2010 Southern Africa Exploration Seminar Participants

 

Rachel  Abbott

Sophomore

Alicia  Clarke

Junior

Sean  Cox

Junior

Jordan  Dacres

Junior

Catherine  Donnelly

Sophomore

Jennifer  Dunne

Sophomore

Michael  Furgason

Junior

Carly  Glenn

Junior

Joe  Hamm

Sophomore

Joyce  Han

Sophomore

Danielle  Jacobson

Freshman

Bezza  Kifle

Senior

Jana  Koch

Junior

Lisa  Ly

Junior

Kelvin  Mansfield

Senior

Christina  Moncrief

Sophomore

Yara  Moosa

Junior

Hardy  Mowe

Freshman

Lisa  Nguyen

Junior

Vance  Roush

Junior

Christopher  Sawyer

Junior

Paulos  Shiferaw

Freshman

Chee Wei  Tang

Sophomore

Tessa  Trudeau

Sophomore

Corddaryl  Woodford

5th Year (+) Senior

Emer Dooley

Faculty

Tod Bergstrom

Faculty

 


 

 

 

Rachel Abbott

 

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Nickname: Rachel, Rach, or Ray (absolutely NOT Ray-Ray. If you are going to say two syllables, say my whole name!)

 

Hometown: Cheney, WA

 

Married?  Children: no thank you

 

Major(s): Business Marketing and Psychology

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (don’t judge me- I’m a small town girl!)

 

My favorite place to have visited is: Verana resort in Mexico…it’s in a small town in Mexico where local ladies sell pie on the beaches. I LOVE THEM PIE LADIES!

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was:

 

My Favorite Movie is: My Best Friend’s Wedding (girly and awesome)

 

My hobbies or interests are …hiking, camping, volleyball, hot yoga, and cooking

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be____James Franco____ so we could talk about:.our future life together.

 

In the early morning: I’m bright eyed and bushy tailed- some people think it’s annoying.

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa:  wildlife and tourist activities

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: the potential to get malaria/ traveler’s diarrhea

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I really don’t like cotton candy.

 

 

 

 

NAME: TOD BERGSTROM

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Nickname: At the UW -- "Professor" (bc it's not true"

 

Hometown: Medina, Washington (I've relocated all of 15 blocks from my childhood home)

 

Married?  Children: Single

 

Major(s): History, then an MA in history before law school

                                                                                                                 

Furthest Distance Traveled: Tashkent, Azerbaijan (a FULL 12 hour time difference)

 

My favorite place to have visited is: I'm lucky to have travelled extensively so there are various highlights for different reasons.  Diving the Great Barrier Reef; watching the sunset against the Alhambra in Spain; peering into North Korea at the DMZ; crossing Checkpoint Charlie into East Berlin; Rome, with students on a 2005 Exploration Seminar; zip-lining through a cloud forest in Costa Rica...it goes on an on.

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was... running into an elementary-school friend in Athens; a co-worker in Venice; meeting hundreds of relative in Norway, when I was 10.

 

My Favorite Movie is: The American classic, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

 

My hobbies or interests are …Travel, tennis and the New York Times

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be Nelson Mandel  so we could talk about:. His life's work, and how he was able to move South Africa from a racist state to a democracy with minimal bloodshed.

 

In the early morning: .I scan the New York Times over coffee at Starbucks.

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa:  Meeting people who made a difference by contributing to the founding of a new country.

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: The prospect of getting sick on some food not sufficiently skeptical of, and mistakenly consume.

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I've found teaching to be the best counter-weight to my sometimes-stressful day job, and it keeps my young, though my body often tells me otherwise when I'm on the receiving end a twenty-something's tennis shot.

 

 

 

NAME Alicia Clarke

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Nickname: Alicia

 

Hometown: Federal Way, WA

 

Married? Nope  Children: Someday!

