On a recent trip to a small island off of Ireland, I was immediately immersed in a rich, honest, and simple culture. Stepping off the ferry onto Arranmore, I was transported to a whole new universe, one that took me back to a time I have never known. Old, crumbling buildings that had been there for hundreds of years stand abandoned all over the island. Clusters of sheep roam vast grassy fields everywhere you look. Calming sounds of water rippling over infinite stones can be heard from the "Stoney Beach". Everywhere I went, I was overwhelmed by the dominating presence of pure nature. An 8am walk could be enjoyed with no noise besides the birds chirping, the sheep bleating, and the ocean waves turning. The people who inhabit the small population of Arranmore are hardworking, prideful people, who will happily buy you a beer and get to know you. People aren't constantly sitting on their phones - they are sitting together; maybe in a pub, singing, chatting, and enjoying each others' company. Instead of owning things, the people here own experiences; materialism seems non-existent.  Everyone knows one another on the island, and after visiting for a week, I felt as if I had known these down-to-earth people my whole life. This trip to a unique and quaint Irish island was evidence that history and culture can be preserved and cherished, and the simplest ways of life may be the best, even in our most modern times.

 

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