 This photograph was captured in the summer of 2015 while in Tequila, Mexico with my family. This was taken while on the way to the Sauza Tequila distillery tour. This photo is significant for various reasons, whether it be the subject matter, the representation and symbolism, or something more personal. What makes this photograph significant to me is the reminder I receive when I take a look. The man in the photograph is not young. In fact, he looks old enough to be my grandfather. Hell, this even seems like something my grandfather would do. I could suggest that this man represents my grandfather. My grandfather is young at heart. He was one of the men who raised me and showed me that his age wasn’t an excuse to not do something. Typically people of this age range would be considered fragile, slow, and weak. This man, like my grandfather, breaks all the stereotypes of an elderly person. He does not let his age stop him from working and earning an honest income, neither did my grandfather. Although I draw much similarity from this photo towards my grandfather, there are memories attached to this photo. The summer of 2015 was the first time I had spent longer than two weeks in Mexico with my family. I had gotten the chance to really get to know this side of my family as well as the chance to see parts of Mexico I had not seen before. I mainly stayed in the city of Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco. This is the city where my grandparents, aunt, and cousins live. I stayed in my grandparent’s home in a small room at the top, next to the roof. I remember the first morning I woke up to find ten mosquito bites on each one of my legs. There was a joke in my family that the parasites liked and preferred my blood because I’m American and because I looked white. As it turns out, I have a blood type that mosquitos generally prefer, which is most unfortunate for me in humid areas with high mosquito populations. As you can imagine, the itch that came from the bites left me with less patience towards others than usual. I think the combination of the bites and the hot, humid weather, led to a very agitated version of myself. I remember my brothers and uncles annoying me very easily. One uncle in particular, loved to use my hand to wipe the sweat off his forehead. However, I wasn’t the only one who faced this disgusting misfortune. He also targeted my brothers and especially my younger cousins. I remember the many times he would perform these tricks for us claiming he had some magical power. It was very funny to see the puzzled looks on the faces of my younger cousins. They would always ask “where did it go” or “how did you do that?” The summer I was in Mexico, was the summer I discovered a lot of things about my family. I went to family parties and met many people I am somehow related to. If there was one major thing I had learned, it would be that the Mexican side of my family is giant! I always knew my family was big, but the family parties is where I obtained visual evidence. I remember a room full of over 200 people and only recognizing five percent of the relatives. The craziest part is that this wasn’t everyone who was part of the family. There were relatives in other parts of Mexico and various other parts of the world that couldn’t make it to the event. My grandfather is one of sixteen children. His brothers and sisters all have families of their own, consisting of children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren. My grandfather’s line of siblings are what make this side of my family so large. Despite the immense amount of family members, there was always plenty of food and drinks to go around for everyone at the parties. I remember the first family party we went to. At every table, consisting of about eight people, there were two bottles of soda, one bottle of water, chips and salsa, nuts, and an entire bottle of tequila. I remember there were tables that had gone through two and a half bottles of tequila. I found this observation so funny. At family parties in California, there would maybe be a bottle of wine or a few cans of beer that would be drunken by a few family members. This was completely different from how we throw parties with my family in California, but I loved it. I think something that also stuck with me was how hospitable my family members were. I stayed at my grandfather’s brother’s home in Mexico City with my two uncles, aunt, cousin, and brother. It was a two bedroom apartment. My brother and two uncles stayed in the living room while my aunt, cousin, and I stayed in my great uncle’s room, trying to fit the three of us on a king sized bed. My great uncle and his wife stayed in a smaller room that was reserved for their grandson. Since we were guests, they let us stay in their room. My great uncle’s wife cooked for us breakfast, lunch, dinner, and much more. I remember feeling overly full after inhaling her deliciously prepared food. After eating she would even offer us more food to eat. I remember one morning, my great uncle offered me an alcoholic beverage in the morning. It was very good, reminded me of egg nog. The summer I spent in Mexico with my family was quite the experience. I spent much-needed time with family members I both knew and met for the first time. I over-indulged on the delicious foods that my family would prepare and offer. I went and saw places I had never been to before. It has been almost two years since I was last been in Mexico. I hope to return again soon. Here’s a list of some of the places I visited:
Please note: I only provide this little list of places because it is difficult to describe all my experiences of these different places into 1000 words or less. However, if you are curious of a particular city or location, let me know and I would be happy to share with you all what happened, what I did, as well as my advice when it comes to visiting that area. Thank you for your patience if you have been following along. Stay tuned because I will be making an announcement later this week! Thank you again for your support and for taking the time to read this!
