Travel
As I reflect on the countries I have visited, I am surprised and grateful for being able to see many beautiful places and have the opportunity to learn from each. You could say that I took a little bit of each country with me, but in fact I also left a little bit of me in each place. From my travels, I have learned life lessons, opened my mind to how people see things differently, and discovered how forms of art can be crafted in various of ways.
Shanghai, China
When I decided to study abroad in Shanghai for my college years, I did not expect how much it would impact my life. During the most formative years as a young adult, attending NYU Shanghai has allowed for me to meet and become friends with many people from all over the world. It also has led me to travel and seek opportunities that will challenge me and force me to grow in ways I didn’t think was possible. Even though school can be a love and hate relationship, this has been a worth-wild experience that I won’t regret taking.
Vancouver, Washington
After graduation, this became my next home. With my family, I moved from the Southern United States to the Pacific Northwest, and what a big change I experienced. Here I am continuing ceramics, exploring the prospects of film, videography and dance, and figuring out the next steps in my life. It is a bit scary but being in a new environment with beautiful nature surrounding us, I’m sure there won’t be a shortage of inspiration.
Developing Unity Nurturing Knowledge (DUNK)
During my time in Ghana, I volunteered at DUNK: a NGO that creates safe spaces for at-risk women and children living in the most deprived communities of Accra. Through sports (basketball), after-school support, life-skills & vocational training, DUNK encourages their members to Play, Learn & Grow as well as empower them to become agents of change in their own communities
I specifically spent time working in the library assisting kids in their education and helped with other workshops that would benefit them. Besides what I was able to give to the kids, I also received knowledge from them. One day I would like to go back to reconnect and also be able to support them again.
Accra, Ghana
This was a once in a lifetime experience hands down. For spring 2019, I studied at NYU Accra. I took classes about public health, making documentaries, and an African dance performance class at University of Ghana where I learned dances native to Ghana. Through that class and volunteering at DUNK, I was able to make relationships with local Ghanaians whom some of them I still keep in touch with. It was an enriching time to learn about a culture very different from what I am familiar with, and plus the art was amazing. I came home with many paintings, carved masks, painted beads, and some beautifully printed cloth. Oh what a beautiful time I had there.
Togo
In the northern part of Togo at a small village called Kpalou, I met my friend who was working there as a volunteer with the Peace Corps. Her role was focused on nutrition and sustainability, so some projects included building a dam for water storage, stove systems for better cooking efficiency, and other plans for commerce. It was interesting to see how people there lived and how their struggles differed from mine. Visiting here and seeing what it was like to work in the Peace Corps has solidified my decision of wanting to do so someday.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
In fall 2018, I studied at NYU Buenos Aires and took courses in Spanish, public health, and tango. Buenos Aires had a charm that once again I have not felt before somewhere else. The people were friendly and the greeting style was out of my comfort zone, and maybe it was tango or just the atmosphere, but it sure was very romantic there. On the weekends, in each barrio or neighborhood, there were street markets selling all kind of things such as jewelry, leather goods, paintings, and other cute things worth buying. My personal favorite were some earrings that I purchased during my travels in the northern part of Argentina. They were made from the spines of cacti and it amazed me how direct the resource came from the Earth. It was simple but beautiful.
Machu Picchu, Peru
One of the most amazing things about the Incas were their building technique. In the ruins on top of Machu Picchu and around Cusco, the rocks fit together so perfectly it looked like they were melted and reformed. The exact technique is lost to us but that doesn’t mean we have to stop admiring. Not only is it historically enriching, but it for sure is a wonder of our world.
Atacama Desert, Chile
Never would I believe that the desert is so beautiful. Originally all I could think about was sand, tumbleweeds, and snakes, but boy was I wrong. The Atacama Desert had it all. There were volcanoes, geysers, salt deposits and lakes, red sand like a crater on Mars, desert raves, and the amazing ability to see multiple shooting stars in the span of a few minutes. The colors were a mixture of blues, greens, reds, pinks, purples, and all of the above. Truly a sight to behold.
Barcelona, Spain
If there was one thing to remember about Spain, it would be the name Gaudí. Antoni Gaudí was an architect that built many masterpieces. His style was unique and so colorful that every place has such a lively and mystical feeling. Some of my favorites were Park Güell and La Sagrada Familia, which is still under construction, but the beauty was still very much apparent. It is equal parts awe inspiring and intimidating, but it is also something to strive towards.