The move from Dublin to Belfast was quick. When we arrived in the new city, we went straightway from our bus to the hotel that would be home for the next few nights. Our hotel has all the necessities we need. Instead of having private rooms, we share rooms with other students. Harlow and I share a room.

We take a walk down to city hall and have an informative tour led by a jolly Irishman. He walks us through rooms where city operations still take place. He describes portraits that hang from walls and robes mounted in display cases. He describes what would take place in each room.

After the tour of city hall, we are free to walk around and explore. We decide to make our way to the Titanic museum. The walk is beautiful. We cross over the channel where locks allow boats to pass in and out. A couple boats wait anchored for the lock to fill and allow safe passage. So much of this city’s identity is wrapped up in industries dependent on its coastal nature.

We eventually make it down to where the Titanic would have been constructed and experienced its cast away from land. We walk the length of the ship and gaze out over the bay. We sit in silence until approaching rain clouds push us back to our feet and onward to dinner. Our group has grown comfortable together. Awkwardness of old has all but disappeared, and we now function as a group of old friends.