Summer in the US
A trip back to the States? Who would’ve thought! Not me, that’s for sure. I had been avoiding my country of origin for some years feeling like there was nothing pulling me there anymore. From the other side of the world, there’d need to be something pretty substantial and non-negotiable for me to go back and there was:
An application for a visa and a new passport.
Well, one does not fly to the other side of the world, crossing over 14 time zones, without stopping to smell some roses, right? So that’s what I did.
New Jersey
I started in Jersey, my home state. Here, I got the chance to catch up with old friends and family. My time was occupied by family dinner, talks, walks, beach, and playing with my little cousins. Simple stuff that one usually might overlook or take for granted. My connection to my family has been spacious since I became an adult. A lot has changed since then and it was nice to be back with a strong sense of security in myself. That gave me the ability to appreciate the time and space that was available to me.
Maryland/DC area
My best friend, Victoria, is living in Maryland while she pursues her PhD. I never spent much time Maryland before, but always loved DC for their museums and vibrant dance community. Hanging out with her was very grounding and her apartment became a temporary home base. This is something that is critical for nomads. Visiting her campus, sunset dance events, and neighboring nature trails was incredible. I really appreciate her for knowing me. Also, in my travels, I’m usually always going to a market or random vendor on the side of the road for my produce. So one thing I'm grateful for is that she reminded me how to go grocery shopping without getting overwhelmed.
North Carolina
I studied here. I danced here. I was a teacher here. I lived my early adult life here. North Carolina will always feel familiar because of this. While I visited NC, I mainly spent time with other friends or relatives. I went out dancing and thanks to Victoria's mom, Lourdes, spent a lot of time at the beach. Lourdes has a beach condo that she let us borrow a few times this summer. This family really knows how to beach. I spent time there with Victoria, her mom, and step dad. Also, I got some one:one time with Patty, my friend and Victoria's sister, who was visiting from Paris. Finally, we had a girls' trip before my send off! I was totally exhausted, but being with the girls is always worth it.
Oregon
Oregon was by far my favorite experience in the States for the simple fact that I felt normal. So maybe it’s less about the travel and more about comfort. I hung out with some travelers I met in Costa Rica in 2021 who I hadn’t seen since then. Chef and Sarah hosted me for a week and it was awesome. They threw a talent show in their back yard which was incredibly entertaining and gave me the supplies (and car) I needed to do a little solo camping mission. We went to the nude beach and some dance party in a park? It felt like home. If I ever needed to live in the US again, I'd strongly consider Portland as a base. I see why they settled there.
California
I worked for a summer program called YES USA. For all the intensity this job was, it did take me to many places. I wouldn’t recommend it for teachers, but for activity leaders, it’s a solid summer gig, with lots of hours, and lots of opportunities to explore different places. Because of this job, I got to explore southern California beaches, museums, and areas. Also, I took an overnight trip to Vegas (meh) and the Grand Canyon (wow!) which was an exhausting and fulfilling experience. A surprisingly awesome experience was Universal Studios at Hollywood. It really exceeded expectations! All in all, it was cool to get to know California in this way. The 6-weeks passed quickly and slowly. Even though I wouldn't teach with them again, I was grateful to be in the classroom and to have some meaningful interactions with the students and staff.
Conclusion
As far as summers go, this one was actually quite good.
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