I recall starting the year off seeing my brother for 2 hours in Sydney, Australia. I was returning home from visiting my host family in Indonesia. The trek I made around the world to see family and friends left me feeling fulfilled. The year ahead was surely going to resemble that energy.

And then it didn’t. Almost immediately, things began changing quickly. I took on another role at work, which wound up being as difficult as I expected. My relationship at the time was not thriving as I had hoped. I was also piling activities on to my plate, as I so often do to try to strike a balance in my life. In hindsight though, I think I achieved the opposite effect. I decided to restructure my morning routine to wake up at 5 am to learn new skills. I took courses on finances and business. I began experimenting with calisthenics. I also took up boxing 2 times a week, on top of going to the gym 5 times per week. This all caught up to me very quickly and I even began to lose a bit of hair (devastating).

And then I ended my relationship, suffered an accident in the gym, left Mexico and started my life all over again in Brazil. This wasn’t easy at first but in a way hitting the reset button forced me to embrace all the change that was occurring. And thankfully, I prevailed and pulled through.

The first 6 months of this year are hard to think back on. But they also feel like they occurred a lifetime ago. And that’s a testament to how I am finishing the year off. I often like to look at my days as broken up into four quarters. You could have a bad first quarter but does that mean the rest also have to be bad? No. I view a year in the same way. The first 2 quarters beat me down. But did that mean the remainder of the year had to be the same? Absolutely not.

It’s very surreal writing this blog and looking back on what I experienced throughout this year. I am fortunate to feel that in my short 32 years of life, my life has improved every single year. A consistent trajectory upwards. But I realized this year that despite that, things can still be very challenging. I am grateful for all the challenges I experienced this year. They 100% made me stronger and continued to shape who I am.

Now that I have been living in Brazil for 5 months now, I can without a doubt say that I was always meant to come to this country to heal. And what a special 5 months it has been.

I’ve never felt like I fit right in with a group of people or a place more so than here in Brazil. My identity matches that of the Brazilian people and my soul is so happy because of that. I love living by the ocean and feeling like I can breathe. I also love seeing how the ocean positively impacts other people. I knew I was always meant to be here.

I think moving forward into 2025 and beyond, this year will be a reference for me whenever times get tough again. I’ve learned a lot about myself and what I am capable of enduring. And it’s reassuring knowing that if I can experience what I did this year and celebrate it’s end with a smile on my face, then there is nothing I can’t handle. I. am proud of all of the challenges I have overcome. And I am even more proud of the work I put in to ensure I learned from these experiences (shoutout to my wonderful therapist). Most importantly, this year I am thankful for being kinder to myself and to all the special people in my life, my family and my best friends, who are my rock solid foundation and who help me to be the best version of myself.

Ironically, I am headed back to the other side of the world for the new year. A new and unexpected adventure but one I am excited and ready for. Life always comes full circle.

2025 where you at?

When I landed my new job here, I did the usual thing: shared the news with friends and family. Last year, my friend Angus introduced me to a a friend of his from Salvador and we ended up facetiming. Then, Angus mentioned he’d be visiting Salvador in November for her wedding. Fast forward to a few weeks before the wedding, and he floated the idea of asking if I could tag along. I had no expectations — but thought it would be cool to have a chance to experience my first Brazilian wedding.

Fortunately, they said yes.

The wedding was set in a beach town about an hour north of my new home. Angus and I hashed out plans: he’d crash at my place, I’d meet him after work, and I’d figure out what to wear. But that became a little complicated.

Living in a tropical climate means sweating through most of your wardrobe. I brought one suit to Brazil — a cotton one — and it no longer fit, thanks to a mix of weight gain and muscle from my new lifestyle (at least that’s what I’m telling myself. Cue a mall trip, where I wandered around speaking in broken Portuguese, searching for something made out of linen. Eventually, I found an outfit that worked and felt wedding-appropriate.

The morning of the wedding started with a surf session. Angus and I rented questionable boards and made our way across a slippery reef to paddle out. On one side, there was a surf competition, so we stuck to the left break.

Upon arrival to the break we found ourselves surrounded by turtles — dozens of them, lazily surfacing for air, sunbathing on the water, and gliding beneath us. It felt like they were everywhere, completely unbothered by our presence. I caught a few decent waves, but the turtles stole the show. I enjoyed the fact that I had never had an experience like that and had no idea it was even possible.

