Love At First Bite...

Taking it back to my first experiences traveling away from home and how I knew I had been bitten by the travel bug.

it was summer 2001

Right around my 13th birthday, during the summer leading up to 8th grade. I was spending time at a close friend's house when she excitedly asked me to come along with her family to Hawaii over the break. She told me that her parents thought it would be a good idea if I could join them, so of course I replied yes, and we went on to celebrate and continue playing in her backyard. In the midst of our excitement, I came to realize that things were a bit more complicated than just a verbal agreement from me. What kind of response would I get if I go home and ask for a summer vacation? To Hawaii? I must've rehearsed the proposal in my head a million times before I got home.

Most kids around my age at the time were asking for electronic devices or the latest fashions...but I had to find the nerve to ask for a trip to Hawaii with my friend. Who did I think I was?

fingers crossed

I waited until we finished eating dinner and I had done the dishes and completed all of my chores before I could even think about fixing my mouth to ask for an exotic vacation. Finally, I decided to go all in and pop the question. I still remember the feeling I had upon receiving my mother's response. This was the easiest "yes" I had ever gotten. It was so quick and smooth that I wondered if I was having one of those moments where I heard only what I wanted to hear versus what was actually being said. It was then that I realized I had been lowballing all my life. I needed to shoot my shot more often!

That was the best gift I could've gotten. This was no L.A. beach that I had been used to. The sand was fine and smooth and the water was crystal clear.

During this trip, I got to witness a real change of scenery and experience the feeling of being immersed in a different culture as we learned about their cultural practices and got to participate in different types of interactive activities. I really wish that more people had this experience; and I don't mean sitting in an all-inclusive resort and never stepping out to interact and be engaged in what can be a very eye opening experience. The world is our classroom!

So life tasted a bit sweeter after this, and I have been chasing the feeling of excitement and adventure in new places ever since :)

Another experience going into my senior year of high school also helped to shape my idea of how I saw the world and the importance of cultural exchange.

Mom was on a roll. She sent me to participate in an exchange program through Volunteers of America Upward Bound, where we had the chance to share a classroom with children in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I had an amazing time learning about their culture, eating local dishes, and being surrounded by all of the natural beauty! I was more mature at this point, and I observed not only the differences between our cultures, but all the similarities.

and so....the World Citizen was born.

*In light of the crisis in Puerto Rico following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, I'd like to take the time to lift them up and encourage all to help in any way possible. #IslaDelEncanto #PuertoRicoStrong