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 This photograph was taken in Santa Cruz within the last two weeks I was in California before leaving. Visually you can see the significance of this particular photograph. The bright blue wall draw the eyes to this side of the photograph, forcing them to focus on the guitar player. I could suggest that the guitar player represents me following my passions and those with their backs to both the camera and the performer represent those who didn’t believe in me pursuing these passions. However, this photograph is not about what it represents, this photo has a story. The three men with their backs shown are my father and two brothers. Surprisingly, the middle man is my younger brother. To the left of him is half of my father’s body. On the far right is my older half-brother. For the longest time I knew about my half-brother, but I had never actually got the chance to meet him until 2016. I learned about him at a young age and felt that I was missing out on his life. It’s the same feeling you get when you don’t see your friends for a long period of time and realize how much you have missed since you last saw one another. It’s the same feeling I had, except for a person I hadn’t even met. I also had mixed feelings for my mother. I couldn’t even imagine what it may be like for her. This was her son and yet she didn’t have him actively in her life. Even more so for him. I came to understand that both people had come to terms with the situation and found ways to not let it get to them. They both had different lives and different people to take up the roles that would be considered missing. My family would not be considered a “typical” or “average” family for many reasons, this being one of them. Regardless of it being the first time we had all got the opportunity to meet each other, we had found ways to connect and share stories with each other. There may have been a few differences in opinions, but it made for a stimulating conversation. I remember the day I took this photo. We decided to show Santa Cruz to my half-brother. It’s a place that was well-visited by my family growing up. So, spending the day there was like we were reliving our childhood with a new member in the family. I remember we went on the scariest ride available at the boardwalk. My brothers sat behind me during the ride. They made loud shrieks when appropriate, which in turn led my co-pilot, a 7-year old girl, to be so frightened she held on to me until the ride came to an end. I remember after this ride, we all played one of the boardwalk games involving a water gun and balloon. I honestly don’t remember who won, but the winner achieved a stuffed rainbow piñata. This was immediately given to my half-brother. There is proof of this in a photograph of us standing in front of the boardwalk and he is holding the prize. I laugh every time I look at that photo because he is a straight grown man holding a very colorful plush toy; something you don’t usually see. he day prior, before this photo was taken, I had driven to San Francisco with my other brother and half-brother. I needed to obtain my work visa for Italy and decided to make it a miniature trip with the two of them. I showed them my favorite places to visit, whether they were touristic or not. This for me, was when I really got the chance to get to know him. We had opened up by sharing the many different experiences from our life. Some things were personal and others were outer layer information. We exchanged music interests, making it the soundtrack of the drive around the city. The strange thing is I felt like I learned more about him than I actually know about the brothers I grew up with. Perhaps if we had all grown up together, it would be different. One thing was for certain, I was thankful to have met him at this point in my life as well as his. I was at a point where I had a general understanding of who I was as a person. I was mature in the young adult kind of way. Also the age different wasn’t too significant. I was at the beginning to middle of my twenties and he was in the middle to late twenties. I think this small age difference also made it easier for us to connect. The idea of meeting someone you are related to but never grew up with seems odd and strange. However, it makes for a unique visitation with a person. It’s hard to put into words of my feelings and the experience as a whole. I think the best way to put it is: it’s like you’re meeting a famous person. You’ve learned about them maybe when you were young. You have seen pictures of them. You may have heard their voice a few times. And when you finally do meet face to face, it is like “wow this person really exists?!” I hope you enjoyed what I have decided to share. Thank you for reading. Stay tuned for the next photo and story I decide to share!
 This is a photo I captured within the first week I arrived in Italy. I was exploring around the countryside with my cousin, her current boyfriend, and their friend. This photo is significant for many reasons. This was the first time I was truly away from home. I wasn’t planning to return to the U.S. for another year or maybe even longer. In fact, during this period I had considered spending a year in Spain followed by China after my Au Pair experience in Italy. I initially had these plans because I was at a point in my education and my life where I felt like I wasn’t contributing very much to society. What kind of person do I want to be? What do I want to do with my life? How am I going to get there? These questions ignited the fire of motivation I needed to get what I wanted and research how get there. I think what kick started it all was the night I stood outside the post office with my cousin. We were out there hours before they opened because apparently the system of obtaining a passport is more troublesome than one would think. We were first in line and I think we were out there for over an hour before the next person followed. He was an older man who was young at heart. The combination of his words of persuasion and my cousin’s invitation to join her on her Italian trip, is what sparked the idea of furthering my travel. I did not hesitate to answer yes when my cousin asked me to take part in their trip. However, I knew that spending the miniscule amount of about fourteen days was not sufficient. If I was going to save up for a plane ticket to Italy, I was going to stay longer than the average person would normally do so. So, I did my research and came to the final decision of taking part of an au pair experience for the family I am currently living with. If it wasn’t for that night I spent with my cousin, standing outside the post office for hours, waiting for us to be let in, I would not be where I am today. Literally! So when I look at this photo, I look back at my life before embarking on the journey. I recall why I even came to Italy in the first place. Saying yes to a trip to Italy was by far, the best decision I have ever made and will never regret it for even a moment. There is more to this photo than a hand in the distance with a focus on a bundle of white flowers. I look at this photo and I remember the many hours we spent in the car. One person to drive most of the time. My cousin and I in the back seats taking selfies while we sit in traffic. I remember the confusing navigation system that was provided with the car. On one occasion, I remember we tried to reroute the car towards a different path in order to avoid the traffic, only to be led to a dead end road. I remember us stopping somewhere in the hills and we came across a playground that seemed as though it was built in the middle of nowhere. I remember the tremendous amount of rain. It was no wonder why the hills were so green. For this particular photograph, we had stopped on our way to Pisa and we were driving through Tuscany. There was a surprising amount of diverse insects that were found on various plants and flowers. I remember we had stopped for a moment. I step out of the car and feel something burning around my ankles. I look down and discovered the culprit: ants. This situation was funny, but made me very paranoid for any strange sensation on my skin. In fact, my first week in Italy was full of surprises when it came to the “creepy crawlies.” On our third day of exploring, we had returned back home. I am in the shower and look down at my chest. There was, what looked like a small orange and black striped spider, crawling inside my skin. It was quite the situation. I had no idea what to do. I was butt-naked in the shower and my tweezers weren’t in the bathroom. I step out of the shower, soaking up the floor, and run to my room to obtain my tweezers. I run back to the bathroom and close the door behind me. I try to pull the unknown specimen out of my skin. The legs were moving. It was probably the most freaked out I have ever been when it came to an insect touching me. I usually have no problem with small living things, in fact I think they are interesting. However, the fact that this one was trying to use me as its host freaked me out a bit. I tried to pull the little guy out of my skin but he felt like he was stuck. The two guys heard the strange sounds coming from the bathroom and came up to investigate. I explain to them what happened and they immediately begin to laugh. Yes, it was funny, but in the moment it was very disgusting. Once I covered myself and let them in, they identified the insect as a tick and made it very clear that I handled the situation poorly. Needless to say, I now know what a tick looks like and how to remove it. For those of you who don’t know, you are supposed to light a fire under its butt so it can crawl out on its own.
