CURRENT MISSION

Zippin' around Africa, studying cheetahs, following my dreams!

ABOUT ME

I've just begun my PhD through the Zambian Carniore Programme, Panthera, and Montana State University.
My dissertation will examine the conservation and ecology of cheetahs in south-central Africa (primarily Zambia). I'm basically the luckiest girl in the world :) For the past 6 years I worked for a small research nonprofit studying the mountain lions just outside of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

I laugh a lot, smile even more, and am excited for just about any adventure. My favorites things in the world are cats, mountains, garlic bread, and dancing. When not chasing cats, I love mountaineering, climbing, snowboarding, yoga, surfing, painting, photography, and FOOD!

PHILOSOPHY

"One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am, a reluctant enthusiast... a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it's still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards."

-Edward Abbey

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I love sharing my life with others, and I love sharing in other people's lives.

I did the majority of my surfing in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup, and I've hosted several surfers during their travels in Jackson (though it was often difficult to host surfers due to clashes with ex-roomates). But I deeply believe in CS's mission, and look forward to getting more involved in CS during my PhD!

Interests

• cats
• wildlife
• arts
• dancing
• swing dancing
• yoga
• running
• fishing
• canoeing
• mountaineering
• surfing
• skiing
• snowboarding
• basketball
• boxing
• rock climbing
• soccer
• world cup
• ecology
• mountains

What I Can Share with Hosts

Smiles, friendship, and advice on where to adventure and what to do/ski/climb in the Grand Teton/Jackson area.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Italy, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Zambia

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States, Zambia