Travels Case

I was raised on a sailboat anchored in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Florida. This upbringing on the water set the course of my life. I was born to travel the planet. In my short life, so far, I have seen almost all fifty states, and have visited Canada, Mexico, France, Belgium, Holland, and Greece. My natural curiosity about foreign cultures coincides with my academic goals. My concentration is anthropology, but as my studies evolve I also find myself interested in the economic globalization of free market capitalism.

I took my first solo trip to a foreign country during the summer after my freshman year, and it made a lasting impression on me. That summer, I received a payout from BP to compensate workers who were affected by the oil spill in the Gulf. I have worked since a very young age, and was eligible for compensation. With this money I bought a plane ticket and traveled to Greece to participate in a project with Archelon, to help protect the endangered loggerhead sea turtles. Located in the small village of Gytheio, on the Mani peninsula, I discovered a world very different from my own. Beyond the beauty of the beaches and the friendships I formed with my international coworkers--all of us spoke English--I was able to learn enough Greek to hold simple conversations with the people in the village.

The people of Gytheio I remember best include Demetrius, a fisherman who taught me how to catch octopus. Xarris helped me appreciate the local foods and the proper way to drink ouzo. Mixahls, a lifeguard of Greek and German parents, showed me that young people anywhere in the world can laugh together and share similar concerns about life. In fact, I became such a part of Gytheios in the short time I was there, a Greek family I met offered to adopt me, so I could stay after the Archelon project was finished. But of course I returned to the States to continue my studies. On my way home, I spent one night in Athens. Here, I learned another important lesson. In the summer of 2011, rioters hit the streets of Athens to protest the devastating effects of the IMF's structural adjustment programs. Back at school, and guided by professors, I applied myself to learn everything I could about global economies, how they intersect, and the affect Western capitalism has on the lives of individuals. I plan to bring my curiosity about these issues with me to Prague, and share my intellectual passions with the university students I meet there. I will join my hosts in their traditions and customs. I will learn about the architecture, and enjoy the arts. But perhaps most important, I hope to make life-long friends, which is so necessary today, as the world grows smaller.