Hello. I've just moved to Cambridge from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I'm into trail running, outdoorsy stuff, reading non-fiction, yoga, and traveling as much as possible on research funding. I love to cook, and I've recently started brewing my own kombucha (kudos to you if you know what that is). I'm also a pescatarian (meaning I eat fish & seafood but no meat).

I played guitar for 12 years pretty seriously, as well as a little piano. Lately I've been more into percussion. I'm also getting more into fusion music - Latin, Cuban, Afrobeat, European.

I love hiking. I've recently been into climbing mountains in East Africa - I climbed Mount Kenya back in June, the second highest mountain on the African continent, and then a volcano in August. Mount Washington is next on my list. Kili is coming up too (more kudos if you know what and where that is). I also love camping. Cross country skiing is one of my all time favorite activities. A Minnesotan friend of mine got me into it back in high school and I've been quite obsessed with it ever since then. I also love downhill skiing, but on a recent student budget, cross country is more realistic. Water sports are less my thing, but I do love whitewater rafting.

Otherwise, I read a lot. Mostly in my research field, but I also love poetry, fiction, and autobiographies of political and literary figures. I'm also getting more into film and film studies, since cultural studies is a huge part of my field.

This past year, I finished my BA in history and political science at UNC-Chapel Hill. I worked in East Africa - Rwanda - for an NGO and a university and returned back to the States last month. I moved to Cambridge a few weeks ago and will be working for a year before I start a PhD in African history.

getting lost in thought. Talking and listening, but knowing when to be silent. Doing new things and learning new things. Curiosity. Writing. Cooking spicy food on a cheap budget. Living minimalistically. Making jokes subtly. Honesty.

my eyes - they are dark and deep set (and change colors, according to my friends) - and the fact that I'm petite.

I've got dozens of favorite books, but lately I've been reading Wole Soyinka, Wangari Maathai, and about to start on some Milan Kundera. I also love Chaim Potok, Carson McCullers, Toni Morrison, and Pablo Neruda. I LOVE Pablo Neruda.

Fave movies include Into the Wild, A Beautiful Mind, The Manuscripts of Timbuktu, and Gonzo. I would secretly like to be Christopher McCandless, minus the demise and decline at the end of his life.

As for music, I love world music (mostly African, Latin, and fusion), 70s and 80s rock, jazz, classical guitar and flamenco guitar, and experimental drumming. Currently I've been getting into Miriam Makeba, Koffi Olomide and Salif Keita, because of a friend I traveled with who is really into experimental world music.

Food can be summed up in one word: SPICY. I love dishes with jalapeno and habanero peppers. I love Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, West African, East African, and South African, French, Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, and the list goes on. I'm not as crazy about Mexican food, except I do love spicy salsa and guacamole. Burritos are just not as much my thing, but quesadillas are pretty awesome. I love fresh fish and seafood and will be happy with pretty much anything that is freshly caught.

friends. books. family. stimulating ideas. travel. spicy food.

history. And travel. My friends. Philosophy. Spice combinations. Where I want to live when I finish grad school.

There is no typical Friday night. I love trying new things.

I used to have my cartilage pierced, but then it closed up during an extended hiking trip.

you're outgoing, adventurous, nerdy/academic, confident, and athletic. :-) Not in that order.

If you actually do want to hear about my research, you're not just saying that to get something else. And if you're passionate about what you do and want to share your knowledge. Learning is really important to me in dating, no matter the stage.

If you possess the social skills to meet people in person. You just happen to be on here because a) you recently moved to Boston, b) you haven't had the time to meet people out lately, or c) another plausible reason that doesn't involve weird, unattractive character traits.