My name is James Carroll, and I'm currently a Peace Corps Volunteer serving in the midwestern region of Uganda. I arrived here in June 2015 two weeks after graduating from Colgate University, which is about two hours away from my hometown of Albany, New York. Highlights of my time at Colgate included being a member of the ultimate frisbee team, Theta Chi fraternity, a clarinetist in the university orchestra, and a coordinator of service events with the campus volunteerism institute. I also spent a semester at the University of Cape Town, where I studied southern African political thought and music.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Peace and Conflict Studies with a minor in Classical Studies, and here in Uganda I work under Peace Corps' Community Agribusiness framework as an agricultural extension officer for a USAID project. When my tenure as a Volunteer expires in August of this year I hope to return to the USA and enter the consulting world. In my free time I enjoy listening to and making music, staying in shape, and exploring new schools of thought. Finally, my three favorite desserts are creme brulee, cheesecake with fresh strawberries, and mango sticky rice in that order.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've done a fair bit of traveling in my day and I've learned to appreciate the value of a sturdy roof and good conversation underneath it. I love the idea of opening my door to travelers who are curious about Uganda and the world, and in my own expeditions I hope to meet and connect with friendly not-yet-acquaintances who have a sincere desire to see the best in others and bring out the best in themselves.

Interests

• photography
• cooking
• desserts
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• rock climbing
• beaches
• ultimate frisbee
• jamming

Music, Movies, and Books

Electronic funk, folk, and hip-hop are the "big three" these days; GRiZ, Gramatik, Exmag, Emancipator, Frank Turner, Gregory Alan Isakov, and J. Cole are a few of my current favorites, but music is the reason I wake up every morning so I can talk your ear off (or listen to you talk mine off) about just about anything you dig.

I recently saw Get Out, written and directed by Jordan Peele, and it made its way to the top of my greatest hits. I'm also a big Coen Brothers fan, so I'm always happy to return to Miller's Crossing, The Big Lebowski, and O Brother, Where Art Thou?

I have a minor in Classical Studies and almost had one in English, so I like books. One of the most coolest classes I had the opportunity to take at Colgate was called Living Writers, and we basically read a book a week and then had the opportunity to meet the author and ask him or her questions about it. Among the books we read for that class that remain a few of my favorites are Jonathan Franzen's Freedom, Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, and The Orchard of Lost Souls by Nadifa Mohamed. I also love postmodern stuff, and while I haven't mustered up the literary might to tackle Thomas Pynchon's weightier stuff yet I'm an avid fan of David Foster Wallace and Kurt Vonnegut.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In the summer of 2010 I participated in a month-long canoe trip to the northern wilderness of Saskatchewan. Portages through dried-up riverbeds, "sailing" down one of the largest freshwater lakes on the continent with a tarp tied to two paddles, rerouting our trip to steer clear of nearby forest fires, it was an awesome trip!

Teach, Learn, Share

I play three instruments (clarinet, bass guitar, ukulele) and can fiddle around on a few more, occasionally freestyle rap, and enjoy any sort of outdoor activity (hiking, climbing, paddling, slacklining) and can speak endlessly about trips, gear, etc.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I've spent nearly three out of the last four years living, studying, and working on the beautiful African continent, and I'm happy to discuss what I've gleaned about foreign aid, international development, and related subjects. I also consider myself something of a proficient baker and am happy to produce a loaf of bread or batch of cookies as an expression of gratitude!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, Hungary, Saint Barthélemy, Tanzania, Thailand, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

South Africa, Uganda, United States