"Our 1st Day at Arts Care"

I found the workshop today with Ms. Yvonne about the “Unfinished Letter” featuring David Hockney. The minute she walked into the room was electrifying. I probably would not tell her this directly for now, but she made me feel at our new home in the next month in Belfast. She told us how important it was to envision our life and to create a path for ourselves how we saw fit. Sometimes I do feel lost at time on how I want my life to turn out being a first generation college student. But I know one thing... I am following the direction in which things of this world takes me. It has taken a few dips & turns, but I'm happy with the choices I've made thus far in my life. The only unfinished letter for me I'd want to write would be for my mom before she passed away when I was 6. She knew I loved her dearly, but it would be nice for her to have read it in her last moments and for her to see me studing abroad now. I say this after hearing one of the characters from the monologue who had lost his wife, so I'm very empathetic to that personal letter from a patient she worked with. Many other personal stories told to us at arts care and the art pieces we develop for patients will caused me to be emotionally moved. Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to every activity on our trip, especially the Botanical gardens on Day 3.

The remainder of our first day at Arts Care was jammed pack as we got acquainted with more of the staff and learned about the history of Ireland. Even now, I still find myself battling with the reasons why there was tension between the Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland. However, I feel it was mostly due to lack of mutual understanding and embracing diversity. Observing the art pieces at Arts Care, working with the artists, and meeting new people apart of the Irish culture has made me become emotionally moved.