I happened to be in Madrid during the abdication (like a resignation) of King Juan Carlos. This event caused chaos and protests in the streets since many citizens believed the monarchy no longer served a valuable purpose. When I was in Geneva, I worked at the United Nations (U.N.), the global governing body. During my time working there., I helped provide resources, education and shelter to refugees. As a result of these experiences, I now can speak Spanish and French! Soon, I hope I will know Estonian, too.
In college, I wrote a thesis, or a long paper, on religious violence in Mexico. My thesis gave me insight into the abuse that indigenous (or native) populations face in some parts of Mexico, as well as a greater understanding of the power of the Catholic Church. At college, when I was not working on homework or studying for exams, I spent time visiting the California National Parks with friends. My favorite college activity was fountain-hopping, where students run through all of the fountains on campus.
Before I came to Estonia, I worked at a nonprofit in Los Angeles for a year and a half, hosting events and teaching classes about freedom of speech, human rights, and public diplomacy. My advocacy and activism in Los Angeles meant a lot to me because I believe strongly in media literacy and the importance of preventing fake news. During my time in L.A., I also ate a lot of tacos and watched too many Hollywood movies in my spare time.
Now, I live in a very small city called Tartu, which is famous as a university town and for being the center of heavy industry in Estonia.
