Digging up one of my lost interviews: Meet Krista

Digging up one of my lost interviews: Meet Krista
                        

I ran across several interviews that I did with some incredible people, interviews that have been tucked away for various reasons. I believe now is the time to show them some love and the light of day.

Meet Krista Hochstetler. Currently working at Jitters, she loves traveling the world while experiencing other cultures. I asked Krista some random questions because one, she’s a friend, and two, because of her interesting travels and expanded worldview. Her niece and nephew are her favorite people to hang out with, and she loves to immerse herself in a good book. Let’s get to know her.

Favorite and least favorite thing about living in rural Ohio? —I’m going to be honest and say I don’t like a whole lot about living in rural Ohio. I tried hard to come up with a creative answer for this question, but the truth is I’m a city girl at heart who happens to be stuck in Holmes County. I will say the one thing I love about my small town is our local library. It was one of my favorite spots growing up and recently I went inside for the first time in a very long time and it still looked and smelled the same as it did when I was a kid. It made me happy and I’m glad it’s the one thing in Millersburg that never seems to change.

Introvert or an extrovert? Tell us why — I’m a mixture of both which may sound weird but hear me out; by nature, I’m a bit more introverted and am happy to spend most of an entire day alone. However, I also enjoy being in situations where I’m pushed to be more of an extrovert. I enjoy getting to know new people and finding common ground.

Tell us about a favorite experience in another county Traveling to new places is one of my favorite things in the world, and I think it should be a requirement for everyone to visit new countries and be immersed in new cultures from time to time. It does wonders to erase any prejudice and preconceived ideas we may have, and shows us the world is much bigger than the little bubble we live in. I’ve enjoyed every country that I’ve traveled to and each one has left me with a unique experience, however, one of my favorite places is Athens, Greece. I’ve lived in Athens off and on over the past years, and one of the best feelings for me is finding spaces in a new place that feel like home. Whether it be a coffee shop, a new neighborhood, or a quiet place in the city, I love finding a new sense of home in different places than where I grew up.

Difference between being religious or spiritual? — For me religion is typically defined by a lot of rules. Often, I find religious people to be some of the most judgmental, and their primary focus seems to be what someone does or does not do. On the flip side, I think being spiritual is something that’s deeply personal to each individual and not something that is being forced but a connection that is being made.

Cause close to your heart? — Human rights. Freedom for all. Equality for all no matter your race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or culture. Every human being on this planet deserves safety, love, equality, and respect. No one should be treated as less than for any reason. Period.

Favorite holiday memory? —A few years ago, I was living and volunteering in Athens, Greece and happened to be there over Thanksgiving. Our volunteer group at the time was a large mix of people from all parts of the world who had become like family, and we decided to have an impromptu Thanksgiving dinner at a local Indian restaurant. We took up a large corner of the small restaurant, ate butter chicken and naan, and had the best time. It looked nothing like a traditional Thanksgiving in Ohio, but to be honest, it was one of the best I’ve ever had.

What has living in the age of Coronavirus taught you? — That everything can change so quickly. Nothing in life feels certain these days, and I feel like I’m living in a state of constant anxiety. It’s exhausting, it’s overwhelming, but I’m realizing it’s also okay to allow myself to feel these feelings, take one day at a time, and continue working to move forward.

Twilight or Hunger Games and why? — In all fairness I have to admit that I’ve never actually watched Hunger Games the whole way through (I know, I know), however, I’m fairly certain that I would still pick Twilight because I’m kind of a sucker for a sappy vampire movie.


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