Dear reader,

One’s first blog post on the Trek is an opportunity to make a quality first impression on backpacking enthusiasts from all over. I could charm you with a sweet story about how I came to love the outdoors or impress you with my sheer wit. Instead, in a total lack of confidence in my ability to do either, I have decided to sway your emotions towards me using the science of Dr. Arthur Aron.

I’m sure many of you saw the same New York Times article that circled different media spheres in 2015 that I did – The 36 Questions That Lead to Love. Now, when that article was published, I was 14 years old and had no interest in getting someone to fall in love with me. Now, nine years later, it feels right to pull out the big guns for our new and flourishing relationship as blogger & reader. My thought is that it will be a lot harder for you to stop reading if you’re already in love with me.

Before we begin, I suppose I should provide a simple introduction so you can have a baseline knowledge of who I am. My name is Florencia Loncán. I am 23 years old, I’m a Scorpio (some people find this really important), and I am thru hiking the Appalachian Trail starting in April.

That’s pretty much all you need to know about me (for now).

20 Questions to Fall in Love*

*Some questions were removed because they don’t work via blog format or because there are some things that simply don’t have to be shared with strangers on the internet 🙂

1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

First answer that popped in my head? My best-friend, Anna-Lisa. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of celebrities that would be cool to meet or scientists who I would love to ask so many questions, but Anna-Lisa and I have been friends for ten years and we still find new things to talk about.

2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?

I want the work I do in the future to be of such a high quality that it is well known by others. For example, I hope to be working in communications within the conservation sector. I’d love for my writing to have an impact beyond the immediate circle that would be expected to read it. So, I guess the simple answer is yes, but I’d like my work to be famous, not necessarily myself.

3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?

Yes. All the time. I have anxiety. I don’t always trust myself to get all the information I need on a phone call if I don’t make myself a mini script. This only applies to phone calls with people I don’t know. I love talking with loved ones on the phone.

4. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?

My perfect day has temperatures above 75, sun shining, and any swimmable body of water. I’d spend the day with friends outside enjoying each other’s company.

5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

I sing to myself all the time. I love to sing. I don’t take myself seriously though. I like to sing in the way that everyone loves to sing at a concert of an artist they love. The last time I sang to someone was when my roommates and I danced around the kitchen while cooking dinner. Music and dancing is something I love. I would never ruin it by taking it seriously.

6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

I had to think about this one for a minute, but if the assumption is that your mind or body would continue to age as they normally would those last 60 years of life, I think I’d prefer to have the body of a 30-year-old. Most of my hobbies involve being outside and active in one way or another. Also I like having confidence in my body’s ability to do simple things – getting up, walking, writing, etc. If my mind would continue to age normally, I would still be mentally-fit for the majority of my life. Besides, part of the charm of getting older is blaming your behaviors on your aging mind.

7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

I really think I’m going to die in my sleep when I’ve lived a fulfilling life. At least, that’s what I’m manifesting.

8. Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.

I’m going to make some broad assumptions about the Trek readership here.

1. We like the outdoors
2. We find backpacking to be fascinating and love following other’s journeys
3. We would die to be a guest on Backpacker Radio

9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

I am incredibly grateful for the people in my life, particularly my family. My parents and my two brothers are the people I love most in this world. I am who I am because of them.

10. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

I would love to be able to know my body so well that when something is wrong, I can pinpoint exactly what it is and how to fix it.

11. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

I would want to know what place in the world would make me happiest to live in. I don’t know where I want to head to next after finishing the AT.

12. Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?

I’ve really wanted to move to a new state. I have lived in North Carolina for most of my life, and the farthest west I’ve been is eastern Kentucky. I haven’t left yet mainly because I have been in school this whole time. I went to UNC-Chapel Hill for both my undergrad and my master’s, and now I plan on thru hiking the Appalachian Trail. If anything, this hike is my trial run for living farther than an hour from my family.

13. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

My greatest accomplishment in life was passing my master’s thesis defense this past November. I have never worked as hard on something before. My thesis was titled “Understanding Visitors’ Motivations Behind Environmental Stewardship in Great Smoky Mountains National Park(GRSM)” I conducted my own ethnography in GRSM, which included observations and interviews of visitors in the park. When I passed my defense, I cried.

I graduated with a M.A. in Media and Communication with a concentration in strategic communication.

14. What do you value most in a friendship?

Feeling safe with another person. Both physically and mentally. Good friendships feel like home where I can comfortably be myself.

15. If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?

I would probably spend more money. I like the security that saving money brings me in case unexpected events happen in the future. If I knew that, in a year out, I was going to die, I’d start booking those vacations I was putting off.

16. What does friendship mean to you?

Everything. My friends make my life exciting. I’m sure everyone feels this about their own friends, but I think that I objectively have the best friends in the world. They are my main source of laughter.