TRAVEL

I was two years old when my parents and I moved to the United States — a decision that shaped the course of our lives. Like many immigrant families, we stayed and built our future here, but without permanent residency, international travel remained out of reach for over three decades. It wasn’t just me — none of us could leave. So we stayed. We watched. And we waited.

For 33 years, the world felt close yet untouchable. On December 31st, 2022, I finally received my green card in the mail. A tearful moment that changed everything.

Travel had always lived in my imagination. Even as a child, I was endlessly curious about the world — its people, its textures, its stories. I devoured books, asked questions, saved images, and studied cultures I had never stepped foot in. I dreamed not of sightseeing, but of experiencing: of immersing myself in beauty, in craft, in conversation.

Now, with that long-awaited freedom, I’m making up for lost time — traveling with intention, through my own creative lens. Below, you’ll find a growing map of places I’ve explored since receiving my residency. Each country is its own portal, shaped by what moved me — the colors, the stillness, the chaos, the flavors. This is travel through my eyes.