Gillian Gurish's Page

What college/university do you attend?

Converse College

What is your major/minor?

English major/Music minor

What is the program with which you are going abroad:

Academic Programs International

Where will you be studying/volunteering/working abroad? Please state the country(ies) and city(ies).

Florence, Italy

What are the approximate dates of your education abroad experience?

Jan. 2010 - May 2010

Please provide a brief description of what you will be studying or doing while abroad.

I went abroad to immerse myself in a brand new culture and face the daily challenges of living in a place that speaks a different language and has very different customs than what I know. I studied Italian language, anthropology, cooking, and music history while I was there.

Why do you want to become a Green Passport holder?

I am a firm believer in the importance of travel; a person learns such a tremendous amount not only about how to adapt to other cultures and gain perspective of the world, but also because you are able to learn so much about yourself. I am also very concerned about our carbon footprint and the environmental problems we cause. I am very much in support of educating the public about why going green is so great, because I feel that if people understood why it is so important, they would be that much more determined to do their part.

If you consider yourself to be an environmentally and socially responsible person while at home, please explain how so (may include activities or organizations with which you are affiliated):

I could say I do because I recycle, or use those reusable grocery bags, or wear vegan shoes; but I feel that those things, while helpful, are more materialistic than the greater purpose calls for. It is more important to understand WHY you do those things, and I do consider myself an active learner about what is going on with our environment, how problems are made and what the best way is to solve them.