Belfast

There's an undercurrent in Belfast, east, south, north or west, wherever you go.  The inner city area looks much like any metropolitan center.  It's when, however, you know the past of these areas and of these neighborhoods that soon it becomes clear that things are not quite as they seem.  It is an area of conflict.

Thus far, Belfast is a great place to explore.  The architecture, streets, people and venues are all fantastic!  However, there is a deep seeded political and religious background here that brings various issues to the community.  Where religion had divided (and in many cases continues to do so), politics continue to do so.  With a nine-party system in Northern Ireland, Nationalists, Social Democrats, Unionists, Democratic Unionists, and various others meet to create and reject policy.

While here, our student experience will include meeting with mediators, community members who had been part of paramilitary organizations, politicians, as well as more informal encounters with the colorful and deeply political views of cab-drivers, for instance.

Details to come -

Belfast City Hall at night.  It's outside this building the flag protests last winter seemed to have been sparked when the council decided to end the 365 day per year displaying of the Union flag.