Our G-Squad has been challenged for each of us to come up with 100 little factoids about ourselves; this is my contribution:
1. When I was young, my mom thought I would become a clothing designer.
2. I went to school to become an architect.
3. I realized once in college that I didn’t like how many buildings there already are in the world and how much natural soil was being covered up.
4. I am now an environmental scientist.
5. I polevaulted for three years in high school.
6. I always secretly wanted to become a discus thrower.
7. When I was in color guard, I got hit in the head by another girl’s flag and it almost knocked me unconscious.
8. I love getting to know shy people.
9. I used to be shy myself…but came to the realization that, between two shy people, someone has to start up the conversation.
10. I’m shy around really outgoing people.
11. I’ve been told that I look intimidating.
12. I’ve also been told that I’m a closet hippie.
13. …For the past 5 years or so I’ve really wanted dreads.
14. I use horse shampoo and conditioner.
15. When I feel sick, brushing my teeth always makes me feel a little better.
16. I can play the violin, cello, and mandolin.
17. I used to play the harp.
18. I’m going to try to learn how to play the harmonica — it’s a lot smaller than all my other instruments, thus, better for travel.
19. I wish I could sing and play the violin at the same time.
20. I’ve witnessed my dad saw off a dog’s head before (not for recreational purposes…he’s a vet).
21. I’ve kept a tiger calm while he was being prepped for surgery.
22. A bird bit me on the collar bone once.
23. I grew up always having a Boxer as a pet.
24. My family has transitioned to Great Danes.
25. I found out the Tooth Fairy wasn’t real by not telling my mom that I had recently lost a tooth and later seeing that no Tooth Fairy money was left under my pillow.
26. I found out that Santa wasn’t real by sneaking into my mom’s closet, seeing one of my gifts, and later opened a package “from Santa” that was that very same gift.
27. The first time I left the country was in 6th grade; I went to London and France.
28. Since then, I’ve left the country five additional times.
29. This semester I am taking Italian 4, Spanish 1, and Spanish 2.
30. Someone once told me that learning Italian is pointless.
30. My boyfriend is Italian –> point taken.
31. I never had a desire to learn Spanish until I realized which countries I was being led to for the World Race.
32. One time I hiked up to the top of an ancient temple in Cambodia at 4 am to watch the sun rise.
33. I’ve eaten pickled chicken’s feet.
34. And duck tongue.
35. Last year I tried catching a falling butter knife and it slit the skin between two of my fingers…yeah, ouch.
36. I can fly a plane.
37. I can probably hold a record for “longest amount of time for someone to get their pilot’s license.”
38. When snow skiing once, my best friend and I tried to climb UP the slope because the chair lift was closed.
39. We were not successful.
40. For the racquetball class championship at my university, my friend and I played in ridiculous uni-suits.
41. We won the match and the other team was unusually upset that they lost.
42. I usually don’t follow clothing trends.
43. I considered to stop wearing TOMS because they became crazy popular.
44. But I just can’t do that to dear Blake Mycoskie.
45. I prefer getting to know people in smaller groups.
46. I’m glad there are people who are able to flourish in bigger groups.
47. My favorite word is “falsifiable.” Not for its meaning, just because its a forgotten word and not used very often.
48. I always highlight the word “falsifiable,” even if it’s not my book that I’m reading.
49. I love libraries.
50. When people have one room in their house simply filled with books from floor to ceiling, it makes my heart happy.
51. Even though I love reading tangible books, I have an electronic book for traveling.
52. I wish that if you bought a book on your nook or kindle that you would automatically get a real copy of that same book in the mail.
53. I researched butterflies for 1.5 years.
54. Now I am researching nitrogen deposition.
55. I’ve become really enthralled with learning about soil this semester.
56. At the beginning of the semester I was strongly considering not taking my soil & environmental quality class.
57. I am usually really bad with names.
58. And remembering faces.
59. I’ve found that one way I can remember a name is to know both the first name, last name, and write it down so I can see it.
60. I’ve used a squatty potty in three different countries.
61. Two summers ago, for 6 weeks, I had to get used to not flushing toilet paper down the toilet and instead throwing it in the trash.
62. When I got back home I had to get used to flushing toilet paper down the toilet instead of throwing it in the trash.
63. I really wouldn’t mind working on a farm for a while.
64. An organic farm.
65. I used to, and still kind of do, want to go to cosmetology school to become a hair stylist for a part-time job.
66. Two years ago I gave away two-thirds of my belongings.
67. I still have so much that I don’t need.
68. I’m an avid believer that the bigger your house/suitcase/closet, the more things you will have to fill it.
69. When I was young I fell off the back of my brother’s bike.
70. He didn’t turn around to help me the rest of the way home 🙁
71. I’ve tried to travel on an Italian holiday before (14 August).
72. I spent 12 hours going from bus, to bus, to train, to ferry, to foot to finally reach my destination.
73. Calico cats are the only type of cats I like (there are very few exceptions of other individual cats).
74. My Latin teacher in high school was probably the funniest teacher I’ve ever had.
75. My favorite quote of his was when he would look into the class and say, “I see no color.”
76. I love fruits and vegetables!
77. I would be a vegetarian, but my body would hate me if I didn’t have some meat to support it.
78. Crossword puzzles are so ridiculously hard for me to do.
79. Thus, I stick to the word searches and sudoku games instead.
80. Every time I buy a fancy coffee from Starbucks or elsewhere, I cringe a little at how expensive it is.
81. Before college I sincerely disliked coffee.
82. Now, if I drink coffee two days in a row, I usually have a terrible headache the first day I don’t drink it.
83. I went through a phase when I enjoyed listening to hard rock and scream-o and all that whatnot.
84. I once was part of a scream-o band.
85. I now am the violinist in a worship band for my church.
86. Many people haven’t heard of a lot of artists on my iTunes.
87. The best compliment that I’ve ever gotten was that I’m simple yet unique 🙂
88. I’m always surprised when people have never heard of countries like Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, etc.
90. I’m really bad with history, but love learning stories about the past.
91. The majority of my class projects have been kept by my teachers.
92. One project was even passed around schools within my district.
93. I wish college had more artistic projects…
94. I can’t believe that I’ll be leaving the country for 11 months in less than 5 months.
95. I can pretty much guarantee that I’m going to procrastinate buying a lot of things for the Race.
96. And that I’m not going to pack until the day before we leave.
97. One country I really want to go to is India.
98. The fact that the route I’m going on DOESN’T have India is something that attracted me to it.
99. I know that when I first meet my squad I’ll be really outgoing at first and then die down to more of an independent person…it’s inevitable and happens every time I meet a team.
100. This entire list could have probably just listed all the emotions I have about going on the World Race…a list for another day!
