My mind never wanders far from Ireland now that we’re back in the States. When you are abroad for only a short while, you find yourself amused and comforted by reminders of home: the “Eddie Rockets” (chain diner Johnny’s Irish cousin) reminds you of singing “Stayin’ Alive” back in high school, and though we loathe the McDonald’s monopoly, we laugh a little at their attempts to fit local foods on the fast food menu.

After three weeks in Ireland, those all became familiar, as well as many other stores and shops and eccentricities. Now back in Boston, I’m reminded constantly of Ireland and Irishness: a bar named “Grafton Street” brings me back to the boutiques and chocolate cafes of it’s Irish namesake. And the Celtics, in their green and white jerseys with shamrocks, may be a simple reference, but it’s clear nonetheless.

References to Ireland can be spotted all over Boston, and while we were in Ireland many people, when they realized we were American, would immediately add that Boston was their favorite city. Is it their favorite city because it references their home, or because it’s an awesome city on it’s own?

I think there is a lot of parallel between Dublin and Boston, but I feel like both would refuse the comparison. Maybe we can think of them better as cousin cities, with distant relatives who were much more tightly knit, but now it’s only a ghost of their presence.

Time back in the States has given us the chance to reflect on important take aways for the final, feature-length documentary. Distance from the footage and the fantastic Irish men and women we met is giving us the time to think about what qualities, characteristics, and moments to stress, especially since this full-length documentary will be primarily for an American audience. What do Americans expect to see in Ireland? What can we do to relay a poignant experience?

Please, the best thing you can do is share with us your favorite moments from the Broadcasts or the Blog, or the Twitterfeed so far, so we can elaborate more on those moments. We look forward to sharing the final product with you!