GFA 20 Years - Building Peace

The Good Friday Agreement was signed this day 20 years ago following a historic vote, where 71.12% of my people voted to end our bloody conflict in a deal between our two governments and major terror groups.

I didn’t quite understand it being so young, but I never forget the relief in my families faces that night when it was announced on live TV, having been personally deeply affected by this conflict.

I am truly thankful for this agreement, it personally gave me the chance to live without being subjected to any more daily bombs, guns, violence, hatred, deaths and destruction of buildings and infrastructure.

Despite our shamefully non-functioning local government, Northern Ireland looks nothing like its grim past.

Unsurprisingly the legacy of our conflict continues with extreme levels of PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicide, homophobia, racism and sectarianism and division throughout society and in education, housing and employment opportunities. With Brexit on the horizon, we now face even more challenges.

We have moved on and built many bridges. We have so much more to do though. Peace, like many things in life, has to be a continuous movement forward, not just a one off agreement that we forget the fundamentals of and move on and away from quickly. It takes constant hard work, re-balancing those terms based on what society needs, respect and maturity.

We can do this. We just have to be as brave as we were in 1998.

2017

What a year.

It’s mid November, 2017. Tonight as I write this, I’m 40,000 feet high heading towards Ireland for the first time since last Winter. I am listening to Ólafur Arnolds’ beautiful tones. I look out the window to my left and see the most spectacular view of a clear, star filled sky with the Northern Lights overshadowing them with their beauty and amazement. I look down and see ice fields with what looks like rivers running through them - or maybe it’s Greenland, IDK. It’s a beautiful moment regardless. I think a lot, as I always do when I travel. Where I am going? What’s next? Thinking of the emotions I’ve felt, thought patterns, events and the life changes I have made this past year.

This was a spare of the moment trip. I was homesick recently - probably the most I’d felt since immigrating to Canada, I wasn’t working - nor having luck finding a job, a bit lonely and missing my family and friends from home too much to not take the opportunity of gaining the energy my family, friends and Belfast gives me.

2017 was all the things. Exciting, heart warming, tough, eye opening and sad.

I returned to Canada after my last trip home in January. It was very cold and remained very cold till mid-April. My roommate was on a trip for the following 8 weeks. I was lonely, sad and struggled leaving the apartment in the cold with no structure or reason to. I spent most of my days desperately trying to find work, however with my confidence being low from loosing a job unexpectedly, my visa at the time ending in spring and my French not up to scratch to actually work in French, I wasn’t successful.

My true friends came out of the limelight at this time and helped immensely with support, keeping me busy, inviting me over and sending the odd message to let me know they were there. I was very lucky.

Volunteering
By February, I decided to put my energy and time to use and began volunteering with a wonderful not-for-profit organisation in Montreal called Santropol Roulant. I was back in the game of having a focus and reason to leave home each day, doing something that was important and meeting new friends. I helped mostly with their Meals on Wheels program, preparing and delivering food to old and vulnerable people throughout with city. I met so many amazing people here, practised my french and did important work. It was great to work for something with capitalism not at its heart.

PR Battle
Before loosing my job, I was hoping to and had already started to apply for Permanent Residency through a Quebec program, but after the job loss, that too was out the window, as I didn’t have enough credentials not being French. So I started to aim my focus and energy at leaving Quebec finally after 2 amazing years there. Off course the province I chose to settle in didn’t allow me to apply directly to the federal government’s Express Entry program, so I had no other choice but to leave the province of Quebec to apply and start fresh again.

East to West Canada
Trying to make the best of what had happened and having all this time on my hands, I decided to travel to parts of Canada I hadn’t been to yet. Mainly to see if there were any other cities I could see myself living in and also to explore the country I thought I loved so well. From east to west, it really inspired me. I started with a beautiful lone train journey to the east coast from Montreal, Quebec to New Brunswick and then Halifax, Nova Scotia. I had the best trip. I wasn’t long alone, where I was greeted by friend of a Montreal friend, Andrew, who not having met before, offered the most amazing hospitality, showing me the city he loved and introducing me to his wonderful friends. The highlight of this trip was a rainy drive out to Peggy’s Cove with his friends to see the rugged coast line and beautiful scenery, then finishing at his friend’s apartment singing and playing Irish folk songs while eating their local delicacy kebabs.

A month later, I continued my journey across Canada to the west this time. I travelled to Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Banff, Lake Minnewaka, Vermillion Lakes, Lake Louise, Columbia Icefields, Jasper and then took the train through The Rockies to Vancouver. Again, I was so lucky to have my friend Roxanne to host me, show me around and travel with on arrival to Alberta. The Rockies were out of this world, postcard material, Edmonton was super fun - with such an edge and underground scene that I didn’t expect. It helped that a lot of my Montreal friends were from there and gave me lists of things to do too.

Tom then brought me into Vancouver with a bang, again introducing me to his incredible friends, I had a true Vancouver experience on my week there. What a beautiful city, with a soul connected to nature. I’ll never forget this trip.

Summer
Towards the start of my summer, I made the decision that Toronto would be the next city for me, so I decided to set a date for the of summer, for one last glorious summer in the city I love so well. After all, we don’t put ourselves through the harshest winter there for nothing. From June to September I make each moment count, I celebrated Montreal, I danced, I became closer to my tight knitted friendships groups, I practised yoga daily, cooked, drank wine and beer with friends in the park, sunbathed, biked, went camping, apple picking and walks, volunteered and laughed. It was special and will always be remembered as one of my favourites. Saying goodbye in September was so difficult though, after creating such a life for myself, arriving to a city I didn’t know many people and being so accepted as part of the furniture will never be forgotten nor will my love for this incredible place I’ll always call home.

