Just about two weeks ago I wrapped up my international travels for 2015. I could not have looked more eager if I had tried. Two international trips to the opposite hemisphere, both to regions of the globe I have always dreamed of visiting - although every corner of the earth is on my list to visit, for real though who am I kidding.
Vietnam was mind-blowingly beautiful. I did not experience the culture shock I read about so much in my books (you people who have been traveling for years are probably laughing, laugh away, I"m a noob to this)! I've asked myself whether it is because I live in Los Angeles and we truly are the melting pot we boast ourselves to be, or because I have been going to these places in my head for so long I was already prepared for it. The latter sounds totally crazy I realize that, the first may be more likely at this point.
It is strange, but Vietnam felt like home. A country of poverty but with people who seem to be happy and are trudging on regardless. It felt a lot like Mexico, my first home. It could also just be the outsider's perspective with a romanticized view of life there, but people seemed happy. Hanoi was our main hub from which we traveled to several places, Tinh Ninh Binh (very first capital of Vietnam), Sappa (place with vertical rice paddies), and Ha Long Bay (bay with the iconic mountains). I've been putting together slideshows of my trips because I have way too many photos to share of my time there, so a compilation of my adventures to these far off lands is the most time efficient way to go about this. Disclaimer, I am in no way claiming professional expertise in the video making, this is simply to enable the sharing of my shenanigans.
I hope you enjoy the series, and here goes the first one!
Thanks so much for stopping by.
MUCH LOVE!!!
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Friday, April 10, 2015
The World Awaits!
I cannot believe this is my life!!! I know it sounds like I say it every time I post, but it's so unbelievable. VIETNAM! I am going to go to one of the most beautiful places in world and I am still in disbelief. I have nothing more to say except holy moly how lucky am I???
Bring on the adventures!
Thursday, March 19, 2015
This is Full-Circle
A few weeks ago I joined my very first professional organization, MIT - Millennials in Travel. I am officially a professional in the Travel industry! Just a few weeks prior to joining said organization I also received my very own business cards. It all happened in such a timely manner, I could not have planned it any better myself - and I'm a pretty dang good planner.
This year is going to be my fourth year in the workforce, but this is the first time I feel like I am actually working towards a career. I am not depreciating the jobs I have had, they definitely helped to rebuild my confidence in myself as a competent and more than capable individual. It has been a process - which I am learning isn't very different from what most of us are going through in our 20s - this is what I imagine the awkward teenage years to be. I feel like I missed out on those awkward teenage years because well, I did. I never really cared to fit in or to be accepted, all I was concerned about was getting to college to make my parents' sacrifices worthwhile. The best comparison I can come up with is like when you're breaking your running shoes in, you have to go easy at first, then you just let the insole mold onto your feet and eventually it's magical. I'm starting to get that magical feeling of, "I have actually learned so much," thanks to the fact that I am now responsible for training an intern. I know stuff! haha. I still feel like such a noob, I'm still working on feeling confident from the inside out in the workplace.
The one thing that makes me smile with utter bliss and satisfaction is that I am here, exactly where I always wanted to be from the very beginning. When we first moved to the U.S. my parents emphasized the importance of going to college as it would open up the doors to the world. My mom has always wanted me to be able to see every beautiful corner of this planet with my very own eyes, not to just see it through TV or peoples' stories. Back in high school during college application time, the school I really wanted to go to was Ithaca College because they had a Hotel and Tourism Management program . . . something along those lines. Of course that didn't happen, as I have discussed before. I veered away from that when I got into UCSB and I did not like the Econ classes hah. College then became a process of simple - yet not so simple - maintaining my sanity and just getting through school. Like I've mentioned before, with the on-again, off-again promise of resolve to the residency thing it became so difficult to hold on the possibility of ever actually being a functioning member of society here. I never ever saw a point in trying to prepare for a career. This is not a pity party.
Fast-forwarding to today, I am just in awe in the gift/plan that life has set for you. I am finally seeing a seedling to a career! Yet another surreal side-effect of this beautiful life I have been given. I could not be happier today. It certainly doesn't hurt that I have Vietnam around the corner.