 

Major(s): Communication, minor: Architecture

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: Czech Republic/Hungary

 

My favorite place to have visited is: Belize, Switzerland, Italy

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was: Hitting my head on the rocky roof of a Salt Mine in Austria during a group tour and getting knocked unconscious

 

My Favorite Movie is: #1: Moulin Rouge, tied for #2: Across the Universe, It’s a Wonderful Life, Into the Wild, Elf (can literally quote every line)

 

My hobbies or interests are: backpacking, baking, exploring secret places, architecture, festivals, hiking, grocery shopping…

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be________ so we could talk about: I would sit in between Ellen DeGeneres & Theodore Roosevelt... Teddy because he was the best president & founded the National Park system, and Ellen for comic relief! On the way home, I’d sit next to Tom Hanks… because he just seems like an amazing, funny, and brilliant person to talk with!

 

In the early morning: During the school year, I hope I’m not still doing homework I procrastinated on. In summer, I hope I’m getting up early to travel somewhere exciting. Either way, I hope I’m getting breakfast in bed

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa: shark diving, bungee jumping, hiking, safari-ing, and everything else new and adventurous!

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: Arriving and realizing I left some essential item at home due to my awful packing skills

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I ‘m always the person who takes the joke “too far”… and I have a talent for staking out free samples.

 


 

Sean Cox

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Nickname:

 

Hometown: Sterling VA/Hardyston NJ

 

Married? Nope  Children:None

 

Major(s): Finance

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: Mexico

 

My favorite place to have visited is Burlington, Vermont

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was

 

My Favorite Movie is: Ocean’s Eleven

 

My hobbies or interests are …Soccer and swimming.

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be________ so we could talk about: Drew Brees, so we could talk about all his experiences in life and his career as well as how he’s overcome so much adversity.

 

In the early morning: I’m sleeping.

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa: Going on the Safari and seeing a completely new land.  

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: The plane ride.

 

One more thing you should know about me is: Like I said before, I’m really not a morning person.

 


 

 

 

Jordan Dacres

 

Nickname: “Toast”

 

Hometown: Rochester, NY

 

Married?  Nope Children: Not yet

 

Major(s):

 

Business Admin. / Accounting

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: From Tampa, FL to Lakewood, WA

 

My favorite place to have visited is Philadelphia / Los Angeles

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was my brother wetting the seat asleep on our flight home.

 

My Favorite Movie is: The Wood / Top Gun

 

My hobbies or interests are … Poetry, Playing Saxophone, dancing, “Hood rat stuff”

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be Nelson Mandela / Didier Drogba so we could talk about: Invictus / World Cup

 

In the early morning:  I’m a “slow riser”

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa:  Building the basketball court for the kids

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa:  getting sick / not going in the water

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I I’m a very active person!!

 


 

 

 

EMER DOOLEY

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Nickname: Emer

 

Hometown: Limerick, Ireland

 

Married? Yes Children: Yes : 10 &12 yr old girls.

 

Major(s): Electronic and Computer Engineering, MBA  and PhD completed

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: Hmm..Either Irian Jaya (West New Guinea) or the North Pole.

 

My favorite place to have visited is: I have been pox lucky (Irish expression) and have traveled a lot, so I have many favorites for various reasons : The North Cascades, Southwest Ireland, Nice, Iceland, the Brooks Range in Alaska, Belize….good for an evening trip discussion.

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was:  Getting snowed in with David Attenborough and a BBC film crew at the North Pole this year.

 

My Favorite Movie is: Tanguy by Etieine Chatiliez. Hilarious: About a 28 year-old eternal student, still living with his parents. They decide to throw him out.

 

My hobbies or interests are: Running, Skiing, Water skiing, Hiking –anything outdoors. Reading, Cooking, Seattle Sounders…

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be________ so we could talk about: Famous brilliant people intimidate me. I think I would choose Bono to talk about his efforts on poverty and developing-world-debt relief.

 

In the early morning: I am a morning person, so I usually run.

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa:  Seeing the South Africa through the eyes of 24 amazing students.

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: Seeing the vast differences in wealth and the ongoing effects of apartheid; the horror of AIDS up close.

