UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain

For so many years, I never truly knew what it meant to be an American, because I had never actually lived in the United States. I held the passport, but the place itself felt distant — more like an idea than a lived reality. Then, during high school, my parents moved “back” to the States, and suddenly I was there, navigating a culture I was technically part of, yet discovering for the first time.

The US has so much to offer, and I love exploring every piece of it. Each state feels like its own world, with distinct cuisine, music, landscapes, and traditions. I feel as though I’ve only scratched the surface, but each year brings a deeper connection and a few more dots on the map.

Washington DC and Northern Virginia are where I’ve spent the most time, and they’ve become my American home base. There is something special about the blend of history, culture, and diversity in this region. I also have a deep fondness for rural Ohio, where I spent four years in college. Life there was quiet and beautiful, filled with wide open spaces and friendly faces. As a child, I lived in Hawaii for a year, and I have family in New York, Georgia, and Florida, so I’ve been lucky enough to spend time in those states too.

My personal favourite things in the US include scenic drives through ever-changing landscapes, the vast and varied National Parks, the rich diversity of regional cuisines, the peaceful coastal towns and, of course, the people. It’s a big, complicated, beautiful country, and I’m enjoying getting to know it little by little.