Emily Shayman recently finished up her sophomore year at Wisconsin University in Madison, WI. She is double majoring in Social Work and Spanish. Currently, Emily is recovering from finals and getting excited for LE Panama 2009 at her home in Chicago, IL.
A few years ago Emily traveled to Costa Rica to work in an orphanage for the summer in lieu of taking a whole year off of school. This was a great experience for her, and she is dying to return to visit her former host family as well as the friends she made there. Additionally, Emily taught English as a second language to Sudanese and Mexican refugees while she attended Drake University. Both of these cultural exchanges have helped prepare her and made her eager to travel to Panama to experience a different culture and way of life.
During our interview I discovered that we have some things in common. Both of our parents are a little worried about us traveling abroad. We both like Coldplay (the last ticket she bought was for a Coldplay concert which she attended in Minnesota with friends). Emily has a fear of bridges, which is kind of related to mine in that they both involve transportation. Also, we both really enjoyed Slumdog Millionare as well as Across the Universe. Finally, she will be arriving in Panama City on June 17th less than 30 minutes before me.
I really enjoyed talking to Emily, and I look forward to meeting you all in Panama!
-Jenn
