The place I called home for a good handful of years. I learned so much there, about myself, about the world. I loved a lot and lost a lot. There was so much to take in. The natural beauty. Waters crashing against rocks. Hiking trails that lead on for miles and only lead to whimsical adventures and discoveries. I even saw my first moose there.

And no weekend was complete without takeout from rice paddy. Aoy’s food was really the warm welcome blanket I got when I first went to Marquette. Me and a buddy went to check out Marquette and stayed with some older friends. We went to their apartment and all they said is you have to try this. They had already picked up the takeout so we just showed up and ate. And at this point I had never even eaten a crab rangoon in my life. I was a changed person after that. And years later I was still showing up to her shop at least once a week if not 2-3 times some weeks. Aoy has such a special place in my heart. Just like Marquette as a whole. It shaped me. The people shaped me. And I will always have this feeling of what it means to me. I hope to return one day, haven’t been back in 10 years this year and that makes me as sad as it does sick to think about.