I started interning at La Peña last fall, and it’s been one of the most wonderful experiences of my sophomore year. People always say that if you find a job that you love, you won’t work for a day. That’s how I feel about meeting people in the community who come to La Peña: not only because they’re fun and driven, but also because they teach me so much about their own cultures and do their best to promote others’. As an intern, I get to contribute to cultural development through the arts, education, and social action–a goal that I’ve always felt very strongly about because of my childhood voyages.
Wanderlust runs in the family; that’s something I can testify. As the daughter of two avid travelers, I had my first trip when I was nine months old. Since then, I’ve never stayed in the same place for more than half a year. It’s a restless experience, but I think I’m very lucky to have that. I’m extremely grateful that I grew up spending my summers in New York City, going to Japan with my mom just to shop at the Christmas sale, and having road trips all over Europe. How my parents save up all their money to travel teaches me the importance of understanding other cultures. Years of meeting people from other backgrounds and learning their cultures make me feel like I belong with them even though I’m from another place.
