Although I was skeptical at first, I can now confidently say that two weeks in Ireland's "valley of the heart" may change one's outlook on life. I learned recently as a Global Volunteers "servant-learner" at the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in the Republic of Ireland.

The first day, we were to convene at 9:00 a.m. at "The Meeting Point" in Dublin's airport, wearing our blue Global Volunteers sweatshirt for easy identification. I was the only one there at 9:00! Was I in the wrong time zone? Was it the wrong day? I checked the letter again for instructions, then looked at the clock. "Patience," I told myself. After all, my own flight two days earlier had been delayed by foul weather over the Atlantic.

Soon, a bundle of energy wearing blue walked my way, with a blond French braid and clipboard -- our competent-looking team leader! Other "blues" began to arrive, looking a bit weary after night flights. Each one was from a different state in the U.S., and all were friendly.

We bought tea and talked as we waited. We were to be a team of nine. One was delayed by a snowstorm in Chicago. Then, it was time to go by van to the Glencree Centre in the Wicklow Mountains south of Dublin. Although the sun was shining, the March wind felt wintry. It would be an hour s drive. The ride was a nice time to reflect on how I planned to spend the next two weeks in service.

The Global Volunteers brochure described the work we would do as physically demanding. We would be doing outdoor maintenance, gardening, and repairs as well as cooking and cleaning. We would also learn about peace-making efforts in Ireland, and how the Glencree Centre operated. As a volunteer mediator In the court system in Oregon, this aspect of the program especially interested me.

As the van later climbed into barren-looking hills of peat my thoughts shifted from the philosophical reasons for serving to the physical surroundings I would find myself in for the next fortnight. I recalled that the Centre was housed in old stone military barracks. This place must be on the other side of the ridge, I thought. What will it be like?

As our van came down over the top of the ridge, we could see a lovely green valley, very different from the dry side we d been on. The road switched back, and we looked down on the rooftops of several massive rectangular stone buildings. Their gray forms were tucked into the hillside at the head of the valley with a beautiful outlook toward Sugarloaf Mountain, a pinnacle on the horizons

The largest and oldest building on the site was 200 years old, having been used as military barracks and later as a boys reformatory. Now It was closed, the roof decaying. Two other buildings forming a "U" shape were about a hundred years old, with some updating and new additions. Our "home" had nice outlooks in all directions.

We were warmly greeted, and found our rooms, After a brisk walk overlooking the valley, we had lunch and team introductions. During "getting-to-know-us" activities that followed, we found out why our teammates were drawn to Ireland and to this program: we wanted to experience the Irish people; we wanted to learn about Ireland; we were interested in the peace process and wanted to hear about it first-hand. Most of all, we wanted to be of service; and we wanted to experience adventure in the Irish countryside.

Several of us had been on service projects in other countries. Global Volunteers has programs worldwide. We had learned from these past experiences and enjoyed them. We discussed what characteristics were important in working as a team. We learned that six young Europeans, and one American, were volunteers at Glencree for six months each. We would be working with them as well. A nice bonus!

We selected ourselves into three teams of three: a woodworking group, a group to fix a cobblestone walk to make it wheelchair accessible, and a trio to build a sheep gate and tear down an old root covering an outdoor barbecue area. Each group of three would have a "boss " who was one of the young volunteers.

We soon learned how much fun it was to work together when everyone was highly motivated and willing to laugh. My two teammates on the cobblestone project were women from Colorado and Minnesota. We were all over 45. Our boss was Ethan, 16, from New York. Much to our surprise, we women were soon welding a pick axe, a rock bar, and mall, breaking up old concrete, and removing cobblestones! Our task was to make a smooth ramp, using the same cobbles and mixing new cement. We began to enjoy being destructive, as we could see our progress so clearly.

We finished our project in two days, and went on to the next, more daunting project. We were to remove an immense pile of burned material that had stood for decades getting dense. The pile was not made of any ashes I had ever seen before, which would have blown away in the Irish wind. It seemed more like the lava ash from Mt. St. Helens when it erupted  powdery, but very heavy. We shoveled it into the wheelbarrow and dumped it, shoveled and dumped, for the rest of the week and into the next. Our goal was to create a flat area that could be used for eating outdoors, in a sun trap on the south side of the oldest building.

An "archaeological dig" was what our project became, as we unearthed a drain and then concave spaces in a grid pattern that were identified as outdoor showers! We had fun imagining what life was like for those living during the period the showers were in use. All three teams were proud of their progress. Window boxes were built, planted, and installed to make the grounds more inviting for future Irish citizen using the building as a peace center. Wardrobes and garbage bins were designed and built. An outdoor plastic roof was removed, and a big sheep gate built and hung. Everyone admired our smooth path and was impressed by our efforts to remove the pile of ash.

During our free weekend, we had an eye-opening trip to Belfast where we listened to political speakers and were taken on tours of historic sites of the "Troubles." Murals with symbols and party slogans were more detailed and powerful than any "graffiti" I had imagined. We began to learn how complicated it is to enable "peace" to occur and were able to see how our small contribution at Glencree contributes to this lengthy process.

On a sunny St. Patrick's Day we wore Glencree T-shirts and walked five miles through the neighboring town of Bray as part of their annual holiday parade. All along the route we were greeted and waved to by children dressed in their parade finest--hats and faces painted with shamrocks--and parents and grandparents waved, too.

Besides our work project which was fun in itself, there were other free-time treats as well. Some of us hiked up Sugarloaf Mountain. We had an evening of Irish dance instruction and there were excursions to local hand weavers and gardens. We met on two evenings with groups of high school students who were staying overnight in the Centre for peace education. We listened to their opinions, and tried to answer their thoughtful questions on U.S. life and American values.

Our last evening at Glencree was full of frolic and farewells, with lots of laughter and a few tears. We prepared musical skits, and one volunteer organized an auction to raise money for the Centre. Donated items included hats, shirts, candy, shoulder massages, and quite a few gifts that had been purchased for family and friends at home. Bidding was fast and generous. Farewell comments by Ian White, director of the Centre, left everyone with no doubt of his appreciation of our hard work, and our admiration for his commitment to the Centre. Ian said, "It's all about growing, isn't it? That's what we're here for."

Now I know why Glencree is called "valley of the heart."

It was clear to me that we had become a cohesive team, and the hopes that we had expressed at the beginning of the two weeks had been met. We learned, worked and laughed together with local residents for two weeks, united in a common purpose. "Service-learning" enables one to experience another culture in a direct and personal way that can truly change one's outlook on life.