Once upon a time…
This is one way of storytellers start their narration. But my story of travelling to Ireland starts bit differently. It was not long time ago that I met Carmine. Our ways crossed on a workshop on Stand-Up Comedy from Jim Williams. It took place in Velvet Comedy in Prague, where Carmine joins usually for an open mic session. I just mentioned, that I am interested in a non-formal education and after the workshop, he came to me, that he is organising a training course on storytelling in Ireland. Seemed like a dream for me, because since the training course on Sufism, that I attended this January, I was wondering about storytelling and making up good and catchy stories. It is actually very useful skill also for marketing, which is the subject that I am studying since October.
When I saw the application for this course, I was not really sure if I will be accepted. It seemed too professional, too unreachable to get there. But finally, they accepted me! I was very very happy even if after the trip to Istanbul and Turkey I promised myself to not travel that much in order to be a good student and worker in Prague. But apparently, opportunities to travel are coming to me. And it was definitely worthy. Now, when I am writing this article, I still feel my whole body freezing while thinking about this whole experience.
One more interesting thing is, that in December, I was thinking about destinations that I haven’t been to yet in Europe. There are not many, but one of them was Ireland (two more countries that I haven’t visited yet are Portugal and Ukraine… but I believe, that soon they will also disappear from my list of not-visited places around the world). I knew, that Ireland will not be the place to which I would go for my vacation. However, I experienced already so many times, that the energy that I sent just came back, that I was not surprised at all, when the offer to go to Ireland came. I knew, that unconsciousnessly, I had a wish to visit that country, and then the opportunity just came to me.
I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see Dublin, so I wrote a status on Facebook, if some of my friends are in Dublin or if they know someone living there. Kubis (friend from Oldenburg) recommended me to contact Rebecca Mathews, girl who just came to live in Oldenburg when I was leaving. We were never talking to each other, but somehow knew, that we both exist. I contacted her and she agreed to host me. We really didn’t know, how to manage it with keys, so she left me her keys in Spar. Unfortunately, no of the keys worked, so I was not able to get in 😀 Somehow I got to the hallway so I just left there my luggage and went to discover Dublin a bit. BUT! In every good story, there needs to be some twist! I don’t know till now what was happening, but I had really huge pain under my ribs and in my stomach so I couldn’t even walk. I met some girl and she took me to hospital to ambulance. In the ambulance, the lady told me that I would need to wait for at least 4 hours. Despite the huge pain that I felt, I decided to leave. In the night, it was still hurting a bit, but was definitely better than in the night. We were talking a lot and I discovered, how beautiful and peaceful person Rebecca is. I really enjoyed conversations about her life, about life, fears, memories… <3 Next day, I went for a free tour with a guy, who was really crazy into history and had really good, but a bit arrogant humour. Anyway, the tour was really exhausting. The rest of the day, I spent with a guy from Mexico, with who I visited Phoenix park and could touch those cute deers who are living there! It was really lovely walk, we talked a lot and for me it was enlighting to spend at least few hours with someone and not be alone. In the evening, we went with Rebecca to a bar, where I had a beer for 6E (no, Dublin is not OK with prices at all:D). We met their Brazilian guys who were doing tattoos and had very exciting Instagram accounts. I kind of liked one of them and wanted to go with them to enjoy the night, but in the end, it ended up very weird and it was too obvious, that they didn’t want me just for let’s say friend fun but something more so I went home with Beckie. Next day, I went with a train to Dun Loughry, where Beckie was cleaning in a gym and was walking around the cost. I also visited a library and worked there a little bit. Later I bought some coffee and went back to Dublin to join the storytelling tour (such a coincidence!). I was great, but sometimes I had a bit problem with understanding. However, the girl was very passionate about the stories and we were also quite small group, so conditions were perfect for such a tour.
On Tuesday, I went for 3 hours to one Café close to Beckie place, worked and did some things for school. In the bus, I met ther participants from the training and also saw for the first time Stefano. Guy with a beared with bold head and classy style. I knew from the first time that he is the person that would be a friend for that course. And I was right. But about that a little bit later.
ARRIVAL TO THE FORREST AND CASTLE SAUNDERSON
When Paul (the administator of the project) picked us up in Belturbet, I was told, that the place where we are going is only six kilometres from that village. But than, we were driving almost half an hour and not only on the road, but as well deep in the forrest. Finally, the lovely place called castle Saunderson appeared. That place looked like from soma Harry Potter story. During the week, I had quite many opportunities to discover that area and I could not believe, how beautiful some place can be. So many sacred trees, trees so huge and strong, that I will never forget them.
EVERYBODY’S STORY MATTERS
First night, we gathered all together by the fireplace and told each other our story. Our motivation to come to the training course. Later in the night, I stood alone wake up with Stefano and we were telling each other stories from our life and stories about Japanese princess who came to Ireland and died with honours.
In the morning next day, we did journey through the whole evolution of species, of Earth.. called “Earth walk”. Carmine was leading that activity and it was really great one. Our role as participants was only to listen, but to listen actively is one of the most important aspects in storytelling. Next days, we were talking a lot about global education, about values, which are important to us, about our goals and desires…Values important for me and for my life are:
- Mature love
- Freedom/independence
- Pleasure, enjoying
- Excitement/ varoation in life
- Health
- Politeness
- Forgiving
- A spiritual life
One of the top activities that we did was for most of the people Hero’s journey. They asked us to fast instead of one dinner, they asked us to be alone and think about life, but that all didn’t really work for me, I could not really concentrate on dhat task. In the evening, we did council. We gathered around magic subjects found in the forrest and everybody who wanted to join could tell his/her story. I did not know what to talk about, because I did not really take my tome to think, but after few stories that I heard during the council, my story just appeared and hit my mind. I needed to stand up and go for a short walk to absorb that feeling. I suddenly understood how much I was missing stories in my family and how important it is. I decided to share my story, my story about lack of gthering with my family, about lack of time for each other, about my worries and needs to always be somewhere else but home. Everybody was listening to me quietly. I cried. And it was fine. Nobody would take it bad, I just needed to leave it said. It was moment of clarity, of change of transformation. 
Next day, we were making our own bread. There were some problems in our group, because Olga (polish girl) was not able to cooperate, but finally, I really loved our bread. And it was gluten free one. From 4 types of flours :D. And I literally loved the result (eventhough I was the only one, who really liked it -> Ameer commented my bread as ‘disgusting’)
Last day and night was happy and sad at the same time. In the evening, we all gathered around fireplace and wrote final messages to each other. Later i talked to Stefano till early in the morning and went to bed. I was listening “Musica de la non’c” and felt happy. It happend to me already so many times, that I met someone interesting and than our ways just splitted, that I could not be sad anymore. I believe, that if we are supposed to meet one day again, we will. And that matters.