Thanks for stopping by.
MUCH LOVE!!!
This year is going to be my fourth year in the workforce, but this is the first time I feel like I am actually working towards a career. I am not depreciating the jobs I have had, they definitely helped to rebuild my confidence in myself as a competent and more than capable individual. It has been a process - which I am learning isn't very different from what most of us are going through in our 20s - this is what I imagine the awkward teenage years to be. I feel like I missed out on those awkward teenage years because well, I did. I never really cared to fit in or to be accepted, all I was concerned about was getting to college to make my parents' sacrifices worthwhile. The best comparison I can come up with is like when you're breaking your running shoes in, you have to go easy at first, then you just let the insole mold onto your feet and eventually it's magical. I'm starting to get that magical feeling of, "I have actually learned so much," thanks to the fact that I am now responsible for training an intern. I know stuff! haha. I still feel like such a noob, I'm still working on feeling confident from the inside out in the workplace.
The one thing that makes me smile with utter bliss and satisfaction is that I am here, exactly where I always wanted to be from the very beginning. When we first moved to the U.S. my parents emphasized the importance of going to college as it would open up the doors to the world. My mom has always wanted me to be able to see every beautiful corner of this planet with my very own eyes, not to just see it through TV or peoples' stories. Back in high school during college application time, the school I really wanted to go to was Ithaca College because they had a Hotel and Tourism Management program . . . something along those lines. Of course that didn't happen, as I have discussed before. I veered away from that when I got into UCSB and I did not like the Econ classes hah. College then became a process of simple - yet not so simple - maintaining my sanity and just getting through school. Like I've mentioned before, with the on-again, off-again promise of resolve to the residency thing it became so difficult to hold on the possibility of ever actually being a functioning member of society here. I never ever saw a point in trying to prepare for a career. This is not a pity party.
Fast-forwarding to today, I am just in awe in the gift/plan that life has set for you. I am finally seeing a seedling to a career! Yet another surreal side-effect of this beautiful life I have been given. I could not be happier today. It certainly doesn't hurt that I have Vietnam around the corner.
Thanks for stopping by.
MUCH LOVE!!!
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Epic 2015
Today was a particularly momentous day. It is truly astounding how quickly we adapt to changes, since getting my greenie my life has been a whirlwind (in the most amazing way possible). This is not a brag post, let me remind you just three years ago I was about to pack my things up and move back to Mexico for good. While I had no problem getting used to this new life, it still feels very unreal and I constantly have to pinch myself to remind myself this is real.
This is going to be the year I'll be seeing the other side of the globe, twice! Today, I came home to find an envelope on my desk with. . . wait for it . . . my visa for Vietnam!!! It is the very first visa since Freedom Day. Granted, not the official first visa because my very first visa was to the U.S. when I was a wee one. But since my new life, this Vietnam visa is the very first I am getting! I am so lucky to be visiting this place with one of my dearest friends, thanks for being so awesome!
The second place I'll be visiting is one I honestly never even had on my radar, not for this year, never honestly thought about visiting it at all. Switzerland is the second lucky place that will be seeing me this year. Man oh man, these next few months are certainly going to be a pair of memorable ones. I am ecstatic!
Thanks for stopping by.
MUCH LOVE!!!
This is going to be the year I'll be seeing the other side of the globe, twice! Today, I came home to find an envelope on my desk with. . . wait for it . . . my visa for Vietnam!!! It is the very first visa since Freedom Day. Granted, not the official first visa because my very first visa was to the U.S. when I was a wee one. But since my new life, this Vietnam visa is the very first I am getting! I am so lucky to be visiting this place with one of my dearest friends, thanks for being so awesome!
The second place I'll be visiting is one I honestly never even had on my radar, not for this year, never honestly thought about visiting it at all. Switzerland is the second lucky place that will be seeing me this year. Man oh man, these next few months are certainly going to be a pair of memorable ones. I am ecstatic!
Thanks for stopping by.
MUCH LOVE!!!
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