Day 2 in Ireland! I won’t lie, I was feeling a bit nervous after the 7-hour airplane ride, hike up the side of a cliff in Howth, and the initial dizziness and nausea of jetlag, but I can proudly report day 2 was a success. With a whole night of sleep and a few cups of coffee, I was ready to soak in all the history and culture surrounding me. I envisioned seeing lots of redheads and churches but went into this trip with no expectations. I was astounded when I saw the flowered hills, locals smiling and saying hello, and beautiful cobblestone streets. We started today with a historical walking tour, where I learned the meaning of the colors that belong to the Irish flag. Green for Catholics, white for peace, and orange for Protestants. Together these colors symbolize the unity of all people in Ireland, and I can see this unity all around me. This morning at breakfast I heard a French conversation to my left, an Irish accent to my right, and a British family chatting behind me. I felt comforted to know although we all may have different backgrounds, at the end of the day we are all people moving through life together. After lunch at the stunning Trinity College, we hopped on a bus to hear more about Ireland’s past. From the excitement I heard in our tour guides’ voices, it is clear that the Irish strongly value their history, and they are proud of their past. I hope to travel during my future career, and I appreciate the importance of respecting one another’s culture. Creating a connection with the people you work and associate with is necessary to grow your network, and knowing a bit about someone’s culture is a great way to make that connection. Respect is also vital, and without knowing an individual’s culture you could mistakenly disrespect them. Whether at a business meeting or over a pint of Guinness, a background in culture and history can create a link between associates, and may make you think twice before saying a comment that could be offensive. Now I am off to dinner and to make more memories, so long until tomorrow!