Travel

Cambodia is the favorite country that I’ve ever been to. The people there were full of generosity and love and welcomed my family and I with open arms. In Cambodia, we were educated further about the destruction of their country due to the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot’s brutal regime. During this period the education system was destroyed as those who were educated were murdered. The country has fought to rebuild their education system. While we were there we had the honor of being welcomed to a Cambodian elementary school where I was able to provide school supplies for the children, sit in on a school lesson, and talk with each other about our different cultures. While there, I also visited an orphanage and spent time learning about their child care system and interacting with the children and staff. It was a beautiful experience that I’ll forever cherish. I also visited a family’s corrugated aluminum sided home, with no running water that sat on the edge of a rice field, occupied by water buffalo. We helped the family get a water pump installed so they could have closer access to water. Experiences such as these have provided me with a greater sense of empathy for all humanity.

Tanzania was a country filled with beauty. This was my first time visiting East Africa and it was a remarkable experience. Everything I had seen in photos was true, but even more magical when observing them in person. I was witness to the beauty of wild animals in their natural habitats and having once in a lifetime moments. The most amazing part of this trip was when I was welcomed by the Masai tribe. We were invited into their windowless mud homes, with a small fire burning in the center and mats on the side where they slept. I was able to see and even participate in a native dance with them. The most impactful part of the time with the Masai tribe was visiting a schoolhouse that was made of only sticks stuck in the ground. There I delivered school supplies to the kids, saw the joy they had when learning their lessons, and experienced first hand a glimpse of their culture and way of life. This was beautiful, educational, uplifting, and mind opening, all at the same time. 

Right after Cambodia this was the second favorite country I’ve ever been to. The culture there was unlike no other that I had experienced and was rich in beauty. While there my family and I visited a Berber tribe. They are one of the few remaining nomadic groups. I was so impressed and astonished that without the education of formal schools, they each spoke multiple languages. The interesting thing was they could not read nor write. Because their lives are so dependent on trade, spoken communication is the way they navigate the world. This experience allowed me to learn about a group of people who I otherwise might have never known and to recognize that there are many forms of intelligence. It was an experience of a lifetime.

In Indonesia I was blessed by Buddhist monks with holy water and given a bracelet that still is tied around my wrist. I loved getting to experience their culture and learn what this beautiful country had to offer. The Balinese people were among the kindest, most gentle, and accepting people I’ve ever met

Dubai is filled with excess. The largest and biggest of everything. It’s a financial center and is bustling with business. What I was intrigued with was the mixture of cultures that exist there. The majority of the country is made up of immigrants. I had conversations with several people about their reasons for immigrating and what their goals in life were. A majority of these goals were to support their children and families back at home. This served as a reminder to me that no matter everyone’s differences and situation, most in the world will make the necessary sacrifices to make a better life for their families and children.

A country full of smiles is the best way I could describe my trip to Ireland. Everyone there was incredibly kind. I have family members who live there, so I got to meet them for the first time and it was so much fun! The countryside was breathtaking and everything was green!

I’ve traveled to Mexico on three different occasions and everytime I experience something different. I am of Mexican and Native American descent and so I love being able to connect with people who I share the same tongue with. Mexico is somewhere I love visiting because of the innate connection I feel and because I’m able to share with so many individuals due to me being bilingual. It’s a beautiful country filled with different experiences.