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I don’t do a great job of self-profiles J

 

 

Text Box: Chobe
 

 

 

 

 

 


Mimi Donnelly

 

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Nickname: The Mimiator

 

Hometown: Seattle

 

Married?  No. Children: No, thank you. 

 

Major(s): Marketing, International Business, German Language and Literature

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: Turkey

 

My favorite place to have visited is: There’s this restaurant in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland called Poppies. The food is amazing, the people are fascinating, and it’s a great place to bring friends or to just chill out. It is my most favorite place in the world.

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was: Every time I passed through security with my old passport, they would always stop me because my photo was really THAT bad.

 

My Favorite Movies are: Taxi Driver, Bonnie and Clyde, Lolita, Easy Rider, Black Hawk Down, The Graduate, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Fight Club,

 

My hobbies or interests are bike polo, snowboarding, biking, teaching my cat tricks, cooking, being political, making jokes, learning languages, sequins, racing to DICKS before 2 am, doing makeup, and having surprise road trips.

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be Angelina Jolie so we could talk about: how many kids she’s going to bring back with her.

 

In the early morning: I feed my cat and then go back to bed till the afternoon.

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa: to see all the beautiful landscapes, shark diving, try new foods, see the animals, and interact with people who have accomplished so much for their country.

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: the reality of true poverty and malaria.

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I’m boisterous, the gays love me, and I carry mace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JENNIFER DUNNE

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Nickname: Jen, Jenny

 

Hometown: Homer, Alaska

 

Married? No  Children: Someday for sure

 

Major(s): Business Administration, Finance

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: So far to Peru, on a boat down the Amazon River

 

My favorite place to have visited is: Costa Rica, it’s beautiful there and I would love to have a house there someday.

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was: Meeting Katherine Heigl in a small airport in Mexico, she was really nice and took some pictures with me, I was surprised that she reeked of menthol cigarettes. 

 

My Favorite Movie is: Saving Silverman 

 

My hobbies or interests are.. Being in the sun, visiting friends and relatives, camping in the summer in AK, playing with my dog

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be________ so we could talk about: Kobe Bryant, so we could talk about his basketball career and the Lakers.

 

In the early morning: I am definitely sleeping.

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa: Meeting new people, getting to know the culture and people there, seeing the big 5 animals in Kruger park, laying on the beaches in Cape Town!   

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: Seeing the poverty and worrying about mosquito bites because of malaria.

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I am hard to get up in the morning, but I want to do as many things in South Africa as possible so someone is going to have to pull me out of bed!

 


 

 

 

 


NAME:  Carly Glenn

 

 

Nickname: Carly

 

Hometown: Puyallup/Tacoma, WA

 

Married? No      Children: No

 

Major(s): Business (IS)

 

 

 

 

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: Buffalo, NY

 

My favorite place to have visited is:  Disney World!!! I love rides and everyone there is always so happy!

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was: I was on 2 hour layover at the St. Louis airport when I was in 6th grade. I was playing with a rubber band and it accidentally shot out of my hand and hit an old man in the face L

 

My Favorite Movie is:  Just about any comedy or romantic comedy… can’t think of only one to name.

 

My hobbies or interests are … I run and/or work out 5 times a week, hanging with my dog Joey, trying new foods, drinking wine J, outdoor adventures

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be Dave Matthews so we could talk about: how awesome his music is and about South Africa (he was born in S. Africa)

 

In the early morning: .I wake up, take Joey for a walk, eat a big breakfast, then head to the gym.

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa:  trying new things!

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: the bugs

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I speak my mind. I am a little too blunt and strait-forward sometimes, but I never mean to offend.

 

 

NAME Joe Hamm

 

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Nickname: Sir (note: may not respond to Joe or Joe Hamm)

 

Hometown: Seattle, Washington

 

Married? Ladies...? Children: See married.

 

Major(s): Political Science

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: Luxembourg

 

My favorite place to have visited: Brussels, Belgium.

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was: In France I would attempt to speak French sometimes.

 

My Favorite Movie is: Moon, Solaris, The Proposition, and A River Runs Through It

 

My hobbies or interests are: Arriving five minutes early, sitting quietly at my desk, reading dictionaries.

