Study Abroad: Day Four

Today started out with me waking up and thinking, “Wow, we only have a week left until we head back home, and I feel like I have seen so much and garnered so much more knowledge.” 

I then thought, "My goodness, I would love to sleep some more! Oh bed, how much I love you."  (Haha!)

We traveled to the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) today and listened to some fascinating presentations from various speakers on topics like cardiovascular disease, cancer (of course), health promotion and advocacy, fundraising, the ICS help line (reminded me very much of where I use to work at via Patient Services at Biogen Idec), and financial aid.  An example of the difference in culture arose when the presenter began to talk about fundraising and donations.  He explained that while in the United States, it is looked highly upon for corporations, celebrities, etc. to provide great amounts of donations to organizations like the American Cancer Society, it is frowned upon in Ireland.  If say, Bono were to do that in Ireland, the Irish would believe he was trying to be pompous or “above his station.”  Also, charitable donations in Ireland are not tax deductible. 

We also went to Kilmainham Gaol on Wednesday, which was awesome. This was an Irish prison dating back from 1796 to 1924, and is now a museum. Prisoners as young as five years old were housed in this jail, but most notably, this prison housed prisoners of very significant Irish leaders during several rebellion. This jail is very important as many of these Irish leaders were men directly tied to Irish nationalism.

Irish Cancer Society visit.

Kilmainham Gaol.

The inside of a prison cell at Kilmainham.

More Kilmainham.

May 30, 2012 was World MS Day, and I made sure to give a small donation on Grafton Street, hence, the sticker.

Wednesday night we went out to Temple Bar area, and listened to some great American music (ha-you hear it everywhere, you all) at a place called “Farringtons” that Brian and I went to the last night Brian was in Dublin.  Here are some pictures/videos of some of the greatness:

Whitney and me at Farringtons.

Thought you might like this one Brian!

Aww. This song always makes me think of my daddy and an old show on TV called "Tour of Duty."

Later that night, I met an actor (Peter Ferdinando) that is in the upcoming movie with Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, and Charlize Theron-- “Snow White and the Huntsman.”  He taught me method acting for almost 2 hours.  It was incredible!

Peter Ferdinando!