Name: Chris Andrews
Hometown: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Degree: Spanish and Management
Year: 2nd
This week’s campus cutie is Chris Andrews; originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania Chris is a 2nd year student studying a joint degree of Spanish and Management. As our interview took place on a grey Saturday morning in a very empty library I began with posing the question of why Chris chose to travel over 3000 miles to attend university in this small Scottish university town of St Andrews. Chris replied that his intention was always to seek out a different university experience away from the United States, and that by coming to St Andrews this gave him the opportunity to travel and encounter a different university culture. Chris admitted that he in fact did not know much about the U.K prior to coming to study at St Andrews, but his risk seems to have been a success, especially as he appreciates the diversity of people. Even with fellow international students, Chris suggests that in wanting to study at a university abroad you must be “looking, and wanting to experience something different”.
With this mind-set Chris has become a frequent traveller whilst studying in Scotland, managing embark on a hiking trip during Christmas break in Portugal, as well as visiting Spain, the Canary Islands and Greece. Chris also competed in the Race2Prague last year, managing to arrive in Prague in a little over two days, which Chris partially attributes to his “very enthusiastic partner”. With his travelling approach Chris is moving this summer to spend a year in Uruguay studying at the University of Montevideo, as part of his Spanish degree. Chris explains how much he is looking forward to returning to South America, which he is closely tied too, having been born in Argentina and lived across the continent in Mexico and Santiago, Chile.
Outside of studying, Chris appears to be an avid sportsman, playing for university lacrosse team and enjoys playing golf recreationally. Chris set up a men’s golf league, which he admits is “more of a social club than anything else”, and regularly travels around the U.K playing different university lacrosse teams which is good as “the team is yet to be defeated”. Chris explains that by coming to St Andrews, it has also given him the opportunity to try out new pursuits such as fly-fishing and mountaineering, which have both now become regular hobbies, which also give him the excuse to travel around Scotland. In addition to his sportsmanship Chris is also a keen musician, you can find him every Monday night playing guitar at The Criterion on South Street. Music, Chris explains, is not something he thought he would be pursuing at St Andrews yet has loved the opportunity to try something new.
Chris Rapid Fire:
Where is your favourite place to go out? The Criterion
Where is your favourite place to Eat? Little Italy (if I have the money!)
Where is your favourite place to go for a drink? The Whey Pat
If you could have anyone for dinner who would they be? Albert Einstein, Buddy Rich and Frank Sinatra.
What is your favourite part about St Andrews? The golf!
What is your biggest fear? Swans
Little Known Fact? I sleep walk more than anyone I know. I once woke up at the bottom of the stairs, and have been told that I once tried to convince my flatmate that the whole house was falling down!
Chris’s Sample Playlist:
Maltilda by Alt-J
Take Five by Dave Brubeck
Down in the Valley by Head in the Heart