A couple of years ago I got the privilege to live in Northern Ireland. I lived in a town called Coleraine, about 20 mins from the shore.

I have lots of fond memories from Northern Ireland, and there's no way I'd ever be able to type them all here. However, I really like to share with people how life is different over there.

The Protestants and Catholics still fight, but it's "unofficial." Many neighborhoods have different colors painted on their lightposts and curbs, that way you can tell if you're entering a Protestant or Catholic neighborhood. Most of the schools are also segregated. I got the opportunity to speak with a little boy while I was there and he told me that he had just moved because his family got burnt out of their old house. That means that they were openly Catholic (or Protestant,) and moved into a Protestant neighborhood (or Catholic,) and people burnt their house down as their warning to move out.

It never ceased to amaze me how different Northern Ireland and America could be. We both speak the same language, but there were so many differences. We really are lucky to live in a country where we can believe in whatever we want and there are no consequences. If you ever get the chance to go to Northern Ireland... go! You'll have a great time!

Thanks for sharing your story with all of us lizamerica! Your story has made me want to go to Northern Ireland! But I think I will definitely travel in the future and I will keep Ireland in my mind.