Name: Guillaume “G” Kitumaini
Age: 20
Hometown: Cardiff
Studying: Law
This week I had the pleasure of chatting with my good friend and Mooting Society partner, Guillaume Kitumaini! G is coming to the end of his 3rd year at Aberdeen University, and I wanted to ask a bit more about what makes him tick. Let’s find out!
HC: So G, being from Cardiff, what made you decide to move to Aberdeen to study law?
GK: Funny story actually. When I was deciding where to go for university I looked at all the unis that were near national parks- obviously thinking that I would be hiking every other day of the week. So I picked Aberdeen because it was so close to the Cairngorms. Whilst doing this I forgot a very important thing about my course; I sat in my first lecture and we were told we were studying Scots law. I actually forgot that Scots and English law are different! Moral of the story is that I’m in third year and I’ve been to the Cairngorms once!
HC: That’s a shame! I hope you’ve still enjoyed learning Scots law! So, you have the title of Senior Internal Moot Coordinator this year for the Aberdeen University Mooting Society. What have been your favourite and most challenging aspects of being a committee member?
I would have to say I love being able to call myself the Master of Moot when I email staff members, it gives me that feeling of importance. The only thing better than that is the committee itself. The committee is full of interesting characters from all over the place and nothing is better than having a true Italian invite you over for a dinner party. The most challenging aspect would indisputably be being in charge of every internal competition that takes place in the university. Luckily I’ve had my lovely assistant to help me out all year round.
HC: That would be ME! It’s been a pleasure working with you this year G, I hope I made your job slightly easier! Have you joined any other societies besides mooting?
GK: I always wanted to join Red Cross, but I’ve been in mooting since 1st year as even before I came to uni I knew I wanted to do it. My biggest regret is not running for law class rep against my best mate Simon in first year. I crashed loads of other society events like debater and the feminist and creative writing societies’ poetry slams.
HC: Well what’s not to love about a good poetry slam?! What about outside university, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Battlefield 4. I’m guessing you want a real answer? I Play for the Gordonians RFC, the 2XV the Jolly Boys. This my second year playing rugby with them. The team is full of cracking lads and the banter is always flowing, I mean “Win or Lose on the Booze”. More recently me and a couple of guys got together to organise 5 aside football, we’re thinking of doing it every Friday at Goals. When I’m not doing these things that require physical strength, you’ll most likely find me behind the bottle!
HC: Sounds like you’ve got a lot going on, that’s great! What are your plans once you graduate from Aberdeen University?
GK: The issue about being a law student is that your future is basically written out for you. You have to take this course after you finish then go here etc; after that then finally you can call yourself a lawyer. All that for me is up in the air right now. What I know for sure is that I will try to remedy the mistake I made when I applied to uni; I’ll be rushing back South to England and Wales because that’s where home is. Don’t get me wrong, I’m loving it here in Scotland, in the Deen. I mean, I can still be convinced to stay…
HC: I hope you do stay, Scotland would be nothing without G! Can you tell me something that nobody knows about you?
GK: There was this rugby 7’s championship that I used to take part in every year back when I was in the Army Cadets Force. All the Forces from across the UK sent their teams. Wales played as one team. And because we were beasts, me and the Welsh team were 4 time National 7’s champions.
HC: That is very impressive, you should be proud!
QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS
Favourite night club – I would like to say Espionage but no one ever wants to come with me so NOX!
Favourite food – Meat is not an answer is it? Jambalaya.
Pet hate – 9 o’clock lectures
Guilty pleasure – Sorry Kanye…My guilty pleasure is Taylor Swift.
Thanks for talking to us G, and best of luck with your legal career whether you are North or South of the border!
Photos are personal photos used with permission.