Greetings from Derry! My name is Haleigh Evans, and I have
been living abroad in Northern Ireland with my dragon, Pancakes, for about
three weeks now. Even though our adventures abroad have only just begun, we are
already having an amazing time! Northern Ireland is a beautiful country with a
rich history and friendly people. Pancakes has not gotten to meet any Irish
dragons yet, but the Irish humans we’ve met have been incredibly kind and
helpful. Pancakes and I arrived two weeks before classes to participate in a
thorough orientation. We toured the campus, walked the city walls, visited
museums, and much more. The best part of orientation was definitely our visit
to the Giant’s Causeway.
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| Pancakes takes in the view of the Causeway |
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| Pancakes poses near the surf |
The Giant’s Causeway is a breathtakingly beautiful site
covered with basalt columns on the Antrim Coast. The international students at
Magee ventured to the site together on our first weekend abroad. We walked
along the grassy green cliffs and down the shore where the basalt columns are
located. There are few sites on Earth that could rival the beauty of the Giant’s
Causeway. Pancakes and I had a lovely time during our visit. After a few hours
at the Causeway, our group journeyed to another spot on the Antrim Coast to
walk across the famous Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. Pancakes opted to fly across
instead of walking the bridge, which is suspended nearly 100 feet above the rocks
below. I can’t say I blame him. Visiting the Giant’s Causeway and walking
across the famous Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge was the highlight of my
orientation. I am lucky to be visiting such a scenic country.
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| Haleigh on the Giant's Causeway |
Once orientation ended, I decided to visit Belfast, the
capital of Northern Ireland, with a few other international students. We spent
a day exploring the city, touring City Hall, and visiting the Titanic museum.
The Titanic was built in Belfast and many of the workers aboard were denizens
of the capital city. The museum offered a fascinating look at the building
process of the Titanic as well as the infamous sinking. Pancakes was not that
impressed with the museum; he much preferred our adventure afterwards- peeking
around outside the studio where Game of Thrones is filmed. Unfortunately, there
were no dragons on set that day for Pancakes to see.
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| The Titanic Museum in Belfast |
Haleigh Evans and Pancakes the Dragon
University of Ulster at Magee
Derry, Northern Ireland
