklow mountains where we had the chance to see sheep dogs live in action. I loved watching the dogs round up the sheep! It was very fun to watch and I was astounded by the dog’s ability to do such a thing. The sheep herded together as the dog guided them in a certain direction, and they continued to move as one unit. Following this excursion, we continued on to Glendalough Monastic City where we walked along the river and grabbed a quick coffee to fuel ourselves for the rest of the day. After a quick nap on the bus, we arrived in Kilkenny where we had free time to walk around the small city. The most notable part of this stop was Kilkenny Castle. We took a self-guided tour of the castle where we were able to see the different rooms showcasing art, furniture and stories of those who once lived within its walls.
Similar to yesterday, we were exposed to a different side of Ireland – a more rural, less modernized side of the country. There were a few obvious differences such as the landscape and the lifestyle but also a few less noticeable ones. For example, I noticed that there were less foreigners working in the restaurants and stores as compared to the large international work force present in Dublin. Along these lines, I felt that the employees were more comfortable communicating with tourists than the people in Dublin are. I felt like they were more patient and kind in comparison to those I encountered in the city. I suspect this is because of their lifestyle, as things are a bit slower and more hospitality focused than they would be in a city that specializes in other industries as well. In Kilkenny, most of their economy is dependent on tourism whereas Dublin is home to several different sectors such as technology and finance. On the other hand, there were also some similarities that I took note of. One, I saw the entrepreneurial spirit just as present in rural Ireland as I did urban Ireland. Many people own and operate their small businesses, farms, or touring services. Similarly, I feel that all Irish people have a confidence in themselves that you do not see as often in America. Here, they are more comfortable as themselves and in their roles, whereas Americans can sometimes appear more hesitant. No matter where they come from or what they do, they are proud of who they are. Americans put a lot of pressure on themselves to find a respectable, high-paying and impressive job. They even determine part of their self worth based on their occupation. From what I can tell, the Irish are more focused on finding something they love to do that can support them financially. They work to live rather than live to work. I personally would lean toward the latter, putting a majority of my attention on school, internships and my career. After my experience in Ireland, I see the importance of a work-life balance and hope that putting that into practice back home can further my development as an individual and a professional.