When I left the island of my retreat by ferry, not only the workaway man who I stayed with came to wave me goodbye but even a local couple I became friends with and their kids started running in the direction I was going and waved at me until they were the tiniest dots in my vision🥹🥹🥹 sooo wholesome!!

During my retreat, it was one of the Workaway men's birthday. The other man and I decided to do a surprise dinner, with 3 courses and different types of drinks! We created a menu card, chef's hats from paper towel, the sign on the door and put on nice background music. During the day, we secretly made tiramisu while he was working. He was super surprised and said that he had NEVER (yes, not once) celebrated his birthday before and was soooo happy! He turned 39 but smiled like a little boy and told me that he was gonna tell his mom all about it hahahah sooo wholesome. The whole night was so so so fun and I felt so much more connected to these new friends. Such a magical moment!

the first time i arrived in peru i was lima - a frustatig experience to arrive in a noisy, hectic city where people seemed to conversate through yealling vendors and hunks. after a silent time in the ecuadorian andes, this was a contrast..

i told everyone i would meet that i would not recommend lima as a place to visit.

later, when i had to come back to lima to catch my flight back to brazil, a different lima sparkled. i decide frist to change neighborhoods, to give it another chance.

walking around lima now i felt alive with the sound of children laughing an surfers screaming happily at the waves. i was washed with beauty by the pacific ocean and the sun. lima was finally magical.

A vibrant display of sparks lighting up the evening during my stay in Morocco, Marrakech.

On the 31th of March, I received my official letter of acceptance into university a moment filled with immense joy, gratitude, and excitement for the future. This milestone is the result of persistence, self-belief, and the support of everyone who encouraged me along the way. I feel proud, inspired, and ready to embrace the next chapter of my journey.

As Tristan and I were waiting in the ferry terminal because the one we wanted to take got cancelled, an old lady (78) started a conversation with us. Her English was really good because she and her husband (86) had lived abroad when they were younger. She asked us where in Wakayama (where they live) we were staying, and even called our hostel to explain it to her. She and her husband then insisted on driving us there, so we wouldn’t have to take a train! We ended up staying with them the entire ferry ride and it felt like they took us in as their own grandchildren. I was once again deeply impressed by Japanese hospitality and felt so grateful to encounter such a genuine connection!!

I have been exploring my city and visiting new places. I have come to a newfound appreciation for my city and a new connection to nature. Something about being in nature just feels so calming and fulfilling.

While searching for a woodworker who was going to gift me a marimba, I heard drums being played and walked in their direction. I stumbled upon our flutist Geoffrey, dancer Katalia, guitarist w/o a guitar Teo, and became the Djembe drummer myself! We walked around the island playing music and then went back to Geoffrey's place for tea and talk.

I was so anxious at first and immediately regretted saying that I had ever played drums. I felt like I was about to be exposed for the amateur I was, and that indeed happened! But it was wonderful!

Through simple rhythms and trial and error, we played a few different Congolese and French songs on our island tour. We tried to do the Lion King theme!

After having arrived to Namba, the main tourist district of Osaka, I was feeling very drained and unanimated. Surrounded by stores and masses of people touring the city, purpose and intention seemed lacking all around me. We headed to Dotonbori (the Times Square of Osaka) because... Why not I guess. What we found there was moving and inspiring: a group of Japanese grandpas' doing a peaceful protest in the name of peace. In the most transited point of the city. I admired and appreciated their courage. It felt to me like an anti-capitalism/power/injustice oasis in the heart of nonsensical tourist-land, like animation hiding in a cocoon in the middle of nothingness.