2023: A Year in Review
Looking Back
What a year it has been. In 2023, I traveled further than I’d ever traveled before; I met a plethora of new people and experienced many different lifestyles and cultures. I gained life-altering experiences and a deeper understanding of not only the world but myself. As I look back on 2023, I feel a swell of love and gratitude for everything that made it so wonderful.
Leaping into the Deep End
I started the year by flying halfway across the world to the city of Dubai, UAE, where I boarded the MV World Odyssey. Then I begin my 4-month long journey with Semester at Sea, a multi-country study abroad program. Traveling with Semester at Sea was an incredibly unique opportunity because I wasn’t alone; I was experiencing these changes alongside roughly 600 other college students.
The first country we visited was India. I had never visited anywhere remotely like India before. For years, the country was some strange, foreign land to me, and I’ll admit that even though I was excited, I was also apprehensive. I’d heard a lot about India before visiting like “India is dangerous” and “Everything is dirty.”
But what I realized when I saw the country for myself is that while these assumptions weren’t necessarily incorrect, they presented only one aspect of an entire country. After all, there are undoubtedly places considered “dirty” and dangerous” in every country, but that doesn’t define it.
India, though loud, chaotic, and less developed, is a fiercely vibrant and beautiful country that values love, courage, and faith. I saw this when I toured Bollywood Studios, which introduced me to India’s rich history in music, dance, and the creative arts. When I visited the Kandivali Times of India Printing Press, they introduced us to their elevated physical newspapers, such as adding olfactive effects, glossier paper, extra-large sizes, and even papers with seeds embedded inside as part of a sustainability initiative. In turn, print media dominates 90% of media profits. Financially supporting journalism is an issue for many publications in the United States, though the Times of India has found a solution that works for them. How cool is that?
I learned that innovation, peace, and prosperity can take many forms and often never mean the same thing. India re-defined my perspectives and violently shifted my worldview within a day of visiting. I am beyond thankful for India’s hospitality, and I am indebted to what India taught me.
More than One Way of Life
Kenya was the second country I visited, and my first time stepping foot in Africa. Similar to India, I had some reservations about Kenya. Was it safe? But once again, my expectations were completely dashed by reality. I found Kenyans to be some of the most kind, hospitable people I’ve ever met. They aren’t afraid to trust, and they live in tight-knit communities that remain close to nature. I think much of the world could learn from their simple, communal lives.
Elphas is a butterfly caretaker at Haller State Park in Mombasa, Kenya. He showed me and my companions how he raises caterpillars to transform into butterflies and then releases them into the wild to strengthen the population. Additionally, many butterflies he raises return to a sanctuary in the park, where Elphas cares for them. His photograph is among my favorite environmental portraits because his story shines through.
I also got to fulfill a lifelong dream of mine and embark on a safari in the African wilderness. Being able to see animals free in the wild rather than in a zoo or enclosure was a surreal and wonderful experience that made me feel like a kid again. There’s something so freeing about living in sync with wildlife. And I’ve truly come to believe that nature teaches lessons to those who are willing to pay attention. And once again, I was proven that a peaceful and prosperous life can take many forms.
Life Works out in Amazing Ways
Jordan was the third country I visited, and it marked my first time visiting the Middle East. Before visiting, I’d never heard of Jordan, but it turns out the country is home to many earthly phenomena, including the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum desert.
I refer to February 14 as “the most epic Valentine’s Day ever,” because what better way is there to spend the day besides floating in the literal Dead Sea? I remember having a conversation with a friend over breakfast at the resort.
“This is actually crazy. I can’t believe we’re here. I can’t believe this is real life.”
It’s easy to recognize a moment as insane as entering a body of water so salty you can float on it, but it made me think about how important it is to remain in the present for all your moments. It’s easy to overlook the mundane, but I’ve learned that there can be value in every moment.
