I know this is not a very original idea, but if you have any interest in sport you could try going down to the local when there is a match on and get chatting with the punters. It is usually a handy and politically neutral ice-breaker.
I have the same dilemma here in Switzerland. I work in an English speaking company and there in no pressing practical reason to integrate with the outside world but I feel I am missing out a little. Since 30% of the people here vote for the SVP, who are a gang of far-right nutters who want end all bi-lateral relations with the EU and ammend the federal constitution to ban the construction of Islamic minarets, it is handy to discuss something like football in the pub while you scope out who you are dealing with.

Noel wrote: “Getoffmycloud suggests going to a match, should one choose rugby, soccer or Gaelic football? I never thought the SVP (St Vincent de Paul Society??) was all that right-wing.”

Well if Bryan goes to a watch a Gaelic match up the North, I think he’ll probably be limiting himself to only one half of the demographic up there. I think going to watch a match is a good idea, just keep your eye on the type of pub it is, because people can be VERY unpredictable when they’ve drink on them. The mood and attitudes in the place could turn very easily.

As to whether it’s even worth coming out of the student ghetto – you won’t know until you’ve sampled the outside. You might like it, you might hate it. Just be on your guard, is what I’d suggest. I’ve known a lot of people from the North to be very touchy, and that’s even without drink on them.

As for the SVP… it’s different strokes for different folks. The Swiss democratic model is different from ours, and it might be argued that it’s more representational of what people actual want. So I’d hesitate to suggest that a full third of the country would vote for a party who are “nutters”. We should all be more tolerant of others opinions.

Bryan,

Look up a study done by Robert Putnam on integration in Northern Ireland in 2007.

Essentially he breaks down the two prevailing views at that time as either those following the conflict theory or those following the contact theory. The conflict theory holds that proximity produces tension and conflict. Contact theory claims that proximity produces understanding and harmony.

Belfast for years was populated on the assumption that the conflict theory was correct. Communities were split up. Now it would seem that those who espouse the contact theory are winning. Integration is slowly taking place.

So areas of greatest integration of both catholics and protestants is where you should look . I don’t know Belfast very well but I know that Rosetta, for example, a fairly affluent suburb on the southern outskirts of Belfast is about 40/60 in terms of the mix. When you get to this level of “contact” the war is pretty much over.

How to get to know a city that is divided. Look for minorities who find that what they have in common is greater than what divides them. Iris Robinson did the gay movement a favor last year by calling gays worse than paedophiles. The gays marched through Belfast about 15000 in number in early August. As Northern Ireland is one of the most homophobic corners left in western europe I was very happy to connect up with this march on my way out of Ireland. I found no delienation based on class, creed or age among those marching, and drinking later with the marchers got some great insights into how the protestant/catholic communities from working class/middle class backgrounds live in harmony. Because of the Iris Robinsons of this world what unites the gay movement in Northern Ireland is much greater than what divides it.

I regret that I did not have time when passing through Belfast this summer to check out if they had a lively “humanist” or even atheist club. No where more than Northern Ireland needs this type of minority, and certainly their members would be from across the spectrum.

Another area where the catholic/protestant divide does’nt matter in Northern Ireland is rugby. Rugby is one of the few sports (golf is another) where protestants and catholics leave their differences aside in the name of the sport. The legendary Jackie Kyle from Down played like a god in 1948 alongside Karl Mullen and others from the South to win the Grand Slam for Ireland. Did anyone care that they were protestant and catholic playing together. Jackie, still alive, and one of my heroes studied medicine in Queens.

People integrate when they have a cause or a passion for something that no bible thumping religious divide can stop. It could be rugby. It could be sexual orientation. It could be love. Young boys and girls from India to Egypt die each year crossing such religious, ethnic and class minefields to join in love.These are the heroes of our times.

So if you want to know more about integration in Belfast get in contact with these communities.

I thank the world for causes and passions which bring us together and break down the self imposed barriers which bring shame to the species.

Patrick

Bangkok

Sadly the very process of trying to integrate by its nature means to some extent to chose a side. I have worked in three all-island companies all of which are large multi-nationals. Business is task focused so one can ignore difference in the main at work. Soccer (english premiership) is neutral territory, Glaswegian soccer derbies are obviously not. Similarly, rugby which I have played and travelled to watch since I was 10 in NI is unquestionably 90%+ protestant middle and upper class. Working class protestants play soccer. Catholics mostly play Gaelic Football with a little bit of Hurling in Antrim.

There is the old joke about a jew walking down a street in Belfast being pulled down an alley, a knife being put to his throat and then asked in a low northern growl “catholic or protestant”. When he replied Jewish, there was a pause and then he asked again “aye, but are ye jewish catholic or jewish protestant”.

You are safer in academia!

I would have thought one of the advantages of being an outsider is that you can attend rugby, soccer and gaelic.
Im looking forward to reading about your time in Belfast, Bryan. You probably noticed by now that Ireland isnt the easiest place to integrate; it can be v cliquey. It would be interesting to see how similar/different that is in the North. And university is probably one of the better places to avoid all that.
Real integration will be a very informal, easygoing process that just falls into place (just never look like youre making an effort!)

Thanks Áine. I’m looking forward to writing about it. And thanks for the advice. I think you’re probably right. I especially like the bit about never looking like you’re making an effort. Reminds me of high school and trying to talk to girls, which is a little worrying. I was horrible at that! Once I got so nervous, a cup of tea flew out of my hand soaking my uniform. That said, I sort of recovered with a witty line about still getting over the shakes and being a recovering addict!

Don’t write the “troubles tour” off as mere mainstream tourism check it out yourself it will give you a convenient geographically introduction to the city and its various (dangerous) districts which in turn you can convert to a mental map, safe, unsafe, dangerous, etc, there may be times that its simpler or more immediate to understand the reality/geography on the the ground then trying to intellectualise it.

by the way check out “Hunger” on dvd (An interesting prepsective on the hunger strikes in which ten men straved themslves to death the flim is made by a black Englishman so that in itself is an unsual viewpoint.)

take care