Enterprise Ireland

Travelers are cool. I have really enjoyed meeting people at the hostels we've stayed at. There are so many people from everywhere; India, England, South Korea, Germany, Latin American countries, and of course, America!  I've had short conversations with many people. It is fun to learn things about where people are from and why they are traveling and what they've seen. It feels very comforting though when you find other Americans to talk to. It's amazing how quick you gravitate towards each other and find an almost instant friendship. I love it! Back at home, that just doesn't happen. But within the etiquette of the hostel culture, it's the norm.

Goodness, I know we've done so many things since I wrote last, but it's getting tough to remember it all. A few things though; I met with my Irish company today. It's called Enterprise Ireland. For the class, one of the requirements is to interview a staff member at an Irish business, which compliments our academic or career interests, and find out some of the key innovations within the company and how the company generates and incorporates new ideas. I had a classmate come with me and the two of us spent an hour talking with a woman named Ann Finn, an highly competent professional Irish businesswoman. It was great. Enterprise Ireland is a government funded firm whose goal is to find and support businesses with high export and growth potential. They also create programs designed to get researchers from universities, medical institutions, etc, connected with businesspeople and other appropriate professionals so ideas can be shared and viable solutions created that have real profit potential. With the Irish economy in the state it is in, they are working their butts off to facilitate the production of innovative products and services that can be exported and that will create jobs.

More on everyday life to come. I just got done skyping with my little munchkin back home and it was so nice! I can't wait to get home and squeeze my beautiful little Elli girl again. =)