Traveling in Jordan was a tumultuous adventure consisting of long, slightly sketchy taxi rides, hours of walking, and constant “smoke breaks” (not for us, but for our various Jordanian tour guides and drivers). The hospitality culture is very different from what I’m used to, but somehow it felt completely normal in Jordan.
My travel partner and I encountered many bumps in the road while traveling. We ended up off-roading in the Wadi Musa mountains in a taxi, we learned to drive stick-shift in the middle of the night in Wadi Rum from Basel, our 19-year-old host, and wound up stranded in Petra one unexpected evening when visiting the Treasury, a world wonder. And yet, we handled our misfortunes with grace, looked out for one another, and we made it back to the ship safe and sound. I learned three things from that excursion: 1.) life often works out in amazing ways; 2.) the universe is on our side; and 3.) we are all united in our fears.
How many times have you felt afraid? And how many times have you survived anyway? Overcoming and letting go of fear is an essential part of life because it allows room for growth and wisdom to enter. Life rarely goes the way we plan, so to survive we must release our desire for control and embrace change, and that’s what I learned in Jordan.
Water is a Miracle
On February 18, the MV World Odyssey passed through the Suez Canal, a globally-recognized water route connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. As we crossed the turquoise canal, I was sitting in my travel writing class. My professor glanced out the window, back at us, and said, "Let’s think about water. What stories emerge from water? In what ways does water connect us all?”
I thought it was a pretty strange conversation, as I’d never thought about water as more than a liquid we consume to survive. But as I thought about my relationship with water, I realized it’s so much more than that. I was a swimmer for 13 years; I formed some of my best friendships in the water and became the person I am today through all those years spent swimming. Water is so much more than an element.
Water represents life, progress, connection, and hope. Humans have been traveling across the seas for thousands of years. Bodies of water connect civilizations and quite literally change time zones. The Suez Canal itself is responsible for the transit of goods, culture, and people across the world. Water is a miracle.
Embrace the Unexpected
I spent a large portion of this year exploring various countries in Europe. Before 2023, I’d visited London and Scotland, so I did have some idea of what Europe was like. Not to mention, European travel content is usually spread across my social media accounts, and many of the countries in Europe are relatively culturally similar to the U.S.
However, I was visiting these countries in the earliest months of spring, well before the prime season to visit. The weather was too cold for the chilly ocean to feel refreshing, and we were informed that many of the places we wanted to see would be largely closed. This was especially the case for Santorini, Greece, where my friends and I traveled to see Oía, the famous “blue city,” a popular tourist destination during the summertime.
But once again, my apprehensions were disproven. Of course, there were places open in Santorini, Greece; after all, there are people who live there year-round. It is true that some places were closed until summer, and the weather was certainly brisk. However, the city was beautiful nevertheless, and all the more enjoyable since we beat the summer crowds! All in all, we had a wonderful time. I realized then that a good travel experience wasn’t just defined by the place and time of year; it’s also the people you’re with and your mindset going in.
Friendships that I formed in the earlier countries grew even stronger in Europe. We all seemingly had the same mindset: let’s just do everything we can. In Greece, we went to Oía despite many popular shops being closed; in Croatia, we went cliff-jumping off of Buza Bar despite the freezing temperature of the water and relatively cold weather; In Portugal, we did a boat tour outside of Lisbon and went swimming. It was the coolest thing, to meet so many people who just get you. I’m happy to say I made lifelong friends in 2023 in the most unlikely of ways.
An Unexpected Oasis in an Unlikely Place
The second African country I visited was Morocco, which immediately became one of my favorite places this year. Even though we were visiting during Ramadan, and many locals were fasting, which meant restaurants were closed during the day. Luckily, we had Ahmed, our fantastic driver and guide, who was always able to find us food. Like Kenyans, Moroccans were also very hospitable and excited.
