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Tressa Thomas
Bonderman Travel Fellowship
So what exactly is the Bonderman Fellowship?
As a Bonderman Fellow, I have the opportunity to engage in a year of independent travel that will take me to 7 countries in three major regions of the world. As a female comedian, I will be taking this opportunity to explore the intersections of feminism and comedy and by connecting with an international community of female comedians. I will be traveling to Argentina, Ecuador, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Tahiti starting in January of 2018.
What are you most excited for?
I am most excited to have so much unstructured time. Being a UW student has required that I maintain a really packed, structured schedule and I am really looking forward to abandoning that. I think it will be really liberating.
How do you plan to spend your time?
I am not totally sure, to be honest. I think it will depend on the country I am in. I definitely want to see a lot of comedy, performances, and art. I also have my eye on a few specific hikes and tourist destinations. Mostly I just want to meet people. I predict that most of my time will be spent wandering and meeting other travelers and locals.
How do you feel your past experiences will help you in this upcoming year?
I definitely learned from my time in Italy and South Africa about the kinds of challenges that come with being a female traveler. I am prepared to get a lot of inquiries about the fact that I am a female traveling alone and the kinds of issues that may come up because of that. Also, my previous study abroad experiences helped me understand the importance of flexibility. I predict I will have to be very adaptable and patient with myself on this journey—specifically in regard to language barriers.
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