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be: Upon asking myself this question, I pondered "Would you have a drink with you? (Stoli ®)" and answered "Why yes, yes I would."

 

In the early morning: Get back to me around the crack of noon.

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa:  Helping out in Soweto with the cleats/basketball court/whatever else we plan on doing.

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: The threat of mosquitoes.

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I am the most serious person I know.

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joyce Han

Nickname: Ahra

 

Hometown: Tacoma, WA

 

Married? No  Children? No

 

Major(s): Business (Marketing) or International Studies

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: Paris, France

 

My favorite place to have visited is: Seoul, South Korea

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was: My roommate and I overslept and missed our train from Paris to London. A 45-minute emergency plane ride back cost each of us $300 and a whole day stranded in an airport. The only thing we could afford pay for was a bag of chips to share and a phone call to our home-stay families, asking them to save us dinner.

 

My Favorite Movie is: “ Taeguki: The Brotherhood of War”

 

My hobbies or interests are … playing the piano, doodling, and reading. I am really interested in the arts, whether it is watching musicals, visiting galleries, or just listening to my IPod.

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be________ so we could talk about: I prefer to sleep on long plane rides, but I would definitely want to meet Bill Gates some day and thank him for funding my education.

 

In the early morning: I am hibernating!

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa:  meeting new people and trying things I have never done before.

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: mosquitoes!

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I am both really nervous about traveling so far and super excited to experience a different culture!

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

NAME: Jana Koch

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Nickname: Jana

 

Hometown: Vancouver, WA

 

Married? No  Children: No

 

Major(s): Economics and History

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: Australia

 

My favorite place to have visited is: Australia and a week-long rafting trip in the Grand Canyon

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was.. When my family was featured on Bondi Rescue television show when my dad separated his shoulder body-boarding in Sydney. Also: We met Brian Dierker (Rainey) from Into the Wild on our raft trip.  He works on the Grand Canyon and isn’t an actor, Sean Penn just liked him when they were there filming the movie and asked him to be in it. The guides found out that I was a fan and the whole next day they tracked him down and told him I loved the movie. My dad was taking pictures like the paparazzi. It was awesome to meet him but pretty embarrassing.

 

My Favorite Movie is: Titanic (and I can’t wait for the 1oo yr anniversary when it comes out in 3D!) Also, Gone with the Wind, Into the Wild, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Dumb and Dumber

 

My hobbies or interests are … Watching movies, learning about animals (my favorite is the gorilla), camping, going to fun events such as concerts, rodeos, Monster Jam etc., watching The Office and Modern Family, playing The Office trivia, and playing other board games especially Catch Phrase, Apples to Apples, Bananagrams, Scene It, and Boggle.

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be Daniel Tosh so we could talk about hilarious things and he could entertain me the whole way there

 

In the early morning: I’m not usually awake..

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa:  SHARK DIVING, and all other adventures to come in a place I am so excited to visit

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: Possibly being attacked by said sharks..also being bitten by a tsetse fly and contracting the sleeping sickness,

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I’m not a picky eater but I hate hot beverages, marinara sauce, and eggs. Almost everything else is fair game.

 

 

 

NAME KELVIN MANSFIELD

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Nickname: Kal

 

Hometown: Seattle, Washington

 

Married? Sike

 

Children: Someday

 

Major(s): Business (Finance)

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: Dublin, Ireland (4,522 miles away!) (Where this picture was taken)

 

My favorite place to have visited is the Cabarete, Dominican Republic.

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was spending the night hanging out with a local Dominican who I thought was just a really nice guy but turned out to be a pimp who was trying to sell me you-know-what! Whoops.

 

My Favorite Movie is: Wedding Crashers

 

My hobbies or interests are … Snowboarding, Watersports, Football, Basketball, Soccer

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be Dave Chappelle so we could talk about: whatever. He’s just hilarious.

 

In the early morning: I’m sleeping

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa:  The scenery, the animals, the people

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: Nothing

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I love listening to music, going out on the town, and meeting new friends.

