As I sat in the Raleigh airport, desperately hoping the security personnel would not take my tweezers from me, I wondered what my trip to Ireland would be like. As the woman with the scanning wand instructed me to remove my shoes, I imagined the beautiful green countryside awaiting me. As a large man with a rifle rummaged through my bags, I saw myself looking out onto the Aran Islands.

It has been everything I imagined. The most amazing parts of my trip have been the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher and the time I have spent in Derry, which is officially called Londonderry.

After hearing about the conflict in Northern Ireland, it was refreshing to come to Derry and realize that the people here are in no immediate danger. We first took a tour of the city. We toured both a Protestant and a Catholic neighborhood. Signs of the conflict are evident, and being in the city and seeing the exact spot where Bloody Sunday occurred was remarkable and truly moving.

The people of Ireland are surprisingly friendly, and they are very interested in learning about the American culture, which is shockingly prevalent in their society. It is hard to find a pub or a nightclub that does not play American music.