Hi! My name is Leah DiChiaro and I am so excited to be in Australia. I arrived here from Greenville, Rhode Island after many long hours on various airplanes. Why would I do that to myself, you may ask? Well, let me explain. As a biology major at Mount Holyoke College, I was immediately drawn to the School for Field Studies. Although I am unsure as to the exact direction I would like to take my biology training, I believe that ecology is a possibility. I can definitely picture myself living in remote locations studying plants or animals, much to the chagrin of my family. As you can see, I am not even certain whether I prefer plants or animals. However, I chose the Australia program because of my deep concern for the fate of the tropical rain forests. After completing the program, I will hopefully be able to determine whether or not I am interested in pursuing a career involving heavy field work.