Kirstie Runion is completing her semester as an Icon intern. We invited her to offer a comparison between Bluffton and her hometown - suburban Cincinnati. Here are some of her observations:

By Kirstie Runion, Bluffton Icon university Intern

The Bluffton community is completely different from the environment I grew up in, but both have their advantages. I came to Bluffton University as a sophomore from Cincinnati. I was hesitant because the town was so small. Although I miss the big city, I have learned to love the smaller town.

Home
Although I claim Cincinnati as home, my address says Monroe. Many people know Monroe because of Solid Rock Church's "Touchdown Jesus" (now burnt down), the flea markets, and the new outlet malls.

Those outlets are about 90 seconds from my house. So although Monroe is where I live, Cincinnati is home. I attended school and church in Cincinnati. Anytime I need something I go up the road to Cincinnati. I live the most north out of all my friends.

Pace
When I came to Bluffton, it was weird to see people chatting with each other at the bank or going on walks together outside. People stop to enjoy each other and the community.

In Cincinnati, people come and go with a purpose. They schedule most of their day, with no wiggle room for fellowship. If they want to meet to relax with friends, they schedule it, instead of walking to their door and knocking.

Driving/Traveling
Many of my professors walk or bike to campus. The students in Bluffton walk to school or to the movies. In Cincinnati, this is rare, if possible at all.

In Bluffton there are two stop lights to get onto the highway. From my house, there are 10 between me and 75.

When I drive in Bluffton, I usually look around the streets to see if I know anyone to say hi or ask if they need a ride back to campus. I leave my doors unlocked some nights and do not think twice about it.

In Cincinnati, the doors must be locked. Not only when my car is parked but when I am inside at red lights. I never look to the cars or streets around me because with so many people hustling around, the chances of me running into someone I know are slim to none.

I have always had a long car ride no matter where the destination is. Although there are many more movie theaters, grocery stores, and schools, there are many more things between each destination.

From my house, the closest movie theatre is a 15-minute drive away. The church that my family has attended since I was two is a half hour drive.

I attended a private school, Cincinnati Christian. Before I could drive, it took three different buses to get to school. Once I got my license, it took me 20 minutes to get there. These times always could fluctuate depending on traffic. I'm not talking about more than seven cars on Main Street; I've sat in hours of traffic before. Since everyone is always in a hurry or on their cell phones, accidents are more prone to happen.

Not everything about driving is bad though.

We have many places like Oil Express, where people do not even leave their cars to get oil changes or their engine cleaned up. Also, there is always an alternative route if there is traffic.

Driving has become relaxing to me, something I look forward to. Especially in Cincinnati. I know when I get into my car, I have 20 minutes or so to myself. Being in a bigger city, there are many more radio stations to choose from. This is helpful with the long drives and traffic jams.

This summer, I have an internship with a publishing company. I have to take four different highways to get there. About 45 minutes, without traffic.

Diversity
For how small Bluffton is there is a lot of diversity. International and out of state students have turned the University and community into a melting pot.

Cincinnati has a lot of diversity as well because how many opportunities it has to offer.

When people in Bluffton might tell their relatives they are crossing into Kentucky for a night, I would not think twice about going to dinner and a movie in Newport (across the river) then driving home.

Community
There is an overwhelming sense of community here in Bluffton. As I said, people are always stopping to chat.

I have lived in three different houses in my life. I cannot recall one of my neighbor's names. Nevertheless would I ask them to play or drive to the grocery together. Out of all my friends in high school, the closest lived 15 minutes away.

In Cincinnati, my school and church gave me my sense of community. That is where I met the people I am closest to and had time to talk and socialize.

Food
Just like Bluffton has Shirley's and Jeanne's Kitchen, Cincinnati also has many hometown favorites, they are just spread all over the city.

Skyline Chili is the first to come to mind; this is where I have worked for the previous five years. Gold Star is another Cincinnati chili.

If I want pizza, I go to LaRosa's; if I want ice cream, I go to Graeters.

Other Favorites
Bluffton has small places that people love. Cincinnati has big places that people love.

I love going to the zoo and aquarium. Being so close to the Red's and Bengals is also nice. I love the little movie theatre in the heart of Cincinnati, Esquire, that shows foreign films.

I love the opportunities and activities Cincinnati has to offer on a boring night. But I have also learned to love the boring nights with the people I love here in Bluffton.

There are pros and cons to both settings. I have learned to love Bluffton and Cincinnati for the different lifestyles they have to offer.

In May, I am going to France for the university's cross cultural trip. This will be another, more intense kind of culture shock and hopefully I will return with positives and negatives of both places.