Hello again! The last two weeks have zipped past, and I honestly can’t believe it’s already time to write another update. Life has been beautifully full and chaotic, so I’m going to update you categorically, instead of chronologically.  

     First, a work update! I am still loving my work at Fighting Words, and I learn lots every day. Last week, I attended a networking event that was arranged for arts organizations to connect with businesses and corporations to discuss possible partnerships. It was great to meet some other people doing arts work in Belfast and to learn how to summarize the work we do at FWNI in a succinct and engaging way. I also got to help out with my first Write Club meeting. Write Club is a space for young writers ages 12-18 to write together, share ideas, and get feedback from the club mentors and their peers. My role was to open the workshop with a writing prompt and to give feedback on the students’ work at the end of the writing time. The students shared all kinds of things: one shared a gripping chapter of a novel and another read a poem inspired by a short story she has been working on. I was in awe of their creativity and commitment to writing, as well as their support for each other. 

     I have continued to facilitate storymaking workshops, gaining new responsibilities and confidence in my roles. I started out by participating as a typist, transcribing the children’s ideas so they could see them on the screen. I also gave feedback to the students on their individual writing during the second part of the workshop. Most recently, I have begun to do character building, which is the portion of the workshop where we assist the children in brainstorming and choosing ideas for a main character and their greatest wish, greatest fear, and best friend. For each category, we develop three ideas, and for each idea, we ask questions to help them flesh it out. For example, if a child suggests that our main character could be a bear, I might ask what the bear’s name is, or whether this bear has any special powers. My aim as a character builder is to affirm the children’s ideas by helping them develop them further without imposing any suggestions or bias of my own. This is quite difficult, because I don’t want to “lead the witness”, but there are also times when the child feels stuck and needs a gentle nudge to resume their creative process. As I have practiced character building, I have begun to understand more instinctively when I should push a child to share more and when I should back off, how I can encourage them to pivot from an idea that is unoriginal or too dark without making them shut down, and what kinds of questions to ask to help an idea blossom. It’s nice to be able to mark my growth while also striving to keep improving. 

     Outside of work, I have been finding the balance between self-care/rest and exploring my new surroundings! Some notable Belfast experiences have been strolling through St. George’s Market with an old friend on a Saturday morning, trying a burrito from Boojum (Belfast’s less-good version of Chipotle), realizing just how terrifyingly much the Albert Clock leans, going on the ride at the Titanic Museum (thankfully it is not a reenactment of the sinking of the ship), poring over the gorgeous artwork in the Dockers and Dolls exhibit, and taking the History of Terror walking tour which featured personal stories from the history of The Troubles (coincidentally, there were four people from my hometown also on the tour!). As a person who is quite in love with following threads to discover origins, I am delighted to be in a city where each building and cobblestone holds centuries of stories and significance. 

     Aside from exploring Belfast, I also took a day trip to Derry. This was particularly exciting because I’m a huge fan of the show, Derry Girls. The day was a practice in spontaneity from the start– I had booked a bus tour of Northern Ireland, but I overslept and missed it. I refused to let the day go to waste, so I got ready as fast as I could and sprinted to the train station to catch the 10:30 am train to Derry. When reality diverges from my carefully laid plans, I try to find what opportunities my new path has opened up for me, instead of dwelling in disappointment about missing out on the original plan. There were so many things that made me believe I was meant to be in Derry that day; none of it was planned, yet I kept stumbling across things that meant a lot to me. I was feeling frantic on the train, but then I made friends with a girl my age who had just moved to Belfast, too. I have been looking for a nice copy of Jane Eyre (my favorite book) for a long time, and I found a beautiful copy in a charity shop for £3.50. I stopped to admire the wildflowers growing alongside a cathedral, and ended up having a lovely conversation with an 80-year-old nun named Rosemary. I decided to take a turn off the peace wall that I was walking along and stumbled across a cluster of murals. I’m a girl who loves a plan, but that day was a stark reminder of the joy that an openness to change can bring. 

     In the spirit of change and new beginnings, I box-dyed my hair last night! I’m officially ready for fall in Belfast, a place which is quickly becoming dearer to me. There have been so many moments where I have been filled with joy and belonging here, even in the newness: in an overpriced tiramisu latte on a sunny day, in the rich harmony and dissonance of the voices in my women’s choir, in the sweaty exhaustion of weekly boxing classes, in the rare, but spectacular tendrils of morning sun on my rumpled bedsheets, in the giggles and promise of future hangouts with new friends, in strawberry jam on crumpets and beans on toast, in windswept hair and seagull friends by the riverside, in the music and scents that are becoming inextricably linked to this time of my life. Each passing day brings change, and I embrace it!

Until next time,

Eleri xx

     One week ago, I landed in the George Best Belfast City Airport. I was sweaty, deliriously sleep deprived, and eager to begin my life here. Expecting the nightmarish winds and torrential rain of lore, I was pleasantly surprised when a light breeze greeted me and gentle sun rays warmed my face. Once I arrived at my new home, I sat and enjoyed the beautiful view from my window for a while– to the right, I could see the beautiful buildings in city center, and to the left, I could see the rolling green hills that surround Belfast. I was filled with awe and joy that this is my life now, and I vowed not to become numb to the magic of this place.

     My first few days were full of mundane tasks to get my room and kitchen set up, but I was far from bored. As I walked to buy hangers and towels from Primark, I drank in the vibrant colors of Belfast; there’s a mural around every corner, cheery flower pots hang under store awnings, and bright lights adorn every alley. This city brims with creativity and community, and I now get to participate in it.

