What is your favourite aspect of the Carrigtwohill Community?

What is your favourite aspect of the Carrigtwohill Community?

“I think my favorite aspect is the fact that, when you need someone, there is a sense of community and for people who are living within the community without the criteria you can get the sense of belongingness. You know it's difficult, you have to fit in, you have to really assimilate to fit in somewhere, but no that's not the case here. People are really welcoming, obviously it's a bit difficult for people when you're new, I think most of you can agree with me with the Irish culture that people are a bit reserved but that’s not out of malice but it's just not knowing how to approach you because you're different, even in Irish culture they just push, they ask where are you from and how are you but most people are very reserved and you just have to remember you're different you have to do the first step but even after that they're very open minded and they want to know because they're curious. ”

 

“I know sometimes it happens with us foreigners like, “why are they asking me this? why it doesn't matter where I come from? why do they want to know about this?” so you know within reason when you're asked some relevant questions it's good to not take it very seriously, and you know if you want to answer you can answer it ,if you don't want to answer you don't have to answer.” 

“People are curious and it's nice for me personally, I like it when people are curious because I take this opportunity to educate people because so many people I feel, they are deprived of knowledge about other people so it's good when the opportunity arises to grab it and to use it positively!”

“I like the fact that people in Carrigtwohill are very open minded. I have a 13 year old as I told you and he sees no color, it's just unbelievable! He tells me about his friends, and I ask, and I feel bad sometimes “Which friend? Is he brown, Irish?” and he says “it's just my friend” I'm trying to understand and to identify his friends and he always finds it weird that I ask which one of his friends it is, because he has many mixed friends, Irish, black, Indian and for him it's weird that I asked. I'm just trying to understand so for them it's strange and I like the fact that they are finding it strange you know, and I hope it continues like that so yeah it's a very extended long answer but I love the fact that people are welcoming and they give you that sense of belongingness, we are trying to buy house and we're finding it really hard because we only want to buy in Carrigtwohill, so yeah we love it that much!”

-Aida Gebremeskel

 

 

 

 “The fact that people are curious, I think that is a good 

thing they try to make connections and then you go on the street and you know people, and they may have only been a short conversation. They sometimes connect with you and that's a good thing you can then establish a conversation.”

“I really like the fact that the systems of community as well, I have that feeling of safety, and I really like that my kids can go out, you know, they can go and play in the streets. They can’t do that in Spain, you know, it is not safe for them to be out for two hours in the evening on their own. Let's say that I wasn't home and there was an emergency or something, they know at least three people they can go to and ask for help. You know, that's a really good thing.”

-Alicia Calleja