Traveling the World
Countries/States I've Been To
4 Continents Down....3 to go!
34 US States Down....16 to go!
Traveling:
One of my biggest passions and dreams is to travel the world and learn about other people and cultures. I’ve traveled with choirs and family to fifteen countries on four continents. At each of these places I was able to interact with locals and learn. One of the most interactive and influential experiences I had was when I worked and lived on the Navajo Indian Reservation in the summer of 2007. The goal of the Jewish based program was to assist a community in need, become immersed in a rich culture and learn about leadership and responsibility through vital community work projects. One of the most amazing parts of the program was when we did part of our sabbath service followed by a traditional Navajo ceremony, all performed in a teepee. It was amazing to me because it showed how two cultural groups can live and work together and most importantly learn from each other. This program along with working with the homeless in Washington DC, residents of local nursing homes, and kids, have taught me that there is so much you can learn if you just listen.
Study Abroad:
Studying abroad is a key part of my educational plan because it will provide me with new perspectives on the world meteorological community. Taking myself out of my cultural comfort zone and placing me into another allows me to reflect, learn and examine our global society. Experiences like these allow student scientists from around the globe, like me, to mix and work as a team.
Above: Playing Soccer with Kids at an Orphanage in Mto-Wa-Mbu |
Field Research and Analytical Research in Tanzania- Summer 2008 (GEOSC 297A)
This past summer I was privileged to be part of a group of Penn State students who studied Volcanism and Evolution in Africa at a field school in Northern Tanzania. While not explicitly related to meteorology, the course emphasized many field and laboratory techniques and allowed me to explore an element of our Earth, other than the atmosphere. For the final project I presented a research paper on the processes which affect the climate of Northern Tanzania. This course made me realize how much I enjoyed the process and excitement of doing research and was the impetus for me working in the Pennsylvania State Climatologist office. |
Above: The Exact Equator in Ecuador |
Europe, Brasil, Ecuador
Between July 2006 and April 2007 I was lucky enough to travel to both South America and Europe. The trip to Europe in July 2006 included visiting my father's homeland country of Romania. We went to the house he grew up in and also his schools. It was a great experience. We also visited Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Germany, and Croatia. The following month in August I went on tour with the Westminster Conservatory Youth Chorale of Princeton to Brasil. We mainly performed in many venues in the northern city of Recife and the infamous Rio de Janerio. it was a priceless experience. In March 2007, during Spring Break, my brother and I took a ten day trip to Ecuador. We toured places like Quito, Manta, and the cloud forest. We were supposed to visit the Galapagos Islands but I got food poisoning and was in the hospital for a day. It was still though a great trip and full of culture. |