Kruhay and Mabuhay! My name is Erika Marchant, and I am originally from the Midwest. I attended DePauw University in Indiana, and I now serve as an environmental Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines. Have you ever seen pineapples or mangoes at the grocery store? If so, there is a chance that your fruit came from this island country in Southeast Asia!
Before moving to the Philippines, I lived in Charlotte, Chicago and Indianapolis. My formative years were spent in Illinois with my parents, younger siblings Sophie and Ricky, and our dog Apollo. As a high school student, I enjoyed sunrise swims on the lake, jogs through nearby prairielands and playing the violin in my school’s orchestra. Having lived close to both the Appalachian Mountains and Lake Michigan, I developed an early love for spending time outdoors and learning about the natural environment.
After high school, I attended DePauw University to learn about environmental and Asian studies. Outside of class, I traveled around the Midwest to race with the women’s cross country and track and field teams. I also worked as an English tutor and volunteered at our campus farm growing produce for students to eat.