Post-surf, we headed back to get ready. Keinemusik set the vibe as we prepped, and soon we were en route to the wedding via shuttle. I had no idea what to expect — no clue about the venue or the people I’d meet — but I was excited. My goal was simple: connect with locals and expand my circle outside of work.

We arrived at a castle perched on a hill overlooking the ocean. It was a beautiful location with sea breezes, lush floral arrangements, and well dressed guests.

The ceremony itself was intimate and heartfelt. I didn’t know the bride or groom, but their friends’ and families’ speeches painted a picture of two incredible people: kind, creative, and deeply committed to their community and each other.

When the formalities wrapped up, the real celebration began. We mingled, ate delicious food, and eventually hit the dance floor. At one point, the parents of the bride and groom took the mic to share stories and heartfelt advice. The bride’s mom, in particular, left an impression — her words were poetic, almost spiritual. She spoke about how everything at this wedding was the result of love and hard work, and it was impossible not to be moved.

The DJ kicked off the night with a Bee Gees classic, and we danced for six hours. I was able to connect with people from all over the world — Egypt, Sweden, South Africa, Spain, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and beyond. It was a beautiful reminder of how small the world can feel when you’re surrounded by love and good energy.

I left the wedding feeling inspired and hope for the best for the newlyweds! Cheers, Ignacio and Cata.

So what does it mean to live? Can you practice living in such a way that you truly live every day? What does that look like? Is it like a muscle that you can exercise similar to will power? In an attempt to answer these questions I will come up with my own criteria (in no specific order).

1. Don’t spend too much time thinking & just do it

Overthinking should be classified as a disease. I know so many people suffer from it and one can only imagine how many times it has stopped people from taking that first step. Something that has always helped me is to tell myself that I am not my thoughts and to be aware of them. View them like clouds. Observe them as they come into view and eventually drift away.

2. Be present

This entails listening. Not to respond, not to argue, not to form an opinion on. Just to listen and receive the message. It encompasses observing as well. “Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses,” as they say. It’s cliche but there’s a reason why it resonates. If you are caught up in things that don’t matter, you might miss the beauty that surrounds you on a daily basis. Just focus on today. Don’t worry about yesterday (it already happened) and don’t spend too much time worrying about tomorrow. Chances are your plans won’t work out the way you intend anyways.

3. Put yourself in uncomfortable situations

I’m not talking about waving back to somebody you thought was waving at you. I am talking about seeking out opportunities to step outside of your comfort zone. There are endless ways to do this. You can determine how to do so by reflecting on what makes you comfortable, what you are attached to or where you channel your energy the majority of the time. If you can recognize how easy it is to exist in these spaces where you are comfortable, then you can begin to scheme how to step outside of those situations and experience the beauty of growth.

4. Be open and kind to others

What would it mean to live if it were not for the many beautiful souls that inhabit this planet? Connection is so important and one of the greatest gifts that humans have. Spend more time going out of your way to be nice to others. Give more than you receive (and never keep score). Do literally anything to make someone smile and don’t expect anything in return. People will always remember how you make them feel and the feeling that people appreciate you is a powerful one.

Now that I have outlined some criteria, what have I been doing lately to live to the maximum? Off the top of my head, I wake up at 4:45 every morning to surf (even when I don’t want to), I approach strangers at the gym and try to communicate in a language that is not my own, I give compliments to co-workers, I tell people I appreciate them, I nurture my relationships as often as I can, I listen 2x more than I speak, I practice gratitude every single day, I teach, I stay curious and I learn something new as often as I can.

How can one get better at living their life to the max, day in and day out? My suggestion is to train yourself to recognize the moments (awareness) when you are hesitating/doubting/scared. In those moments, chances are your brain is telling you to remain in the comfort zone or you might be lost in thought. But as soon as you catch yourself in this moment, just do the thing and hopefully over time it will get easier. You will eventually see that you have nothing to lose.

Another suggestion is to keep a story bank of the times that you did push yourself so you can stack evidence that you have been doing your best to live your life. Over time this will build your confidence and while it may not be easier, you may be more inclined. Most importantly, if and when you make promises to yourself, be sure to keep them. This shapes your identity in ways you may not realize as somebody who is true to themselves and prioritizes living life to the maximum. Don’t just exist, live.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

In April, I decided to change the way I perceived the world. Our reality is shaped by our thoughts, conditioned beliefs, and perceptions. Unless you recognize this fact and attempt to develop an awareness of your thought patterns, you may wind up thinking and feeling the same way for the rest of your life. That’s not something I’m interested in.

