Traveler Bio

Hola! Me llamo Abigail y soy de Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! My name is Abigail, and I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! Pittsburgh is known for hockey, bridges, and french fries on sandwiches (definitely would recommend it)! I love my city, but as I grew up, I realized that my home can be more than just a place. I now believe that it is also a feeling, and for me, my home has become the people and things that make my heart feel full. Therefore, I made it my mission to explore the world--learning about new cultures, meeting new people, and creating new homes around the globe. 

As part of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, I am currently living in the Amazon rainforest and working to quantify the magnitude of microplastic pollution in the northwestern Amazon basin. Here in the Amazon, I will spend a lot of time caring for monkeys (and other animals), dodging the rain, and trying new food. The other day, I ate a fried caterpillar on a stick…yes, it looked exactly like how you imagine it, but it tasted 10x better!

As a Reach the World explore, I hope to inspire you to become open-minded and curious about the world. I hope you feel encouraged to experience life in different ways, whether through exploring new places, cultures, cuisines, rituals, or styles of living. Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone! I also hope you learn about the importance of my research and the significance of providing disadvantaged communities with access to clean water. I look forward to continuing to share my stories as I create a new home in such a special place.