Meet the Trippers!

Below is a short biography for each of the four participants.

CHRISTINA- GREECE 

• Member of Rotaract Club of Thessaloniki East, District 2484, for 4 years
• Current and former positions and titles include: Secretary 2016-2017, President 2017-2018
• Currently a Medical Student in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
• Has traveled to or lived in: Bulgaria, Italy, Germany, Swiss, France, Austria, Russia, Canada
• This will be her first Rotaract round trip and first time visiting the United States. 
• Favorite activities: swimming, skiing, playing the flute and the piano, cinema, concerts, theater and going out with friends
• ​Why is it important to have cross cultural interactions and friendships? 

"Meeting people from different countries and cultures is very important because you become more open-minded. I have hosted a lot of people from different cultures in my home and I have been hosted back and I realized that we don't differ as much as we think .I was very glad to show them my town and show them a different way of life and I still talk with them by e-mail. I think is very important to have interactions with people from different countries because you become more open-minded and you appreciate more the things that you have. Also is very helpful because you learn a lot of things from another culture and another way of life that you may like and make you want to go abroad and maybe work here and have more prospects in your career."

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ABHISHEK- INDIA 

• ​​Member of Rotaract Club of Bombay Juhu Beach , Mumbai , RID 3141, for 7 years​
• Current and former position and titles include: Past District Secretary in 2011 in RID 3131 , Pune; Past Club Secretary in 2010 for Rotaract Club of CMRD in Pune , RID 3131; Past Club Secretary in 2013 for Rotaract Club of Bombay Juhu Beach in Mumbai , RID 3140; Past Club Sargent at Arms in 2014 for Rotaract Club of Bombay Juhu Beach in Mumbai , RID 3140; Current Editor in Chief and Seargent at Arms in 2016 for Rotaract Club of Bombay Juhu Beach in Mumbai , RID 3141.
• Currently a Branch Manager - Pidilite Industries Limited
• Has traveled to or lived in: France, Switzerland, Lechitenstien, Austria, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Russia ( Saint Petersburg)
• This will be his first time visiting the United States. ​
• Favorite activities: travel the world, playing new and innovative card games, talking and making new friends 
• ​Why is it important to have cross cultural interactions and friendships? 

​"One of the best ways to know the world better and explore yourself is to have visit different countries , get to people out there. We also know how large the world is when you explore the unknown places beyond all oceans and boundaries. We also know how small the world is when you realize how humans and relationships with smiles and love connect people across boundaries."

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MARIA- GREECE

• Member of Rotaract Club of Thessaloniki East 2484, for 9 years 
• Current and former position and titles include: Past President (twice),  Secretary, Treasurer Assistant Country Rep at ERIC Member of Rotaract 2484 district's board
• Currently a Graphics Designer & Secretary in a Sign making company
• Has traveled to or lived in: Greece,  Italy, Germany, France, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, UK, Russia, Mexico, San Marino, Monaco
• This will be her first time visiting the United States instead of just the airpots. 
• Favorite activities: participate in sailing races, going for coffee dates with friends, and spending time with her dog 
• ​Why is it important to have cross cultural interactions and friendships? 

"I believe, and I can see it with myself, that interactions like these make one a better person, they broaden ones mind, the way of thinking, also expands choices and decisions in life, from just visiting another country to meet up with a friend, to actually moving there cause it sounds just awesome to one! Helps personality evolvement through friendships, and even future food preferences!"

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SARAH- CANADA

• Member of Rotaract Club of Toronto - District 7070, for 5 years 
• Current and former position and titles held: Immediate Past President of the Rotaract Club of Toronto (16-17), President of the Rotaract Club of Toronto (15-16), Vice President of the Rotaract Club of Toronto (14-15), Secretary of the Rotaract Club of Toronto (13-14), Secretary of the Rotaract Club of Toronto (12-13), Rotaract Vice Chair Youth Expo Initiatives (2015), Rotaract Chair Youth Civic Leadership Awards (2015), Rotaract Chair Youth Civic Leadership Awards (2014), Co-Chair Rotaract Annual Fundraiser (2016), Co-Chair Rotaract Annual Fundraiser (2015), Co-Chair Toronto Rotaract Roundtrip (2016)
• Currently a Senior Program Advisor
• Has traveled to or lived in: Canada, USA (New York, Florida, Nevada, Alaska, Pennsylvania), Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Poland, Turkey, Japan, Taiwan, France, China (Hong Kong), Mexico, Guatemala, Iceland
• This will be her first time visiting Arizona. 
• Favorite activities: riding dragon boats, hanging out with friends, traveling, and taking photos  
• ​Why is it important to have cross cultural interactions and friendships? 

"I think it is important to have cross cultural interactions and friendships because it brings about understanding and knowledge between people and you soon realize that we're more alike than different. It's wonderful to learn how different cultures do the same things differently like the way they cook certain foods or the way they work/study. Meeting people around the world makes the world seem smaller and more familiar - it's also great to understand how people in different parts of the world think about different topics or how similarly they do things."

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