I’ve always prided myself on my self-awareness, which helps me recognize when it’s time for change. 6 months ago, despite exciting changes like a new job and moving to South America, I struggled with persistent negative thoughts. I felt grumpy and couldn’t shake that feeling, even though I knew I needed a change.

I realized that although I was feeling this way, and had reasons I felt justified why, the only way I would be able to change would be to shift my mindset. I asked myself, “what would it look like to see the world in a positive light?”

And then I had the idea to start a digital gratitude journal. While I love physical journals, I decided a digital version would be convenient and effective to reinforce a positive mindset and I would eventually see mounting evidence of all that I have to be thankful for. The idea was simple. As soon as I wake up, I think of 1 thing I am grateful for and write it down underneath the marked day. I was intentional about doing it in the mornings because it felt like a constructive way to start the day and a harmonious addition to my morning routine, which is very important to me.

I was also deliberate about choosing only 1 thing I am grateful for because out of a list of many things, being selective meant that I truly understood its value in my life. The beautiful thing is that there is no requirement or any limit to what I can choose. It could be as simple as, I’m grateful for the mango I ate last Sunday or much deeper and specific like, I’m grateful for my suffering. Whatever the case, by starting a gratitude journal and starting every single day with a thankful thought, I began to train, or rewire, my brain to focus on the reasons why I am blessed as opposed to little things that do not matter.

How do I know this has been working? I know this has been working because as I am moving about my day, something nice might happen and I immediately will think, I can add that to my gratitude journal. This shows me that it is no longer a quick thought in the morning but rather something my mind is actively looking for. That is incredibly powerful and this practice of appreciation has genuinely shifted my mindset. Even if I do wind up being negative in various moments (we are human after all) I have a newfound capability to catch myself in that state and make a shift.

This change was an important one for me, especially because of the hardships I have experienced over the last few months. As I see and feel myself coming out of it, I recognize that I have been trying my best to prioritize my well-being and that involves changing my environment (moving from a densely populated city to a peaceful beach), accepting that there are parts of myself I can improve and seeking help (therapy) and actively reframing the way I perceive the world (gratitude journal). Change is a slow and arduous process but a few minor adjustments here and there coupled with consistency can make a massive difference in your life.

I am proud of the newest addition to my habit arsenal and am confident I will practice gratitude for the rest of my life. I hope my journey inspires friends, family and strangers to take a moment today and find something that fills them with appreciation. What is something you are grateful for today?

April 5, 2024: I’m grateful to wake up with a view of the Caribbean

May 9, 2024: I’m grateful that I have people to check up on me

June 24, 2024: I’m grateful for the club!

July 17, 2024: I’m grateful for opportunities to laugh at myself

August 11, 2024: I’m grateful for the fucking beachhh

September 30, 2024: I’m grateful for 6 months of gratitude

I am overcome by a sense of inner peace when I am close to you. This feeling seems unbreakable. I gave up everything to be near you. How wonderful it has been to see our connection evolve and deepen.

I have always been drawn to you. Sometimes I am scared, but I am never afraid. The energy you create. The change you demonstrate. The power you hold. The beauty you exude. It pulls me in.

You are so much deeper than what you portray on the surface. Two different stories resulting in the same ending. I long to be with you even when I am beside you.

All this time I have been dedicating to you. I can feel you changing me. Above, below, inside - I am slowly being molded to look like you. All the lessons you have been teaching me. All the healing I am doing because of you.

What a privilege, our morning ritual. I never know what the choir will sing but I always feel the same happiness. Some days you are gentle. Some days you throw me around, sloshing back and forth. Some days you pull me under, struggling to reach the surface. A humbling experience, without fail. A reminder that you demand respect.

You have sent warnings. You have even claimed lives. I consider myself lucky. Courageous enough to face you, strong enough to play. You know exactly what to say at just the right times. Don’t forget I am listening.

Thank you for breathing life into me.

