I explored Timor-Leste this week—hiking hills, riding my bike, seeing animals, enjoying yummy food, learning languages, listening to music and sharing bamboo adventures with friends!
I’m a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Timor-Leste, working with the Bamboo Institute to help communities use bamboo for income, sustainability, and environmental protection.

I explored Timor-Leste this week—hiking hills, riding my bike, seeing animals, enjoying yummy food, learning languages, listening to music and sharing bamboo adventures with friends!

Most homes in Timor-Leste are simple cinderblock houses with tin roofs. Verandas are gathering spaces for coffee and conversation, while bamboo may offer a more sustainable way to build in the future.

In Timor-Leste, trash piles up in homes, along streets and on beaches. Limited collection and recycling create challenges. Communities are making efforts, but solutions are still needed.

On hikes and in villages, I often meet kids who greet me with big smiles. We share laughs and fist bumps! These photos show everyday life and the friendships we build across cultures.