I landed in São Paulo amazed by just how sprawling the city was. Flying over it, the buildings seemed to stretch from horizon to horizon. After landing, I met up with my friend Connor, whom I had met while working at summer camp. We made our way to our hotel and immediately started exploring.

The next day, we checked into O de Casa Hostel. It was my first time ever staying in a hostel, and boy, oh boy, there couldn't have been a better start. The staff was incredibly friendly, and the sense of community was amazing. Over the next few days, we rode bikes through Ibirapuera Park, ate Brazilian rodízio, enjoyed samba music at night, and even visited a water park. Our next stop was Paraty, where we stayed at Casa Viva. This was another incredible hostel, and the only other one I'll specifically mention. The people we met there became recurring characters throughout our travels. Unbeknownst to us, we had arrived during the Festa de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, a major local festival. We also had the opportunity to slide down a 50-foot natural waterslide and hike up a massive mountain, where we were rewarded with one of the best views I've ever seen. The only downside was the weather. We had arrived during a Super El Niño, and it was certainly living up to its name.

After Paraty, we headed to Ilha Grande, an island off the coast of Brazil situated between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. We had been hoping for sunny conditions, but unfortunately, it rained almost the entire time. I couldn't even be mad, though, because we had chosen to visit during the winter. Regardless, we made the most of it. We went on a guided boat tour that took us to an underwater cave, where we witnessed bioluminescent water.

Then came Rio.

For the two weeks leading up to our arrival, we had heard countless stories about how dangerous the city could be, which made me a little more skeptical going in. Overall, we had a great experience, although Connor and I both preferred São Paulo. We spent eight days in Rio and made the absolute most of them. I went paragliding off Pedra Bonita. I partied all night before hopping on the back of a motorbike through a favela to hike Two Brothers Mountain and watch the sunrise. I attended a favela party where people paraded AK-47s through the streets, and I ran to Copacabana Beach to catch yet another sunrise.

The energy in Rio is unmatched.

On our very first night, we attended a Flamengo soccer match, where the fans stood and cheered for the entire game. There is no rest in Rio, only partying. On our final night, we capped off our time in the city at Pedra do Sal, a famous street party that takes place every Monday night. Rio is an incredible place, but you have to be assertive and vigilant.

After Rio, we hopped on a 29-hour bus ride to Iguazu Falls, which turned out to be the most breathtaking stop of the entire trip. The best way I can describe it is to imagine the Grand Canyon, except with water cascading everywhere. Rainbows formed in the mist, and the sheer scale of the waterfalls was almost impossible to comprehend. Connor and I even took a boat ride straight into the base of the falls, which left us completely soaked! From there, we hopped on another 18-hour bus ride to Buenos Aires.

Posted on 10/18/2026

In December, after finishing finals, I had the opportunity to travel to Asia. Technically, I was completing my last final on the plane. We had a brief layover in Seoul, which gave us a few hours to explore the city and visit Gyeongbokgung Palace. From there, we flew to Singapore, which exceeded my expectations. My only real reference point had been Crazy Rich Asians, so seeing the city in person felt surreal. We went to the top of Marina Bay Sands and took in the skyline from the rooftop infinity pool. The next day, we traveled to Batam, Indonesia, where we spent the day at a resort and I had the chance to jet ski.

After that, we flew to Cambodia. I had heard about an ongoing conflict between Cambodia and Thailand and was curious to see how it was affecting daily life. We began in Siem Reap, where I visited Angkor Wat and several other temples. We stopped at Phnom Kulen National Park, where I was able to swim beneath a waterfall. Later, we visited the Kampong Phluk floating village and watched the sunset over Tonlé Sap Lake. Since we were flying out of Phnom Penh, we took a six hour bus ride across the country. When we arrived, the city was preparing for a peace protest opposing the conflict with Thailand. I joined the march, and it was a learning experience. Many Cambodians approached me to thank me for participating and explain the issue at hand.

Our final stop was Hong Kong. I ate constantly and was surprised by how many bakeries lined each street. It felt like there were at least two on every block. We visited the Big Buddha and explored the park built where Kowloon Walled City once stood. Navigating the city was a learning experience, especially coming from Los Angeles, where public transportation is limited. Overall, the trip was incredible and far more affordable than I expected. The money I earned working at summer camp was enough to cover the entire experience.

Posted on 01/27/2026

Last November, I had the unique opportunity to run a marathon in Florence, Italy. The idea came from a friend from the United Kingdom whom I worked with at summer camp. He managed to convince eight people to join him, most of whom were from the UK and had worked with us. Aside from me, there was only one other person from the United States who committed to the journey.

I began training in September, reaching longer distances and faster speeds than I ever had before. However, that momentum was disrupted by a demanding semester. I paused my training for five weeks to focus on school and my internship. By mid-November, I knew I had to lock in. So I did.

I flew to Florence on Thanksgiving Day on a cheap flight and became the second person to arrive at our Airbnb. Reuniting with my international friends was incredible. The next day, we explored the city and ate as much as possible, loading up on carbs of every kind: pastries, pizza, and pasta. Florence is not a bad place to indulge.

On race day, we woke up at 6 a.m., ate a small breakfast, and headed out. As we got closer to the starting line, the streets filled with runners. After waiting in a long bathroom line, I walked out just as officials began closing the fence to the marathon. I sprinted and made it in at the last possible moment.

We started running immediately. The pace was slow at first due to everyone be clumped together, but the energy was high and music blasted through the streets. I felt great at three miles. By seven miles, the pain set in. At eleven miles, my entire body ached. I stopped at mile thirteen.

I sat for fifteen minutes, questioning everything. Had I really traveled across the world just to fail? What would I say if I didn’t finish? Then I did what felt impossible. I stood up and kept going. I pushed past my limits and finished the race.

Posted on 01/22/2026

Posted on 01/22/2026