Someone once told me I have lived multiple lifetimes due to the amount of stories I can share. I have amassed so many experiences over the last 10 years largely due to the lifestyle I live, where I spend a few years at a time in various countries. I’m currently at the point where I just hit the reset button and moved to Brasil. I have only been here for 22 days but here are my preliminary thoughts and observations…

I live in Salvador, Bahia. It’s a city on the Atlantic coast and I live directly on the beach. It’s a drastically different setting than Mexico City, where I just came from. Completely opposite actually. Where I was constantly stimulated by noises, people and events in the city, I am brought back down to Earth and feel relatively stable and calm at all times because of the waves and the horizon. Speaking of the horizon… I recently read somewhere that one of the reasons we feel at peace when we look at the horizon is because biologically we understand that by seeing that far into the distance we can be sure there is no danger. I feel that. And I truly believe it’s been nurturing to my soul.

I formed a new habit already. Every morning when I wake up, I immediately go outside and jump into the ocean. It’s an incredible way to start my day and is life giving. And although my new job is demanding, the ocean has been balancing everything out for me, just as it did in 2021 when I was working remotely from the beach. The waves are pretty choppy due to the constant offshore wind but there is surf and the beaches come alive on the weekends with people playing volleyball and football. I have thoroughly enjoyed observing how much Brasilians enjoy being outdoors and look forward to making local friends (when I eventually learn Portuguese).

A challenge I did not anticipate having to deal with is the sun setting quite early and not experiencing as much light as I would like. I arrive home from work at 16:30 and it begins to get dark around 17:45. That makes me feel like I need to rush to be outside and enjoy what light is left but I am actively figuring out ways to deal with that. At least on the weekends I spend all my time outside.

I haven’t had too many opportunities to explore the colonial center yet partly because I have been busy working but also because it’s a trek from my condo. I have only been to town twice but both times I was enthralled by the people I was seeing and the places I was walking past. My mom recently asked me if Salvador reminds me of any place I have been before and I told her that it does not. It truly is unlike anywhere I have been and that says a lot considering I have been many places. I’m thankful that I can still have that feeling. Our planet is so big and there is still so much to see and discover. It has been refreshing and invigorating to know that I can still feel like an explorer in the only place I have ever known.

Salvador is not an international city, which reminds me of the experience I had living in a village in Indonesia. Once again, I no longer have access to those “comforts” that I got used to in CDMX and I also believe I needed that because I became too comfortable and reliant on those things. Because of this, I will absolutely need to learn Portuguese. It’s survival and is the reason I am able to speak Indonesian. Based on what I have heard, it is a beautiful language. I hope to be conversational by the end of the year.

All of the Brasilians I have met have been so warm and nice. I actually haven’t seen one mad person. I don’t know if that’s because we live at the beach and people have longer fuses or because I have only been here for 3 weeks. A Brasilian girl did tell me that Brasilians are passive and when they love you they truly love you and that if they dislike you they truly dislike you. I will try to stay on their good sides…

There have been lots of frustrating moments not being able to communicate and having trouble setting up accounts but as I have experienced all of this before, I understand this is just part of how things are. It’s not perfect and that’s okay. They are simply exercises in patience. After all, how can I be mad? I live at the beach. Overall, I am feeling very happy and trying my best to continue to embrace the change. This feeling does not last forever…

I haven’t had a chance to write to you as I have been busy packing my life into suitcases and spending time with loved ones.

There are no amount of words I could write that would encapsulate the last 5 years of my life and what you mean to me. Rather than attempting to articulate how transformative this chapter in my life has been, I will simply express my gratitude.

In order to truly see how much I have changed and grown, I must look back in time to when I moved from Madrid to Mexico City. When I think about who I was in 2019 and who I am now, I feel like I see two different people. I had just graduated from my masters program and was eager to start a new job and reclaim the land of my ancestors. It felt like an incredible opportunity to grow in so many ways, both professionally and personally.

What an absolute privilege it has been to be impacted so deeply by a country and its people. My people. As I have briefly written about before, the decision that my grandparents and great-grandparents made to seek better lives in the United States was a profound one. It changed the landscape of our family’s history and thus led to more opportunities. These new opportunities were a form of liberation and that ultimately led to me having the freedom to choose to live this unique lifestyle. One that led me back to you. This freedom that my family and I now enjoy does come at a cost though. We still have to work very hard to enjoy our lives and we try our best to make the most of it.

