Junior Thomas Tsolakoglou recently joined Country Day after moving from Greece. He previously attended St. Lawrence College.
Q: Why did you move?
A: My mom has lived here for a couple years. I decided I wanted to attend an American school. To go to an American university, I decided it would be easier.
Q: Do you want to go to college near California?
A: All I know is I want to go to the East Coast or Colorado. The weather is way better; it’s cloudy, rainy and cold. Greece and California both have the same always sunny weather.
Q: What do you think of the U.S.?
A: Every summer and sometimes at Christmas I came to the U.S. It’s a nicer community. And it’s cleaner.
Q: How do you feel about Country Day?
A: It’s good. People are friendly. It’s a nice campus. The teaching is more relaxed, but it’s still effective. And it’s very flexible.
Q: What was the hardest part of moving here?
A: Well, since I’m already familiar with the place, it’s just meeting new people – the different lifestyle. Greece is all about the nightlife. It doesn’t really seem like that here.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: I spend a lot of time on my computer – gaming, a little bit of programming. I play a lot of board sports: longboarding, skateboarding and snowboarding. I was thinking of joining the ski and snowboard team.
Q: Why do you enjoy board sports?
A: I like the movement. There’s a certain freedom to it.
Q: So were you on the ski and snowboard team at your old school?
A: No, I was on the soccer team.
Q: What’s your favorite subject?
A: I like English. It’s easy to understand. And I like reading books.
Q: What’s your favorite book?
A: “The Art of Racing in the Rain.” It involves cars and a dog, and those are like my favorite things. It’s a pretty realistic book about hardships.
Q: Favorite television series?
A: “Friends.” I’ve rewatched the whole series a lot of times. It’s really addicting. It makes you feel good.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: Is it okay if it’s morbid?
Q: Sure. Which one?
A: Either “Reservoir Dogs” or “Death Proof.”
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: Spend time with my dog. His name is Scout. (I didn’t name him.) I like to drive around. I’m getting my license this week. I already had my permit from last summer.
Q: What are you most looking forward to?
A: Driving around the country. Going to different states. I like the U.S.
Q: Have you traveled within America?
A: I’ve been to Boston and Washington. I’ve been all over California from top to bottom.
Q: What’s your favorite place in California?
A: I’d say Santa Barbara. All the longboarding, and everyone is chill. It’s beautiful there.
Q: What are your favorite and least favorite places out of everywhere you’ve been?
A: Mauritius is my favorite. It’s an island next to Madagascar. It’s a really tropical beach, so why wouldn’t you like it? It has crystal beaches, corals, white sand and everything. I hated Barcelona in Spain. It was dirty, and the people weren’t nice. I’ve traveled a lot. I have mileage.
