Maital Kaminer is a third year International Affairs major hailing from Atlanta, GA but more specifically Dunwoody (aka Funwoody). Keep reading to learn about Maital’s AIESEC experience in Shanghai, China and other fun facts!
Although Maital is studying International Affairs, her dream career is to be a writer for SNL. On campus she is involved with TEDxUGA, is the president of AIESEC UGA, and works at the Ramsey Center as a Membership Services Specialist.
When asked about her AIESEC trip to China in summer 2016, Maital had a lot to say: “Talking about my trip to China this past summer is one of my favorite things to do! After being involved in AIESEC UGA all of last year, I went to Shanghai,China this past summer to work at a center for kids with autism. AIESEC UGA provides opportunities for students to go intern or volunteer abroad and expand their understanding of another culture. I spent my first week in China in Beijing with other AIESECers from Mainland of China and then moved to Shanghai for the next seven weeks. My daily activities included creating lesson plans for the kids, teaching them basic English, and playing with them. However, my days were also always full of exploring Shanghai. After we worked, the other interns and I would go and wander around Shanghai, whether that was to the markets or to the Bund to see the Shanghai skyline. I had truly never understood the Chinese, or really any culture besides my own, so intensely as I did that summer. I dont like to say I visited China this summer because more than that, I lived in China this summer. It was a very immersive experience that not only taught me a lot about people who lives thousands of miles away from me and how similar, but also how different we are.”
Maital’s #1 recommendation to put on an Athens bucket list is simple: walking through North Campus on a nice day. When asked about her favorite UGA memory, she said, “the entirety of my Freshman College experience. Freshman have the opportunity to come to UGA for all of July and take 2 classes for credit while living in the dorms. It was where I first felt that UGA was becoming my new home, and the friends I made there are still some of my closest friends. Having that experience before I started college made such a difference.”
Although Maital says she is horrible at fun facts, she gave us some great ones to work with: “I sometimes wear rainboots even when it’s not going to rain because they’re easier to put on. Salad is my favorite food. I’ve fractured each of my ankles twice.”
If you want to experience an experience like the one Maital had in China, go to http://aiesecus.org/apply to find opportunities for yourself this summer!