CURRENT MISSION

Create a life for myself as a PCV in Ethiopia.

ABOUT ME

After living up life in Austin, going between decent money and not having a dime to my name, traveling the western United States for a month, I have moved to Ethiopia where I am building up a new adventure called my life as a Health/ HIV Peace Corps Volunteer.

I write every chance I get, so if you're curious about my current life, check out my blog:

Ferenji and Habesha World

I know these maps are pitiful, for now. I will be adding to these over the next few years. I will be visiting some other African nations during my two year service and afterwards will be spending some time in the Middle East on my way to India and then Nepal.

visited 4 states (1.77%)Create your own visited map of The World or Like this? try: Triposo Travelhacks

visited 14 states (28%)Create your own visited map of The United States or another interesting project

Anthropology and art are my life. I love meeting new people and discovering more about the diversity that is the human species and have only begun to scracth the surface of humanity. I have spent years exploring various arts including printmaking, photography, street art, and interactive art. I am an aspiring visual anthropologist and will be doing one or more visual ethnographies while in Ethiopia. What is visual anthropology? Look it up. That's the beauty of the internet.

I studied in Galway, Ireland a few years ago and loved it. Never felt closer to my own heritage and have yet to see a greener place. I also learned how to hold my liquor while there. It was almost shameful.... almost.

PHILOSOPHY

Humanity is too diverse to say that there is only one correct way to live. Something that seems outrageous in one cultural context makes perfect sense in another. Take a second to digest some things before you react.

Being the right kind of bitch can pay off sometimes.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Done everything short of giving money. Maybe once I am paid in U.S. dollars again in two years.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

It has provided a significant amount of entertainment.

Interests

-Writing my fucked up as well as my fucking funny thoughts. Writing is like a drug to me lately and is serving as a very effective tool for putting things in perspective.

-Photographing the many pieces of evidence of this culture and that culture. Much of my interests stem from visual anthropology.

-Coffee ceremonies..... where have they been all my life? I want to keep these a constant in my life even after I leave Ethiopia. I can make you a mean cup of organic coffee.

-HIV, the cultural/ social stigmas involved and projects that assist MARPs (most at-risk populations). Thank you Peace Corps for the new plethora of goals! I just got to site, but so far possible projects include starting a compost program, education for the Mother Support Group, helping out with IGAs (income- generating activities) with the local CSW (commercial sex workers) Association, working with the PLHIV Group, helping the OVC (orphans and vulnerable children) students at one of the local elementary schools, creating sustainable HIV education programs through YFS (Youth Friendly Services)....... Just to name a few.

-Punching monkeys that try to steal my food.

-I'm working on becoming fluent in multiple languages while I'm here from Dec. 2012- Jan. 2015. I'm currently learning Tigrigna and once I've mastered it, I will be getting tutored in Amharic. I'm brushing up on my Spanish with one of my site mates who is fluent and I'm using Rosetta Stone to learn some Arabic. From there, we will see. I want to become fluent in as many languages as possible.

-I teach English at a local language school and it has helped me develop a ton of awesome relationships with people in my community.

-I will be traveling through different African countries for six months once I finish my service. Anyone that needs/ wants a companion for the first half of 2015, give me a shout.

-I will begin working towards my MPH in Health Education and Communications at Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in the fall of 2015.

• arts
• culture
• writing
• street art
• photography
• beauty
• education
• dining
• coffee
• traveling
• blogging
• anthropology
• cartography
• communications
• teaching
• languages
• medicine
• volunteering
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Guy Ritchie movies, comedies, surreal, ethnographic documentaries.

Music: A wide range of many genres including blues, hard rock to heavy metal, different types of ethnic music, music from the 60s and 70s. I think Grace Slick is one of the best female vocalists of all time and I never get tired of hearing Muddy Waters. I have also fallen in love with Ethiopian music.

Books: White Noise, Naked Lunch, Notes From The Hyena's Belly, 50 Shades of Grey, Bless Me Ultima.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

-Lived on a prison farm for the first half of my childhood.

-Got my chest inked by an Englishman in Ireland.

-Jumped off a 30ft bridge into the River Corrib just inside Galway Bay.

-Did some deeds in the Orgydome at Burning Man.

-Ran naked around the Bayou Art Car at Burning Man and then met my fellow Peace Corps Volunteer who happened to be the DJ for that art car.

-Was auctioned off as a slave (there's a story, ask me about it).

-Broken my bones eight times.

-Traveled through the mountains of Southern Tigray multiple times, and almost died from it a couple of times.

-Left everything in America to dedicate two years to Peace Corps Ethiopia.

-Fought a monkey for my sandwich.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can share a piece of my Ethiopian life and introduce you to some of the most hospitable people on Earth while taking you to a cafe or having you participate in a bunna ceremony so you can taste some of the best coffee on Earth.

Countries I’ve Visited

Ethiopia, Ireland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ethiopia, United States

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