Introduction to Christian the future Mammalogist
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| A photo of me! Taken by me |
Hello! My name is Christian Hansen, and I am a senior biology student here at OU. After I graduate this spring, I plan on studying for my master’s degree in mammalogy and hopefully pursuing a doctorate degree after that! For a career I would love to be a field mammalogist and help conserve and fight for the many species of animals that are in danger due to our actions. I have always loved animals ever since I was a kid. I have a hamster named Pepper and she is the cutest little thing you will ever see!
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| My hamster, Pepper. Taken by me |
Back in the day I was legally known as Ян Александрович Васалив. A little fun fact about me is I was adopted! I was born in Pskov, Russia, and given to an orphanage with my twin sister. I currently have no idea who my birth parents are and why I was placed for adoption right after birth. I stayed in the orphanage for about a year or so until my sister and I were adopted into our current family. I am so grateful for the opportunity at a new life I was given, but part of me is always curious how my life might have been different if I stayed in Russia. Maybe one day I will travel to Russia to search for answers, but I am not too pressed about it currently.
I lived in Boulder, Colorado, up until the second grade. This is where I developed my appreciation for nature. My dad, sister, and I would always go on trails in the mountains (as long as they were safe for a 5-year-old) and I remember everywhere being so beautiful! The summer before second grade my family and I moved to Dallas, Texas, where I lived for the rest of my childhood. I never could appreciate Texas like I did Colorado and I plan on leaving the south as soon as possible after I graduate.
In sixth grade I took up the trumpet. I had always wanted to play it and once I was given the option in middle school I did not hesitate. I continued to play the trumpet through high school and college and was a member of the Pride of Oklahoma. Through this group, I have met so many amazing people and made so many memories. In the four years I was a part of it, I traveled to 3 playoff games, 3 big 12 championships, and countless other trips. Sadly because of COVID-19 we were unable to travel last semester.
Outside of school I love to be in the outdoors. You can catch me on campus (when its warmer of course!) or hiking in the Wichita mountains with my friends. Being in the outdoors just feels natural to me. Apart from that I also enjoy playing video games. I like playing party games on the switch, especially Mario Kart. I love to travel! I’ve been to 4 different countries so far and I hope I can increase that number as I get older. Some of the favorite places I’ve visited in my life include Hawaii, Denmark, and London! What I enjoy most about traveling is getting to experience new cultures and ways of life. I get to try food I never thought I’d try and be amazed at how good it tastes.
Hi Christian!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading about you and your life story! I also have an identical twin sister, and I absolutely love to meet other twins! If we're being completely honest, I had to look up the word mammalogy and what a mammalogist is because I'd never heard of it before, so thank you for introducing something new into my life with your blog. It sounds super cool and fun, and I wish you all the best going forward!
Good evening Christian,
ReplyDeleteYou're the first aspiring mammalogist I've met. Like a lot of others probably say to you, I've never heard of this field, but I'm glad you were able to find a study that fits your love for animals.
That is so cool you were in The Pride of Oklahoma! I played trombone in middle school but never went through with it in high school. I have always been impressed by these skilled marching bands such as The Pride!
Hope you have a good semester and I'm looking forward to possibly reading some stories by you as the year goes on.
Hey Christian,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post! Such a cool story you have from your childhood in Russia to here now at OU. Thank you for sharing that. I have visited Boulder once about 2 years ago, and that city is beautiful. To be honest, most of Colorado is so beautiful. You are not alone in wanting to move to a place that has much more beauty and nature. I totally want to move to a state like Colorado for the scenery. Hiking is so fun, and the Wichitas are the best in Oklahoma. I was in the Pride of Oklahoma for 2 years! Two of the best years of my college life for sure and awesome to hear you enjoyed the Pride as well. I have been to London too! I also love traveling for the cultures and just experiencing so many beautiful things. Great to read your blog Christian!
Wishing you all the best this semester
Hi Christian! Your story is honestly so amazing that I had to re-read your post. I cannot believe you and your twin sister were put up for adoption in Russia and ended up being brought to the United States. Are you able to speak Russian at all? I was born and raised in Oklahoma so I have not been very far. I hope you have enjoyed your time in Oklahoma :) I think it is very cool that you have been a part of the Pride of Oklahoma! I really wish I could play an instrument. I wish you the best of luck with all your life goals! Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteHi Christian! I love that you have such a passion for animals! Your hamster is so cute. I am jealous you were able to live in Colorado for part of your childhood. Colorado is my favorite place to visit. Once I graduate I would love to leave Oklahoma and move there because I love the mountains and all things outdoors. Also that is so cool that you were a member of the Pride! A couple of people I went to high school with were also members of the Pride and they always posted about how much they loved it.
ReplyDeleteHi Christian! Exploring the outdoors is a solid past-time I also enjoyed growing up in Washington state, especially as I was able to get out and find more amazing views and horizons once I was older. I played a brass instrument for 3 years in middle school, but I was a part of the trombone section rather than the trumpet. Your history is very interesting, and I hope you're able to find answers if you ever go back to Russia!
ReplyDeleteHi Christian, I really enjoyed learning about your life and your journey to landing here at OU. I think it’s quite cool that you’ve been to four different countries as traveling is something that I would love to do in the future. I hope you finish out your senior year strong and have success in your ventures of being a mammologist.
ReplyDeleteHey Christian!
ReplyDeleteYou've got a super interesting origin story! I've also never heard of the mammalogy field so it's cool to read about your passion for animal conservation. Pepper is adorable! She probably appreciates that you aren't traveling as much since you can pay more attention to her, because that's exactly how my dog is right now. But I'm definitely waiting for this pandemic to be over so I can visit more countries just like you.
