Going to a new country with nothing but my passport and the somewhat familiar faces of other students was daunting. I can now say that there was nothing to be afraid of. I gained so much knowledge and an entire new friend group out of this experience. This trip was transformative for me. I have never been so immersed in what I was learning, and can now understand why studying abroad is so life changing. I am now a graduate of Chapman University with a degree in Health Sciences, which is a completely different discipline than what this course focused on. That said, I learned so much during this travel course, and many of the lessons can be applied to my future career in healthcare.

Before this trip I knew very little about Northern Ireland aside from the fact that there was a conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants. I had never learned about The Troubles and did not understand how fresh the wound was or how much the conflict still influences every day life. When walking through Belfast we saw the peace walls, the murals, and the neighborhoods that are still divided; all making the history feel so real. I realized that the conflict is not just something of the past but it is what continues to shape identities, politics, education and relationships today. Being physically in Northern Ireland while learning about it allowed me to see how a society can move towards peace whilst carrying the weight of its history on its back.

Northern Ireland is a place where violent conflict occurred for decades, and today its communities continue working towards peace and a united society. Hearing first hand accounts from those who lived through The Troubles gave me a deeper understanding of how communication can either divide people or rebuild relationships. One of the biggest lessons that I gained from this experience is that listening with empathy and trying to understand the other’s perspective is essential for creating a trusting relationship. The stories we were told, especially those that were centered around forgiveness, showed me that healing begins with difficult conversations and respect for one another.

One conversation that resonated with me was with Kate Turner and Brendan at Ulster University. The conversation completely changed the way that I thought about peace building as it shifted the focus from political agreements to the importance of storytelling and memory. Kate talked about the “duty of care”. How artists and public figures must live up to this duty when telling stories about the conflict. Before our conversation at Ulster University I never considered how much power people have to shape the public’s memory through deciding whose voices are included and whose are left out. I also found the conversation about a “new Ireland” very interesting as it highlighted how younger generations are more concerned with issues like gender equality and social justice than the divide between Catholics and Protestants, however, the political identities still continue to influence society. It reminded me that peace is not just ending the violence but it is creating a shared vision for the future, something that is still difficult for many in Northern Ireland. Another important takeaway was the idea of narrative repair through museums and storytelling. We talked about how there are no museums dedicated to just the nonviolent voices throughout The Troubles, even though countless ordinary individuals contributed to peace through communication, compromise and coexistence. That idea challenged my assumption that peace can only be created by political leaders; it is built by individuals making small decisions every day. I also loved the conversation about gender, particularly how women have been portrayed in simplistic ways despite their complex roles throughout the conflict. How civilian masculinity is frequently overlooked in favor of the military narratives. Lastly, we learned about Healing Through Remembering, which reinforced that reconciliation is an ongoing process rather than something that ends with a peace agreement. The speakers emphasized that healing comes through dialogue, acknowledging multiple perspectives, and creating safe spaces where difficult conversations can happen instead of avoiding them.

I also loved going to Lagan College and talking with the students. Hearing about what they want to do in life and understanding that within the integrated school their religion does not define them. One of the boys, Matthew, wants to be an engineer and work on cars. He talked about his project he is working on which is a lap table train set for kids to play with when in the car. These children are so brilliant and bright and have so much going for them. Their curriculum is determined by them with some required courses. I think it is amazing how well their school runs and I wish there were more integrated schools throughout Northern Ireland as right now there are only 8% of schools that are integrated.

Although my degree is in Health Sciences, I found myself constantly tying back what I learned in this course to healthcare. Communication is one of the most important skills in healthcare. Every patient has a unique background, set of beliefs, life experiences and fears that influence how they understand the world. Just like the people we met in Northern Ireland wanted their stories to be heard without judgement, patients also want their providers to listen with empathy and respect. This trip re-enstilled in me that listening is just as important as speaking. Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone is make them feel heard and valued.

I also noticed that trust is something that is earned. Throughout Northern Ireland, communities are still rebuilding trust after decades of violence and division. In healthcare, trust is just as essential. Patients are their most vulnerable, and they depend on healthcare professionals to communicate honestly and respectfully. I want to be someone who helps patients feel comfortable asking questions and expressing concerns. The lessons I learned about empathy, active listening and relationship building will stay with me throughout my career.