 

 

 

 

 

NAME Christina Moncrief                                  

 

 

Nickname:  Ace                  

 

 

Hometown:  Sykkylven, Norway and Mukilteo, WA 

 

 

Married?  Children: Nope 

 

 

 

Major(s): Finance 

 

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: Europe  

 

 

My favorite place I have visited is: Barcelona and Iceland 

 

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was when I was on my way to Norway and was sitting on the plane next to their national soccer team and not realizing it until I saw a magazine with one of their pictures on it, right after we had already landed.. 

 

 

My Favorite Movie is: Brothers, The Blind Side, and the Hangover  

 

 

My hobbies or interests are …traveling, weekend adventures, hikes that are on the shorter side, golf, music, and meeting new people. 

 

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be Tim Burton so we could talk about: how his next movie should be Wizard of Oz and where he pulls his creativity from. 

 

 

In the early morning: .I'm usually eating the quickest breakfast I can think of and trying to convince myself to go to the gym. 

 

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa: Everything, especially experiencing the culture and going shark diving. 

 

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: Seeing all the poverty and the poor conditions people live in.  

 

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I want to do and try everything I can in life and I am terrified of public speaking. 

 

 

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Yara Moosa

 

 

Nickname: no nickname

 

Hometown: Manama, Bahrain

 

Married? No Children: hoping for a little army of 5 kids in the future, reaking havoc everywhere I take them.

 

Major(s):  Entrepreneurship and International Business

 

Furthest Distance Traveled:  Bahrain to Seattle (7331 miles).

 

My favorite place to have visited is Russia or Cyprus.

 

My most interesting thing to happen while traveling was: In Thailand a shop owner called the tourist police on us. After braiding our hair, the shop owner decided to increase the price from what we had originally agreed on, so that was funny.

 

My Favorite Movie is:  The Notebook

 

My hobbies or interests are: motorcycles (sportsbikes only, in love with the Kawasaki ninja 250r), soccer, cooking for people.

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be________ so we could talk about:.

After doing the reading, seriously, Nelson Mandela… what a king, I’m in awe of how he carries himself and really want to experience it first hand. We would talk about anything really, I just want to be around him and don’t feel a need to talk about serious issues, it’s more about the vibe.

 

In the early morning:  I hit the snooze button forever.

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa: SHARK DIVE. Also excited to see how the less fortunate live and be of help to them somehow… every once in a while I need something to remind me of the importance of selflessness. ALSO, just seeing how business is done in South Africa and how it is different will be really interesting.

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: Don’t want to get sick!

 

One more thing you should know about me is:

I accidentally turned vegetarian. It happened  a couple of months ago when I eliminated meat from my diet just to test it out as a temporary diet. Then I got used to living like that and now I’m scared to eat meat because, although it is delicious, I know my stomach will be weirded out trying to digest. Good thing I don’t crave it and burger ads on tv don’t work for me anymore.

 

 


 

Hardy Mowe

 

Nickname: Hardy

 

Hometown: Bellevue, WA

 

Married?  Children: No and No

 

Major(s): Business - Marketing

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: Stockholm, Sweden

 

My favorite place to have visited is: New York, NY

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was: Walking the Washington National Mall at 4 in the morning with my friends last week.

 

My Favorite Movie is: Gladiator and Pulp Fiction

 

My hobbies or interests are … Reading, playing basketball, and golfing.

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be  so we could talk about:. Jose Rizal so we could talk about his leadership and teachings in the Philippines.

 

In the early morning: . I am grumpy and usually in bed.

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa:  Seeing the different culture and shark diving

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: Seeing some of the townships and the hardships the people who live there go through.

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I want to go skydiving

 

 

 

LISA NGUYEN

 

Nickname: Lisa

 

Hometown: Renton, WA

 

Married?  Nope Children: 0

 

Major(s): Finance, Minor: Education

Furthest Distance Traveled: Viet Nam

 

My favorite place to have visited is: Rome, Italy. I fell in love with the city when I saw how ancient history blended so well with modern culture. I liked how as I walked down the Spanish steps and pass what remains of the aqueducts I found myself in front of Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Prada. I enjoy the romantic language and the Italian lifestyle. Some day, I will return to enjoy a bottle of wine under the Tuscan sun and indulge in homemade gelato. 

