I started unconsciously developing an interest in nature at an early age, since all the things I enjoyed the most involved outdoor activities. Nothing gave me more excitement than exploring the woods nearby my grandparents’ house with my childhood friends or playing with my cousins in the huge and mysterious garden at my grandma’s. Not only because of the magical adventures that us kids could live in those places, but also because of all the things that could be discovered there: cool bugs, unusual-shaped leaves, rocks that looked like mountain trolls, crooked and mossy trees with ominous auras and, if we were lucky (and not too loud!) even woodland animals.
Growing up, my fascination for everything nature-related didn’t fade, even though I didn’t follow an academic path that was strictly concerned with the environment. Over my years of studying foreign languages and literature I came across many literary works that shared my concern for the natural world: ancient manuscripts, romantic and transcendentalist writers (especially Henry David Thoreau) and more ‘contemporary’ ones, like Amitav Ghosh and Derek Walcott. Another example is Seamus Heaney, an Irish poet (winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995) who had a significant impact on me together with the film Into the Wild. Its soundtrack, composed by Eddie Vedder – leader of the politically engaged US band Pearl Jam – has always kept me company over the years, during which I continued discovering the environment through books, music, comics, cinema, art and Celtic and Scandinavian folklore/culture.
Let’s say that before arriving in Ballinaglera, my journey from Italy to Ireland had a quite long stop in Scotland, where during my ERASMUS year I had the chance to hike in the majestic Highlands and marvel at their imposing presence. My stay in Edinburgh and the impact with the harsh Scottish landscape was so meaningful to me that it shaped my future plans.
In fact, after my stay there, I decided that I wanted to explore more of that part of the world and I managed to enrol in a Medieval Studies course at Trinity College Dublin. Through this experience I became more familiar with Ireland, its customs, history and landscapes. I felt closer to the beloved authors I came across in my studies, and to the traditional folk music I am so passionate about. However, when my master’s was over, I was feeling lost and purposeless, so as soon as I learned about the opportunity of volunteering for an environmental organisation such as GEAI, I immediately applied. After attending a couple interviews, I received an offer for a volunteer-ship of 1 year in Ballinaglera, that I accepted without hesitation.
I have always loved travelling and discovering new places and cultures, so I was very much looking forward to another exciting adventure abroad. But this didn’t make the goodbyes to my family any easier, even though we should all be used to them by now! So, on March 3rd I took my flight for Dublin. As I was looking through the plane window, I felt a little bit home admiring the stormy clouds at the horizon and all those square green fields I recognised from my first experience in Ireland. Once landed, my bus wasn’t due for another couple hours, so I spent that time watching the ebb and flow of humanity, moving to-and-fro from the airport like waves, wondering at their backstories.
While waiting for the bus it started to rain, and in that exact moment I realised that my adventure in Ireland had finally started! Since I was undecided on which bus was directed to Carrick-on-Shannon, I asked to a bus driver, but a kind gentleman who was waiting at the bus stop reassured me before the driver had a chance to answer. This is how I discovered that the right bus was due in 10 minutes, and that the gentleman knew because he was going to Carrick as well.
I arrived at Carrick-on-Shannon when it was already dark, but I found two of my soon-to-be housemates, Héctor and Arnaud, waiting for me at the bus stop. We all went home to Drumshanbo, and there I also met Nacho, the last member of our little group of flatmates. After settling in and having a quick dinner, since it was a Friday night we all decided to spend the evening at the local pub. Here I was introduced to Alessandro and Ferruccio, the last two volunteers of the project and future co-workers. Surrounded by the cosy atmosphere of the pub and having a chat with my future colleagues and friends in front of a good pint, I couldn’t think of a better way to start my new adventure!