Beyond the academic lessons, this trip allowed me to grow personally. Traveling internationally for the first time pushed me outside of my comfort zone and made me more independent. I became more confident in navigating unfamiliar places, meeting new people, and adapting to situations I cannot control. I also formed meaningful friendships with classmates that would not have formed if we had remained on campus. The long bus rides, meals, tours and conversations created memories that I will have long after graduation from Chapman.

Looking back, this study abroad course was one of the most valuable parts of my college education. It taught me lessons that could never have been fully understood inside a classroom. Northern Ireland showed me that communication has the power to divide people, but it also has the power to heal and create long lasting peace. As I begin my career in healthcare, I will take these lessons with me. This trip not only changed my understanding of Northern Ireland but also changed the way I think about relationships, communication and the kind of person I hope to become.

June 10th – Stormont Visit

Hi! My name is Sam Rokoszewski and I am a 4th year Health communications major. I am covering Day 10 of our trip, this was the day we travelled to Stormont, as well as our final meeting on Day 11 with Bebhinn McKinley. Unfortunately, all of the politicians were in assembly meetings this day as there were anti-immigration protests the night prior and they had to find a way to combat them the following day.

Stormont is an old estate that was taken over by Parliament in 1932 located in Belfast the capital of Northern Ireland. The Parliament of Northern Ireland inhabited many other spaces in Belfast before deciding to take this estate. They paid 20,000 pounds for the grounds at the time. The Prince of Wales was the individual who came to properly open Stormont as a Parliament building which is why the road leading to the estate is named Prince of Wales Avenue. 

The building has fire proof and dust proof paint as you see in the picture below. There are 4 chandeliers made of 24 karat gold hanging from the ceiling as well in the grand hall. There is also a greek key design to the paint on the ceiling and it is an “unbroken, interlocking pattern made it a symbol of both unity and infinity.” (Calder). This is perfect for the Parliament building as it continues to emphasize the need for unity within the building. Within the Grand Hall there are paintings of former first ministers, deputy ministers and speakers all of which are accompanied by a plaque letting you know who they are and what they have done. 

There are six stories to the building, the second floor is dedicated to the senate chamber and the first floor is for the assembly and house of commons. 

Within the senate chamber there is a table in the center of the room with governing oppositions on opposite sides of the table. There are 27 senators that sit within this chamber of parliament. From 1932 to 1972 the senate was shut down due to the conflict that was occurring within Northern Ireland. After the conflict there were committees created to address specific issues that need to be addressed within their parliament. Some being education and healthcare. 

We then talked about the Assembly chamber and were able to go into the chamber as it was not being used for meetings at the time. There are designated times for the assembly meetings and the public are able to come and listen in to the conversations. On Mondays the MLA’s, Members of Legislative Assembly, meet and talk at 12 and on Tuesdays they meet at 10 AM. These meetings can last as long as they want, there have been meetings in which they talked for over 10 hours. 

When the room was first built it was in an adversarial layout, just like the senate chamber. However, in 1995 during Christmas break there was a fire that broke out in the Assembly chamber. It burned everything as the entire room was wooden. They had to rebuild and it cost 24 million pounds to do so. 

That said, they were able to redesign the entire room. They changed the layout to a European U style allowing all individuals to sit at one continuous table. This was done to show that they were all sitting at the same table working towards a common goal together. They added cameras into the room as well so that civilians could watch the live stream of the meetings if they wished to do so. Currently, Sinn Fein sits on the left side of the table and the DUP sits on the right. Sinn Fein is currently the largest party as the first minister is from this party and the DUP is the second largest as the deputy minister is from that party. The alliance party sits in the middle of the U as they are a party that does not identify with nationalist or unionist beliefs. There are also smaller parties that sit next to Sinn Fein and the DUP. Some seats are known as “naughty seats”, where those who are part of a one person party reside.

I think is important to note the way in which citizens feel about the power that Stormont holds. Many civilians do not think anything productive occurs in the building. When we were approaching the building our bus driver welcomed us to the place on the hill where absolutely nothing goes on. He told us that he “never has voted, never wants to, and never will vote” (Buz the bus driver). 

