Since being stationed in the town of Mindo for my service portion of SST, I’ve noticed a big cultural difference between U.S. Mennonites and Ecuadorian “Mindo-nites” – pun intended 🙂 approaches to life. There’s a palpable sense of serenity and...
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Rock Climbing at Giant’s Causeway
Jun 07 2024
Liam here. Our first week in Northern Ireland has been filled to the brim with amazing experiences. The kind folks at Corrymeela have welcomed us with open arms. To say that we are in good hands would be an understatement. The hospitality has been excellent, and everyone is easy to talk to—even for an introvert like myself.
I miss my family in the United States, but I feel at home here in Ballycastle, too. Home is the people you’re with, and I presently have two homes: my peers, professors, the staff and volunteers at Corrymeela here, and my family and friends back in the United States.
From left, Liam, Adriana, Kyle, Lydia, Leo, Kiara, Madeleine, Gracie, Magaly, Wyatt. Way back: some Czechoslovakian tourists.
The main event of Friday, May 31, was taking advantage of Translink, Northern Ireland’s public transportation system, to ride from Ballycastle to Giant’s Causeway, a rugged and dramatic seaside landmark and a World Heritage Site. The name comes from the legend of Finn MacCool, an Irish giant, who was said to have built the oddly shaped steps so that he could cross to Scotland to battle his enemy and fellow giant, Benandonner.
Capturing the Causeway’s dramatic landscape.
Channeling Finn McCool. Photo by Mariana Vivanco.
The basalt pillars that comprise the Causeway are unlike anything I have seen with my own two eyes. I found wildflowers growing between the rocks along with plenty of moss and lichen. The Causeway is a rough and rocky landscape, but it is teeming with life. It will be a wellspring of inspiration for my writing, and I have captured some beautiful photos of the place. We all took amazing photos of each other as well.
Wyatt, friendly King of the Mountain, with photographer Adriana in the background.
From left: Adriana, Mariana, Rolando, Brenton, Liam, Thomas, Wyatt, Leo, Kyle, Friesen, Hannah, Lindsey, Magaly, Gracie, Madeleine, Kiara, Lydia
Mariana and Adriana taking it all in. Photo contributed by Mariana.
From left, back row: Madeleine, Mariana, Adriana, Kiara, Rolando. Front: Lydia and Gracie.
This weekend, we will be spending some time in downtown Ballycastle, continuing to engage in the area’s culture. Be sure to check out our previous blog posts and watch this space for more updates!