Uni and Ireland

Posted by: Rick Stutz

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The semester is really barreling along over here. Weeks are going by faster than I even imagined, and the halfway point of the semester is almost here. Someone stop this train! My classes in French become a little bit easier to understand with each passing week, but I’m not speaking enough French to make the progress I imagined. I think I’ll have to come back!

Last weekend, I went to visit a fellow Juniatian, Jen Barry, on the beautiful Emerald Isle. She is attending the University of Ulster for this semester and is actually a blogger as well. I flew into Dulbin and arrived in Belfast to meet her. To my delight, everything worked out besides me almost missing the train to Belfast. We spent a day at her University and a day in Dublin. I watched the French lose to the English in Rugby, which was very disappointing. It was still a good time, however, because I was the only one in the Irish pub draped in a French flag, wearing a beret and drinking a Guinness.

Earlier in the day, we walked around a coastal town a few miles away from Giant’s Causeway, went to the beach and explored the local scenery. I could see Scotland across the sea! It was absolutely gorgeous.

In Dublin, we went to the Jameson factory, where Jen became an official Whiskey tester, certificate and all, and we took a tour of the factory. I had no idea how Whiskey was made, so it ended up being really educational.

After the factory, we explored Dublin for a bit, walking to a few landmarks on the map, and ended up at an Irish pub for dinner. I had a lamb burger with shamrocks on it and a Guinness. One could say this completed my Irish experience.

Sadly, I left Ireland the next day to return to France. Another week of classes flew by, and now I’m heading to Eurodisney for a day!

Arriving in Belfast!

A random waterfall Jen insisted on me seeing…

Day at the beach overlooking Ireland…

The Jameson factory!

Reflecting…

Posted by: Rick Stutz

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Location: Juniata College
Task: Reflecting
Result: Nostalgia

Our last concert was simply indescribable. I’ve never felt the way I do towards this group as I do this year. Everyone put their all into the repertoire, never holding anything back. And yes, I finally cried during ‘Set Me.’ It took four years, all the way to the very last concert, for me to finally reach that moment where I looked around me and realized my unique and special a situation. Everywhere I turned my head during that last concert showed me friends, both currently in choir and graduated. I thought about the relationships I formed with those people because of this group, and how many different ideas, experiences and friendships I’ve had over these past four years.

I looked at Russ and thought about the profound change that man has sparked within me, and how I’ve evolved from receiving the Diaper Award as a freshman to the Bass Section leader as a senior.

Before the concert, Russ had the freshmen and seniors stand up and give one word that they believe summed up this choir tour. I chose the word ‘residual,’ because I believe that these experiences will remain within me. I will continue to use what I learned from them for my entire life, and always have a family to whom I can turn.

A good portion of my Juniata experience has been invested in singing and being in the choir, and this last concert only reminded me that I soon must take the next step away from Juniata and away from my beloved friends.

Special thanks to Jay-Tro for organizing this stop. It was amazing to see him again, and what a spectacular place to wrap things up. The food was great

Juniata and the Choir have certainly left their mark on me, set their seal if I may…