Name?
Minal Patel
How old are you?
Twenty-three.
What’s your major?
E.S.P. – environmental science and policy.
How long have you been interested in the environment?
All my life. It’s never been something that just struck halfway through high
school.
How is the program here?
It’s interesting so far, but then I’m only taking one course.
What year are you?
Technically I’m a junior. This is my first year at USM.
Where did you go before?
I was in Australia for two years at Murdoch University.
Where are you from?
East Africa. Kenya, if you know where that is.
I would think it would be hard to find someone who doesn’t.
Actually, I only know two people around here who even know where it is.
Why did you choose Maine?
It was just random. The similarity in degrees I guess.
It’s the same temperature here?
Believe it or not, yes.
Do you miss home?
You miss everywhere you go. Right now I live in Iowa.
Do you speak any other languages besides English?
I’m fluent in five languages – French, Swahili, English, Gujarati and Hindi. I’m
also working on German and Spanish.
Do you have any accents?
I can slip in and out at will, pretty much.
What do you like best about USM?
It’s a non-traditional place. I’m a very non-traditional student.
Any words of wisdom for USM students?
How about, ‘Stop and smell the flowers.’