Hi Christian!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed to getting know about you and your life journey. It is amazing how you ended up here at OU. Your major is interesting! I don’t know that many people who have the same major. Your passion for animals will make your job so much fun. I wish you well on your future studies and career in mammalogy. Also, Pepper is absolutely adorable.
Hi Christian!
ReplyDeleteYour life seems like a whirlwind of an adventure! I have never looked much into being a mammologist, as I am also a Bio major, but that is probably because I am absolutely terrified of any animal that isn't a cat or dog. And even though I am irrationally afraid of animals, your Pepper looks absolutely precious! I myself have never travelled outside of the country, but everyone I have met and interacted with at OU has really made me want to, and hopefully one day I will. I wish you the best of luck with becoming one of the best field mammologists out there!
Hi Christian!
ReplyDeletePepper is adorable!!!! As a Texas lover, born and raised, I can say I am a tad offended. Just kidding... kind of. I understand where you are coming from with that. It is so nice that you were able to stay with your sister. I have always wanted to be musical, but unfortunately couldn't even play the recorder in 2nd grade so I guess that was not my forte. I got to sit behind The Pride at OU Texas last year and it made the game even better, I loved it! I look forward to reading more of your stories throughout the rest of the semester.
Oh my gosh, this is such a cool coincidence, Christian: here I am finally getting around to comment on your Introduction, and this is the day I put March Mammal Madness in the class announcements (link). Do you know about that? I follow Dr. Anderson at Twitter, and some professors at other schools too, and since I love animal folklore, I really enjoy learning about the weird and wonderful real animals of the planet.
ReplyDeleteAnd that is so fascinating that you know you (and your sister!) have Russian heritage, but not having been there. I hope you will get a chance to go there someday! I majored in Russian and Polish when I was in college, and I lived in Poland for a while; it is a beautiful part of the world, and you have such a good excuse to maybe go there someday. Perhaps there will be a scientific conference that will give you a chance to go to Pskov or some other city in Russia! Pskov is a city I know from Russian literature and legends that we read in school; it is such a famous old city, and it would be an amazing place to see!
And I just left a comment on Kyra's Introduction (link) also: it sounds like you must know each other from the trumpet section of the Pride. I am glad you got to have that special OU experience before the pandemic turned everything topsy-turvy this year. And of course we know the Pride will be back... with all the vaccinations happening now, including even students, everything is starting to look so much more hopeful even than just a month ago! :-)
Howdy Christian!
ReplyDeleteYou have an amazing story, and I really admire your goal of going into conservation work. I have also built up a great appreciation for nature through Boy Scouts (and a few trips to the Rockies in Colorado). Out of curiosity, do you speak any Russian? I am minoring in Russian so I am learning the language here at OU. Last but not least, If you don't mind me asking, are you from Dallas proper? I actually grew up in North Dallas, near Richardson, myself. (I can definitely relate to not appreciating it as much as Colorado, though I've grown to love it a bit more in recent years). Anyways, I wish you all the best this semester and in your path to becoming a field mammologist!
Hi Christian!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating major. I feel like so many people claim to love animals, including myself, but we don't take such large and tangible steps like becoming a mammologist to help fight for their conservation. How inspiring!! I had two gerbils growing up, and one looked a lot like Pepper, so thank you for throwing that picture in. She is so cute!! Finally, I am super jealous that you lived in Boulder. I almost went to school there: it seems absolutely gorgeous.
Hey Christian,
ReplyDeleteThat's really cool you want to dive into mammalogy and work to be a mammologist. That's very unique from most that dive into biology. I have no clue how to even begin to translate your legal name but that's really cool you were born in Russia. Are you able to speak Russian fluently or at all? Congrats on graduating this spring, hope you have a great semester!
Hi Christian! That's so cool that you're an aspiring mammalogist! I'm an aspiring herpetologist myself, so I think you're in good company! :) Your hamster is so cute--I've never had a hamster, but when I was younger, I had two gerbils (although my mom wasn't a huge fan of rodents in the house). Hopefully you get the chance to visit Russia someday! My little brother was adopted from Ethiopia around when he turned one as well. Adoption is such a beautiful thing!
ReplyDeleteHi Christian!
ReplyDeleteIt's week 12 and I have only now stumbled upon your blog in the randomizer! I just came from reading your week 11 story.
Your career goals are very admirable and you seem very passionate about them, which is so awesome! Also your hamster is absolutely adorable oh my gosh.
My preferences for nature align very heavily with yours. I've never been to Colorado but I've been to Vermont many times and the nature and climate there is so much more preferable to the miserable heat of the south! I too also love the outdoors and all activities related to it!
Christian,
ReplyDeleteI love to be outdoors and to hike as well! One day, I would love to live somewhere like Colorado and just be able to hike and explore! I also like the colder weather and am originally from Texas, so it would be nice for a change! I think it's awesome that you have a passion towards animals and already know what you want to do with that. Hope your semester is going well! (:
Hi Christian! I am back to comment on your intro! My favorite thing to do is hike and be outside, too! On Earth Day I went through all my hiking pictures from last summer and got sad because I was stuck doing school work instead of being outdoors lol. I think it it is so awesome that you have a passion for animals. I love animals as well but I do not want to work with them so I am glad there are people like you that want to! I hope you have a great rest of your semester!
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you Christian! Your hamster is adorable! Experiencing different cultures is amazing, isn't it? That's one of my favorite things to do as well! Eating new foods and seeing new places is so much fun too! Mario Kart is one of my favorite party games too! Though I can't say I'm very good at it. I also like smash bros and mario party.
ReplyDelete