Alexandra Hurst

Hometown: Denver, Colorado

Tell us about your favorite book: Currently my favorite book is either Salvage by Alexandra Duncan or Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle.
Both books act as a lense to criticize some facet of the societies around us, whether that be the patriarchal rule that is prominent in several cultures around the world regardless of their stage of development, or the faith that individuals put in things that they don’t really understand, whether that be science or religion. And in the end point to the fact that we as individuals should always question the constructs that have been put in place around us. As my psychology teacher put it “we are here not only to answer questions, but to also question answers.”

Give one random fact about you:  A random fact about me is that, I hope to find inspiration for my first tattoo on this trip, or at least inspiration for a new art piece.

In class, what kind of character are you?: In class I generally am very quiet, unless I feel that I have some information that would aid in others understanding of the lesson, or would shed some light on an issue that should be discussed.

If you were a fruit, what would it be?: According to Buzzfeed I would be a mango, and you can’t argue with Buzzfeed.

What do you think will be surprising about India?: I think what will be surprising is the diversity within the culture. As outsiders we receive so few stories that we form stereotypes, and while they may be accurate in many cases they fail to include the intricacies and differences that occur within the culture.

In what ways do you feel that India will be challenging for you?: I feel that India will be challenging for me in that I have heard that it can cause a lot of sensory stimulation, and I know that it will be difficult for me to process all the new scents and sounds. However, this is a challenge I am looking forward to facing.

How do you hope to be changed by this trip to India?: I hope to be changed by this trip in having a more comprehensive understanding of the culture, as well as have a better definition of what defines a culture. I also want to walk away with a better understanding of how I operate within different settings that I have yet to be familiar with.