In life I have had the fortune (misfortune?) of moving around, calling different countries home. I was born in Spain, but moved to Miami at eight, where I devoured any book put in front of me (except Harry Potter, for some reason I never got into it)- I learnt English without really noticing it. I spent the next four years in the Sunshine State developing my inner nerd and watching Cartoon Network, WB & Comedy Central almost religiously, as well as spending time with some people I will never forget.

But nothing ever stays the same, and the summer after I turned 12 I found out I would be moving to Hong Kong. I was sure this was the end of my life. In a sense it was, because everything I knew changed completely. A new house? New language? New school/friends/life? What had I done to deserve this?! At 12 I didn’t really have a say in anything of course, so I boarded that plane still crying from saying goodbye to my best friend. Hong Kong was unlike anything else I had seen in my life. I came from wide avenues and palm trees – the US1, the Dolphin Mall – to a concrete jungle of hundreds of skyscrapers inches apart, Chinese neon signs and tons of racing red cabs. I loved (and still love) it! I found out that life over on the other side of the world was exactly the same sort of cycle, just different sights and people. I made it through highschool, where I have met some of the most important people in my life.

Before returning to Spain to start a degree, I took two gap years to study Mandarin in Beijing. I did my last bit of growing up there, experienced everything I needed to in order to steer in the right direction of who I am & what I want. There I met my person, Tom. At a good time, too, because my first year included a lot of partying and drunken nights, random hookups and sleeping in a lot. I’m not proud of it all, but at least I found out a bit of who I am not. I met Tom last September, and since then we have shared absolutely every second together! It is amazing, and I have stopped trying to explain it to anyone because unless you are me or him, I guess you won’t understand exactly – though you can probably relate if you have found your person in the world. This year we go long-distance, which deserves an fml with a capital F.

I have spent the entirety of my teenage years in Asia, which obviously demanded a celebratory tattoo: a lady buddha on the back of my neck/back. I was in excruciating pain by the end of it, but am glad I did it and have not regretted since. Last April 27th I turned 20, much to my heart’s discontent. The exact day, I felt it was a “nothing age”, not 18 anymore and not yet 21. Just 20. However, I put everything aside and decided to make the most of this year. It will be my starting year, where I will build the foundation for all my goals/dreams, no matter how batshit crazy they seem/are! Yay for optimism, dreams & pro-activity!