About
Although I am young, I have had the privilege of travelling to some very special places. Each of these trips have been incredibly unique due to the purpose, cultures and travelling groups. Some of these trips were purely for pleasure while others raised questions and were more academically focused. However, no matter the kind of trip, I have gained so much from simply being out in the world.
My freshman year of high school ended with a school trip to Peru. While I was there, I hiked the Inca Trail and spent time in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Before high school, my global travel experiences had been quite limited, so being far away from home was an unfamiliar concept for me. However, with the guidance of my group leaders and the security of the program, I had no trouble acclimating. In Peru, our travel group explored a number of popular tourist destinations as well as places that were considered "off the beaten path". Our first week was primarily dedicated to sightseeing and getting accustumed to the much higher altitudes that we would face on the Inca Trail. Hiking the Inca Trail was by far one of the most rigorous activities that I had ever faced, but also one of the most rewarding. Each one of the four days spent hiking was full of beautiful sights and bonding experiences with the group members and other hikers on the trail. Going to Peru made me realize the value of expanding my "horizons" around the world, not just within the United States.
While hiking the Inca Trail, a large majority of the hikers were Peruvian climbers that made a living carrying people's belongings to their campsites each night. Despite the fact that these climbers supported themselves hiking long hours each day (and quickly so that they could set of the sites before the campers made it there), most of the hikers were wearing sandals that provided no comfort or protection on the rocky trails. Looking back on the trip, I would like to see a general appreciation for the people that make tourist's lives easier, and a push for basic needs and conditions all people deserve.
While hiking the Inca Trail, a large majority of the hikers were Peruvian climbers that made a living carrying people's belongings to their campsites each night. Despite the fact that these climbers supported themselves hiking long hours each day (and quickly so that they could set of the sites before the campers made it there), most of the hikers were wearing sandals that provided no comfort or protection on the rocky trails. Looking back on the trip, I would like to see a general appreciation for the people that make tourist's lives easier, and a push for basic needs and conditions all people deserve.
Going with a group of familiar people was a really special experience, but it was travelling alone in Finland that made exploring the world a much more daunting adventure. The summer after I went to Peru, I challenged myself to disconnect from the people and places that I had previously spent so much time with. As a part of the Pasadena Sister Cities Exchange Program, I travelled as a representative from Pasadena to Finland for a taste of Finnish culture and a chance to be apart from the familiarities of Pasadena. I was able to stay with three seperate families over my three and a half week-long stay. With each family, I was able to explore the amazing outdoors, try out the traditional Finnish sauna (a feature that each family has in their own homes), swim and drink copious amounts of coffee. It sounds cliche, but I really discovered who I was and what really mattered to me over the course of the trip.
On the more academic side of the trip, I learned in depth (from the families, the mayor of Jarvenpaa and locals) about some of the programs that Finland has instilled to make their country more cohesive. While my host families expressed that they pay high taxes, they appreciate that the taxpayer money is going directly towards completley free healthcare for all and a free higher education. The money is providing basic human necessities to be productive members of society. These programs have also proved to be extremely successful as Finland's healthcare and education systems are some of the best in the world.
On the more academic side of the trip, I learned in depth (from the families, the mayor of Jarvenpaa and locals) about some of the programs that Finland has instilled to make their country more cohesive. While my host families expressed that they pay high taxes, they appreciate that the taxpayer money is going directly towards completley free healthcare for all and a free higher education. The money is providing basic human necessities to be productive members of society. These programs have also proved to be extremely successful as Finland's healthcare and education systems are some of the best in the world.