I am grateful I had a chance to spend half a decade of my life with you. In the grand scheme of things, it will be a drop in the bucket. However, I experienced so much life because of you. One of the major ways you changed me was internally. At times, grappling with my identity as a Mexican-American growing up in the United States was tough. I was so focused on succeeding and had to figure out so many things along the way, that I became partly disconnected from my own culture, my identity. But it’s never too late to reconnect and that’s what I was able to do with you. I discovered parts of myself that were always there. I learned new things about myself that brought me peace and pride. And most importantly, I stopped letting what other people think and believe influence how I view myself. Although I’m still working on personal matters and always will be, opinions that are not mine no longer matter. The relief I feel from this is indescribable and I would not have come to this realization without you.

I recall being so happy for the last 5 years of my life. I cannot take that for granted. It reminds me of how happy I was when I was living in Indonesia. This is no coincidence. My happiness is directly connected to the life that exudes from the land and people that make you who are you. The beaches, volcanoes and pueblos offered me many opportunities to look inwards and outwards. The people, with their sense of humor, and warmness truly made me feel like I was at home. By this point in my life, I’m very clear on what it is I want out of life and what it is that makes me feel most alive. It’s no wonder I stayed by your side for 5 years. This is the longest I’ve been in one place since I left home in 2010. Knowing that, you can imagine how tough it is saying goodbye.

If you know me, you know I’m always seeking growth. I’m always talking about how when I start to become too comfortable, I know it’s time to hit the reset button. I’ve done it multiple times now and claim to be used to the change. But after this long stint, I realized that it never gets easier. And I nearly forgot how rattling change can be. This chapter did not end how I expected it to. I suffered from heartbreak, injury, and loss. In the final 6 weeks that I spent with you, my life came to a grinding halt. All of my routines and habits changed instantly. As a person who values structure and repetition, this was difficult to deal with. I went from feeling like everything was going my way to feeling like everything was falling apart. The timing could not have been worse. And despite all of the support my family and friends provided from afar, I felt alone. I still do.

Perspective is everything though. Am I really alone? No. I’ve been on this journey for over 9 years now. I’ve become truly independent and if I think about all the people I’ve crossed paths with since I left the United States, I couldn’t be further from alone. The ending to this chapter may have been tough but I find comfort in knowing that you’ll always be there inside me. And just a plane ride away. Sometimes I find myself shaking my head in disbelief thinking about walking away from you. I recall speaking to a student’s parent recently. He asked me why I was leaving. If I’m happy, if the community I’m a part of loves me, if I enjoy living in the city, why am I leaving? I had everything I could possibly ask for and yet I’m choosing to walk away. It’s crazy just writing about. But this is the lifestyle I’ve chosen for myself and I value change and growth so much that I’m willing to let go of everything and start over.

When I was speaking to another friend about how tough it has been experiencing all of this change, she responded by saying that it must feel so liberating. And that was the simple yet powerful reminder that I needed to hear. Another perspective shift. And once it clicked in my mind I remembered that I need to embrace the change. At some point in the future, I will feel comfortable in my new home. I will no longer feel the chaos that I have been feeling that last 2 months. It’s a temporary feeling and I should try my best to feel everything. This is where true growth occurs.

One of the things I’m most proud of in life is how I have been welcomed by and integrated into various communities around the world. And not just become a part of them, but actually contributed to them and formed deep connections to them. It’s given me purpose in life and is something I’m incredibly thankful for. The community I found by your side believed in and supported me. It allowed me to become the educator I dreamed of becoming when I was studying in Spain. And it’s opened many doors for me. Although I am still learning, there is nothing I feel like I can’t do. Teaching in Mexico was a wild experience, considering the pandemic and the context where I worked at a new and rapidly growing school. It was during the pandemic when schools closed that I decided to give up my apartment and work remotely for the first time. And little did I know how that would set in motion the next chapter of my life.

While traveling and working from beaches in Puerto Escondido, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, my eyes were opened. As a teacher, I can live anywhere I want in the world. Why hadn’t I considered living at the beach before? I knew during that time that when I eventually left you I would find a beach to live on. And that I did. It’s been a few years since that epiphany and now I’ve turned it into reality. How can I express more gratitude to you?

