Travel
Mexico
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Mexico
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Mexico
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Mexico
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Mexico
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Mexico ✷ Mexico ✷ Mexico ✷ Mexico ✷ Mexico ✷
June 2021
Ava in Mexico
This was the first place I went after Covid, & it was really fun because we had already been to Mexico many times, & we enjoyed being in a familiar environment where we can all relax together. I was in middle school here, & my older sister was in high school. Before Covid, we didn’t hang out a lot because we were kind of in different worlds. We realized during Covid that we are each other’s built-in best friends, & we have shared so many fun memories together…
This is my second time in Mexico, but it was the first time I really remember the food & the culture. It was a breakthrough period for me, because I gained the sense that it’s important to get out of your “bubble” & see what’s happening in other places in the world. My Dad has always encouraged us to get out of the country & broaden our horizons. Maybe that’s why I’m so excited to study Spanish & Business in college, because no matter where I am in my education, traveling is very important to my life-long learning & growth.
We went to Todos Santos, where we stayed at a hotel on a farm, & they had horses & donkeys. They served extremely fresh homemade food that taught me how to utilize ingredients that I would not normally find around my neighborhood, like crickets & fresh herbs! The clean air & the smell of the plants growing really showed me what we can do when we are careful stewards of the land. We went into the town & visited the local surf shop, & here I am with my Dad! Every corner in Todos Santos has an amazing mural on the building, telling a story & making each store memorable in its own way.
France
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France
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France
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France
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France
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France ✷ France ✷ France ✷ France ✷ France ✷
June 2024
Ava, Maddie & Jason in Monaco
Here I am with my sister Maddie & my Dad in Monaco, where we walked around to see the architecture & people. Let’s just say I felt a little underdressed, I wasn’t expecting the formal dress & attire of everyone in Monaco. Definitely not like the laid-back California beach town where I grew up.
June 2024
Ava & Dad in France
Here is my Dad & I at a cafe in Nice enjoying the sunshine & the fresh seafood (my favorite!) in the south of France. We walked along the boardwalk on the beach, & it reminded us of the boardwalk at home! I felt very much at home in this beach town, & it was a nice bonus to see small-town stores & restaurants that were important parts of the local economy. We don’t see much of that in LA!
June 2024
Ava, Maddie & Dad in France
Here I am in the summer with my sister & Dad in the South of France. We had just gotten off the train from Wales, expecting it to be sunny & beautiful, but it was rainy & cold! So instead of sitting on the beach & relaxing, we went shopping to buy warmer clothes, & as a result, we were able to see some architecture & interact more with the locals! This is an example of how even when your plans don’t work out, this opens doors to experiences & opportunities to learn new things.
England
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England
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England
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England
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England
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England ✷ England ✷ England ✷ England ✷ England ✷
June 2024
Ava at Castle in Cardiff
Here I am in Cardiff, Wales, a small town that welcomed us with open arms & warm hospitality. Everyone was so excited that we were there as tourists! There’s not much to do there, but there was a castle, & I toured it with my Mom. This castle had a profound impact on me, mostly because its origins go back 2000 years. The castle started out as a small fort, & then the community continued to add fortifications & more features as time went by. The result is a landmark community gathering place that welcomes the residents of the community & surrounding areas, even providing shelter to 2000 people during the Nazi aerial bombardments of WWII. To me, this castle represents what can happen when a community works together to build something long-lasting. Instead of tearing it down & building something new, the community focused on improving & expanding the castle over the course of 2000 years. The fact that it is still standing today is a testament to the positive collaboration nurtured by the people of Cardiff.
June 2024
Train Ride to Cardiff
Here I am on a train on my way to Cardiff from London, & while I love trains, something always goes wrong when we’re on trains. This time, the train randomly stopped in the middle of nowhere due to a malfunction, & we were asked to exit the train. My Mom & I were completely lost, & a kind stranger helped us find a different train, & then helped us get to a new train station & make sure our things got to our destination. We were very grateful for this stranger’s kindness, & it showed us how there are so many caring people out in the world. My goal is to continue to pay this act of kindness forward, helping people wherever I go in the world. A little kindness goes a long way!
August 2016
Ava in England
This is my first time in Europe, & I was nine years old, about to enter 4th grade. I remembered having mint tea, & then we went to the theater to see Wicked. I wore my favorite dress, & I was thrilled to be seeing a live play. However, I drank a LOT of tea at teatime, & the rest of the evening I had to go to the bathroom a million times. My sister could not stop laughing about me, & later that night she wrote a short story about me & my night being a long series of trips to the bathroom! Ha! But you know what? I felt SEEN, I felt like my big sister understood my situation, & even though she was laughing at me, I felt very special!
Greece
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Greece
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Greece
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Greece
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Greece
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Greece ✷ Greece ✷ Greece ✷ Greece ✷ Greece ✷
June 2024
Ava in Greece
Here I am on the island of Crete, & I was blown away at how good the food tasted! Sure, I had previously had Greek food in the United States, but this was so much better! The ingredients & recipes were fresh & homemade, & I was thrilled to be exploring Hellenic culture through their centuries-old cuisine. I feel that trying new foods is the most enjoyable way to learn about the history & people of a region. Everywhere I go in the world, I try new dishes & cuisine, and I try to get to know the people who prepare my delicious food!
Here I am with my sister on the island of Santorini, & we were staying in a small town in between the larger towns. As a result, we walked everywhere & explored hidden restaurants. We ended up finding a restaurant that was known to be the best seafood on the island. Even though it was super hot (July!) & the long walk to the restaurant was miserable, I was very excited to get off the beaten path & explore some hidden gems with my family.
Here I am with my Mom on our first night in Greece, & even though we had done a lot of traveling together, we were thrilled to find some hidden beaches & enjoy the warmth of the kind, hospitable Greek locals. Compared to other places of the world where we have traveled, my Mom & I can’t help reflecting on the happiness & joy that the Greek people were so willing to share with us. Their cultural prioritization of enjoying life & spending time with the people they love really had an impact on us, & we look forward to spending more time there in the future.
Portugal
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Portugal
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Portugal
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Portugal
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Portugal
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Portugal ✷ Portugal ✷ Portugal ✷ Portugal ✷ Portugal ✷
August 2018
Ava in Portugal
I went to Portugal when I was going into 5th grade. We started at the Algarve, which is the southernmost region of Portugal. My family & I enjoyed eating traditionally prepared whole-fish dishes for dinners, & each night we would pick out a different whole fish for our family meal. Inspired by the traditional food, my family & I brought this ritual home with us. Now, my family & I like to buy whole fish from the local fish markets in my neighborhood, & we prepare the fish much the same as they did in Portugal, on the grill with vegetables & rice!
Here I am with my Mom & sister on our way to the beach. When we go to the beach where I live, my family & I carry chairs & umbrellas & bags to the beach, but here in Portugal, it was nice to go to the beach without all the usual baggage. We didn’t have to worry about parking or carrying anything, & as a result it introduced us to a much more carefree way of enjoying the beach. We enjoyed being in the moment & not having to plan as much. I really liked this way of life!
Here I am with my sister Maddie drinking hot chocolate in Lisbon. The day before this, we had missed our flight home, & so we got to spend another 2 nights in Lisbon. This extra time gave us an opportunity to explore the city in more detail & check out all the places that we wouldn’t have been able to see otherwise. This was my favorite day of the trip because it was a nice opportunity to explore under the surface & get to know the area more intimately. Despite our plans going awry, we were able to have the best time leisurely discovering all the nooks & crannies that were calling us! I feel like this is where the beauty of life truly lies: taking every opportunity to enjoy yourself, no matter what happens!