     On Sunday, I decided to visit a church near my flat. It was built in 1816, and I imagined generations of churchgoers sitting in my place while I studied the intricate stained glass windows and let the ethereal choral notes wash over me. After church, I stayed for tea and a chat, and everyone was friendly and welcoming. Two old Irishmen, Billy and Frances, invited me to lunch with them at a nearby cafe. We enjoyed fish and chips together, then visited the Ulster Museum. They spent the whole day regaling me with tales of Belfast past, which gave me a picture of what this city has been and how it has changed. I was struck by the kindness of these strangers who were so welcoming and enthusiastic about sharing their city with me. It was a good reminder that the opportunity for spontaneous adventure is always around the corner, if only I am willing to say yes to it. 

     Monday was my first day of work at Fighting Words. They very kindly let me come into work late because they knew that I was still fighting the jet lag demons (I have now finally adjusted). My supervisor, Aoife, spent the first whole day introducing me to Belfast and Fighting Words. She took me through a practice storymaking workshop, walked me around the area to show me a nearby coffee shop and park, and gave me an overview of all the work we will be doing. On Tuesday and Wednesday, I got to participate in virtual and in-person storymaking workshops. During the two hour workshops, we take the children through the process of writing an original story. We start off by making a list of story “ingredients”, then brainstorm ideas for the main character, the main character’s greatest wish and greatest fear, and a best friend or villain. The children have brilliantly creative ideas, like an immortal piece of toast named Bob or a mischievous hamster named Chubby. Next, we write Chapter 1 of the story as a group, with the children taking turns crafting the story line by line and ending the chapter on a cliffhanger. Finally, we give them half an hour to write their own Chapter Twos. Their imaginations overflow, and chatter rises in the room as they excitedly share their ideas with their classmates and mentors. We guide them when they get stuck, asking open ended questions to help them develop their characters, dialogue, and plot points. At the end of the workshop, a few children read their Chapter Twos to the class, and they often have pictures to share as well. I cannot even put into words what a fulfilling experience these workshops are. Seeing kids who have previously dreaded reading and writing light up with the realization that they have the ability to tell stories of their own is such a special moment to be present for. Yesterday, one child even asked if she could keep writing chapters of the book and bring them back to show us. Even though most classes only do one workshop per year, I know that the workshops’ impact is deep and lasting for many of the students. 

     At the end of week one here, I could not be more content. I have met kind people, enjoyed meals with roommates and new friends, explored new parts of the city on foot and on transit, learned lots in my new workplace, and already begun to feel at home here.

Back soon with more updates!

Eleri xx

It’s almost time for my adventure to begin! Two weeks from today, I’ll be stepping off the plane in Belfast. I’ll be wearing everything that doesn’t fit in my suitcase (I’m talking multiple winter coats), so I will definitely not be putting my best fashion foot forward. 

Let me catch you up on my preparations for the move– it’s been a busy summer. Since receiving the joyful news that I would be going to Belfast, I have been making lots of arrangements to ensure that my transition in September is smooth. My main accomplishment has been procuring a UK visa, which involved reading the entirety of the UK immigration website, bothering my endlessly patient partner organization with a bunch of forms to fill out, paying lots of money, and even taking a little road trip to the Cincinnati USCIS Office. I’m happy to announce that I finally have that hard-earned stamp in my passport, so I can finally breathe for the first time in 3 months. I also applied for an international credit card (with no foreign exchange fees!), secured housing (I’ll be living with college students in Northern Belfast), bought a plane ticket (departing on 9/11), purchased a UK phone plan (excited to have the +44 prefix), and got a Belfast transit card (can you tell I’m extremely Type A)? 

Aside from handling the practical things, I have also done a lot of emotional processing and transitioning over these past few months. I knew that this could be my last summer living in Nashville, which has been my home for the past four years, and I wanted to hold space for the magnitude of this change. In my last days there, I lingered in wistful goodbyes and reflected on cherished memories. I visited places that held meaning for me, ceremonially experiencing “lasts” (last church service at Belmont United Methodist, last walk at Shelby Park, last drive down Belmont Blvd, last Chocolate Milk Latte at Sump Coffee Co, etc). My heart brims with love for the city that has remolded me! The physical space and the people within it have forever changed me and my trajectory, and it is quite bittersweet to realize that we will now be evolving separately. I will never be this version of myself, in this city, in this phase of life, with these people, ever again! Instead of feeling daunted or disappointed by that reality, I am invigorated. I feel confident in my choice to leave and excited by the prospect of a new environment. I know that moving to a new country alone will not be easy– it will probably be isolating and stressful at times. However, I am sure in the friends and family who are rooting for me, my ability to find wonder in the ordinary, and the joy that will come from doing work which impassions me. 

I stand where I am today because someone taught me to love stories as a child; now, I am ready to pass that love to students in Belfast. At Fighting Words, I will facilitate story workshops, empowering children and illuminating their ability to expand their own creativity. I will also lead a creative writing club, strengthening young writers’ skills and supporting their growth. I cannot wait to meet the students and my colleagues at Fighting Words– I know I’m going to learn so much! 

Until next time,

Eleri xx

a picnic with friends right before I left Nashville

a gorgeous Nashville sunset to see me off

a hopeful and timely message!