Blog #2.2 Meet Natasha Sutton

Bio: Natasha Sutton is pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering at the University of South Florida. She received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is on the GIS research team.

Pre-Trip Reflection: We are almost two weeks out from our official travel date! I’m getting together some loose ends like paperwork, vet appointments, a house sitter, medical appointments, and last-minute shopping. So many little details go into prepping for a trip that I always forget about. I’m excited to leave for the airport because at that point, everything is done, and I can relax. I feel like most people get nervous for the airport part of the trip. You have to worry about if you forgot anything, be mindful of your passport at all times, hope you catch all the connections, and get through customs smoothly. For me, I know once I’m at an airport with a passport in hand, everything else is out of my control. I’ve traveled enough to feel confident moving around airports and unfamiliar cities. If I do happen to find myself confused, a big smile and a polite request for help always works like a charm!

I can’t wait to touchdown in Morocco! This will be my second time back which is very exciting. The country was beautiful and the food was amazing. I’m hoping some of the partner students or families we meet will be willing to teach me how to pour tea in the proper Moroccan style. The key seems to be confidence in the pour, but I’ll find that out when I get there. This trip will be the first time that I get to interact with the families involved in argan oil production. I’m curious to see the entire process and any potential areas of improvement. As a group, the class has mentioned looking into supply chain. I’m looking forward to this topic because I haven’t used GIS for supply chain concepts yet. I think it’ll be interesting to see what we can do!