| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | My favorite thing to do in adolescence was meeting with neighborhood friends for skating activities, hiking, or exploring various canyons in our area. For years we would meet 3-4 times a week and venture into our surrounding communities to entertain ourselves. It is a time I look fondly upon that appears to be an uncommon experience for modern kids. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | My brother and I have been as close as brothers can get. When I was 3-4 my parents told me that I begged them for a brother and that I knew he would come soon. I partially raised him through his childhood, and we are almost clones of each other at this point. We are both proud of each other and despite now living apart we still communicate daily in some form or another. |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | Honesty is a cliché, but is a powerful quality that I value, especially if it is honesty that can be hurtful to hear that is ultimately helpful in the grand scheme of things. It is rare and valuable to find someone who can honestly communicate in times when others may not tell you things you need to hear. Both leadership and loyalty are qualities I admire as well as it is difficult to stand up and take charge in all circumstances and while many parrot that they are loyal it is seldom demonstrated and is the ultimate trait that demonstrates unconditional love. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | Not sure about the funniest but when I did the Peace Corps I lived in rural Namibia and would often have to share transportation between towns. These trips would often become protracted due to an unforeseen incident. One particularly time involved a driver picking up literally 25-30 chickens and stuffing them in the car with us and they cock-a-doodle-dooed all the way home while crawling all over us and defecating on the floor. It was a pleasant experience. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | I have a long list but I am overdue for a trip through South America, specifically Brazil since I speak Portuguese. In the same vein Europe is on my list with an intended elongated stop in Portugal to serve my linguistic interests. Aside from those two potential trips: Japan, New Zealand, training across Canada, the Trans-Siberian Railway. I’d also like to return to southern Africa as it is my favorite spot in the world. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | I think I have a good moral foundation that allows me to do right and fair things in many aspects of my life. Critical thinking and questioning one’s way of life and circumstances is also a valuable attribute my parents have instilled upon me I would like my children to have as well. Finally, listening is a fleeting behavior that few tend to truly engage in that I value in my own life, so I would like to convince my children to be good and active listeners. |
