11

Iguazu Falls was never on my travel itinerary. I knew that it existed, but I had planned everything out, and I had convinced myself that I could miss it. Yet, as I continued working in my hostel, almost every guest would tell me that Iguazu was a must-see. The more I heard of its beauty, the more I knew I needed to be there - it was calling me. I decided to change my travel plans, cancel my flights and hostels, and go all in on Iguazu. This was the best decision I have ever made. The second I saw the falls, I was brought to tears. The overwhelming beauty, might, and absolute freedom of the water reminded me of the greatness of our world and the privilege I have to experience it.

There is nothing quite like meeting people who are experiencing the same path you are, whose sous are full of light and animation, and who, beyond everything else, are just fantastic people. The São Paulo meetup was all of these things and more. Maybe it was because of the Flight School touch, the city, the spirit of Carnival, or fate - I have no clue. But, what I do know, is that the community and love that I felt in such a short time was nothing short of magical and that I am forever grateful to have crossed paths with such amazing humans.

This is a picture of Derin, my friend, and I after we got dinner. Before this night, I had not seen or spoken to him for around 2 years. However, about a week beforehand, I ran into him at a car wash and we made plans to see one another. Talking with him and seeing how much he has grown was so beautiful and heartwarming. Everything, and yet nothing, was different about him. The young freshman, who I always used to joke and say was my son, is a senior now. He just got into his dream school, is making music, and experienced his first love. His humor is still the same, but there is more maturity in his words, more wisdom. Neither of us is the same, yet somehow we still fit, it’s magical.

This picture captures the day after my best friends and I had a Christmas celebration and reunion after not seeing one another for around four months. This night was full of laughter, side quests, shenanigans, love, and being present with one another - and also about 0-3 hours of sleep depending on the person :p. These girls always make my life magical by instilling love and understanding into our relationships, and I am forever grateful for the memories we make together!

Last weekend, I was able to visit the Hobbiton movie set in Matamata, New Zealand. As a huge Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fan, seeing this in person was a dream come true. Walking by a hobbit hole for the first time made me feel like I entered into one of my favorite novels, helping reignite the kid in me who loved reading, exploring, and dreaming of fantastical worlds. This sense of joy is what makes my trip to Hobbiton my magical moment of the month!

Final goodbyes with friends, host families, and the people who changed my life for the better. I have always spent Thanksgiving with the people I love, but this year the people may have looked different, but the sentiment was the same!

Rotorua is a small town around three hours away from Auckland. It is know for its geothermal activity, natural beauty, and its Redwood trees. I had heard from many of my coworkers that the Redwood at night walk was one of the most beautiful things they had seen - they were not wrong. This picture captures the moment of me walking through the trees, almost 200 feet off the ground, and watching the light show brightening up the night sky. In this moment, I was in awe of nature's beauty and how it was combined with thoughtful art. I was grounded, fulfilled, and reminded of my humanity in a way that only nature and art can make you feel.