First Day Here Jacob Evelina Ari

Today has been pretty crazy, we landed at Belfast International Airport about 9:00 Northern Ireland time and met up with the Rotarians from Belfast. From there we went to a double decker bus tour of Belfast and learned a lot about the city's history, especially about the Titanic. I'll let Ari and Evelina tell the rest about our day until we all split up for our host families. About 4:00 Paul Chambers, my host "brother" picked the three of us up in his 1972 Land Rover and drove Ari and Evelina to their house and we continued on to Paul's. I set myself up in the extra bedroom, and had a great dinner with the family. The house is out in the country, surrounded by so much open land, and is really just amazing. In the end today was an awesome day and I'm really looking forward to tomorrow.  Paul is the man.
-Jacob

To pick up where Jacob left off, following the bus tour around Belfast we went to lunch with the four chaplains of Queens University. We learned about how religious leadership deals with the political conflict and differences within communities.  Religion has become an interesting representation of the conflict because during years of volatility, spirituality lost importance to political affiliation.  Now, the Chaplains explained, the youth are coming to search for meaning in religion.  This speaks to the new Northern Ireland, one that encompasses a hopeful future for cooperation and understanding especially in the controversial realm of God.

Just to mention again, Paul's Land Rover is awesome and he gave us a great tour of the countryside filled with colorful commentary.  Our host Leancha was extremely warm and hospitable.  Just an FYI, if there is a doubt that you might enjoy Irish stew...just ask Leancha to make some.  It is unbelievable.   Now I'm at Paul's, watching a documentary about the Troubles, and struggling not to fall asleep.  Day 1, almost complete.  Can't wait for the rest.

-Evelina & Ari