| What is your most memorable childhood experience? | I used to go cross-country skiing in Russia, through the forest. It is very difficult for a child, and memorable because it is so difficult. But being in snow is always enjoyable for me, even in difficult moments. |
| What immediate family member do you closely identify with and why? | I identify most with my mom, who is energetic, positive, fun, and silly. We are not the same, but I have a bit of those qualities, and probably my best traits come from her. And we like many of the same snacks! |
| What character traits do you admire in an individual? | I admire kindness, a desire to look for truth, humorousness, inner strength, and balance. I think kindness is the single most important trait. Is your presence in the world making it a happier place? I hope it is true for me. |
| What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you? | When I lived in the country of Georgia, I got on a two-hour minibus between two cities. Every seat except for one was taken by a crate of vegetables or fruits or furniture. I sat down in the empty seat, expecting to be bumped off by another crate. Instead, the driver sat down behind the driver’s seat, we took off, did our own things the whole ride, exchanged no words, and at our destination I silently paid him the fare and left. One of the most serene rides of my life. |
| If time and money were not an issue, where would you travel and why? | Firstly, I’d go to the Moon and Mars. On Earth, I’d like to live for a few months in every region of the world. From the countries I haven’t yet visited, right now I would pick Brazil, China, India, and Nigeria. |
| When and if you ever have children, what would you like to pass on to them? | I hope to pass on curiosity, empathy, and joie de vivre. But I hope that I don’t need to pass many things on to them – I hope that through curiosity and experimentation with the world, they will learn intricacies about life on this planet. They’ll be better than me in a bunch of ways, anyway! |