In Morocco, I got the chance to spend a night camping in the Sahara desert. I’ve always been a “mountain girl” myself, but I was surprised at how much I came to love the desert. It was beautiful and enchanting in a completely different way, yet it stirred similar serotonin that mountains did. They are two opposite sides of a spectrum, yet I love them both. It reminded me that beauty can look many different ways and still be beautiful. My time in the Sahara proved to be a surprising oasis.
I had the best time traveling with my closest friends from the ship, and again I noticed how much the people around you affect your travels. I feel beyond grateful to have met such amazing new friends.
Back Home, Different Me
In May, I returned home to Texas after four months overseas. People warned me about the culture shock I’d experience traveling abroad, but no one mentioned the culture shock of returning home, where nearly nothing had changed. My period of traveling had gone by so quickly it almost felt like a dream. How was it that I was traveling the world, and now I was living at home like nothing happened? Yet, for a period, it felt strange being at home because I was a completely different version of myself.
But the consistency of home is also a comfort. Over the summer, I visited my grandpa’s lake house on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in deep south Texas. While there, my family and I took the boats out, cooked outside, and watched the sunset every night. I watched as my dad fist-pumped family friend Ryan while they were wakeboarding, and it made me smile. This was my childhood, my foundation, and a fundamental building block to how I became who I am now. And I’m so, so grateful for it.
Back to Colorado
After summer, I finally road-tripped back to Fort Collins, Colorado, to move into my new rental house and finish my college education at Colorado State. I was beyond thrilled to be back in Colorado, the state I’d grown to love so much for its majestic mountains and other mesmerizing landscapes.
I reunited with my Colorado friends, who I hadn’t seen in almost a year, and made some new ones, too. We love taking trips to Horsetooth Reservoir, where we listen to music, craft, take photos, go swimming, and have the best time. As I’m finally feeling settled in my new, semi-permanent living quarters, I feel immensely grateful to live and learn somewhere like Fort Collins.
Pursuing Editorial Work
To finish out an incredible year, I joined the photo staff for the Rocky Mountain Collegian, a student-run publication reaching a wide Fort Collins audience. I’d never been hired as a staff photographer, so I had more to learn. However, I quickly came to love the process of editorial work and how I can tell a story with photos.
My favorite event that I photographed this year was the CSU versus CU Boulder men’s basketball game. I had a press pass, which meant I had a place reserved for me on the court, just a few feet away from the basket. The coolest photo I got involved me nearly getting trampled by one of our players, but the picture was well worth it.
I photographed events for the Student Sustainability Center, College Avenue Magazine, and I worked alongside professional photographer Bob Younger during portrait shoots as an assistant, which I’ll continue in 2024.
I also earned two awards for some of my written stories published back in 2022. They were stories that I worked incredibly hard on, and I’m thrilled to see they’re doing well. I’ve taken a pause from feature writing, though I intend to get back to it in 2024.
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First Place, Best Investigative Reporting 2023 by the Colorado Press Association for “The Aggie Era: CSU’s Beginning History as an Agricultural and Mechanical College” in College Avenue Magazine.
First Place, Best Editorial Writing 2023 by the Colorado Press Association for “Asian American Heritage and Representation Through Film” in College Avenue Magazine.
Hustling for my Art
Finally, I took steps this year to begin growing my personal portrait side hustle. I hired three friends of mine, all graduating in Spring 2024, to be my senior representatives. We had our first group photoshoot in the beautiful fall colors of Estes Park, and despite the chilly weather, it was a blast. The portraits turned out beautiful, and I’m excited to continue pursuing documentary portraiture in 2024.
Looking Forward
2023 was a year of tumultuous adventures, unexpected feats, new lifelong connections, and valuable lessons. I’m beyond grateful for what I’ve seen and learned in 2023, and I’m ready to carry these with me as I embrace 2024 with open arms.
Lastly, I’d like to thank all my supporters, whether you’re following along on the blog, on social media, or from word of mouth, and I’m beyond thankful for your support of my journey. I wouldn’t be where I am without it, so thank you.
With that being said, it’s time to put 2023 to rest, and cheers to 2024!
