Nick Holda, Ambassadorial Scholar: Wrapping Up Activities in Scotland - Rotaract, Exams, Travels, and a Farewell Rotary Visit

Greetings Friends –

Hope the 2008 District Conference went well for all you back in East Texas! With the upcoming return to Texas less than two weeks away, I’ve been busily wrapping up Rotaract activities, studying for final exams, planning a final travel adventure, and of course, organizing a final Rotary visit.

Rotaract:
After spending two semesters with the Aberdeen Rotaract Club, it was great to wrap up this year’s activities by organizing a float and raising money for local charities at the annual Torcher Parade. Dating back to the days of horse-drawn carts, the Torcher parade has grown to become the largest student torch-lit parade in Europe, attracting tens of thousands of spectators each year. Over 50 decorated floats and 2000 students armed with collecting buckets from Aberdeen's three educational establishments took part in this year’s parade. Spectators throw pocket change at the themed floats they like, and several tons of coins are collected each year to help support local charities.

Having decided to build a pirate-themed parade float, the club spent a day designing, building, and painting a pirate ship and treasure island on flat-bed trailer. That night, we all donned pirate costumes and rode/walked through the parade while waving at the excited spectators and collecting donations. Although a vehicle accident cut the parade short, we had a great time and ended up filling several huge buckets with coins. Several pictures are included below.

Posing on the pirate ship section of the float:

Several of our members collecting donations:

The bagpipe marching band warming up at the front of the parade:

Me getting a closer look at the bagpipes:

The sun setting with the parade underway:

Final Exams, Final Travels, and Farewell Rotary Visit

With Rotaract activities finished for the semester, I’ve been focusing quite a bit on the upcoming final exams. After finishing exams later this week, I’ll have completed the requirements necessary to graduate with a Post-graduate Diploma in Business Administration. Studying at the University of Aberdeen has been an all-around enlightening experience, and I’ll definitely miss the historic atmosphere of the 500 year-old university.

After finishing exams, several classmates and I have planned a three day trip to Dublin, Ireland. In addition to exploring the Irish city and experiencing its culture, the visit should be a wonderful chance to spend time with friends before we leave Aberdeen and return to our homes all around the globe.

Following the return from Dublin, I’ve arranged a final Rotary visit with the Kintore Rotary Club on May 29^th. Spending the evening with Scottish Rotarians will mark a pleasant conclusion to this nine month journey. The following day, I’ll leave Aberdeen and will fly through London and Dallas before eventually landing at Gregg County Airport. Though I’ll definitely miss Aberdeen, it will be great to return home to Texas. As the final days fly by here in Scotland, I'll do my best to savor this culture I've come to know and appreciate over the course of this eight month journey.

Hope you all have a wonderful week! Can't wait to see you soon.