I graduated from Williams College in June 2017, and I'm spending the next year traveling thanks to a Florence Chandler Fellowship. The fellowship sponsors one year of pursuing a personal passion outside of the United States. My project focuses on perceptions of bats around the world and the many ways in which humans choose to engage with bats in their communities. Additionally, music is a big part of my life - I'm hoping to make music incorporating bat calls throughout the year while working on my own songwriting and production skills!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm spending my fellowship year largely traveling by myself and would love to meet people along the way. My current itinerary includes (in order) South Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the U.K., and Latvia. While I'm hoping to meet up with people and be hosted over the next year, I'd love to be a host to other Couchsurfers once I'm back in the United States and settled somewhere (hopefully with a job...).

Interests

• singing
• music
• hiking
• camping
• swimming
• rowing
• art history
• biology
• environmental studies
• environmental justice

Music, Movies, and Books

My favorite book of all time is Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. Would definitely recommend to all! I'm a pretty huge Harry Potter fan as well, so any conversation having to do with the wizarding world is probably right up my alley. My music tastes change constantly, so I love when others show me music that they love. Right now I'm digging Bishop Briggs and Jon Bellion, but constant favorites of mine include Bon Iver, Halsey, Alt-J, ad The Cars. Regarding movies - too many favorites to choose! I'm always up for watching a movie I haven't seen before (or rewatching Finding Nemo for the 12,000th time).

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've biked across the United States.

Teach, Learn, Share

I would love to learn more about musical traditions in the communities and countries I visit as I think music is a wonderful way to connect with others. I was in an a cappella group in college, so I'm particularly interested in learning about choral traditions and am fascinated by the many ways the human voice has been used and manipulated in musical history around the world. I'd be happy to share about my experience in an American a cappella group and teach some of my group's music too (although it's mostly American pop music...). Additionally, I was a competitive swimmer for 15 years and would happy to teach swim lessons, help others with their technique, or just spend time exploring fun places to hop in the water! Plus, if there are any rowers out there, I'd love to hop in a shell with you or learn about your rowing experiences. :)

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share some cool stories and facts about bats from other places around the globe. I adore animals of all shapes and sizes (not just bats), so I'd be happy to walk my host's dog or provide other kinds of care for family pets. I also make a mean batch of homemade brownies! I recognize that I am hugely privileged to have been given the opportunity to spend the next year exploring something I am so passionate about, and I aim to be a respectful, kind, and fun guest to all of my Couchsurfing hosts. Thanks for reading my profile!

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Italy, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States