Hobbies and interests
Language learning
Since I became bilingual at the age of 7, when my English-speaking family moved to Spain where I then grew up, I have loved learning languages. Throughout school, college and grad school I took classes in French, Modern Standard Arabic, Levantine Arabic, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Basque, K'iche' and Nahuatl, as well as courses focused on the linguistic structure of Kalaallisut, Tagalog and South Bolivian Quechua.
Decorating a traditional altar for the Day of the Dead in Nahuatl class (October 2021, photo by Eden Ewing)
Giving a thank you speech at the end of the 2018 summer K'iche' course in Nahualá, Guatemala
Arts and crafts
I began learning to weave with a traditional Mayan backstrap loom in 2018, taught by Isabel Tzaj Guarchaj. I also enjoy paper crafts and baking.
Weaving lesson in Austin with doña Isabel (March 2019)
Practicing at my homestay in Chichicastenango (July 2019)