I have so many memories to carry with me in my heart as I continue this journey. And I have you to thank for that. I am forever changed by you and will smile when I think back to this time in my life. I am thankful for every soul you introduced to me during this chapter and for all the challenges you presented to me that allowed me to become who I am today. I look forward to the day we get to reconnect, whenever that may be.

Eres un chingon México y te amo con todo mi corazón.

To prepare for the first hike, we tapped into our school community and various staff members taught the students necessary skills, such as how to cook basic foods, how to pitch a tent, basic first aid, navigation, etc. The expectation was that the kids, who range in age from 14–16 years old, would be semi self-sufficient and responsible for most of the decisions throughout the weekend. We as adults would be there to supervise and step in whenever necessary. As you read this, you may be thinking back to the first time you ever camped and what the experience levels of our kids might be. To provide context: in a teacher-led class discussion, students were asked if they had ever used public transportation before. One student raised their hand and said they had been on a gondola in Vail, Colorado.

As you can imagine, this first experience would be eye-opening for most of our kids who come from an affluent background and live sheltered lives. For that reason, I was very excited to be leading them into this new world and to ensure they had a safe and enjoyable experience. In the week leading up to the trip, the parent group whatsapp chat was buzzing with questions and pictures of their kids packing their 65L bags. Things seemed to be in order until reality started to sink in. 3 days before the trip, one of my students informed me that his father refused to let him go to the state of Morelos because it was too dangerous. That was disheartening news. The night before the trip, one family messaged me and told me that they had to make the tough decision to not let their daughter go to Morelos because it had a reputation for kidnappings. More discouraging news. I was beginning to worry that the dominoes would begin to fall and that the trip might be cancelled. Did I make the wrong decision in choosing this location for the trip? To be fair, I had been to the location before, it is famous in Mexico and attracts tourists often, and I had discussed it with my boss. Despite all of this, parents were still scared.

Nonetheless, we had to move forward. At 7:30 am, we met students at the bus station. Parents organized carpools and dropped their kids off. I noticed an individual whom I did not recognize drop off a group of four kids. I assumed he was a chauffeur, which is not uncommon in our school community. Once he and the other parents/guardians left, I approached our students and told them it was now on them to get us to our destination. They had the bus tickets and the name of the campsite and that was it. It was actually very intriguing observing the kids, who had never been in a bus station like the one we found ourselves in, navigate the terminal and ask strangers for information about the departure times. I knew these were small and important tasks that would eventually help them to realize their independence.

We all arrived to the small pueblo after 2 hours and then began the trek from the bus station to the campsite, which was about a 45 minute hike with all of our gear. As we began to walk in a single file line, I made sure to periodically check our surroundings and do a head count. Shortly after, I noticed the same individual from earlier who I assumed was the chauffeur, trailing a few meters behind our group. I also saw that he had a gun strapped to his waist… Before I jumped to conclusions and caused a scene, I turned to a fellow teacher and asked if he knew who he was. He casually told me that he was one of the student’s bodyguards. Given that I am aware this is common at our school, I felt a sense of relief. However, I was angry that nobody informed me that he would be following the bus in his car and then trailing us all the way to the campsite. That felt like information I should have known.

We eventually made it the campsite and the bodyguard returned to the city. We set up our tents and then spent some time resting and eating some of our packed food. The kids then began planning out their hikes. They were required to do 6 hours of purposeful activity, which included setting up camp, hiking and working towards their team goals. It was very hot and so we made sure to be prepared for hiking in the sun. Inevitably, things can and will go wrong. One trail closed as we arrived. One of my students also tripped and fell on the rocks resulting in scrapes and bruising. But this is the purpose of being out in the open. It is learning to deal with whatever arises and moving forward in such a way that you can deal with stress and still have a good time. Fortunately, there was also a pool at the campsite where we could cool off from the heat.

By the end of the weekend, some students were asking if they could take a taxi back to the bus station instead of the 45 minute trek uphill, gear in tow. I understood it was because they had already completed 2 hikes and it was still scorching outside. Unfortunately, it was against program rules and I had to pretend as if I also would not have minded a lift to escape the heat. We arrived to the bus station sweating and with our faces tinted red. We were all happy to sit on the bus and to make our way back to the city. When we arrived, some parents were waiting to pick up their children in one piece and I felt relieved that we had accomplished what we set out to do. In the end, everyone was safe and we now have an experience under our belt that we can learn from. In 2 weeks, we will go out again for the final trip, this time to another destination. Let’s hope that this trip ends up better than the first one. Cheers!