I hope this made you laugh and think. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Check my Instagram for regular updates of things that get posted to my site!  This, here, is a photo I snapped of my mother. We were making our way down from the dome at the Vatican in Rome. She was visiting me for a few days and I actually had to do a little convincing before she agreed to visit Rome. Just a little background information: I don’t live in Rome. I live in a small city about 40 minutes south from Rome. Originally my mother wanted to just stay with me in the city I live in. I told her that it’s mandatory she visits the most well-known and visited city in Italy. After some time she finally agreed to be a little tourist. What makes this photo so significant is what happened before and after. Before taking this photo, we had hiked our way up the thousands of steps. It was very narrow and tiring. In fact, it was so narrow, there were a few people who needed to stop along the way because of their claustrophobia. I do not suffer from this fear, however the small space made me feel slightly claustrophobic. Although strenuous, we made it over the hump and gained our reward of a beautiful view. We could see all of Rome. I was able to see things I hadn’t seen before. You will notice a smile on her face. She and I were both pretty happy to have completed the hard part of this trek. It was a relief to make our way down. However when this photo was taken, we still had a bit of a way to go until we reach the bottom. Out of breathe, we continued our way through Rome. We went to the most touristic places: the Trevi Fountain, the St. Peter’s Basilica, the Roman Forum, and Colosseum. We made our way back to my city by train and ended the evening with a stereotyped American meal. The following day we went on a mini road trip to a small village located in a national park. It was cold and foggy but absolutely beautiful. We stayed at a farm that had horses, goats, dogs, pigs, chickens, etc. Although our time on this farm was short, it was very cute to stay at. Honestly this entire trip for the two of us was really nice. It had been a little over six months since I had last seen her so it was a great way for us to bond. I never really had a good relationship with my mother because we tend to disagree on many things and share a difference in opinions. We did not argue very much but we found time to share traditional arguments over stupid things I always forget about. However, as a whole this trip made me appreciate my time with her. She is my mom and we don’t always get along, but when we travelled together in the car around this part of Italy, we had the chance to talk about things we haven’t talked about before. Since we didn’t have the eavesdropping ears of my brothers, we had freedom to just talk. Saying good bye to my mother at the airport was a bittersweet parting of ways. She entered the security check and I made my way up the escalator towards the train station. Although it was a little hard to say good bye and let go of her, I wasn’t too broken up about it because I knew I was going to see her again soon and we were probably going to talk on the phone the following day. I felt like an adult. There are scenes in films and series of parents and their adult children visiting for a holiday or birthday. When they say their goodbyes there usually isn’t crying involved. I felt like one of those adults that were portrayed on screen. I felt like I was one of those people that visit their parents only certain times of the year. It was at that moment I had realized how grown up I had become. When I look at this photo I am not only reminded of the time I spent with my mother during her stay, but I am reminded of how much I have grown since I have been apart from her and my family. I love my family and my friends and my hometown. However, I have come to the realization that living close to family is a wonderful thing, but spending time apart from them is when I really grew as a person. I had no other choice but to be independent. I moved myself to a completely different continent with a 9-hour time difference. I was nowhere near any friends or family. I entered a foreign land alone, but not completely alone. Lucky for me, I had the warm welcome of a wonderful Italian family who introduced me to people who have now become very good friends of mine. Although I was a little nervous, I have proven to my family that I can survive being apart from my family. I have made stupid decisions here and there but I am young and still learning from poor choices. I connect this photo of my mom with my experience of being away from home. Just as we struggled through the narrow halls of endless stairs, I faced the almost impossible journey of being away from my family, friends, and home. I conquered the challenge and became a stronger and more woman because of it. As we made our way down the stairs with smiles on our faces, I am coming to the end of my experience in Italy with a grin. Although it is not over; I still have about three months left, I am thankful and happy to have made it past the hump. Once I got over the hardest part of being away from them, everything became easier and it seems like it is going by even faster. Thanks again for taking the time in reading a little background story behind this photo. I hope it inspired you or made you think. Check back tomorrow to look at the photo I decide to write about and share with you all!
