Today was such a fun day! We visited multiple sites, including Kilkenny, Wicklow, and a sheep farm! While each place was distinct and fun, I am able to reflect back on my views of Ireland as a whole, and how they have changed from this one trip. This past week, we have only been in Dublin. Here, we are surrounded by a thriving, social city filled with people of different backgrounds and ethnicities. After our site visit today, I was able to see a different side of Ireland where this was not the case. These smaller towns were filled with people who were more traditional and lived an older lifestyle. In these rural towns, I found more agriculturally-focused businesses that are not represented in Dublin. I found it surprising how drastic the difference was between living in Dublin and a place only an hour away. As I reflected more on this piece, I realized the similarities between Dublin and Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is also a great city, but about an hour away, you could find farmlands and more rural areas of an older lifestyle. 

In addition to the different lifestyles that people live in Ireland, they might also have different perceptions of foreigners. In Dublin, it seems common to come across people speaking another language or who have a different accent. In these rural towns though, this might not be as common. Since they are living a more traditional lifestyle, I am sure their perceptions of foreigners might not be as accepting. 

While it was not as easily spotted as other examples, entrepreneurship was evident today at the sheep farming facility. At this place, the farm was passed down through generations of the family, but initially began with an entrepreneur. Overall, I greatly enjoyed this trip and was able to reflect back on my perception of Ireland and how it has changed.