Eliza Chard's Photo

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Overview

  • 5 references 5 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in English; learning Acholi
  • 40, Female
  • Member since 2007
  • Community Health Volunteer
  • Anthropology and Visual Art from the University of Vermont
  • From Fairfield, Connecticut, USA
  • Profile 90% complete

About Me

CURRENT MISSION

I live at a gov't health center in Northern Uganda (about an hour and a half outside of Gulu). I work on a bunch of different projects with people in the community and love it!

ABOUT ME

I guess anyone who's on couch surfers loves to travel but that's definitely been a defining drive in my life. I've spent the past few years doing a mix of social service type work and wondering. I'm currently living and volunteering in a rural area of Northern Uganda. I work with community groups essentially helping them do whatever they want. I've been here since Oct. 2010 and will remain until Oct. 2012 which is the longest that I've lived in one place in the past 10 years.

I love it here but I'm looking forward to living out of a bag again after my work in Ngai is finished.

PHILOSOPHY

To live is to be marked. To live is to change, to acquire the words of a story, and that is the only celebration we mortals really know. In perfect stillness, frankly, I've only found sorrow.

-The Poisonwood Bible

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've been a member for years but have never been an active couch surfer before. In all honesty, even though I signed up I thought it sounded super sketchy for a long time. I've traveled all over the place and have met a ton of people who both use couch surfing and host people who have all been amazing! At this point I'm completely convinced that couch surfing is not sketchy but awesome. I'm looking forward to hosting when I can and meeting more interesting people through this network.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Sorry for being so elusive. Trying to update my profile for the first time in 4 years using an African village strength internet connection isn't working out too well...

Interests

wandering, reading, meeting new people, pottery, photography, learning about new cultures, humanitarian work, getting lost, unexpected adventures

  • photography
  • dining
  • running
  • working out
  • reading
  • traveling
  • pottery
  • surfing
  • boxing
  • volunteering

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Daunting question. Too many amazing experiences for such a little box.

Teach, Learn, Share

I live in a really unique situation right now. I'm the only foreigner in my community and have been fortunate enough to have been welcomed into it. I think that the most interesting thing that I'd have to offer another traveler at the moment is the opportunity to come and stay in the village and get to know what life in rural Uganda is really like. I don't have electricity, running water, access to very much food or other conveniences but I can introduce you to a lot of amazing people and show you the some grassroots projects that are actually working.

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Australia, Cambodia, Canada, China, Dominica, Fiji, France, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Kenya, Uganda, United States

Old School Badges

  • 1 Vouch

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