 This is a photo of Jacopo, one of the children I take care of in my host family. I took this on the way to a beach town called Campomarino. This photo has much personal significance. Not only because of what this photograph represents but also because of what happened after I took this photo. After taking this, we eventually arrived in the town of Campomarino. The first few days were very lonely. It was honestly the first time I genuinely felt homesick. This was only because I had no friends. I didn’t have anyone my age to talk to. I was surrounded by grown adults and children. As a woman in her twenties, I felt slightly isolated. Despite these feelings, I decided to grow a pair and go out to the disco by myself. I decided to buy myself a drink. As I was drinking, I observed the young adults dancing. After I finished my beverage, I went to the dancefloor and started dancing. Young men would occasionally try to dance with me, but I would shove them away. In the midst of it all I looked up, and coincidentally saw a shooting star. I had wished to not feel so alone for the rest of my time in this beach town. Half an hour later, my vacation in Campomarino was going to change. It was half-past midnight and that was when I noticed him. Just a fair warning before I continue: this is a romance story, HOWEVER, I typically don’t write about romance. SO, please don’t stop reading JUST because this particular story involves a boy. If writing about a boy bothers you, you can skip reading the next few paragraphs. I was staring at him. He was beautiful. Tanned with light-brown hair. When he finally did notice me, I looked away smiling. He still stared at me. I knew this because when I looked back at him, our eyes locked. It felt as though we were the only ones on the dance floor. We were in a state of trance staring at each other, smiling, and dancing. He began dancing towards me. He moved his body close to mine. J Balvin’s “Ginza” came on and we both danced in sync with one another. Our hips moving to the beat. Our feet bouncing off the floor. Our eyes were locked. This was unlike any other time I had danced with someone. There was something about dancing with this man that made everything okay. I didn’t feel alone. I felt wanted and desired. I felt happy. After hours of dancing together, we walked away from the disco and towards the sea. There was something romantic about it being the two of us alone on the beach under moonlight. He led me by the hand to a long barrier made up of large boulders. We sat down, stared at each other and then up at the night sky. We looked around and saw scattered fire pits that were in use by teenagers. We were sitting down next to each other for some time, trying our best in communicating with each other. There was a slight language barrier and I think the mystery of him attracted me even more. When the time was right, we stared into each other’s eyes and kissed. I had felt something that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I felt like a high schooler who finally got to kiss her crush. It was sweet and romantic and exactly what I needed in that time period. We met almost every evening after at the dance club. We also met occasionally in the mornings. He worked as a lifeguard in the beach chalet next to where my host family had rented beach beds. As each day and night passed, we fell more and more for each other. Which was hard for me because I was letting myself be vulnerable. The realization hit that the likelihood of us actually meeting again after this summer was highly unlikely. I think he knew this too. So when the time did come to part ways, we made sure to make the most of our time together before goodbye. I remember kissing him goodbye and getting on my bike. I remember it being about three or four o’clock in the morning. I remember crying the ride back to the beach house. I remember a feeling of loss. It’s the feeling you get whenever you get a heartbreak. I’ve felt this one too many times in my life. I’ve learned to cope with these feelings through writing about it. I think what made me get over this heartbreak a little easier was finding out he was already in a romantic relationship with someone and they had been together for over three years. When I discovered this, my stomach dropped and my face turned red. I was so embarrassed and ashamed. Although I hate what had happened after I found out, I would still do it over again because he gave me something that I wanted and needed at that time. When I look at this photo, I am reminded of entering then leaving a place the same: alone. However, I have come to the understanding and realization that it’s okay to be alone. Just because I feel alone doesn’t mean I have to let that get to me. I have embraced being alone and it honestly feels great. This picture is also a good representation of the innocence and eventual growth that is found in a child. In the beginning when I captured that photo I was ignorant to the language, culture, and a few other things. However, I have grown since that picture was taken. I have gained a grasp in the Italian language just as a child gains the ability to speak. I hung on to my homeland like a child to its mother. Now I have grown to let my “mother” go and appreciate her from afar.