While we were brainstorming what we wanted to dedicate our time and energy to on this trip, it became evident that we wanted to disconnect from life in the city. We decided it would be a good idea then to visit mountains, beaches and islands. After a long bus journey and walking across the Costa Rica — Panamá border we arrived to our first destination in Boquete. This is a charming town in the mountains that attracts hiking enthusiasts and boasts dozens of trails where one will encounter streams, waterfalls and dense vegetation. The trails offer stunning views of the town and surrounding villages and make you feel as if you are wandering in a never ending jungle. Considering that a recent change in work brought more stress into my life than I’d like to admit, this was the perfect way to traverse dozens of kilometers and separate myself from all that has been weighing me down.

Once we had our fix in the jungle, we headed to Santa Catalina, a remote fishing village that is well known for its surf and protected marine park. Upon arrival, we felt the blast of heat and immediately sought refuge from the sun whenever and wherever possible. There were only 2 roads in this village, so we spent the majority of our time stopping off at restaurants and visiting the various black sand beaches. At Playa Estero, we rented surfboards and enjoyed the manageable 3–4 foot waves that consistently crashed near the shore. The beach never felt too crowded and it made soaking up the sun that much more pleasant. On the last full day, I booked 3 dives with a local shop. I was excited to explore the ocean because it had been 4 months since my last dive and multiple friends had told me how much they loved Parque Nacional Coiba. The marine park is comprised of 38 islands and covers over 400,000 acres of water, leaving plenty to explore. It took us an hour to arrive to Isla Caneles and the boat ride consisted of gliding across glassy water and bypasses of lush remote islands. The visibility was not the best and there were pockets of super cold water but that did not detract from the abundance of sea life. We saw 8 (!) white tip reef sharks, rays, eels, jacks, grunts and much more. I was blown away at the plethora of life and I recall feeling peaceful underneath the water. As is customary, the moment I deflated my BCD and descended into the ocean, all of my worries and stress immediately faded away.

We then made the long journey from the Pacific to the Caribbean side of the country. The beach town of Bocas del Toro situated on the southeastern corner of Isla Colon was our final destination and we were looking forward to winding down from the trip and watching beautiful sunsets over the water. In all honesty, Bocas was nothing to write home about. However, we were still able to enjoy a boat tour of the picturesque surrounding islands, a bay where we could observe dolphins calmly breaching the surface and some of the bluest water I have ever seen. I made sure to find time to exercise, read, journal and sit and do nothing, a skill I have to continue to polish as I sometimes get wrapped up in a very busy lifestyle.

I have long understood that life is not about the destination, it’s about the journey. And it is also about the company. Apart from having lots of conversations with my partner about our lives, the many ideas that pop in and out of my head and things I am learning on the side, we met people from all walks of life. There was the intrepid married couple Eugene and Julia from Russia, who offered us a ride back into town after a waterfall hike. They shared their story about having played the USA immigrant lottery and winning after 3 years. They moved to California with no job or knowledge of English with their 4 year old daughter and started their lives over from scratch. They now work remotely as IT consultants and travel whenever their daughter is off from school. They served as an inspiring reminder that you can shape your life in any way that you choose and still thrive with a little bit of hard work, grit and determination.

Then there was Gulio and Ariana, a caring and overprotective father and his hormonal and shy teenage daughter from Italy. Like the Russians, they too were traveling because it was spring break and were curious about life in the ocean. I learned they currently live in New York and that Ariana was hoping to start visiting universities and to land swimming scholarships. It reminded me of the time I was in 10th grade and I flew to California with my mom and brother to visit potential places I could go to school. It was a vivid experience and looking back on it, I see how naive and unaware I was that those four years would shape me in truly impactful ways. I hope Ariana has a similar experience.

There was also Paola, a Panameña originally from Panamá City who decided that her stressful job no longer suited her. She made the tough decision to move to Bocas del Toro and has been figuring out her way ever since. I resonated with her lifestyle decision, which upset her mom, to make a choice for herself and to prioritize her well-being. A decision like that requires self-awareness to understand that a change needs to be made or she risks digging herself deeper into a hole. It requires bravery to move to a place by herself and against the wishes of family. And it requires faith that she has what it takes to build a lifestyle that aligns with her values. Although we only chatted for a bit, I felt connected to the path she was on.