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was: Getting locked in a bathroom while I was in Germany…. Getting in trouble with the French security at Versailles for trying to open a hidden door…Getting lost in Venice…stupid bridges!

 

My Favorite Movie is: I am a big Disney fan and enjoy almost all of their old and new movies from Sleeping Beauty to Up. But if we’re talking about human movies, anything with Will Smith in it, I will watch.

 

My hobbies or interests are: I like to try new things; I enjoy sports as well as the arts. My hobbies change with the weather.

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be________ so we could talk about: Normally I like to sleep when I’m on plane rides. If I had to choose, I’d like to sit next to Chris Bridges, aka Ludacris. We’d talk about whatever comes to mind and I’d ask why he is sitting in coach and if he could move us to first class.

 

In the early morning: I like to hit the snooze button at least 3 times before I roll out of bed, but if I get the chance I’d like to watch the sunrise – especially if we hike Table Mountain!

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa: Trying the food, going on a safari, and finding penguins in Cape Town.

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: Witness the poverty and differences in lifestyles, only to know that I’m going back to a safe and sheltered home full of opportunity and wealth.

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I love to travel and have fun.  

 

 

 

 


 


Bezza Kifle

 

Nickname: Bezza Kifle

 

Hometown: Seattle

 

Married?  Children: 0

 

Major(s): Accounting

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: Ethiopia

 

My favorite place to have visited is Disney World

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was I took mixed up my luggage with someone else's

 

My Favorite Movie is: Kung Fu Panda

 

My hobbies or interests are hanging out with friends, consolidating spreadsheets, auditing financial statements (interim not year-end) and protecting mother earth from pollution.

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be Steve Ballmer so we could talk about how we are going to manage to get the Sonics back into Seattle :.

 

In the early morning I am asleep.

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa is playing with baby lions! I absolutely love wildlife and at the top of this love for animals sits the lion:  

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa is free time being taken away from me.

 

One more thing you should know about me is I have a lot of energy and a passion for traveling so when I am in new environments I tend to attempt to do everything. I go hard!

 

 

 

VANCE ROUSH

Nickname: Vance 

 

Hometown: Kent, Washington

 

Married? No Children: No

 

Major(s): Business Admin – Information Systems and Marketing

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: I have been all over Europe and to the Philippines

 

My favorite place to have visited is: My favorite place I’ve visited is Spain.  I went to Madrid, Barcelona and Pamplona and had a blast with Tapas bars, discos, and the people.  The laid back culture is refreshing and the Spanish people really know how to enjoy life.  I loved the vibe and energy.  I also met a lot of interesting international students from all over.

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was:  I snuck into a press conference at the Venice Film Festival and met Eva Mendez

 

My Favorite Movie is: Shawshank Redemption. The first time I saw it, the twist at the end had my jaw-dropped.  I love Morgan Freeman as well.  His voice soothes me.  Great story of patience and justice triumphing at the end.

 

My hobbies or interests are: Basketball.  I love playing and watching it.  Have been playing it since I was 5 years old and I never get tired of it.

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be________ so we could talk about: I would love to talk to Michael Jordan as he is probably one of the most iconic, legendary, and successful people at what they do.  For the most part, he’s handled his greatness with grace and poise. 

 

In the early morning: I am tired and can be cranky.  Mostly quiet. 

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa:  To go into the villages and engage in the service-learning projects we have planned

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: The horrors of the vast inequalities

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I am spontaneous and easy going and am almost always done for anything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TESSA TRUDEAU 31594_1454322717038_1202417914_31294449_6701000_n.jpg

Nickname:  Tess, Shmess, and my bestest friends call me Toosa.

Hometown:  Lake Tapps, Washington.

Married? Children? No, and no, but someday.