We all have photographs that remind of us something that may or may not have anything to do with the photo itself. I think each and every photo has a story behind it. That is why I decided to share this story with you. This was very personal for me and I am not ashamed of my past of the choices I have made in my life. I hope this made you think whenever you look at some of my photos or perhaps someone else’s photo. Thank you for reading and check out what photo I decide to share with tomorrow! Considering it recently being Valentine’s Day, I decided to focus on the positive aspects of being a single woman when surrounded by those who are in love. It may seem depressing, empowering, or both depending on your outlook, perspective, or perhaps even the way you were raised. Regardless of what you may think of your relationship identification, I think it’s important to realize that you should not let the happiness or life of others impact yours in a negative way. If your friends are happy and in love, you should be happy for them. If seeing your friends happy and in love upsets you or makes you jealous, then it honestly means you are not a very good friend. Personally I don’t care much for this holiday. In fact, even when I was in a long-term relationship, I didn’t find much significance in the day. The only important aspect of the holiday had to do with the fulfilment of my sweet tooth. I especially loved the day after Valentine’s Day because everything would be on a fifty percent discount. So, don’t let this holiday period bring you down. If it does bring you down, just know that one day there will be a person in your life who will appreciate even the most miniscule of things about you. I am a single woman. I don’t have a relationship and I actually don’t plan to have one for some time. I think love and romance is very sweet when it does come around or if it happens to someone close to me like a friend or family member, but I don’t think I have time or patience to commit to anyone other than myself right now. Reading this probably gives the impression that I am selfish. It’s most likely accurate to get this impression. I have this outlook on any potential romance that may come around because I think now is the best time to find myself and really figure out who I am as a person. I have discovered more about myself as a single woman than I have from when I was either dating or in a committed relationship. Mind you, this is from a first-hand experience. If you are in a committed relationship, you have most likely discovered who you are with the help of your partner. For me, it didn’t work this way. I think it may have to do with my personality, but I’m not sure. Regardless, I am a happy single woman. I have freedoms. I have been productive. I have plenty of time to take care of myself. I don’t have to worry about trivial things such as getting worked up over a text message or a few missed calls. I am just focusing on me and I think at this point in my life, it’s the best time to be doing this. I identify as a solo traveler. This to many, seems intimidating. In fact for many of you, the mere thought of traveling anywhere by yourself may seem haunting. I want to share with you why I think it is so wonderful to be a woman and travel to a foreign country by yourself. Imagine boarding a plane, a bus, or a train by yourself. You are sitting down, looking out the window, and anticipating your destination. There’s a feeling in the pit of your stomach. It’s the kind of feeling you get before a job interview, before a first kiss, or before a date with someone special. It’s a little nerve wrecking, but it’s exciting. There is a slight mystery to what happens after the interview, the kiss, or the date. That is what makes it so thrilling. The combination of anxiety and excitement brings your adrenaline up and you get this chemical reaction that is difficult to put into words. That feeling is what I get every time I travel somewhere by myself. Whenever I go to Rome or the time I went to Berlin by myself, I get that feeling. When I finally arrive at my destination, I’m excited. I get to decide where to go, what to see, how long I will be at certain locations. It’s all up to me.
Honestly, the only hard part about traveling by myself is the picture taking. You may have seen the photos of me standing or sitting in front of structures or places? I took those images by setting up a timer on my camera then running and posing. I know it is very strange and unusual, but you got to do what you got to do. Since I am by myself, I have no other choice. It is true, I can ask someone to take it for me but I choose not to. Aside from the difficulty in picture-taking, I enjoy the walking around and exploring. I enjoy observing others while I walk or sit and eat. I feel empowered by traveling in this way. I have traveled around with friends and with family. Traveling with friends is way more fun than with family but I have a better time when I am by myself. When traveling with other people, I find it more difficult to try to meet other travelers or locals. When by myself, I got to meet way more people than I have in all my traveling experiences combined. I enjoy talking to people and learning a few things about them. I regret not documenting these interactions, but I have made it my goal to begin doing so. This may seem strange in the way I have decided to go about seeing the world, but it is the best way I could have chosen. I hope this makes you think about the next time you travel, whether that is alone or with others. Regardless, thank you for reading. Stay positive. I had a memorable experience in Berlin. There were many things that were unusual but quite fascinating to be part of the moment. For example, after leaving the dance club around 4:30 AM Sunday morning, I was at a metro station waiting for the next train. A man approaches me and asks me something in German. I respond saying I don’t speak German. He then asks me where I am from. Then his two friends, a man and woman, join in on the conversation and we introduce one another. I forgot their names two seconds after they told me. He asked me if I had pepper spray to defend myself from an attacker. I explained to him that the truth is I don’t carry that type of self-defense weaponry because it would take too long of a time to reach into my purse and put them to use. I told them that my only logical weapons are my arms and legs. If the time came, my adrenaline would kick it and defeat my attacker, male or female, by harming his or her weak spots. The two men reacted by reaching for their manhood and making and “ooh” sound. We separated when we entered the metro train. I thought this was for the best since I was so tired. I think I arrived at the hostel around 5:15 AM. This would probably be the last time I would be in Berlin for a while, so I had to embrace as much as possible.  I woke up at 8:30 in the morning, leaving me to venture the last part of Berlin with only under 3 hours of sleep. I did not let my lack of sleep stop me from going on my exploration adventure. This would probably be the last time I would be in Berlin for a while, so I had to embrace as much as possible. My first destination was the East Side Gallery of the Berlin Wall. The first thing I realize was that this was exactly where the dance club was located. I exit the station and come across a photo booth. Although I was disappointed in myself for not capturing the moments of the night before, I decided to capture the sleep deprived and slightly hungover version of myself. After playing the waiting game with the photo booth (about 10 minutes for the photo strip to be developed despite the five minute claim on the machine), I headed towards the wall. I would consider it to have been a bit early for the people who decided to go out the night before. I believe it was about 11 AM when I arrived at the wall. This time didn’t stop people from drinking a beer. I saw perhaps 5 different groups of people drinking a bottle of beer. Truthfully, I did not know much about the gallery. I knew that there was the infamous kissing scene, which was surrounded by a crowd of people hoping to get a photo in front of. Something I was not expecting to find was the “fuck Donald Trump” graffiti on an appropriately fitting mural of diverse people building a wall. The few Americans I did come across, all captured this and even posed for a photo.