My girlfriend and I are slowly adding to the amount of countries we have explored together. She has mostly adopted my style of travel, which is light, cheap and sometimes exhausting. But I have found it is traveling in this way that allows you to reach remote places, see more beauty and have unique experiences. At least with a limited salary like I have. A positive about traveling like this is that long bus rides have become opportunities for me to sit with my thoughts and envision what I want my life to be like in 3–5 years. Traveling, which usually allows me to temporarily “escape” the monotony of life, allows me to zoom out, remind myself what matters and keeps me focused in a way. A new tradition my girlfriend and I have solidified for ourselves, which we started in El Salvador, is to end a trip by splurging on a nice airbnb. This allows us to fully unpack our bags, escape the crowded nature of hostels and to wind down from long bus rides. We booked a tiny private home on the water and had direct access to the Caribbean. Waking up with 180 degree views of the sea was truly special and as I looked out onto the horizon each morning I thought about how much I love this part of Earth. With the conclusion of this trip, I have now explored every country on mainland Central America spanning from 2018 until now. And looking forward, we have the new and upcoming opportunity to live in and explore South America, an entirely new chapter and adventure. It may be the last time for a while that I explore this part of the world but with its active volcanoes, archaeological structures, stunning beaches, abundant sea life, slow pace of living, and warm people, it will always hold a special place in my heart.

This was no ordinary trip. For starters, I only get to see my grandparents when I fly back to LA. That usually depends on time and money and the visit is brief. What really made this trip special was that my grandma got to return to the place she is originally from. And further, she got to spend it with her daughter and grandson.

The idea to fly them out originally popped into my head when I attempted to obtain Mexican citizenship. My plan was to prove my Mexican heritage by way of my grandma and invite her to be my witness as I signed important documents. I also wanted to celebrate with her. Unfortunately, that never panned out but I kept the idea in the back of my head. When my mom reminded me of their upcoming anniversary, I thought it would have been the perfect opportunity to bring them out and celebrate.

We discussed details and executed the plan. It was surreal when we picked them up from the airport. I couldn’t recall seeing my grandparents in this context — traveling, in an airport, in the city I call home. When we caught an uber to my girlfriend and my apartment, my grandmother said she was really excited and felt like a kid. That brought immense joy to my heart.

My grandparents told us they average about 8,000 steps per day so they were ready to run around the city. Over the course of the next 4 days, we talked about her youth in Mexico, family, life back in LA, my new upcoming job, and much more. We decided to visit the Basilica de Guadalupe so they could give thanks, eat at Plaza Garibaldi so we could listen to Mariachi music and walk through Chapultepec park so we could enjoy the outdoors. She and my mom even cooked enchiladas and chiles rellenos in our apartment, which is always a comforting feeling.

Throughout their visit, I spent a considerable amount of time thinking about the length of my grandparents marriage and how her family’s decision to move to the USA shaped the generations that proceeded after hers. To be married and connected to somebody for 50 years is a mind-boggling thought. I can only imagine how much you can learn and grow with a person during that span of time. What is evident is that they know and understand each other like two people who have always been by each other’s side. The times my grandpa would begin to wander, my grandma would jokingly say that there is always something up with him. The times my grandma’s knee would begin to hurt, my grandpa would hold her shoulder to provide relief to and guide her while walking. Observing moments like those are priceless.

Life came full circle when I thought about how my grandma shaped the course of our family’s lives. She was able to raise my mom in a foreign place and to provide her with enough tools to be successful. My mom and dad then did the same, if not better for my brother and I. We now live in ways that I’m sure my grandmother never could have have dreamed of for her grandchildren. I am privileged to live the life I do, collecting valuable experiences, traveling wherever I want, and sustaining myself. And to be able to return to the place her family felt they had to leave, and thrive. I am aware that the life I live is directly connected to and influenced by the decision her family made. Although she and her husband came out to celebrate their marriage, what we were really celebrating was the success of family, the opportunity to enjoy the life we have all worked hard for. As my grandmother was packing and preparing to arrive she messaged me and said, “nunca pensé que este sueño pasaría en México mi tierra” and I couldn’t be more grateful.