Gorka Aliri

Freshman, environmental studies. Employee, UC Catering.

Full name?
Gorka Mikel Aliri Rodarte Samperdro Coronado Anorga .... I forget the last part.  

Hometown?
Fuencarral, Madrid, Spain.

When you were 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?  How about now?
I wanted to be a soccer player.  I still want to be a soccer player. But now I am going to be a person who takes care of the environment.

What are you studying?
Environmental studies.  I’m going to switch to forestry to concentrate on wildlife conservation. I want to specialize in fires.

What is the best course on campus and why do you think so?
George Price’s Native American Studies 100.  I also liked "G. Wiz" [Garon the Wizard, a.k.a. Garon Smith] when I took Chemistry 151.  Both of them are crazy and passionate people.

How often do you visit the library?
It is pretty much my second house. I go there a lot. I work on campus, so I live on campus, basically.

Where do you live?
Behind Curry [Health Center].  It’s cheap and close to campus. My roommates are awesome. We met randomly. I met the guy who was moving out at a house party.

Greatest accomplishment?
Graduating high school.

Goal in life?
To have 27 kids. No, not really ... to be as happy as I can.

Strangest job?
Measure the noise in my old town with a machine. It was for research.

Longest trip?
Spain to California.

Primary mode of transportation?
I bike. I don’t walk. I don’t drive. I hate walking -- but I like hiking.

Favorite outdoor activity?
Hiking, Glacier Park.

Favorite place on campus?
The Oval because it has a wide view of campus.

The best way to spend a free afternoon in the Missoula area is?
Go to the river when it’s 105 degrees outside and you’re dying.

If you had all the money in the world, what would you do?
I will burn it. No poor people -- no rich people.

If your life was made into a movie, what genre would it be?  Who would portray you?
Drama; Jack Nicholson.

Who is your hero?
Robin Williams.

Ideal date?
Having dinner on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. I haven’t done it with a date; I went with my family.

What’s your favorite bumper sticker?
"665 vecino de la bestia." It means "Neighbor of Satan."

If you could light anything on fire right now, what would it be?
All the oil, although it would be smoky.

Why did you come to The University of Montana?
I came to the University for three reasons: 1) My brother lives here, 2) I love Montana’s environment, and 3) it’s cheap. Money is huge for me. I had to look at the prices.

How are you paying for school?
Saved money from Spain. When that’s gone, I’ll ask my parents for dollars. I also applied for scholarships.

Favorite place or favorite aspect of Missoula?
The river. [Clark Fork.]

Have you ever hiked the M? How often?
Once.

What is your favorite Montana destination?
Seeley Lake.

Life philosophy?
Try to enjoy the little stuff in life.

-- Interview by Kat Healy and photography by Shiloh Akari