Day 12

17 February 2009

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In the Footprints of James Joyce!

Being in Dublin, such an amazing and wonderful capital of Ireland, it would be shame not to know anything about Irish literature and the most famous writers in here. In our Literature workshop we were given a great opportunity to know a little bit of these things while walking around in Dublin and looking for fourteen stumble stones. They show a bronze picture with pages in it describing a journey of James Joyce. James Joyce was an Irish expatriate author of the 20th century. He is best known for his landmark novel “Ulysses” (1922) and its controversial successor “Finnegans Wake” (1939), as well as the short story collection “Dubliners” (1914) and the semi-autobiographical novel “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” (1916). In “Ulysses”, Joyce employs stream of consciousness, parody, jokes and virtually every other literary technique to present his characters. The action of the novel takes place in a single day and sets the characters and incidents of the “Odyssey” of Homer in modern Dublin. Each of the 18 chapters of the novel has it own literary style and also refers to a specific episode, colour and art. Exploring the way of James Joyce, we were successful and found all stumble stones, quoting “Ulysses”. Every stumble stone is near a showplace (statue, monument, architectural building, etc.). In this case we also were able to do sightseeing as well.

Egl? Drag?nait? (Lithuanian group)

Kirvis = Axe?

Several years ago our family had a guest from Finland. Mr. Lass, my father’s job partner, wanted to get to know Lithuanian lifestyle so we invited him to our home village. We offered him national Lithuanian dishes and drinks; later on we suggested going fishing. Unfortunately, we had no luck and could not catch a fish. When we came back we continued regale. We talked about various daily things and compared the differences in our cultures. We realized that the lifestyles in our countries are very different. I have learnt some Finnish words and found out that we have many similar words. What is more interesting; some words are even the same (for instance kirvis meaning an axe). The next morning Lasse had to go back to Finland. I believe he had enjoyed the trip and had a chance to get to know parts of the Lithuanian lifestyle. I also liked the acquaintance and the opportunity to get to know a different culture. In fact, I have been to Finland before meeting Lasse and I have experienced that Finns are very accurate and honest people. I would like more Lithuanians to have these features. However, Scandinavians are closed people and sometimes it is difficult to communicate with them. In spite of that I would like to visit Finland again and stay there for longer.

Raumunas (Lithuanian group)

We will Rock You !

The most important social event I organised was Karaoke and I’m sure everyone had THE TIME OF THEIR LIFES! They got together on a YELLOW SUBMARINE and had a SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER! They started CHASING CARS and it was all a big MAMA MIA! The BARBIE GIRLS were LOSING THEIR RELIGION and even the ISLAND sent out an SOS! TEENAGE DIRTBAGS definitely weren't to be found! So if you want to recognise us WE WILL ROCK YOU on COUNTRY ROADS! AND IN THE END it all did really matter...

Maria Koenen (German Group)

XXX

Dear Friends,

I hope that you are still in Dublin when you read this; you have of course got internet. In the airport on my way home I wrote this poem while thinking of you all in Dublin:

"The tears are running down my face,

as I remember you and the place,

where our friendship was first made,

and also where goodbye was said,

though I probably will never see you again,

your place in my heart will never be slain."

I really enjoyed the week on Achill and hope that we keep in contact. And would you please send the others warm greetings from cold, snowy Denmark?