Interview With Aksana Kurola
Age: 33
Hometown: Rovaniemi, Finland.
What is your favorite food?
I like all kind of food made of game, multigrain, berries and vegetables. But I do eat all healthy food and especially outdoors any meal tastes delicious.
What is your favorite movie?
Hard question. There is so many... I like Danish and Swedish movies, but also Lord of the Rings and Amelie.
List some of your hobbies or interests.
I love everything that people can do outdoors without engine. I do mountaineering, climbing, white water kayaking, ski touring, mountain biking, hiking, downhill skiing, dog sledge riding... and also astangajooga, reading, drawing and painting...
Who are some of your role models or heroes?
Nicolas Vanier, Catherine Destivelle, my grand mother, my best friend Eeva Mäkelä, Mother Theresa...
What was one of your favorite classes or subjects in school?
I liked biology, geography, knowledge of environment and French.
What is one of your favorite childhood memories?
When I was just a little girl we lived middle of forest on the shore of the lake. I had own horses and dogs - and I could so all the nice things.
What advice do you have for the students of today?
If you really want to do something, you will find a way to do it. I would like to take them to forest or mountains and give them possibility to love nature.
Why do you think it is important to study other cultures?
The more you have seen, better you understand different people and respect them and your own environment.
Why is it important to study the Arctic?
It is important because the global warming has come true - the arctic is endangered.
What are your specific responsibilities when you are on the trail?
I am not sure - but I can do everything. I will write an article about this trip to Finnish outdoor magazine Retki.
What do you hope students involved in GoNorth! will learn?
I hope students will understand that the possibility to be outdoors and nature gives us wealth that that is more valuable than money can ever be.
