Denali Gillaspie, class of 2008

ComAcad alumni Denali Gillaspie has been traveling the world with her brother Yoshi for seven months and plans to keep living out of her backpack until mid-August (Denali was suppose to be back in Marin mid-June but she is having too much fun so she is extending her travels). Her adventures started with a family trip to Hawaii. Denali and Yoshi then went to Japan, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. They are currently in India with their friend Gina. Next on the itinerary is Nepal, Indonesia and then where ever the wind blows them.

While in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, they met a woman in a park who wanted them to teach her 5-year old son English. After meeting the mother and son each day at 5 o’clock, they invited Denali and Yoshi and others to their home for dinner.  The 12 of them sat on the floor to eat shrimp and hot soup filled with vegetables Denali  had never seen before. Denali said, “the kindness of strangers on this trip has been memorable.”

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