Breaking Out of Comfort Zones

The Final Ireland Interviews:

All humans enjoy comfort.  We like to feel secure, safe and in control.  But with that comfort, can come complacency and a dulling of the mind and body. To step out of one's comfort zone is a personal feat -- and it is a privilege.  Not everyone has the guts to do it.  For some, stepping out of one's comfort zone involves an act of physical prowess.  For others, it's the taking on of a mental hurdle.  And for a few, it is a more social, emotional and cultural challenge.  

Cadet Lawless hiking a route to a Neolithic site with an RTE crew
who were filming a documentary about interesting Irish speakers.

This summer, two Marion Military Institute cadets from different backgrounds stepped out of their comfort zones as they traveled to a remote part of Ireland to immerse themselves in an intense Irish Gaelic language course for four weeks.  The cadets were not only entering a challenging educational arena, they were also stepping into a completely different culture.  Nineteen and twenty years old, Travis Connelly and Gordon Lawless were really taking on more than just a language challenge. They were given the opportunity to grow as men, in one of the most beautiful places in the world, but also, one of the toughest.  This part of Ireland breeds a type of toughness, a type of hardiness that is tangible and revered in that culture.  And so, Connelly and Lawless would soon learn to sink or swim thousands of miles away from their regular comforts.  See how they faired in the interviews below.

Interview with Cadet Travis Connelly:

Q: Please describe your experiences in Irish immersion classes from week 1 to week 4?

A: My initial feeling in the beginning of the class was a mix between boring and shocked at the same time. The first day I knew all the phrases and it started to feel like a thorough review, however as the days pushed forward during the first week, I was in shocked. I was learning a tremendous amount and it is partly due to being surrounded by the language. This was just the first four days too. As the days progressed I started understanding and formulating more sentences in Gaelic, even if the grammar and idioms were wrong. The second week I was completely lost and that was due to my instructor’s strict rule of "No Bearla" (English). But, during the third week, I realized how much I learned and I was extremely proud, but humbled at the same time. I had no idea that being immersed in the language at this intense level could have such an effect. 

Q: I could tell that by the end of the second week, you both started to come out of your shells and explore the place, language and people.  Describe these experiences and any challenges you faced.

A: If you ask some of my peers in high school or even college they would tell you that I am a timid person. I am really shy and afraid of what people thought of me, so I tend to stay quiet. Going to Ireland, I realized that people like me for myself. What I thought was funny, other people thought was funny. In a way it kind of broke me out of my “shell,” and I owe that to my old roommate and this trip. Looking at some of the people at the school, I knew I could not go home without making new friends. But to be honest, I was completely out of my comfort zone, and I was nervous at first. During the Friday night skits, I was so nervous that I was shaking, but I realized at that moment that it didn't really matter what the audience thought, as long as I was having fun with my friends. 

Cadet Connelly after being interviewed by RTE
for a documentary about interesting Irish speakers.

I feel like I matured a lot. I learned how to handle the stress of being (at times) the worst student in the class. I hated the second week because I moved up to a new level and was the worst student in my class. It was extremely frustrating, but Dr. Sherling and a few others helped put the issue into perspective. I received extra help in class from Irish people and from some other students from Connecticut. Imperfection is part of the learning process. Now, I am not afraid of making mistakes, which is an invaluable lesson. I also feel like I can learn any language now, and I have a new found respect for the Gaelic language.

The trip in itself was challenging in several ways. Some challenges include difficulty and frustration with learning the language, the new environment, overcoming shyness to talk to people, and living in a self-catering cottage for four weeks. I talked to everybody I could. I had no idea what to say, all I knew was that I was up for the challenge. Away from social challenges, I have never had to buy my own food and live self-sufficiently in that way before. I matured and gained a respect for what my parents have done for me for the past nineteen years.

Q: What was your favorite part of the experience? Please describe one particular moment (or more) that you felt was significant for your life?

A: I stepped out of the bus in Glencolmcille for the first time and took a look around. I was immediately taken by the beautiful scenery. The clouds skimmed the top of the mountains, creating an ancient and mystic feeling. It was nothing that I have ever seen before. The Irish people must take pride from the scenery. The sunsets were incredible. It was truly amazing and memorable experience. I also enjoyed the company of Siobhán and Liam, who run the courses at Oideas Gael. They were extremely nice and thoughtful.  There are truly too many stories to tell, like the "goat and chicken" incident in An Cístín in Carraroe, Co. Galway and the nights at Roarty's in Glencolmcille.

Interview with Cadet Godon Lawless:

Q: Please describe your experiences in Irish immersion classes from week 1 to week 4?

A: I was surprised how much I learned learned in a mere four weeks of the course. Being monolingual, I never really thought I would catch on in any language course. But after a few weeks at Oidaes Gael, I found myself actually becoming familiar with the language. Words would begin to become familiar when the instructor would speak Gaelic. Even though total comprehension was slow, I felt impressed that I learned so much as someone with practically no prior exposure to the Irish language.

Q: I could tell that by the end of the second week, you both started to come out of your shells and explore the place, language and people.  Describe these experiences and any challenges you faced.

And, Q: What was your favorite part of the experience? Please describe one particular moment (or more) that you felt was significant for your life?

A’s: As someone who has always been around family, it was actually quite hard for me to adjust at first. I felt completely out of my comfort zone. But it certainly didn't last long. Glencolmcille is beautiful. Dr. Sherling's favorite quote from me was when I said the Glen was "Cinematic". My favorite part of the Glen was the northern ridge. You could trek up the path to a Napoleonic Era watchtower built by the British, then simply head Northeast and get lost in a more wild version of Ireland. It's like something right out of Lord of the Rings. I found myself walking for hours on end among sheep, badgers, and a strange feeling of desolation. It was foreboding to a degree, yet equally exciting.

There's something about Ireland that I realize. A good Irishman is renowned for "taking the piss", or just taking crap and dealing with it. No giving up. No backing away. The weather can change on a dime. ...[L]ife is different. The classes can be mentally taxing. 

...[B]ack when Travis, Dr. Sherling and I first got to Ireland, during some exploring in Carrarroe we ended up losing our way and were walking for hours. Dr. Sherling said to just "bear with it, settle in, and keep going." And so we kept going. And it was fine. And at the end of the day after a nice shower, food, and bed waiting on me, I felt accomplished. Throughout the trip when I felt down and wanted to give up, ... I settled in for the long haul.