WARNING: I’m an optimist (most of the time). You know, one of those people who smiles when the alarm clock buzzes at 5:30 AM to get to an Army training session. I know: I’m a freak of nature. At some point you may become frustrated with my early morning peppiness and seemingly perpetual happiness. I would be singing ‘Tomorrow’ rather than crying for help if I were the girl trapped in the pit in ‘Silence of the Lambs.’ Some people see an empty glass; I see a couple sips left. You can always count on me to help you find and focus on the up side of any situation rather than its worst-case scenario.

On the plus side, I like to laugh and make others laugh. I love wordplay, wittiness and puns. I love cheesy and terrible jokes. Sometimes I’ll try to make my own; I apologize in advance. My two Newfoundland puppies are irresistible. So are potato chips. I am a varsity snacker. I have the appetite of a family of four, and I strip the cheese off my pizza and eat it separately. I love every ice cream flavor, except strawberry. Don’t ask, I don’t know why. I love Ben’s Chili Bowl, even though I’m fairly certain their half-smoke has caused permanent damage to my internal organs. I prefer breakfast for dinner, and I think that creamed spinach should not exist. On the other hand, I am totally fine with cottage cheese. I hate brushing my teeth at night because that signifies that you can’t have any more food, and I’m just never ready for that kind of commitment (don’t worry, I do brush my teeth).

As an intended double major in geography and Anthropology modified with Global Health minor, an avid believer in and lover of experiential learning, and a former voluntourist turned realist, my past experiences have very much informed my decision to take this course, and I believe will play a significant role in my experience on the Community Health team in Nicaragua this December.

Having studied and lived abroad in countries like India, Kenya and Jordan for extended periods of time, I have developed a passion to be a part of the initiatives that make and direct sustainable impacts from a humble place of knowledge and understading. And it is my hope that this course supports my pursuit of avoiding the assumption of arrogance, combating the dangers of a single story, and playing a significant role in further developing how I see global development, and the most ethical and realistic role I can play in the future.

En español: Me llamó Sydney Kamen. Tengo diecinueve años. Soy de Washington DC. Yo estudio la geografía y la salud en Dartmouth College. Estoy muy emocionado de viajar a Nicaragua!