Toronto
Initially, from all cities I’d visited so far, Toronto made sense, it was close to Europe still, close to Montreal for those odd weekends, I could speak English again, it’s basically the capital (without Parliament) with most of Canada’s population, industries and opportunities. I made it happen. I used to host on Airbnb in Belfast and once I hosted two people from Canada. I now live with those two, Sarah and Michael and also Danielle and our cat Billie. It really has been the perfect mixture of fun, comfort, family in a beautiful modern townhouse.

Generally I haven’t fitted in nor feel as settled as I did in Montreal yet, I have to give myself time and patience though. I know that will come - there’s obviously a reason so many choose to come to live in Toronto. Once I find that perfect job (now many weeks in the failed making), I’m sure my lifestyle will more suit this huge vibrant city more than fun’employed.

Onwards
I’ve hopefully landed a few freelance contracts that will start over the coming weeks, which will keep me busy and focused and help pay those never ending life bills. I’m excited about the unknown,

I’ve also applied for Permanent Residency - and now in the bureaucratic waiting to not go anywhere. I really hope everything works out. I wake up thinking about it, I goto sleep thinking about it. I worry. But I hope. With Brexit and Nationalist Britain, I really don’t see myself returning to Northern Ireland in the next few years, so this is my opportunity to make something else better for myself. I’m open to whatever happens, but I will try this first.

That’s it - a year in one blog post. Thanks for reading and for always supporting me on my journey. The never ending one.

Now, where’s the Guinness?

Northern Ireland Votes #ae17

I have been so disillusioned with world politics these past number of years, especially locally in Northern Ireland.

Today I wake up happier that finally, change is happening back home. After 100 years, Unionism is not longer the political majority. No longer do those politicians have the ability to take away away equality and the rights of minorities and woman. It’s a delight to read that so many forward thinking and progressive politicians now have a seat in the NI Assembly to speak for those who never had a voice before.

The UK is changing to the point I don’t relate to much anymore. For many years, I personally sided with remaining part of the UK, but since Brexit was voted for and the DUP’s nasty approach to everything they put their hands on, I have never been more convinced that we should lead Ireland to be one again at some point in the future. It just makes sense.

It’s now our time to use democracy to make change work for us -starting with Marriage Equality, the Right for Women to choose, Irish Language Act, the removal of corruption and better mental health care.

Congratulations NI. Each of your votes did matter and slowly we will see progress.

Nothing is Guaranteed

Bonjour à tous.

Ça fait longtemps que je n'ai pas écrit.

I write this as I fly back to Ireland for the first time since arriving to Canada in May 2015. I am very much excited to see my beloved Belfast, family and friends for the first time in far too long.

Nothing in Life, is Guaranteed

I’m currently on an unknown path that is both exciting and testing.

I’ve literally no idea where I’ll be this time 6 months. My two year visa end date is creeping up and I’ve nothing yet sorted to remain here. I’m currently doing my part to remain here but if it doesn’t work out, I’ll have to leave for a new unknown adventure.

Just recently I was reminded that nothing is for life and that nothing is guaranteed. I went to work as normal one day and left work that same day unemployed. The company made many cuts without notice and I wasn’t fortunate to be saved. This is the first time I’ve ever been put in this position.

At first I was shocked and for a few days I sulked and moped around a bit - struggling to understand, accept and believe what had just happened.

What a Difference a Week Makes

I’ve already turned this difficult news into a positive experience. The first thing I did was to take advantage to head back to Ireland for Christmas earlier. This helped transition my negative energy to positivity with the excitement of seeing my niece, meeting my cousin’s new baby and spending Christmas with my family and friends that I’ve missed so much.

It has reminded me that ‘things’, jobs and security are just small ingredients for happiness. Happiness is so much more than that and off course must be challenged. True friendships, family, love, rich experiences, culture, health and the power of music are so much more stimulating and important to me.

I’m so lucky to have such incredible friends and my Mum, who have always been there supporting me. We must ever be afraid to reach out for help sometimes.

Loosing Fear Helps Challenge the Soul

Stability is gone, but freedom and curiosity has arisen and it’s time to embrace the unknown again.

I had a really brilliant year at the company, meeting new friends, working in advertising, commerce and publishing that I’d never experienced before, having a professional lifestyle in Canada after my 8 months vacation and off course enhancing my design experience - always pushing new boundaries and learning new skills daily.

Maybe I was getting too settled, but what I have realised is that job security entitles someone to fire you. Either you are working to build someone else’s dreams or building your own.

Maybe it’s time to start building my own, as you can fail at what you don’t love, so you might as well take the chance in failing whilst trying to do something you do love. That’s so exciting.

I have no fear. The next 6 months will determine a lot of things which are yet unknown and I’m excited to see what’s next. What I do know is that if what’s ahead is anything close to my last year and half in Montréal, I’m in for a treat.

I am in charge of my own destiny and am ready for the next challenge. I am eternally grateful to be on this earth and to be healthy and able enough to enjoy all that life brings and throws my way.

Time to enjoy my beautiful Belfast and New York before returning to ma belle Montréal.

Health to enjoy, a peaceful 2017.

Merry Christmas - Joyeuses fêtes à tous et bonne année.

Namaste,

Daniel