I am an easy-going person. I like to hang out with friends, travel, photograph draw, hike, read, write, research, and learn about new people and cultures. I feel very lucky to have lived in Uganda for the past two years and working as a Social Studies and Library Studies teacher. Some of my best friends are not so talkative, some are really talkative, and I'm content to spend time with just about anyone.

When I was younger, I used to collect rocks, shells, and fossils from around the world with the hopes that one day I would travel to the places I got those items from. I think the rocks, shells, and fossils are now in my attic with the exception of a few that I would still be proud to show as an adult. I used to read about people travelling to faraway places and hoped to have experiences like that one day.

When I was in Romania I began taking Salsa Dancing classes. I haven't done Salsa in a while but it would be nice to try it out again. Mostly, right now, in Uganda, I go hiking in the hills of Bukinda, hang out with the local cattle herders, and explore new paths through the immediate area, which is also a lot of fun. I also like football.

Don't worry though, I won't spend the entire time bothering you. I'd rather learn about what the experience of other people has been.

I like watching gangster films and action films sometimes, to just chill out, but I also like watching movies that are sociologically interesting. I especially like movies by Spike Lee. I am from a family of clinical social workers and psychologists so that might be part of the reason for that. haha

I like to listen to music and I'm a fan of Arthur McBride by Planxty, among other songs.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I wanted to travel and not have to pay money for housing and I had heard about couch-surfing from friends as a safe and secure way to travel and meet new people. I really enjoy making new friends in new places and I thought this would be a fun and exciting way to do that.

Interests

I am interested in seeing places that are off the beaten path for tourists. I am interested to learn about what other people are interested in. I like learning about people from other cultures, nations, and walks in life. I also like hitch hiking.

As of right now, I like to learn about other people's experiences in Eastern and Central Africa because that's where I am in the world right now, but it doesn't mean I wouldn't be interested in learning about other places and experiences in the world.

I like cooking Thai and Chinese food a lot. I also just like cooking whatever local dishes are in the area and experiments so if you know of great dishes I am all about that.

I'm a fan of Salsa dancing even though I have two left feet, but I do like to try.

When I was younger I was really into Entomology. I still like to take closeup pictures of ants, bugs, and little things that a person might not normally notice. I am especially into scenes of natural beauty though, and going off and exploring new parts of whatever country I am in.

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Toumani Diabate, Louis Armstrong, Hanggai, John Coltrane, Seku Blue, Andrei Popa, Fats Domino, The Roots, Tchaikovsky, A Tribe Called Quest, The Black Keys

Books: Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi wa Thiong'o; Citizen and Subject by Mahmood Mamdani; Displacing Human Rights by Adam Branch; An Algerian Cavalcade by Assia Djebar; Politics, Religion, and Power in the Great Lakes Region by Murindwa-Rutanga; Another Country by James Baldwin

Movies: Battle of Algiers, 1966; Malcolm X, 1992; Queen of Katwe, 2016; Beyond the Hills, 2012; Seven Samurai, 1954; Django Unchained, 2012; Inception, 2010; The Magnificent Seven, 2016; I am Sam, 2001; American Gangster, 2007

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I climbed Mount Sabinyo in Uganda and stood at the border of Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo at the top.

I've been living and working abroad for over half a decade now, mostly in Romania and Uganda.

I once went on a camel trek through the Sahara at the border of Morocco and Algeria.

I did stand up comedy for the American Peace Corps in a Rhode Island accent. I'm not sure if this is amazing but they thought it was funny.

I climbed Mount Nyiragongo in Democratic Republic of Congo and looked in at all that lovely bubbling lava.

Teach, Learn, Share

I really like learning about looking at the world from a new perspective. I like learning from scholars of Frantz Fanon. I can share about some unique experiences I've had researching about people living in the sewers of Bucharest, Romania; and some of my research on members of Batwa communities in Uganda.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share stories, conversation, photographs I've taken, and the chance to meet someone new. I can also share biscuits if I brought them with me.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Rwanda, Turkey, Uganda

Countries I’ve Lived In

Romania, Uganda, United States