TODAYS SEGMENT I WILL BE SHARING MY EXPEREINCE TRAVELING SOLO IN IRELAND. THIS WAS AN EXPERIENCE OF COMRADORY AMONGST AMONGT STRANGERS.
EVERYONE WHO SHARED THE EXPERIENCE WITH ME HAS EITHER TRAVELED SOLO BEFORE OR GENERALLY TRAVEL ABROAD FOR FUN OFTEN. I WAS REALLY SURIED TO HEAR ABOUT THE OTHER PLACES THE OTHER TRAVELERS HAVE GONE TO. THROUGH THEIR SOCIAL INTERACTION ON THE FIRST AND SECOND DAY, I WAS ABLE TO LEARN ABUOT THE THE 4 OTHER COUNTRIES THE ONE COUPLE WENT TO WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND HOW THE NURSE WILL BE TAKING A TRAIN TO NYC A WEEK AFTER SHE RETURNS HOME FRMO THIS TRIP. THESE PEOPLE ARE REALY ON THE MOVE AND DONT STOP. IM JUST HERE TO FULFILL ONE OF MY DREAMS. Now let me begin the first part.
[INTRO MUSIC ENDS]
[PARTY MUSIC BEGINS]
Here I am. My 26TH BIRTHDAY AND ALREADY EXPLORINGT HE WORLD, eating TAHNKSGIVING DINNER WITH 32 OTHER STRANGERS AT A MEDEIVAL BANKQUET TABLE FIT FOR A QUEEN AND her GUESTS. I SAY FIT FOR A QUEEN BECAUSE AS PART OF THE SPECIAL DINNER, WE WERE SERVED THE CHOICE OF OUR VERY OWN QUEEN AND King from my very large table. APPRENTLY THE COUPLE STODO OUT BECAUSE TTHE NEXT DAY THEY WERE CHOSEN TO GET ON STAGE AT merry ploughboys for sanother event WHICH seems to ME THAT THEY KEPT CHOOSING THE RIGHT SEATS. So THEY MUST HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE.
[JOLLY MUSIC PLAYS]
DESPITE MY GENERALLY INTROVERTED PERSONALITY, whenever IN THE RIGHT SETTING, AROUND THE RIGHT PEOPLE, THERE BEING ANY PRESCENCE OF THE WORDS MEDEIVAL, FOOD, AND DESSSERT IN THE SAME TITLE, [HA} OH! WELL I JUST MIGHT BE THE LIFE OF THE PARTY THEN.
[MUSIC FADES]
[MUSIC TRANSITIONS TO NEW MUSIC]
On November 26, 2024, I visited the Bunratty Castle and folk park in county clare, Ireland. This PLACE IS KNOWN FOR its medieval banquet and folk music. THERE WAS A HARPIST, FIDDLER, AND ACCAPELLASITS. THEIR ROBUST VOICES ECHOED THROUGHOU THE CASTLE DINNING ROOM.
One character in particualr stood out the most. Unfortunately, he didnt have a role in the galant dining concert. Thsi was a surprise becuase he seemed to be the most vibrant of all the characters.
THE LORDE WAS ABOUT 5’8’, had BROWN WAVY HAIR, WITH A LENGTH THAT REACHES HIS SHOLDERS. HE WORE THE TRADITIONAL RED LANDSKENTCH HAT, NECK RUFF, AND MULTI LAYERED FABRICS. All of which made it easy for us to identify he was someone of NOBILITY. Think of the styles you’d see Henry VII WEARING.
Although this character did share a name, he was easy to satnd out by his animated cartoon laugh. I imagine him laughing like this with his friends. I say this because he seemed to stay in character the ENTIRE time. I’m sure all the other characters did too but i think he was very warm and inviting. As he lead the guests to the main dining hall after our introductory concert, he would lean into you, chest out, and hands fully guiding you to the door while he gave a powerful jolt of laughter. I could tell THIS is his personality outside when he talks to the grocer or when he’s ordering a meal or saying hi to his friend’s friend? Just an all-around friendly person.
HE reminded me of one of my colleagues that knew how to keep the Team’s chat engaged. With all 38 people in the chat, he managed to get gags ang giggles and people sending over reactions of emojis cry laughing.
I wanted to hear him SING so badly. BUT THE LAUGH…
make the laugh
THE GIANT ANIMATED SMILE, AND THE BROWN, SOFT HAIR. I HAD TO GO UP TO HIM AND ADDRESS HIS HIGHNESS
[PLAY AUDIO OF US TALKING]
Me: THANK YOU VERY MUCH MY LORDE
HE SAYS
Lorde: You are very welcome my lady, do have a pleasant night.
I mimic his laugh again
I PROCEED TO LAUGH AND SMILE AS I EXIT THE FOYER INTO THE MEDIEVAL DINING ROOM.
Fade in: Loud talking and banter
UPON ENTERING THE ROYAL DINING ROOM, THE TABLES SEEMED TO SPAN IN VAIROUS DIRECIONTS. THERE WERE NO IKEA DINING SETS THAT COVERD ONLY ONE CHEEK OF THE BUM. NO! THESE WERE STURDY AND THICK BENCHCES.
