2014-2015
Here we are, the third generation of AidCom Dreamers!
Who: Gunnhild Ardal
About me: After growing up in a small coastal town in the west of Norway I’ve been moving around a lot. First to another small town for high school, then to Oslo where I’ve been living on and off for 7 years studying political science. A lof of off’s though: exchanges and work in France, Québec and Italy, and obviously more to come! One of my main interests is language, and after French and some Italian I’m ready to learn Spanish! Other interests are music, films, books, food and of course travelling!
My Dream Year: Since I’ve got this job I’ve been waiting for someone to come and tell me «it’s not for real, you cannot travel the world for a year and work at the same time!», but obviously you can! I’m really excited to work for Aidcom in the different locations, both doing the news watch, exploring how it is to live there, and get to travel in the regions as well!
Best travel memory? From the «great journey» after high school Machu Picchu stands out. Since then I’ve been travelling mostly in Europe, and last year I finally got to discover more of Norway doing a summer campaign for Doctors without borders. Now I’m ready to expand the horizon again!
Current location: Xalapa (Mexico)
Current location: Xalapa (Mexico)
Who: Leonor Gonzalez Valencia
About me: Born and raised in Pamplona, northern Spain as the youngest of five brothers and sisters. I did a Bachelor degree in Sociology with an exchange year at Milano. After I moved to Porto, northern Portugal where I worked as Erasmus Coordinator Assistant. Then I found my way to a Master in Peace and Conflict Studies at Oslo University. Norway gives me the opportunity to experience public and private sector, where I worked as a consultant and political risk analyst.
My Dream Year: Enjoy, experience and taste. I want to squeeze this year in all dimensions, travel, discover the others, evolve and learn by putting myself into new situations, find inspiration.
Best travel memory? Mingling with fishermen and eating fabulous shrimps in the empty beaches of Brazil. Cambodia and the Angkor Wat temples. Motorbike rides at the Amalfi coast. Oslo fiord in the summer with endless nights. Old Havana. San Sebastian.
Current location: Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)Who: Marcela Mogilska
About me: Born in Poland, but lived in 8 countries: Ireland, England, Spain, France, Denmark, Switzerland and Germany. Citizen of the world, globetrotter, nomad, adventurer, travel addict. Language guru - I speak six languages, happy to learn more. When I was a kid I promised myself that every year I would like to live in a different country (so far so good). Studied International Business, interested in startups. I am a minimalist, I hate shopping and everything what I own fits in one suitcase. I am an early bird and I like getting up when the sun is rising. I ride motorcycles, love Harleys and Royal Enfields.
My Dream Year: During this year I want to explore as many countries, most preferably I want to do that on a motorcycle; I want try as many extreme sports as possible e.g. skydiving, bungee jumping, paragliding, deep sea diving etc. etc. and (video) blog about it.
Best travel memory? Hitchhiking in the north of Spain with a stranger, discovering wild and unknown places, getting lost and sleeping on the beach.
Current location: Xalapa (Mexico)
Current location: Xalapa (Mexico)
Who: Maren Kateraas
About me: “Albina-latina” or maybe just the “wannabe-latina”. After living years in countries like Cuba, Ecuador and Colombia, I have gone through a mayor identity crises feeling more Latina then Norwegian. I talk to strangers on the subway (quite unacceptable in Norway), get very loud when I get exited about something, feel my feet tingle every time I hear salsa, and I am always late whatever I do. Unfortunately not many people take me seriously when I present myself as Ecuadorian-Colombian.
My Dream Year: I am so excited to experience new countries and cultures and my motto for this year is to never say no and go with the flow. I have a bad habit of loosing things, falling into holes, getting lost and getting sunburned so my main goal is to return to Norway in one piece (hopefully also with a tan).
Best travel memory? Travelling across my favorite country in the world, Ecuador with president Rafael Correa. To sing and dance with the locals, sleep in shabby motels and really experience the political and social reality of this little country is something I will never forget.
Who: Oliwia Nowak
About me: I spent most of my life in a culturally bustling city of Krakow in Poland, where I did my degrees in Finance and in International Relations with a semester of exchange in France where I studied International Management. My first working experience was a summer job after graduating from secondary school at a fancy dress shop in Covent Garden, London. Living in this melting pot influenced my future choice of jobs - they were always in an international environment. Before Dreamyear I worked in Human Resources department in a multinational company in Krakow. Long, dark days of winter 2013 fostered thoughts about my age-old dream of seeing distant countries. This resulted in a 5-month backpacking trip in China, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and Thailand during which I found out about AidCom.
My Dream Year: While travelling, I want to experience the world the way it is - see its diverse faces, scents, colours and shapes. At the same time I want to learn from the experiences of other Dreamers and contribute to the success of the company. My ultimate goal is to learn Spanish.
Best travel memory? Safari in Central Australia - trekking in the bush which surprised me in terms of the abundance of life and geological formations. I had a chance to sleep in a traditional Australian swag, I admired breathtaking panorama of the night sky and shooting stars while dingoes were howling in the vicinity - amazing!
Current location: Warsaw (Poland)
Current location: Warsaw (Poland)
Who: Szczepan Pepe Ligeza
About me: Born and raised in the most beautiful Polish city, Krakow, I did two Bachelors at the Cracow University of Economics, later continuing my studies in Warsaw. One day, after working for several companies in HR, Marketing, Sales,
Accounting, Customer Service, IT and Government sector, I decided to change my life. I quit my job, took a gap
year and went to Alaska to work there in a fish cannery. I also travelled in the Pacific and North and Central America, and
came back to finish my Master's about harmful humanitarian aid. Last stop
before coming to Trondheim was at IBM Germany in Stuttgart.
My Dream Year: Seize the day. That is my motto for another dream year. I will do my
best to see as much as possible on this wonderful, diverse
planet, and share my stories with you.
Best travel memory? Amazing rafting in Costa Rica, hitchhiking on the Hawaiian Islands, going to the bottom of Grand
Canyon, scuba-diving and snorkeling in caves in Mexico (although
I can’t swim!), biking in Nicaragua at night
in the middle of nowhere with the roadsides lit up by firebugs, visiting slums in Port-au-Prince after the earthquake, eating dinner with Bedouins in Petra, hang-gliding in New Zealand and sleeping alone in the middle of the jungle at the top of Mayan Pyramid in Tikal (Guatemala).
Current location: Warsaw (Poland)
Get to know us better and check our Road to The Dream Year.
2013-2014
Current location: Warsaw (Poland)
Get to know us better and check our Road to The Dream Year.
Dream Year 2.0
2013-2014
Dream Year 1.0
2012-2013
