Ekaterina (Kate) Desiatnikova
Major: Tourism and Events Management/Hospitality Management, Russian minor
Hometown: St.-Petersburg, Russia
Countries I have lived or visited: I have lived in Russia for most part of my life, Kyrgyzstan, and have been living in the United States for 3 years. I have traveled to Cuba, England, Mauritius, Turkey, Republic of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India, and Switzerland.
Countries I would like to live in or visit: I would love to live in Canada or in Russia, and to visit Italy, Spain, France, Brazil, and Mexico.
Favorite Memory: I have so many interesting and funny memories from every trip. My favorite memory is flying a helicopter (as a passenger of course) along Zambezi River and over Victoria Falls in Zambia/Zimbabwe, Africa. The most beautiful view I have ever seen in my life.
Languages Experience: Russian is my first language. I speak English, studied German and Kyrgyz for couple years, and plan to start learning Spanish very soon.
Why the GPC Program? It is a good opportunity for me to meet new people and make friends, to learn more about other cultures and introduce my culture to others, to learn the rules of communication with people from different countries. Considering that I love travelling, I think the knowledge and experience that I am going to receive from GPC program will help me out in my future trips.
Hobbies: Playing in varsity Tennis Team for Mason, swimming, dancing, reading, horse riding.
Favorite Food(s): Japanese, Russian and Mexican Kitchens
Audrey Ferguson
Major: Nursing
Hometown: Marietta, Ohio
Countries Visited: Canada, Panama, Jamaica, Bangladesh
Countries I would like to visit: Wherever
Favorite Memory: I had the most fun reading with Jamaican elementary school students under a tree on the playground.
Language Experience: Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, French, Bangla
Why the GPC Program? I wanted to find a way to supplement my minor in Global Affairs with meaningful experiences I’ve had interacting with other cultures.
Why I like GPC: I like that the GPC helps me to organize my experiences and to think about everything together.
Hobbies: Reading, Running, Spending time with friends
Favorite Food: Anything shared with friends.
Favorite Quote: “The lotus blossom gives fragrance to all in the room.” -Eastern Proverb
Vicki Georges
Major: History and French
Hometown: Elizabethtown, PA
Countries Visited: I have visited Greece, France, and Spain, and I have been to airports in Italy and Germany.
Countries I would like to live in or visit: I would like to visit England, Ireland, Italy, Australia, the Netherlands, Egypt, Canada, China, Japan, Austria, Poland, and Argentina. I would like to live in Greece or France someday.
Favorite Memory: My favorite memory abroad is going to Greece and spending various summers with my family there. I also enjoyed going on a trip in high school (for all students who took Spanish or French) to Spain and France with all of my best friends.
Language Experience: I have studied Greek and French, and I would like to learn Arabic and Spanish.
Why the GPC Program? I joined the GPC Program because I wanted to further expand my knowledge/interest of different cultures by immersing myself in international experiences while still in the United States.
Hobbies: Greek Dancing, reading, traveling, learning languages, snowboarding, listening to music, and watching movies
Favorite Food(s): Greek, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese
Favorite Quote: “Live simply so that others may simply live.” -Mahatma Gandhi
Jasmine Gould
Major: Global Affairs with a concentration in Global Inequality
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Countries Visited: Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore in the CGE, GMU summer program and I’ve taken family vacations in France, England, Jamaica, and Barbados
Countries I would love to live in: I plan on moving to Southeast Asia after I get my masters and living in Tokyo, Japan for a few years!
Favorite Memory: When in the Philippines this summer, I had the most fun adventuring around the villages and cities we stayed. My friend and I would always discover something new about the culture while looking for live music and eating in local restaurants.
Language Experience: I understand and speech French. I have taken a semester of Arabic and I would absolutely love to learn Japanese.
Why the GPC Program? I joined the program because I was interested in expanding my knowledge and global understanding. My major and my job as an international writer for Connect2Mason give me a strong interest in promoting global consciousness and the GPC program has given me the opportunity to showcase my global involvement both at George Mason and around the world.
Hobbies: I enjoy reading and writing, and especially traveling and exploring a new culture.
Favorite Food: I love eggplant, especially in a spicy Asian stir fry!
