CURRENT MISSION

Volunteering in Tanzania/ Learning Swahili

ABOUT ME

I am a fisheries biologist who has worked in the estuaries of the Western Atlantic from the Everglades of Florida to the Bay of Fundy in Maine. Right now, I am en route to volunteer with the Tanzanian Children's fund for 5 months teaching English. My future after that has yet to be decided upon; who knows what a drastically different entry will do to my resume.

I am a feminist, and believe that you should be also.

I am a quick study and love to learn about new things, the more esoteric, the better.

I grew up poor without realizing it in Wildwood, New Jersey, a tourist community open for the middle class of Philadelphia and New York city.

Our travel blog of Tanzania is at ngorongoroagogo@blogspot.com

PHILOSOPHY

There is a lot of things that can be put here that are really cliche: i.e. "Treat others as you would like to be treated." With that in mind, here are some of the less common partitions of my personal philosophy.

Don't trust anyone who is trying to sell you something.

I'm comforted knowing that in some point in the future the sun is going to explode. No matter how (un)important you are, this will erase what you have (not) accomplished. Despite this, I feel that it is important to strive to stop others' suffering.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

So far I have only been a leach on the couch surfing system, but plan on one day giving back all the privilege that I have been afforded.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

It really seems that the best way to experience a place is to see it from the lens of someone who lives there. Benefiting from the knowledge and character of a local lends a touch to traveling that is not comparable to a purchased hotel room. Couch surfing definitely serves to make every travel to foreign places more interesting and rewarding than the alternatives.

We have only had charmed couch surfing experiences. So, we're still waiting for the awkward experience that a couple of our hosts have told us about.

Interests

Biology at all levels.

History, although like most Americans, the majority of my knowledge is limited to the Americas.
Literature (although I'm not well versed)
Puns ;)

Photography

Story telling

I'm a good cook. I love preparing dishes from fresh ingredients.

• literature
• photography
• cooking
• traveling
• blogging
• fishing
• surfing
• biology
• history
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Children of Men, Alien, District 9, UK office, Air guitar nation, 28 days later, Brokeback mountain, Old boy, napoleon dynamite.

Music: Saul williams, gnarls barkley, cradle of filth, the roots, shadows fall, leonard cohen, aesop rock, mindless self indulgence, NOFX, strung out, outkast, RJD2, and many many others

Books: Red Queen, Peoples history of the U.S., Hitch hikers guide to the galaxy, Tale of two cities, Fight club and many many many others.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've helped an angry 800 pound Leatherback Seaturtle get from a deck table back into the sea.

I have accidentally surfed on an alligator.

I have been stabbed by catfish so many times that I can identify them to species by the character of the pain inflicted.

I through-hiked the first half of the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia.

Teach, Learn, Share

If you are looking for a safe place to hole up against the zombie apocalypse, the closest nuclear power plant is probably the safest place to go. They are highly fenced with armed guards and have an electricity source. They always have a water intake, so fishing is an option. Bring some seeds and topsoil and you got yourself a colony.

Countries I’ve Visited

Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States