-Introduction-

Céad Míle Fáilte! My name is Jack and I hail from Ireland. This summer will by my first time in the states and I am incredibly excited to get immersed in camp life and learn about the real American culture (not what you see in movies). Considering I’ve watched Forrest Gump close to fifty times at this point, I don’t truly believe you all professional ping pong players that collect feathers in books! On the subject of stereotypes however, I want to clarify that I am not a 3 ft leprechaun but am open to the idea of a pot of gold in my back garden (€€€!). I was actually born in Birmingham, U.K. (not to be mistaken for the one in Alabama) and moved to Galway when I was nine years old to be with my roots.

-The City of the Tribes-

Also known as Galway (irish: Abhainn na Gaillimhe), it is a humble city of 80,000 people where I have called home for the last few years. I study in the National University of Ireland, Galway and I am currently doing a Bachelor of Arts with I.T. & Philosophy. Random combination right? I get that a lot. However, I think it fits my personality. On the one hand, I love all things technology and gadgets but I also enjoy dwelling on the meaning on life and are we actually in a computer simulation? hmm…

College has opened up many doors for me and taught me the importance of being yourself, self-aware and independent. Any spare time I get, I try to be involved in volunteering as it helps you engage with people from different cultures and backgrounds. The majority of people I work with are young people. I think the importance of working with them is that they open the window to your own childhood as it is easy to get submerged in adulthood with jobs, bills and a receding hairline.

-Expectations-

Expectations are there if we like it or not. When your parents tell you that you are going to Disneyland in the summer, your expectations will run most likely run wild with imagery of giant castles and adventure but this can be quite dangerous if (like me) you have a large imagination as it may lead to disappointment down the line. However, from these experience I’ve learned that it is important to not anticipate the future or dwell in the past but just live in the now. Therefore, on this particular adventure I will only pack three things.

1.  An open mind with no expectations about the people I am going to meet.
2. A kindness/willingness to help anyone/everyone using my skills and knowledge which I hope will develop them into confident individuals.
3. Sunscreen, because I live in Ireland and a good summer here is 18 degrees (64 Fahrenheit).. brrrr…