I have been traveling the world for as long as I can remember and it has become one of the most defining parts of who I am. Because my family is from Macedonia, I was sent there every summer as a kid, and those months shaped me more than I realized at the time. Spending entire summers with my grandparents in Macedonia was not just a vacation— it was a second life. I loved seeing the world from different perspectives and noticing how each place shapes the way people move through their lives. Even when I was little, I could tell that Macedonia would feel completely different from home—kids spent all day outside instead of on devices, neighbors felt like family, and being able to walk everywhere made the community feel safer, closer and more connected.

As I grew older, traveling became something I looked forward to all year. Every summer, my parents and I explored different parts of Europe, and each place taught me something new about how people find joy in the little things. In Spain, food is treated like an art form, and the restaurants that look the simplest often served the most unforgettable meals. In Croatia, people welcomed us like family the moment we arrived, no matter who we were. In Brazil, life revolves around soccer—nothing more and nothing less.

Now that I am older, my love for travel has only grown. All I want is to keep exploring new places, reconnecting with my roots, and continue appreciating the small, beautiful details that make every place unique.