Pre-Departure Thoughts: How my past influences my future

My name is Hanna, and I’m from Arizona. My philosophy is that all good stories begin with an adventure. The idea of “adventure” was always my compass, navigating me to try new things. I joined frisbee golf clubs and wrote poems for random competitions; I learned to play hockey and watched Mexican telenovelas.

Adventure, however, hasn’t always required boarding a plane. Growing up as a second-generation immigrant, I explored a different kind of map, made of the space between cultures. I taught my mom how to pronounce “fudge” instead of “fuzz.” At restaurants, I ordered for my grandparents who had little experience about what a typical diner served. When I brought homemade lunch to school, I proudly displayed my meal of jasmine rice, thit kho, and pickled radishes to my awed classmates. During community culture festivals, I flaunted my traditional Vietnamese dress to the gushing aunties and the many intrigued strangers. Growing up, my environment encouraged me to embrace my identity and teach it to others. 

Beyond sharing my unique cultural blend, I enjoyed learning about other people’s experiences. After just a few hours in Valencia, Spain through a cruise stop, my brothers and I eventually scampered to a plaza and asked to play soccer with a couple of local school children. Between wild hand gestures and broken conjugations, we learned about the best restaurants to eat nearby, the number of trophies they had in Brawl Stars, and yes — who was the best at soccer. My experiences connecting with others, not just in Valencia but also in Queenstown, London, and Cát Bà, developed my interests in forming global connections. 

My journeys influenced me to continue learning about the world and the people who live in it. As I prepare for my next adventure in Germany, I carry that same compass — guided not just by curiosity, but by connection.