PAUSE, AIR BREATH
[PLAY ACAPELLA AUDIO]
THE GROUP I WAS WITH WAS SEATED BY OUR HIGHNESS. I CHOSE TO SIT AT THE VERY END NEAR THE COAT RACK IN CASE I NEED AN EASY ESCAPE. THE DINIDNG ROOM WAS LIGHTLY DIMMED WITH BLUE AND WARM ORANGE STAGE LIGHTS GALRING UPON THE CENTER STAGE FURTHEST FROM WHERE I WAS SEATED
THERE WERE ABOUT 32 OF US AT ONE TABLE. WE SAT ONE NEXT TO THE OTHER WITH NO ARM ROOM. I FIGURED…HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO EAT HERE AND HAVE FULL MANEAUVERABILITY OF OUR HANDS? I COULDN’T EVEN MOVE MY LEFT ARM WITHOUT BUMPING WEENUS’S WITH THE NEXT BARONESS OVER. WEENUS; A SLANG TERM REFERRING TO THE LOOSE SKIN ON THE ELBOW JOINT. [WIGGLY JIGGLY SOUND EFFECT]
[DINNER PLATE AND FORKS SOUNDS ON PLATE]
BUT THATS THE POINT. IN MEDEAIVAL TIMES, THERE WAS NO REAL LUXURY WITH EATING UNLESS YOU WERE THE QUEEN AND KING WHO SAT UPON THEIR VERY OWN THRONE. REGRDLESS, THIS LEAVES US WITH THE EXPERIENCE THAT MATTERS. AND i DO SAY MY LORDE, I WAS VERY PLEASED (say with Irish accent)
Fade in:talking sounds
THE FOOD HAD NOT BEEN SERVED YET BECAUSE LITTLE DID I KNOW, AN ENTIRE MEDVEIALL CONCERT WOULD BE HELD FIRST.
ALONG WITH PREPARED MONOLOGUES FULL OF HUMOR AND FACTS ABOUT MEDEIVAL IRISH HISTORY. WE JOKED OF THE TIMES WHERE PEASEANTS WERE SENT TO THE DUNGEON. WHILE THE PESANTS WERE IMPRISONED IN A WET DAMP DUNGEON, THEY WERE AT LEAST GIVEN SCRAPS LEFT BEGIND FROM THE FEAST.
NOT TOO LUXURIOUS.
[MORE LAUGHING AND BANTER]
AFTER THE MASTER OF SERVICE CHOSE A MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE TO SING AND JOKE, THE CHOSEN ONE WAS LATER SENT INTO A LITTLE HOLLOW TO REENACT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN SOMEONE DISPLEASE THE LORDE AND HIS LADY. HE WOULD BE SENT TO THE DUNGEON. After the guest was done with his terrible singing, as directed by the master of service, he was ordered to the dungeon. BETWEEN NOW AND THE MAIN PUNISHMENT, THE NARRATOR OF THE SHOW SEEMED SO COMFORTABLE AND PLAYFUL WITH THE GUEST. IT WAS GIVING…. SPORTY COACH FATHER LAUGHING AND PLAYFULLING ROUGHING UP HIS SON BECAUSE JOHNNY HERE, WAS MORE INTERESTED IN READING ABOUT THE PSCYHOLOGY OF HUMANS, BUT HE COULDNT CATCH A BALL ONYL 10FT AWAY WHILE RUNNING BECAUSE MULITTASKING WOULD GO AGAINST CONGITIVE PRINCIPLE AND LAWS.
[LAUGHTER AUDIO]
EVERYONE LAUGHED AND WE ALL BANGED ON THE TABLES.
I ENGAGED ENERGETICALLY AS THIS WAS THE TYPE OF FOOLISHNESS I’D NORMALLY APPROVE OF EVEN OUTSID EOF A MEDIEVAL SETTING.
[BANGIN ON TABLE CONTNUES]
[BANGING FADES]
AS THE NIGHT PROGRESSED, OUR 4 COURSE SERVINGS WERE COMPLETED WITH PLENTY OF RIBS LEFT OVER. THEY DIDNT BOTHER TO AS IF ANYONE WANTED SECONDS. GUESS THATS WHAT HAPPENDS WHEN YOUR ON A TIGHT MEDIVALE SCHEDULE.
MUSIC FILLED THE ROOM. ENTERTAINMENT PERSISTED. AND BEFORE LONG, IT WAS TIME TO HEAD HOME. EVERYONE WALKED OUT THE FINING HALL, VENTURED THROUG THE WINDING, NARROW, CASTLE STAIRS, AND EXITIED OUT PAST THE BAG PIPE PLAYER.
[BAG PIPES AUDIO PLAYS]
THE NIGHT WAS COLD, BUT HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, AND SCULTPURES THROUGH THE FOLK PARK LIT THE PATH TO THE BUS.
