Hello, everyone! I’m Anson from Baltimore, Maryland, and I’m embarking on a journey during my gap year that blends my passions for agriculture, culture, science, and history.
My adventure begins in Europe, starting with a brief exploration of Reykjavík. From there, I’ll head to Rome, where I’ll spend several weeks working with a sustainable farming group. The ancient city’s architecture and past will also be a focus of my learning as I dive into Italy’s rich culture.
From Rome, I’ll travel to Berlin to spend a week investigating the city’s fascinating history. After that, I’ll continue on to Spain, where I’ll tour Barcelona. Then, I’ll do a residency in Bilbao, where I’ll take Spanish immersion lessons in the morning and farm in the afternoons. Before departing Spain, I’ll travel to Seville to participate in a horticulture WWOOFing program, experiencing hands-on farming and learning about local agricultural traditions.
Following Europe, my journey takes me to Costa Rica, where I’ll work for an eco-agriculture conservation program located on a cloud forest coffeee plantation. Afterward, I’ll explore the food, traditions, and lifestyle of Tokyo, Japan, before traveling to Auckland, New Zealand. In Auckland, I’ll engage in coastal preservation and volunteer projects, gaining insights into Oceania’s contemporary environmental conservation approaches.
Upon returning to the United States, I’ll continue to study agriculture by volunteering at an organic orchard and farm in Manchester, Maryland. Once my time on the orchard and farm concludes, my schedule may allow for a trip to Morocco, where I’ll immerse myself in the local customs and everyday life.
Before the year comes to a close, and I return home to the United States, I’ll return to a place close to my heart—my YMCA summer camp. There, I’ll help redesign the nature lodge, create a raised bed garden for the children to work in, and help to piece together the camp’s history by reconnecting with alumni in the area. I will work at camp until the school year begins, bringing my journey full circle as I step into the next exciting chapter of my life.
