Hi! My name is Sophie Neems and I’m a fellow Little Hawk! After City High, I attended Grinnell College where I majored in Spanish and anthropology, because I’ve always enjoyed talking to new people and learning about different cultures. While I am a true Iowa enthusiast, I thought it was time to shake things up after I graduated so I moved to Washington, DC to teach high school students cooking classes through a local non-profit. I then worked for Farm Credit, a cooperative that finances 40% of American agriculture. I learned a lot while living in DC and especially enjoyed visiting Capitol Hill and watching how our country’s leaders make decisions that affect us all.
Witnessing our federal government in action made me curious about what it would be like to live, and farm, in a different country. That’s why I decided to apply for a Fulbright research grant. Thanks to Fulbright, I’ve been living and studying in Córdoba, Spain since May 2021. My job here is to interview farmers about climate change. I’ve talked to people who produce olives, grapes, almonds and lots of other delicious fruits and vegetables. And, I’ve been conducting all my interviews in Spanish! When I’m not working, I love to run by the river, try new foods and meet new people. I’m excited to share my experiences with you and learn all about what’s happening at City High!
