Image Up Advertising & Design

Rotary Scholar Reports from Scotland "Service Above Self" is the motto of the Rotary Club and the commit- ment of its members. One project highlighting that motto is the Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship Program, designed to give students an opportunity to pursue their Masters Degree abroad. Stu- dents are also encouraged to immerse themselves in the culture while also furthering the work of Rotary with local clubs and community service projects. I was blessed to receive the scholarship through the Rotary Club of Beaumont/Cherry Valley to study at the University of Edinburgh, Scot- land, toward a Masters Degree in High Performance Computing (HPC). The program was more difficult than I expected but I have applied my- self and am on track to receive a Mark of Distinction on my degree. Edinburgh has been a fantastic home away from home. The people of Scotland are welcoming and friendly. The culture of the UK is interest- ing and there are nuanced differences between life in California and life there which have made me appreciate the U.S. even more. Ultimately, there's no place like home. The support of the Beaumont/Cherry Valley Rotary and the Peebles Rotary in Scotland helped me succeed in my studies and as a Rotary Ambassador. To be honest, I feel I have received more than I have given but I have done my best to be as involved in Rotary as I could while in Scotland and have tried to be a good ambassador of Rotary, my family, California and the U.S. during my year abroad. I am so thankful for the opportunity to spend a year of my graduate program in Scotland. I must send a very special thank you to Dr. Bar- bara Mulch of Chapman University who pushed me to apply for the scholarship and was there every step of the way. Sadly, she passed away a few months ago but will live on as an inspiration because, without her guidance, I would not have taken this path. I am also grateful to the Ro- tary Clubs of Beaumont/Cherry Valley and Peebles, my parents Ken and Sharon Starr of Beaumont, my supportive girlfriend Kelsey Lounsbury, and all my family and friends for their support. It is my intention to pay this opportunity forward with my continued involvement in Rotary and its community projects in the future. ~ By Robert Starr For more on Robert's trip, read his blog at liechswonder.com/greatscot Golfing in the birthplace of golf Robert Starr From Robert's blog at the half-way point of his trip abroad: "I think I will just give a few observations (these are not in any particular order, just things that came to my mind): • Haggis is not nearly as bad as everyone said it would be • Arthur and Gusia Thornton are two of the nicest people I have ever met • The weather this year has been far milder than most everyone was expecting or predicting • There is no Scottish accent. There are a lot of Scottish accents. • The Scottish nation has a long- standing tradition of allying with the French against the English. Even though Scotland is now part of the UK • Rotary is made up of a very diverse group of people who just happen to live in Scotland now, but may not be from Scotland originally. • I enjoy Ceilidhs a lot more than I typically let on • No one in the UK knows how to make a good Coke with Grenadine mixer, especially if you refer to it as a Roy Rogers • Ultimate Frisbee is a much more organized sport than I ever realized • I am terrible at Karting • Never mispronounce Edinburgh in front of Scottish people, you will be sharply corrected :P • Scotland has a long history of making fundamental advances in technology, medicine, etc. • I hate not having access to a car here • I have seen so many Cathedrals/ Churches/Basilicas • I have not seen enough Castles yet • I miss authentic Mexican food • My room and stuff are still as organized as ever (OCD lives on) • I have attended 3 concerts since arriving • Edinburgh is rich in history and culture • Paris is not the city everyone makes it out to be • I love Germany more than I thought I would (and I thought I would love it) • Bangor, Northern Ireland and Ventimiglia, Italy are two of the best romantic getaway spots in the world • Public Transportation is very feasible and nice when implemented correctly • It is possible to live in Scotland and not drink alcohol • Having a smart phone makes life so much easier • Scottish people are very proud of the fact that they are from Scotland Photos by Rodrigo Pena for the City of Beaumont. BEAUMONT NOW | SEPTEMBER 2012 7

• Cover