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Pusateri misses Kane in the fall |
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Written by Publisher
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Saturday, 31 October 2009 |
Photo submitted
Allison Pusateri enjoys Kane in the fall, but is currently studying abroad in Scotland.
By Natasha Mattis
Special to The Kane Republican
Allison Pusateri, daughter of Jeff and Jacklyn Pusateri, loves Kane in the fall, but she hasn’t been around to see it in five years.
Although Scotland has similar scenery with its rolling hills and plenty of rain, Halloween is just not the same as it is in the United States. Pusateri says she goes crazy buying lots of candy for the trick-or-treaters, but only gets a couple of kids on her doorstep each year. In order for children to get candy over there, they must sing a song or recite a poem.
“I feel absolutely mortified for the children,” Pusateri said. “I just tell them to take the candy.”
Pusateri started school in Scotland shortly after she graduated from Kane Area High School in 2005. She is still attending the University of Aberdeen, where she received her bachelor degree in political science and in international relations. She earned a first-class degree, meaning that she graduated within the top 10 of her class.
She is currently working towards her master degree in political research, and hopes continue on to work towards a doctorate. Due to Pusateri’s performance while working on her undergraduate degree, she received a scholarship to help her reach those goals.
“I would like to come back to the United States, but it is a matter of practicality,” Pusateri said.” Plans are tentative right now and dependent upon funding.”
Her scholarship funds stem from Scottish philanthropist John Carnegie. The scholarship is available to her because he had large ties with Pennsylvania and Scotland, therefore, she is thankful that she was born and raised here in Pennsylvnaia.
There is a lot of controversy and protesting in Aberdeen because Donald Trump is trying to put in a golf course. Pusateri is researching activism and protesting while looking at more participatory forms ofdemocracy. She is really excited about her research because she says it has the potential to be ground breaking in finding ways to improve participation and involvement in democracy.
Pusateri is working as a teaching assistant at Aberdeen. She runs seminars and tutorials for first-year students. She has also started a group at the university called the North American Society.
The goal of the society is to work towards combating global anti-Americanism.
Pusateri recently married a Scottish artist Craig Barrowman.
Together, they volunteer to help with many different art events in their area.
Pusateri has always enjoyed the arts, and continues to play the piano. She is also involved in the university choir.
“Scotland is phenomenal. It has opened up so many things for me. It is a fantastic place – culturally – and it is really pretty here. The landscape is similar to Pennsylvania with all the rolling hills,” Pusateri said.
Pusateri accredits her grandparents, Joyce and Bob Arnold and June Smith, as well as her mother and brother Jacob Pusateri with giving her the much needed support to follow her dreams.
“They are my motivation and the only reason I am here, thanks to their encouragement and packages of peanut butter,” Pusateri said. “They are the reason that everything is OK.”
Tara Martz Blake, Pusateri’s high school music teacher, has also been very supportive and encouraging throughout Pusateri’s life.
Pusateri got the zest to travel from an exchange program that she participated in during high school.
She went to the Ukraine, and she knew that she wanted to travel and attend college abroad.
That one trip in high school has made all the difference in her life.
Kane has also inspired her to “get out and see new things.” Pusateri said that Kane is “culturally cut-off” and she wanted to see what else was out there in the world.
She is grateful, however, for the small town values and personality that Kane has instilled in her.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 06 November 2009 )
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