By Ashley Jones
Staff Writer
ALLISON CULLY
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Traveling across the Atlantic Ocean, golden retriever in tow, freshman Allison Cully was not quite sure what she was going to find at Pepperdine University.
Having visited the United States before, Cully was not completely surprised by what she found.
However, she has learned a lot about the United States that she didn’t know before. She has found that there are a lot of differences that take some time to get used to.
Growing up, Cully was surrounded by two older siblings, Warren, who is now 26, and Christine, now 22.
Her parents were originally born and raised in the United States, and both of her siblings also came here for college. So, for Cully, Pepperdine was not completely foreign territory.
She was born at Hirslanden Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, and lived just outside Zurich in Kusnacht for most of her life.
Some of her interests include sleeping, eating, reading, snowboarding and doing math.
When she travels to Santa Barbara, where her parents live during most of the year, she spends time cooking and playing with her dog, a golden retriever named Bramble.
She also enjoys working or playing on her computer and sharing time with her family and friends.
What is your favorite place in the world?
I imagine my favorite place would be Turkey, but I haven’t been there yet. So, until I go to Turkey, my favorite place is anywhere with my dog.
What is the most important thing to you?
Love — love is all we need.
Bananas or apples?
Apples during the day and bananas and milk right before bed like my dad taught me.
If you could meet any person who is not still on this earth who would it be?
John Lennon, maybe, because he’s a Beatle — he was the Beatles.
Who is your favorite super hero?
We didn’t have many super heroes on TV in Switzerland, but if I had to choose one it would be Spiderman because he could swing, pretty much fly, and jump really high.
What is your favorite animal and why?
All sorts of apes because they’re smart and can swing from trees and eat bananas all day.
Mickey Mouse or Goofy?
Goofy — are you crazy? There is no question.
What is the one thing people should absolutely know about Switzerland?
We do not speak Swedish and we do not ski to school, though it is possible.
What from Switzerland can you not live without?
Fresh air — oxygen — because it’s like nowhere else in the world. The air is the freshest in the world — pure freshness.
Gumballs or gumdrops?
I don’t know. I’ve never had either, but gumdrops sound sweeter.
What is your favorite food from Switzerland?
Swiss Bernerbrot, Hutten-kase and Thommy mustard, oh and Lindt chocolate – it tastes nothing like the imported one here.
Pet horse or pet elephant?
Elephant because I could sit on its trunk and ride it backwards.
What do you most enjoy spending your time doing?
Sleeping, eating, partying (not American style) and doing math.
What is your favorite quality in a person?
Curiosity, inquisitiveness, when people are eager to listen and learn from others.
What is something you have found hard to adapt to since living in America?
The inability to easily and comfortably wander from club to club.
What is the most surprising thing you found out when you came to America?
How scary and intimidating cops are — just like in the movies.
What are cops like in Switzerland?
If you have something you are not supposed to have they ask you to put it where they can’t see it or else they will take it for themselves. They are fair and polite and they recognize that young people do silly things some times.
What is your favorite color?
White, but if you consider that the absence of color, then green. I love green.
How long have you been in America?
Since the beginning of the school year.
What do you most remember about America from your visits when you were young?
When I was in about third grade you were the coolest if you had Fruit Roll-Ups, Oreos, Keds and leggings with stirrups. I used to love coming to America for holidays just so I could buy those things and bring them back for my friends. I remember being at my Swedish grandparents’ house in Oregon, playing Easter egg hunt, and my brother and sister throwing the empty Easter eggs at me and stealing my dollars.
March 21, 2002