Favorite Quote: “When all the trees have been cut down, when all the animals have been hunted, when all the waters are polluted, when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then will you discover you cannot eat money.” ~ Cree Prophecy ~
Sonia Wei Jeffers
Major: Psychology BS; Mathematics and Global Affairs Double Minor
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Countries I have lived in or visited: Lived-US, China, England; Visited-Ireland, Canada, Iceland, Netherlands, Spain, France, Italy, Monaco, Vatican City, Greece, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Turkey, Poland, and Hungary
Countries I would like to live in or visit: Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Russia, Morocco, Kenya, Thailand, Antarctica; Revisit: Turkey, Iceland, and China
Favorite Memory: Enjoying the Festival of Redentore and watching the fireworks over the Grand Canal with my boyfriend. Riding an ATV all over Santorini, swimming at the black sand beaches, watching the gorgeous sunset over Oia, and enjoying a real Greek gyro. Meeting the founder of eatwithalocal.com over a dinner of coconut curry in Wales. Absorbing the unique Turkish culture with the help of couchsurfer, Murat, and fulfilling my lifelong dream of seeing the Hagia Sophia with my own eyes. Meeting the Hungarian President and selecting wine from his secret wine cellar.
Language Experience: Mandarin Chinese
Why the GPC Program? It gives me extra incentive to seek out multicultural activities and expand my global knowledge and understanding and hopefully I can meet others that share my interests.
Hobbies: Travelling, couchsurfing, jewelry making, art, community service, rock climbing, and caving
Favorite Food(s): Mom’s Chinese food, Greek Gyros, and fried chicken
Jia Zheng
Major: Intended Marketing Major, Chinese Minor
Hometown: I was born in China, but I now live in Roanoke, VA
Countries I have lived in or visited: China, Canada, Korea
Countries I would like to live in or visit: France, Greece, Brazil, Italy, Australia…really anywhere I haven’t been to yet
Favorite Memory: Food! I think food is a great way to bond when learning about different cultures. When I studied abroad in China summer 2010, I heard about this special sour milk that is made and sold only in Beijing. I wasn’t able to find it on my own, but my family friends took me to Tiananmen Square one Sunday, and we found a vendor on the streets selling the sour milk. Of course, I had to try it! The sour milk was packaged in little clay jars with a paper lid for you to stick your straw in. Once you are finished with the milk, you are to return the empty clay jar because they like to recyclethem together. I can now say that I drank original Beijing sour milk. During my trip to China, I also learned about the importance of drinking tea, that the north preferred salty foods while the south’s specialty was spicy foods, and that it is common courtesy to serve others before oneself.
Language Experience: Being born in northern China, Mandarin Chinese was my first language, but I consider English to be my primary language. I am currently expanding my Chinese knowledge by working on a minor, in hopes of studying and working there in the future. I’ve also taken six years of French, and I plan to practice it whenever I have the chance!
Why the GPC Program? I love learning about different cultures, especially about the arts and entertainment of various countries. By joining the GPC Program, I think that I will gain a better sense of global understanding, and I would be able to learn about other countries as well as share my own cultural experiences.
What I like best about the GPC Program: What makes this program so great is because everyone is so supportive of each other. While the events are meant to be educational, we are also having a great time together and appreciating each other’s diversity.
Hobbies: Dance! I have an infinite passion for dance, and I am always enthusiastic about learning new styles. I’ve taken ballet, tap, modern, jazz, ballroom, and salsa. I’m in our hip hop dance team called Urbanknowlogy 101 as well our Swing Dance Club. I also like going to museums, Broadway shows, hiking, listening to music, and reading a good book.
Favorite Food(s): I like to try new foods, and I’m not a picky eater, but some of my favorite foods include dumplings, Korean barbeque, and my mom’s oven fried chicken.
Favorite Quote: “I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” – Marilyn Monroe
Recent GPC Graduates
Mahsa Javid
Program: Masters of Arts Management
Undergraduate: BA in Interior Design, London Metropolitan University (have worked on various design teams in Iran & UAE)
Job/Internship: Graduate Assistant for Office of International Programs & Services, Intern at Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Language Experience: I have a passion for traveling and exploring different cultures and languages. I can speak Farsi, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Arabic. In the future I would like to learn Russian, Mandarin and Greek.
Why the GPC Program? The GPC program has helped me put together a portfolio of all activities that I have accomplished as well as further insight about my long term career goals. I believe the Global Proficiency Certificate will give me a leading edge to work effectively in diverse teams and situations.
Favorite Food(s): I enjoy cooking different cuisines. I love Persian, Mexican and Indian food.
Favorite Quote: “Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
