After a long sleep Casey and I first set out for the Nerve Center on Tuesday morning. The trek should have been 15-20 minutes, but after journeying around the Bogside, marching up the 20% grade hill to the wall, and making loops around the city centre, we finally made it in 35 minutes. Our first day and a half mirrored my experience with the pre-session BUNI video project: we didn’t have a specific goal and oh were we plagued with technological hindrances. Even so, our mentor Brendan and the director Mervin (a wizard [read Merlin] and magical problem solver), tried to help us develop a plan. It was hard for me, confined within the 65 square foot computer room, to see how any of this could enhance my knowledge and personal experience regarding the current state of the troubles. The only two people I encountered, Brendan and Mervin, stuck to the business of Final Cut and video production tips… it didn’t seem like they were ready to delve into the serious issues that have tormented Northern Ireland forever.
Our second afternoon (Thursday), probably could not have been any more drastically different than our previous experiences. Seriously – if Tuesday was Food Lion, Thursday was Wegmans. Finally my bright cheeriness from the first day returned. Mervin gathered up a load of video equipment and sent us out into the surrounding world. We decided to take advantage of the gadgets at the Nerve Center and create a final project highlighting the Bucknell in Northern Ireland program. To catch our first reflections on Derry and its famous neighborhood distinctions, Brendan drove us over to the Waterside. He had no idea how to navigate the streets of this neighborhood clad with red, white and blue. I was shocked at his subtle admission to the blatant neighborhood segregation. Even though Brendan lives out in the country, he still comes into Derry most days of the week to go to the Nerve Center and I guess I just expected he knew how to get around everywhere. We were literally a ½ mile away from the bridge over the River Foyle, but the residents apparently remain worlds apart.
After I asked Brendan to share his thoughts on the issue, he responded, “Ay, I have opinions.” That was it – but at that moment I felt our communication lines opening up. I think Casey could sense this loosening up too, as she and Brendan joked about her eagerness to snap photos of our chauffeur. It took a little bit of initial discomfort for us to learn so much more than we expected about the other side of the river. Historically Protestants have been the “superior” group, holding a majority of power and with the crown on their side. However, my first impression of the Waterside neighborhoods was that it is a desolate, less lively community. Next we set up our video equipment in the Catholic neighborhood, Top of the Hill. I found it hard to imagine that our breathtaking view of the river was obstructed by British fortifications only one year ago. This is a place where strong tension still exists and violence has continued over the past twelve months, an otherwise peaceful time. This was another eye-opening piece of information, considering that I had neither heard of this neighborhood nor heard of recent acts of aggression. I was happy we were hearing this grimacing information from Brendan, such a fun-loving guy. His fun, colorful spirit brought out an inner-sunshine on our first rainy day.
