About Us
We've created this page to let you in on who we are and what not...enjoy but beware, there are some interesting characters.
Diana
Greetings, Earthlings!
My name is Diana and I've never been camping. All I know is that BBC News is my homepage and in the last few weeks, the global food crisis has been a recurring front-page headline. The poignancy of our trip to Yorito has been slowly sinking in, and I've never been more excited. I expect to learn much from the success of the cooperatives there and hope to capture most of it with my camera.
To let you in on the inner workings of Diana, I must first begin with a resounding "meow!" A group leader once asked if I would be meowing on the trip, and to spare everyone from embarrassment, I will not be. But now the question is, why did that question come up? My only excuse is that I am a First-Year Dramatic Art Major. I was recently in the sold-out play* "The Vagina Monologues" as part of the Carolina V-Day Initiative on campus. Other club involvement for me this year has included Amnesty International, CHispA (Carolina Hispanic Association), SWEAT (Students Working in the Environment for Active Transformation) and Extended Disaster Relief.
Consistently, however, I have been passionate about feminist causes and Nourish International. As far as organizations go, I have gravitated the most towards Nourish. From the first moment I tasted Hunger Lunch, I knew they were kind of a big deal. I was amazed, nay, FLABBERGASTED by the revenue made. And that it went towards summer projects? It was too good to be true. Some runs, a global music jam, and a few meetings later, I was on board. I am so jazzed up to travel outside of North America and see the less frequented parts of Honduras. Less than a week until departure!
*This really happened, I'm not obsessed with myself... much.
Jonathan
What's up y'all...
My name is Jonathan and yes, I'm a good southern boy but with a global outlook. I've just finished up with my freshman year at UNC (which I love to death) and am looking forward on getting out of our beautifully liberal and liberally beautiful bubble for a time to go back to the places I really love as well: the places I've never been. I've been privileged enough to travel and have caught the bug...I can't seem to get away from the addiction to interacting with other cultures and the stimulating people within them.
After having taken a class of agriculture and society and realizing the impact it has not just on our bodies, but on the environment and the vital role it plays in culture and politics, I look forward to learning from our partners about the way forward from our current rut in the agricultural field and the numerous ripples it has made in the lives of everyone in the world. The vast number of implications of our project with relation to environmental preservation, access to food, land rights, and sustainability has enthralled me.
I am an International Studies major ("soft" aye?...yeah yeah) with a focus on Latin America and Trade and Development. I go through about a minor a week...right now I'm courting anthropology. On campus I'm basically a Nourish nut, although I am looking forward to getting involved in the Fair, Local, Organic Foods group on campus and to getting my hands dirty in the Carolina Garden Co-op. Although in college I haven't been much of the futbolista, I can't get enough of soccer and look forward to many impromptu games barefoot and with goals made out of...well, you name it.
Claire
My name is Claire and I’m contrary by nature. That’s why I love the work of Nourish International. At NI, people recognize that there is no one right answer, nor panacea. In every process, NI welcomes critical points of view and embraces constructive debate.
There’s a school of thought that says that cross-cultural education will lead to greater international cooperation. Or, dare we say, world peace. I have spent the last ten years investing in this theory, namely through two organizations: CISV and United World Colleges.
A few days after my eleventh birthday, I boarded a plane for Lucknow, India for a CISV program. I spent a month there with children my own age from 14 nations. We sang songs, deconstructed and sometimes reinforced national stereotypes (Brazilians are, indeed, the best at soccer), and learned to play together. As a fifth grader, I was suddenly connected to the lives of kids my age across the globe.
I also spent two years at Lester B Pearson United World College. The idea here is similar: if 200 students from 90 countries live and learn together, they’ll really take on a sense of global citizenship. Of course, it can also alter your character in other ways. For instance, I now talk to skype more than my mother.
Beyond cross-cultural experiences, I’m wild about ecology. I am more and more convinced that land rights are at the heart of peace. For me, the Food Sovereignty campaign is incredibly dynamic and hopeful. I am really excited about seeing how the work of FIPAH fits into this global movement. hasta pronto!
Carolyn
Just so everyone knows, this is the face I will be using to ward off any unwanted agitators while in Honduras, so no worries in that department.
As the only one on the trip not from UNC, some information on who I am and why I chose to do this project might be useful. Although the Nourish chapter at my school, the University of Michigan (Go Blue!), is taking a trip to Brazil this summer, I chose to strike out and join a different group going to Honduras; and luckily the risk wasn't too much because after only emails and a few phone calls I can tell that we have a really great group of people put together for this trip!
I chose to go to Honduras because after hearing about the area from my parents (both doctors who have taken medical relief trips to Honduras), I understand that it is an area of both a lot of wonderfully kind people and a lot of need. I'm hoping that our trip will not only allow us to bring sustainable practices to this community, but that we'll also learn a lot about a different way of life and different world views. And I admit that I also have a perhaps somewhat selfish desire to bone up on some Spanish while we're there 
So more about me... I'm either a biology or anthropology major with either a double major or minor in Spanish (obviously I've got some kinks to work out here) and I just finished up my freshman year of U of M. I'm involved in several other groups on campus, including a public health oriented traveling group called Crossing Borders, and I worked as a research assistant (sounds cooler than it is...) for the School of Public Health on a study called MFlu (about the usage of face masks in the prevention of influenza). Despite my other involvements, Nourish International has become a priority in my schedule and a definite passion in my life because of its solid ideals, action-oriented perspective, and the great people who keep it going. Other interesting facts: I talk a lot in my sleep (and according to my roommate it can get pretty interesting at times, so whoever ends up sleeping near me, be prepared), watching Sean Connery eat makes me crave beef stew, and still haven't finished "Don't Be Afraid Gringo" (but don't worry, I'm on it).
I hope Honduras can handle us! Here we come!
and Jonathan: can I have that marshmallow?
Max
I'm Max, and I am now a sophomore at the University of the People. This will be my first trip abroad without my padres (scary, I know) and the chance to dive in makes for a thrilling and scary journey. I am new to Nourish International but am pumped to better know a real cool bunch of people. I'm pumped about the pick-up futbol games. I'm pumped about forming a relationship with the community and with individuals in the community. And I'm pumped about bringing back some lessons for home.
My journey to Honduras started as a young man growing up in the Bull City (Durham), NC as a mad Duke fanatic. Now a Tar Heel, I'm a political science major, and probably an espanol minor. I occasionally spontaneously recite Shakespeare from my days as an amateur actor and have lately been obsessed with telling everybody that "camping is intense" (say it to yourself). I will be the city editor of Daily Tar Heel next year and am living in Lewis dorm with JT.
Thanks for reading y'all and I hope we can get back to you often.
Logan
Hey everyone, Logan checking in and finally writing his 'about me' from Honduras. I just graduated a few days ago from UNC-CH with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Social Entrepreneurship. Currently unemployed, I'm very excited to be spending my first couple months after college in Central America. During my tenure at UNC, I worked with the Triangle Dance Festival for AIDS for several years before becoming involved with Nourish. This past year I was co-chair of the UNC chapter of Nourish and had a blast. I'm very excited to be working and traveling with such a great group of people, and for what the weeks ahead hold for us. Hasta Luego!