 Minutes after this, I realized my camera battery was nearly dead and I had stupidly forgotten my extra battery back at the hostel. I try to take as many photos and videos as I could without completely draining the battery then head to the nearest metro station to go back to my hostel. I return to the hostel and charge everything. Once I am ready to go, I head off to what is known as the Anne Frank Zentrum. This place was filled with really cool pieces of art on the walls. I have never been to a place like this before but was very happy to have seen it. Surrounded by the different forms of expressional art, I felt like also expressing myself on these walls. Unfortunately the thought of marking a wall did not come to me until that moment. For the next time I am in Berlin, I will have to make it a priority to not get caught while expressing myself on a wall or many walls in Berlin.
Berlin was an amazing experience. Not only did I get the opportunity to explore the city in a unique way, but I also had the chance to meet some very interesting people. I was sad and slightly regretful I did not take pictures of them or with them. I was even sadder that I did not write their names down so I could track them down on Facebook. Although I did not get the information I should have gotten, I learned that from now on I will be better at capturing not only moments or experiences but also the people along the way. The people were very sweet and friendly and although I may never see them again, they reminded me how precious time is with people when travelling around.
NOTE: “Bering Berlin” was chosen because Bering is the name of a Danish navigator and explorer of the North Pacific Ocean who worked for the Russians. His name may sound familiar because you may have heard of the Bering Strait, which is what he ‘discovered.’ I chose this title because I, similar to the Danish navigating-explorer, ventured through an unfamiliar area resulting in occasionally getting lost. Realizing I was chewing gum in that moment, a lightbulb turned on in my head. You can only imagine what came next. During my time in Berlin, I had the chance to experience and witness things that will stay with me for a long time. It is hard to narrow it down to just a few because there was honestly so much. Within the first five minutes of stepping outside of my hostel Saturday morning, I notice a woman with a fox scarf leaving a pet food shop with dog food in her hands. This was odd for many obvious reasons, but I thought it was mostly uncomfortable seeing the legs and tail of the dead fox. Trying not to let this boggle my brain, I continue walking in the direction of Banhof Potsdamer Platz. There was a fair amount of people in this area taking photographs. I notice a stand-alone wall with images and explanations. When I looked closer, I realized there was gum all over this wall. Realizing I was chewing gum in that moment, a lightbulb turned on in my head. You can only imagine what came next. I’m sure you would do the same thing if you were in my shoes. After my silly moment, I continued walking in the direction I thought was the memorial for the murdered Jews. I was actually going the wrong way and had to map my way back in the correct direction. I was walking for a long time and paying much attention to the things around me and not much on the map on my phone. I lost track of where I was going but I felt like I was going the correct way. I turned a corner and saw the stone blocks of the memorial. I walked closer and felt overwhelmed. Seeing this memorial reminded me the travesty. I took a deep breath and just stared at the memorial for a few minutes. I stayed at the memorial for about 15 minutes. 
 After some time here, I walk towards Museum Island. This was a very beautiful area. The columns and statues reminded me of Rome and its similar style. I walk on a bridge next to the museum and notice an accordion being played by an elderly woman. Near her was a man selling products with fur that would probably be typical for the people here about 80 or so years ago. There was a crowd of people eyeing the items but walked away. Once the people walked away I noticed the accordion player had stopped. Another group of people came near and she began to play again. Seeing how it was a very cold day, she was only playing when there was a chance she could be tipped. Later that evening, I go out to a dance club. I was supposed to meet a group of people here that I had found off of Couchsurfing. However, my phone was unable to make phone calls. I asked the staff to use their phones to make a call and immediately shut me down and said no. Apparently they have a phone on site but would not allow me to use that either. Frustrated, I step into the bathroom evaluating my situation. I can either cry about it and go back to the hostel, try to find the people, or make the best of the night. I went with option 3. As a result of making this decision, I had met 6 very drunk Irish women. I knew they would be fun even before we had the chance to be officially introduced. Earlier when I was in line to enter the dance club, they were behind me. They were singing random songs in line then flirted with the bouncers. I was sitting down looking at my phone when one of them approached me. She was very friendly and nice. She became my best friend for the evening. I helped her keep her balance and she kept me company. She made me promise her to not let her smoke cigarettes that evening as she was finishing one off. For the life of me, I cannot remember her name. There is a high chance she doesn’t even remember my face. Even though it was a crazy night with her and her friends, it was the best way I could have celebrated my birthday. Also, things didn’t turn out the way I had expected or planned, however, I still found a way to enjoy myself without losing any memories. If you read this far, kudos to you. This is practically an essay or short story. Because of this, I am splitting this weekend story. I will be posting the other half tomorrow. So keep an eye out! Thanks again for reading this and stopping by, I hope it made you think or laugh or a little bit of both.
