TO ALL THE PLACES I’VE CALLED HOME

Inspired by a heartwarming message from my mom, “I can’t wait to get to Italy. This trip will be different because I will now be visiting you in your home country.” 

I’ve moved around a lot in my life — most recently to Italy. I know that living in different places on this earth has contributed to my open mindedness and empathetic ways. Moving is one of my greatest pleasures and challenges. Pleasurable because immersing myself into different cultures has, without a doubt, opened up my perspectives on ways of living and being in this world. Challenging because with every move comes distance from my family and friends and a time and energy investment into new relationships and communities. 

To all the places I’ve called home…

California: Your sun has seared itself into my heart & skin, radiating warmth from within. 

Mexico: Your scents, sounds, and flavors are my roots, embodying my Mexican-American heritage.

Chicago: Your winters have etched themselves into my bones, cooling my reactive responses.

Puerto Rico: Your perpetual warmth, serene beaches, and vibrant souls gently remind me to savor moments with nature and loved ones.

Spain: Your nocturnal rhythm, familiar language, and labyrinthine streets bring life, stirring emotions of profound affection. 

Netherlands: Your flat terrain, endless bicycles, close to perfect transportation, and schizophrenic weather instill in me a sense of liberation, fostering both structure and fluidity in my endeavors.

Switzerland: Your breathtaking landscapes expand the horizons of my soul, urging me to stand firm in my own expansiveness. 

Italy: Your precious cuisine, endless wine, lyrical language, expressive gestures, stunning scenery, and familiar echoes of Mexican culture envelop me in a sense of belonging while awakening the thrill of discovery akin to meeting a soulmate — which just so happened to me. Italy, for my soulmate and so much more, I cherish you eternally.   

To All the Places I’ve Lived & All the People I’ve met, I love you and I take you with me wherever I may go.