Traveling has been a huge part of my life because I grew up moving between different countries and cultures. I lived in Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, and Bolivia during my childhood, so traveling and experiencing different cultures always felt normal to me. When I was younger, I could get on a plane without thinking much about it, and I loved the excitement of going somewhere new. I have been lucky enough to visit different places, try different foods, and experience cultures that are very different from my own. Looking back, I think traveling so much growing up is a big part of why I love discovering new places and experiencing things outside of what I already know.
As I have gotten older, flying has become harder for me because I have developed a lot more anxiety around being on planes. Even though I do not always enjoy the actual traveling part anymore, I still fly to Bolivia almost every year because seeing my family and friends is worth it. Going back to Bolivia feels completely different from traveling somewhere new because it is my first home and the place that still feels the most familiar to me. I especially look forward to seeing my long-distance best friend, who I normally have to miss throughout the year, and getting to spend time together again. Those trips are usually only around two weeks, but they are some of the happiest two weeks of my entire year.
One of my favorite parts about going back to Bolivia is definitely the food, especially because so much of it reminds me of home and my childhood. In Santa Cruz, one of my favorite fruits is achachairú, which is sweet and even better when it is made into a smoothie. I also love salteñas, which are usually eaten for brunch on Sundays and are one of the foods I always look forward to having when I go back. Another favorite is churrasco, which is a type of barbecue that is usually shared with family and friends, and we used to have it almost every Sunday when I lived there. Food is one of the things that makes traveling back to Bolivia feel so special because it brings back memories of my family and just all the things I miss when I am away.