Major(s):  Communication

Furthest Distance Traveled: The Bahamas and Key West on a Caribbean cruise.

My favorite place to have visited is:  Hawaii, I have been to Oahu 3 times and Maui once.  Hanama Bay on Oahu is the most amazing place I’ve ever been.  I highly recommend it.

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was:  While in Cabo for spring break this year, I was unaware that the waves & current are strong enough to easily take down a person with the stature of Shaquille O’Neal.  So when I ventured down to the water for the first time, I was taken by surprise and knocked down by a wave, sucked into the ocean, and found myself having to make the decision between drowning or emerging from the water naked (my strapless bikini had just about fallen completely off), and all of this occurred in front of the entire UW Greek system/various passersby/Mexican vendors watching on the beach.

My Favorite Movie is: Garden State, I have watched it a million times and could watch it a million more.

My hobbies or interests are:  traveling, working out, animals, camping, meeting new people, saving the world, animals, attending concerts, shopping, taking pictures, going on adventures with friends, animals……

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be________ so we could talk about:  someone excruciatingly funny, like Will Ferrell or Ellen, to make me laugh and not be scared because I am TERRIFIED of flying.  Or Reggie Bush, that would be nice too.

In the early morning: I am not a functional human being.

I am looking forward to most in South Africa: Safari, shark diving, baby lions, elephants…just animals in general.

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: BUGS.

One more thing you should know about me is:  My top 3 fears are spiders, elevators, and seaweed.  Absolutely terrifying.

 

 

 

Chee-Wei Tang

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Nickname: Jerry

 

Hometown: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

Married?  No Children: No

 

Major(s): Economics, Computer Science(Still Considering)

 

Furthest Distance Traveled: Surprisingly, from Kuala Lumpur to Seattle. After this will be from Seattle to Johannesburg

 

My favorite place to have visited is Never been to many places in my life. From what I remember, it will be Seattle (the only place from home that I have stayed long enough to have any memory of it).

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was getting a warning ticket for speeding from a police officer in Minnesota during my U.S. coast to coast trip last spring break.

 

My Favorite Movie is: I am not a movie person. I can’t even remember when I last watched a movie.

 

My hobbies or interests are: Reading, Badminton, Writing to my penpals, Languages, Travel, J-Pop, Chinese Classics.

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be Master Chin Kung(well-known figure in spreading Buddha’s teaching in Asia countries, Australia and parts of U.S.)  so we could talk about possible ways of using appropriate Buddha’s teaching to solve any ongoing effects of apartheid in South Africa, or any other social problems in Africa.

 

In the early morning: Listen to podcast and get ready for the day.

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa:  Expanding my world view by getting to know the people there, and learn, learn and learn.

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: Getting sick or injured

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I am confused whether to use Jerry or Chee Wei when introducing myself to someone new.

 

 

 

 

 

NAME Corddaryl Woodford

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Nickname: CEE

 

Hometown: Seattle, Washington

 

Married? NO!!!  Children: NO!!!!

 

Major(s): LSJ and Political Science

Furthest Distance Traveled: Rome, I think

 

My favorite place to have visited is: I have visited a lot of places, such as Tahiti, Florence, and been all over America, but if I have to make a tough decision it would have to be Howard University, where I spent 5 months as a student.

 

My most embarrassing or interesting thing to happen while traveling was: I landed on my face trying to do a back flip off a bridge in Tahiti. If you want details just ask me.

 

My Favorite Movie(s) is: Bad Boys 1 and 2. I love all the SAWS that I have seen. I love all the Rush Hours and FRIDAYS

 

My hobbies or interests are: I play basketball and my favorite team is the LAKERS.

 

If I could sit next to one famous person on the long plane ride to South Africa it would be JERRY BUSS so we could talk about me working for the LAKERS one day.

 

In the early morning: IM SLEEP

 

I am looking forward to most in South Africa:  The culture and meeting the people of South Africa.

 

I am looking forward to least in South Africa: Nothing I prepared to embrace a new environment.

 

One more thing you should know about me is: I am a loud person and love to live life.