Mitchell stars talk about their Irish year

Three US students talk about their time in Ireland

Daniel Preysman

Course: Journalism at DCU

"Being a journalism student in Ireland is a mixed blessing. Everyone wants to talk to you, but nobody wants to be quoted. Before coming here, I reported for several US newspapers. In the US, the surest way to get someone to tell you a story is to tell them they'll be in the newspaper. In America, everyone wants to be a star. In Ireland, they'll talk to you for ages and then say, 'Now, you don't have to put any of that in your article, do you?' I interviewed one woman for half an hour before she asked if I could quote her anonymously - about her musical tastes.

"When I told friends in the US that I would be studying in Ireland, many would remark on the rich literary tradition. People think of Joyce, Yeats, and Shaw, and they talk about how rich Ireland is in stories, and storytellers. I've seen how easy it is to lose track of time, listening to people. I'm working on an oral history project about Finglas, and I've sat with people in their 60s and 70s as they weave stories about what it was like to move out to Finglas in the 1950s. One woman told me her family lived in two rooms in a tenement house, and when they moved to Finglas they suddenly had this big house with three bedrooms - to them it was like a mansion, with a back yard like a huge park.

"In the few months I've been here, I've learned to sit a little longer and listen more intently. In Ireland, the most colourful stories often come out after the second cup of tea, and that's a good lesson for a journalist. I've also learned that people are more willing to be quoted if I spend more time talking to them and tell them some of my own stories. Perhaps the Irish talk to journalists because they want to have a good chat and to hear a few great stories that they might pass on to someone else. And that's also a good lesson to learn as well."

Matthew Haney

Course: Human Rights and Criminal Justice at Queen's University Belfast and NUI Galway

"With my interest in post-conflict issues, including brief stints studying and working in Vietnam, South Africa, Israel and Bosnia, I thought the year would be a great opportunity to learn from the situation in the North. But I didn't know much about Belfast, and was hesitant to forsake the opportunity to spend at least some time in the Republic. The cross-border option seemed ideal. Galway's Irish Human Rights Centre and Human Rights LLM are world-renowned. Plus, everyone I talked to seemed to think that Galway is God's gift to man, so how could I pass that up?

"Belfast is a fascinating place to study human rights and international law. Many of the professors are practitioners themselves, leading to hands-on learning opportunities such as an internship at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. Being in a human rights course as an American abroad is an interesting experience. Needless to say, a lot of the heat is directed at us nowadays. Yet the criticism of US politics is always polite. That said, it was refreshing to be in Belfast, a place where active American engagement has played such a positive role, and to witness first-hand the fruits of tremendous political courage, from all sides. Surprisingly, Belfast is also a vibrant place, and the 'craic' was quite good.

"The students in the Galway course are tightly knit and come from all over the world. Our discussions about the latest International Criminal Court decisions often spill over from class to a pub and a pint of Guinness. Besides the weather, which is a bit of an adjustment from California, I'm definitely loving my life here. Spending time in both the North and the Republic has also helped me gain a more keen perspective on each place."

Kathleen Claussen

Course: International Politics at Queen's University, Belfast

"I believe we can all make a positive difference as responsible citizens - locally, nationally and internationally. So, when I had the option to enter law school immediately after my undergraduate studies or to apply for the Mitchell Scholarship graduate programme, which would allow me to pursue my intellectual as well as my service goals, I did not hesitate to learn more about the Mitchell Scholarship.

"I was inspired by the example of former Senator George Mitchell and found that his message resonated with me. Moreover, I was attracted to the small size of the scholarship programme and the fantastic networking opportunities it supports. The programme helped me to secure valuable internships with local community organisations, and this work has transformed my thinking about the ways in which individuals and groups can collaborate and create partnerships to bridge generational, racial, and cultural gaps.

"Before coming to Belfast, I had considered the Troubles to be a closed chapter in the region's history. Somehow, I had conceived that I would be studying in a "post-conflict" environment (as in, one where residents had forgotten about their differences). Though I was of course naive in thinking this, I have found that many of my friends here share a great deal of confidence in the future. It is refreshing to hear their optimism and their pride in the city. My volunteer work at nearby churches and charities moves me to further explore the complex perspectives on what it means to reconcile differences in a meaningful way.

"I'm not sure I can put into words the impact studying at Queen's has had on me. The experience of this year has become a part of my life that I will treasure always."