A communication concept that I feel connects to Stormont is how nonverbal communication through the design of the space is impacted, this is also known as proxemics. The arrangement of the environment can communicate ideas and values as well as shape the interactions individuals have with one another. Proxemics is defined as “the study of how people perceive and organize the spaces and distances they maintain between each other in culturally specific situations” (Danesi). Edward Hall researched proxemics in 1959 and created 8 factors that play important roles into what proxemics is. They are postural sex identifiers, sociofugal/sociopetal orientation factors, kinesthetic factors, touching factors, visual factors, thermal factors, olfaction factors and vocal factors. The factors that are present within Stormont are the sociofugal/sociopetal orientation (the layout of the rooms), visual factors (eye contact), and even vocal factors (showing dominance by raising their voice). (Danesi). This was very evident in the Assembly chamber as the room was originally designed with an Adversarial layout with the different parties sitting across from one another around a table. This created a physical and mental division as well as cultivating the us versus them mindset and is greatly reflected in the conflict of Northern Ireland. After the fire in 1995 the room was redesigned and had all parties sitting at one continuous table. This environmental change also changed the mentality of Assembly members and communicated the commitment they made to collaboration and shared problem solving. The emblem of Stormont shown throughout the building also is a form of symbolic communication. The representation of the 6 counties within Northern Ireland as well as showing the desire for unity and growth within the nation. These both demonstrate how important it is to have an environment in which symbols communicate powerful messages surrounding identity and continuing to strive for peace. 

June 11th – Final Discussion

I also covered the final conversation of our trip with Bebhinn McKinley and Daniel Wehrenfennig. Bebhinn was once a good relations officer in Ireland and was born in Dundalk which is the city directly south of the border. She shared how the conflict within Northern Ireland directly affected her family. She grew up in a small community where violence was normalized and personal. She knew many individuals who passed due to the violence including her own uncle. Her uncle was a member of the IRA and was shot in bed with his wife right beside him. Both of Bebhinn’s parents are from Northern Ireland, her dad was an ex-prisoner and committed another violent act and was quickly on the run. He became internally displaced due to the conflict and became wanted by the RUC. Stories like this one reminds us that the conflict was not just a political event but it was experiences that shaped and changed everyday lives of ordinary people. 

One theme that continued to be present throughout the entire trip was how impactful trauma is. Even with the Good Friday agreement being signed around thirty years ago, individuals are still carrying emotional damage from the conflict. Bebhinn talked about how communities are still struggling with how to handle memory, grief and the questions of justice. There are debates surrounding legacy issues, including proposals of a blanket amnesty. These show how there is still disagreement about how we should be addressing and remembering the past. 

At the same time we learned about all of the ways the country is trying to move forward. There are community dialogue programs, women’s leadership initiatives, and cross community projects all creating opportunities for healing and forward thinking. She emphasized how important it is to have conversations, active listening and relationship building between the different communities that were beyond divided at one point in time. Breaking down the miscommunication and misconceptions is essential to rebuilding the trust. 

My biggest takeaway from our final conversion was that peace is not a final destination but it is a constant and ongoing process. Northern Ireland has made lots of progress since the Troubles however history is still influencing politics, identity and everyday life. The resilience of the Northern Ireland people is amazing, they are all committed to continuing to have conversations that are difficult and uncomfortable. All showing that reconciliation requires patience, empathy and a willingness to talk out the difficult and traumatic experiences together. When leaving Northern Ireland I have gained a better understanding that peace is not just the absence of violence. It is a continuous strive to work through trauma, create safe spaces for dialogue between communities and build relationships with one another. All of the stories we have heard throughout the trip remind me that communication has the power to create new possibilities for understanding as well as creating peace.

More information:

Live stream of Assembly meetings

What is Stormont?

Fun Facts about Stormont

Citations:

Loth, Calder. “The Complex Greek Meander – Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.” The Complex Greek Meander , 4 Dec. 2016, www.classicist.org/articles/classical-comments-the-complex-greek-meander/. 

M. Danesi, Proxemics, Encyclopedia of Language & Linguistics (Second Edition), Elsevier, 2006, Pages 241-243, ISBN 9780080448541, https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-044854-2/01441-3.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B0080448542014413)

Parliament Buildings Facts, www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/office-of-the-speaker/80th-anniversary-open-day/parliament-buildings-facts/. Accessed 22 June 2026.