Kaz Komolafe '14
Kaz Komolafe ’14

As a rising third-year Jefferson Scholar, I traveled last summer to Asia for six weeks through funding from the Jefferson Scholars Foundation. Traveling to Beijing, Xi’an, Guangzhou, Guilin, Tibet and Yangshuo among others, I hiked the Great Wall of China in two places, looked down in awe at the Terra-cotta Army and sampled more local delicacies than I can count. University Professor Brantly Womack, a Friend of China, led us passionately through every single one of these experiences, offering me an opportunity to learn about the culture in a way that now seems impossible to replicate.
After the professor-led portion I traveled with a group of friends to Phuket, Bangkok and Vietnam. In Vietnam, I kayaked in Halong Bay, mountain biked in northern Vietnam and generally became much closer with the entire group. During the trip, I was able to write a couple of articles for national U.S. newspapers based on my experiences in the region. Much like the rest of my trip, that opportunity is one I know is unlikely I will ever have again. I already feel spoiled to have had them once!