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June 23, 2013

Correspondent Spotlight: Kim Sanchez

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Introducing Kim Sanchez, a junior at the University of Toledo, Ohio, majoring in film and video with a minor in business. She is the first InteRDom Correspondent who will work in a multimedia platform, through writing and short films.

Corresponsal Destacado: Kim SanchezKim is a participant in the Caribbean Summer program and is interning in the audiovisuals department at the Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo ( FUNGLODE) as an Audiovisuals Assistant. Her role in her internship will be to provide support to the InteRDom audiovisual projects by filming cultural activities and Get Togethers; and assisting in the production of the ” Student of the Week” project. She
has already produced two short films in the first two weeks of her stay. These films are promoting the culture of the Dominican Republic by showcasing a travelogue about a personal trip she took toYamasá and a cultural excursion organized through InteRDom to the Colonial Zone.

Kim is hoping to globalize herself through documentary film, and that her internship this summer will open her eyes to new cultures and opportunities, giving her a new perspective on the world using film as a tool.

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: I grew up in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio, and one thing about this area is there is not as much diversity as in other places. As I got older I noticed that I was surrounded by people that were a little closed-minded, and this is when I realized that I wanted to get out and see the world.

Q: What sparked your interest in film and video?

A: I’ve always been interested in it and I love it. I’ve always been around it, and as a kid my sisters worked in the movie theater so we were always watching movies. I think what I want to do with it is direct movies and be creative with film. I’ve done a lot of fictional stuff and I’ve realized that it is really hard to do; there is a lot that goes into it to creating a feature film. I’ve also dabbled in experimental and music films and then I found documentary films and was blown away. There is so much truth to be discovered through documentary films.

Q: What is your favorite film?

A: I really like “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, ” by Michel Gondry. The reason I like this film is because it is so true to how humans are and how the human mind works and I think that is so cool. And another reason I got into film is because of watching films like this; it is the feeling I get after watching films like this, and I just feel removed from my body for a second and think, “Wow, I’m inspired and I kind of want to do the same thing.” The reason that I want to do film is because I want to inspire others like I am inspired by films like this one.

Q: Have you traveled internationally before?

A: Yes, the last time I traveled outside of the country was for a 10-day photography trip in the Spring where I went to Portugal and the Azores. The purpose of the trip was to practice carrying the equipment and being in a new and different place as photographers. The assignment for the trip was to create a video of the trip and now I am in the process of editing the piece. While I was there, it also brought up a lot of questions of ethics like, “Is it ok to take pictures here and take pictures of this person?” It was a really interesting experience.

Q: Why did you decide to participate in the Correspondent Program?

A: It seemed like a really good opportunity and I became interested in photo journalism which is similar and a good practice. I also really like social media and I’m looking forward to promoting my writing, films and photos of the InteRDom program through these platforms.

Q: How do you think the program will contribute to your academic/career goals?

A: I think InteRDom is going to open up so many doors for me and I’ll have so many great opportunities working through an international foundation like FUNGLODE. I feel like I am already learning and I’m getting skills that I didn’t have before and it is really cool.

Q: So what are your career goals?

A: Right now I aspire to work with travel companies and be hired to go to a country and photograph that country to promote their tourism.

Q: If you could use only three words to describe yourself, what would they be?

A: Adaptable, friendly and inspired.

Q: How do you think that these qualities will help you adjust to life in the Dominican Republic?

A: I think that I’m pretty open-minded about customs and certain situations because I’ve met a lot of people and have a lot of different friends and I’ve adapted to them, and I think that is important here because Santo Domingo is not like home in Ohio and adaptability is a good quality to have.

Q: What is a fun or little-known fact about you?

A: I like to collage. Whenever I’m in a funk I get some magazines I go at it for a few hours and then I feel better. Art is healing for me.

Q: Do you participate in any film or photo projects outside of the university?

A:. I’ve been taking freelance photographs. There is a township near me called Sylvania that wanted pictures of their city so they asked me to take photos for their website and that was the first official freelance gig I’ve done in photography.

Upon her return to the University of Toledo, Kim will serve as an ambassador of the country and the program for undergraduate students interested in traveling to the Dominican Republic for academic and professional experiences, and she will help provide an important connection to the students on campus. Read more about how the Correspondent Program helps students boost their resumes in the areas of communications, marketing and public relations, here.

You can follow Kim’s and other InteRDom Correspondents’ experiences in the Dominican Republic on the InteRDom blog . Check back frequently to learn of all of the rich learning and professional development opportunities that the Dominican Republic has to offer.

The internship program, InteRDom, an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo ( FUNGLODE), is the premier internship, research and academic study program in the Dominican Republic. It offers international students the opportunity to research important topics at the forefront of the United Nations agenda, obtain professional experience by interning with Dominican organizations and businesses related to their fields of study and/or earn academic credits by taking courses and seminars at a local university.

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