I had planned to wear certain things for certain occasions. However, life happens.  When preparing for my trip to Berlin, I had a general idea of what I was going to do. I had planned to wear certain things for certain occasions. However, life happens. Sometimes the feet are just too damn tired to wear heels. Sometimes the weather is too damn cold to wear certain stockings. And sometimes you have a scarf that looks much better than the ones you had brought. Here are a list of things that I had brought with me that were a complete waste of space: Shoes o White platform boots § I thought I was going to wear this when I went out Saturday night. Once I realized how much I had walked earlier that day and had planned the rest of the evening, I decided to ditch theses boots and go with the ones I had been wearing the entire trip. o Maroon Vans § I was planning to take these with me when I went and used my skateboard. I left them behind the morning I left to explore because they would take up space in my pack. Scarves (Yes more than one) o Maroon circle scarf § This is generally a good scarf as it keeps my neck warm, but it didn’t go with any of the outfits I ended up wearing. So I went with a scarf that did. o Black Scarf § I thought this would be the scarf I would use the most because it can go with anything. Turns out, it was just another scarf I decided not to use. Sweaters o Sorority § This black sweater did have a purpose for when I was on the plane for its thickness. However, once I went about exploring Berlin, I didn’t use it. It did have a bit of purpose, but I also could have survived without it o Canada § This sweater I thought would be good to have in case I need a pillow. Turns out I didn’t need one at any point during my trip, wasting more of my space. Blanket o I had brought this thinking I would get cold at my hostel. The last hostel I stayed at was a bit cold, so I decided to become prepared. The hostel I stayed at, however was very nice. Also, since the room was shared with seven other people, their bodies kept the room extra warm. Computer o This I thought most definitely was going to be used during my downtime period so I can write and upload photos. However, I did not have any downtime. The time I had to “relax” was spent changing and getting ready. I only opened it at the airport when I was waiting for my flight, but this was only to upload photos. This honestly could have waited until I arrived back in Latina. SO, I could have been okay without this. Perfume o So I like to smell nice before I go out, anywhere. I use deodorant on occasion, but haven’t found it necessary in the winter season. I sprayed myself Saturday morning with perfume, only for the scent to disappear about 10 minutes after stepping out into the cold. § NOTE for fellow travelers: If it’s going to be cold, you probably won’t need perfume.  ALWAYS PACK SANDALS Yes, I did bring many unnecessary things. Despite being extra prepared, there were some things that were left behind despite my little checklist that wasn’t checked. Here is a list of things that were forgotten and made my life slightly miserable: Sandals o The funny thing about traveling in January is you would never think to bring this type of footwear for this season. However, my hostel was filled with surprises. As soon as I arrive and drop my things off, I rush to the bathroom across the hall. Turns out this was under construction. Confused, I return to the staircase and luckily find a girl. She directs me to the bathroom upstairs. I quickly take a step in-only to have my foot completely soaked in water. To top it off, the room I stepped in was for showers and not for using the toilet. I certainly learned my lesson when it came to using bathrooms in a communal living space. o ALWAYS PACK SANDALS Mini Towel o This was on my list, but through all my madness of packing, I had left it behind in my closet. When I needed to dry my just-washed face, I only had my used t-shirt to dry off with. Luckily I had at least the t shirt and not, let’s say, underwear! I am joking, but this experience made me realize some of the simple things we have in life that are taken for granted. o NEVER FORGET TOWEL Lotion – Hands, body, etc o Before travelling, I prepared myself for the winter weather with clothes and accessories. Isn’t it amazing how one minor product can make such a significant difference in a person’s life? I forget any type of lotion except the one for my face. Saturday morning, my hands were very dry. I generally don’t have dry skin so I didn’t take this too seriously. When I returned to the hostel, I applied my face lotion to my hands. They became irritated, turned red, and began to burn. By Monday morning, my hands were still cracked, red, and irritated. I suppose it is for this reason, I won’t ever forget my hand lotion again. o STAY MOISTURIZED Better Gloves o I had packed a pair of gloves. They were small and cheap. I had got them at Target in their $1 section. I picked them up mainly because I can use the touchscreen on my phone while wearing these. When I put them on in Berlin, I had noticed holes forming at the tips due to my long nails. By lunchtime on Sunday, the holes were large enough to fit the entire tip of my finger. I guess I didn’t need that touchscreen feature after all. To top it off, these gloves did not keep my hands warm. In fact, I had to regularly place these gloves in my bra to absorb the heat in my chest, and then put them on. Yes I do know this sounds strange. I knew how strange it was based on the looks people would give me on the metro. Since I wouldn’t see them again, I didn’t care too much of what they thought.  Despite the lack of or abundance of, there were some items I was very happy I had brought along. There are things that should have been left behind while on the other hand, there are things that should have been brought along. Despite the lack of or abundance of, there were some items I was very happy I had brought along. Here is a list of things that fulfilled their purpose to the maximum: Extra charger or battery o For my camera I have two batteries. One is in use and the other is for the just in case one battery dies. Sunday morning, my camera battery had died. Unfortunately for me, I had left it behind at the hostel that morning. Luckily I was able to return to the hostel and pick it up and leave the other one to charge while I was away. o For Christmas, my host family had gifted me with a compact mirror that also acts as a charger for phones or tablets or other electronic devices. I didn’t realize how strong this compact was until I put it to the test the evening I arrived in Berlin. My phone was on 30% when I got off the plane. I needed it to be charged while I ensured the correct path towards the hostel. By the time I arrived at the hostel, my phone had reached 95%. To top it off, the compact was still 80% charged. Black hiking boots o These are among my heaviest pair of shoes. I considered them to be very good for travel because of their durability and ability to tread through mud and rain. These were actually the only pair of shoes I used in my entire trip. They are very comfortable and posed the ideal pair of shoes to walk long distances in. They will most likely be used in my future traveling trips. Extra socks o I may have gone a little overboard with scarves, I was right to go overboard with socks. I packed maybe a total of 9 socks. I had used every single pair with the magic of layering. Even with layered socks, there were occasionally some points when my feet would still be cold. So cold, to the point of even feeling a bit numb. So the extra socks may have been much, but they saved my toes. Thank you everyone for taking the time to read this! I will be making my third post on Monday, so stay tuned for that.