AFTER TAKING MY SEAT ON THE BUS, I COULD FEEL MYSELF FEELING COMPLETE. HERE I WAS, IN IRELAND, WITH A GROUP OF STRANGERS, TRAVELING SOLO, ATTENDING A SOCIAL EVEN IN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THIS. I REMMEBER BEING VERY IMMERSED AND FEELING LIKE…THIS IS MY LIFE NOW. WELL, JUST FOR THT WEEK. IREFLECT BEING SO PROUD OF MYSELF FOR OUTTING MYSELF IN AN UNFAMILIAR, AND UNIQUE PLACE. OPEN FOR LEARNING THE CULTURE. THIS IS WHAT EXPLORATION AND OPENMINDEDNESS IS ALL ABOUT.
I IDENTIFY THIS EXPEIRENCE AS IT BEING MY DREAM REALITY JUST FOR THE MERE FACT OF ITS HISTORY AND HOW THE HISTORY IS STILL ALIVE. I EXPLORE THE CITY PACE AND THE MEDIVELA BANQUET THAT SHOWED ME THAT EVEN WHEN THE CHARAVCYERS WWERE IN CHARAVYER, THEY REMAINED IN CHARAVYER AT EVERY WAKING MOMENT, EVEN WHEN THE SHOW WAS OVER. AND I STRIVE TO BE IN THE CHARACTER THAT I IMAGE MYSELF TO BE, BUT GENUINELY WHO I WANT TO SEE MYSELF BEING. THE KEY TAKEWAYS ARE OF IDENTITY, HOW COMRADDERY CAN BE WHAT YOU MAKE IT, AND HISTORY IS THE KEY TO THE FUTURE.
These experiences are valuable because they remind you of the people you’ve met once back at home. These experiences invite you to recall the moments and people that warmed your heart in one way or the other. Traveling puts aside your reality just for a moment and allows you to see and explore an alternate life. One that you prefer or simply a life that you needed just to refresh and rest from the hustle and bustle of every day. To know that there are possibilities to find the reality that you want, is what exploring, traveling, and interacting with other people is about. If you’ve been wanting to travel to your dream destination, it doesn’t take anything but planning and dedication to make it happen.
Understanding that comradery amongst people you don’t know, is the best way TO OPEN UP YOUR MINDS, BECOME MORE UNDERSTANDING OF the way people think, and find a part of you that you may have not known was there before.
IF YOU’RE LIKE ME AND HAVE RESTRICTED CONFIDENCE WHEN IN A SETTING THAT IS LARGER THAN YOU FEEL , IT CAN BE EASY FOR YOU TO THINK WAY TOO DEEP INTO YOUR APPEARNANCE, OR HOW YOU SOUNDS, THEN MAKING YOU NOT FEEL LIKE YOU ARENT GIVING YOURE TRUE PERSONALITY JUSTICE WHEN COMMUNCIATING TO OTHERS. BUT YOU HAVE TO LET YOURSELF GET COMFORTBALE ON YOUR TIME. YOU DONT HAVE FEEL LIEK YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR ENTIRE EPERSONALITY OUT THEIR JUT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HAS ALREADY GOTTEN COMFTOABE WITH EVERYONE ELSE AND YOURE STILL AT HTE FRONT OF THE BUS BECAUSE YOU JUST WANT TO SEE THE LANDSCAPE AND EXPLRE. MAYBE THATS NOT YOU. BUT IF IT IS JUST KNOW THAT NOBODY IS REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO HOW YOU SOUND, IF YOU GET NERVOUSE AND STUMBLE OVER YOUR WORDS. NOBOD IS GOING TO CONFRONT YOU FOR WANTING TO eat dinner BY YOURSELF AND NOT WITHT THE REST OF THE CREW BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU WHAT WORKS FOR YOU, WHAT DOESTM AD WHEN YOU HAEV MET YOUR SOCIAL ENERGY EXPEDNISYRE LIMIT. IN FACT, YOUR SEL-SUFFICENCELY MAY BE SO FORCEFUL THAT FOLKS MAY BECOME INTRIGRED BY YOU AND WANT TO JOIN YOU. This HAS HAPPENDE MANY TIMES. NOT THAT YOUR ANTISOCIAL AND ARENT ENTHSUATIC, JUST THAT YOU KNOW YOU. MANY TIMES, IT JUST TAKES YOU TALKING TO YOURSELF. REALLY. TALK TO YOUSELF LIEK YOU WOULD ANOTHER FRIEND.
For me, this trip confirmed my strength of navigation and resourcefulness. It even showed me that even though you may stand out amongst many if you are someone like me who has quite distinct characteristics, those very qualities are what make you amazing. If you believe in your talents and try, not think so hard about how you look in a place of unfamiliarity AND YOUR CONFIDENCE WILL RADIATE IN ANY SOCIAL SETTING WHTER THAT BE IN A THROUGHOUT A HIGHLY populated CITY, IN A SMALL COMMUNITY, IN A CLASS, AMONGST COLEAGUES, OR AMONGT OR CLOSE GROUP THAT YOUVE BEEN INTRODUCED TO.
*Note* This post is the script of the podcast audio