ALSO I will be uploading my new video collage of Berlin. Hope you enjoy it! I was planning to spend the most €50 on food, but had actually ended up only spending €15.50 on foods. When doing my research prior to traveling to Berlin, I came across various different sites and blogs that listed things to do or eat when on a budget. Although helpful in many ways, I actually ended up not utilizing the information as I had thought I would. One page I came across, had a list of restaurants to eat at under €10. This page gave me a ballpark estimate of how much I would most likely spend while in the city. I was planning to spend the most €50 on food, but had actually ended up only spending €15.50 on foods. The significant difference in amount was not only shocking but made me realize that although one can put much time and effort into research, it is completely different to go to the actual place and experience it for yourself. ...although one can put much time and effort into research, it is completely different to go to the actual place and experience it for yourself. How was I able to spend such a small amount on food? Well, for starters I had planned to eat at the restaurants I researched, but was too tired and too far away from them to eat at. So, I ended up paying €1.50 for a hot dog that was being grilled off of a man’s body. I also spent €3 for a sandwich at the metro station and €2.50 for a giant kebab. These may not seem like a sufficient amount of food to even be considered a meal, however, I generally have a small appetite so I don’t usually eat very much when travelling around. Moreover, even if I was hungrier, I could have easily purchased a second helping and it still would have been cheaper than the restaurants I was planning to dine at. So, when I first arrived at Aleksander Plätz I noticed many different men with grills attached to their bodies. I found it fascinating but wasn’t sure about ordering something from them. I felt strange if I were to eat a hot dog that was grilled off a man. Just the thought makes me laugh. However, the smell of the grilling meat peaked my interest and curiosity. Also the “€1.50” sign attached to their grills made me realize that this could be the best option for a meal or snack. I walked up to the man, unsure if he spoke English. I showed him my single index finger, to indicate I wanted one. He then asked “ketchup, mustard?” I asked for ketchup and he handed it to me. The entire interaction took about one minute. This was probably the fastest food experience I have ever had. I tasted the meat of the hot dog. It reminded me of the breakfast sausages I would eat at restaurants from back home (California). Although cheap, it was very delicious. The bread of the hot dog was also very unique in that it had a similar consistency and flavor to pretzels. It felt like I was eating a pretzel hot dog without the salt and butter. Regardless, this was the perfect lunch for me.
Later in the evening I walked down Karl-Marx-Alle. I decided to get dinner here but was unsure exactly where and what I should eat. I came across a small restaurant with images of foods and their prices. Unfortunately for me, all the names and ingredients were in German. I saw something that I could not pronounce but looked good, not just in price but also in the image. It was a typical kebab with pork meat, costing only €2.50. The man I ordered from asked if I wanted salad and a particular sauce. I went with everything and a spicy sauce. When my food was ready, I was shocked at the size. Wrapped in foil, it reminded me of the burritos that are served at taquerias in California. It was giant. In fact, it was so big I could only eat about ¾ of the entire kebab before feeling so full my stomach would explode.
The next day as I was preparing to return to my hostel in the evening, I decided to pick up something from the metro station. I came across a small shop that sells sandwiches, breads, drinks, etc. It somewhat reminded me of a 7/11. I ordered a sandwich that had French bread, mozzarella, tomatoes, pepper, and lettuce. It was simple but very filling. I didn’t like that the sandwich was cold, but it wasn’t a problem to eat.  These are just some examples of my food experiences. Saturday morning, I had purchased breakfast from the hostel I was staying at and later I got a coffee to wake me up. The Sunday of my trip I had purchased a hot dog then later a pretzel. I honestly did not eat very much during this trip, however it wasn’t because I was starving myself, but it was because I felt I didn’t have much time to sit down and enjoy a meal. Also, I wanted to use my money on other things and not food. The places I researched to eat at did look good, but I decided to take my food decisions into my own hands and figure it out for myself. I suppose I just want to remind you that although you can make all these plans for things to be done and seen, you may or may not be able to do all that you had been planning for. Keep in mind that I am not saying researching different websites for advice or help is a bad thing, because I knew exactly where I wanted to go during my trip thanks to this research. However, one can never really calculate the time it takes to go between different areas or the amount of time spent at each area. I suppose I just want to remind you that although you can make all these plans for things to be done and seen, you may or may not be able to do all that you had been planning for. I ended up eating at none of the restaurants I had planned for, but it worked out for the best. I hope you find this information helpful for your traveling plans. Thank you for reading !
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