I have been on many trips to different places all around the world. My first trip was when I was only two weeks old to Florida. My first big trip out of the country was when I was only six months old, and my family went to the Bahamas. My parents have a big love for traveling, especially when they introduce my brothers and me to a new place that they have already been to; it is important to them that we experience the world and all it has to offer.
I would say out of everyone in my family my mom is the most in love with traveling. She gets it from her parents, who took her on trips when she was young, and now she takes my brothers, my father, and I along on with her on the trips. My grandparents have taken my family to many places like:
Aspen Colorado
Florida
· Disney World
· Naples
Wyoming
Grand Cayman
Bermuda
The most memorable vacation that they took us on was their 50th anniversary trip to Bermuda. Bermuda was where they took their honeymoon. It was such a unique experience to see the place where my parents and grandparents spent their first few days of marriage.
My grandfather went all out for my grandmother and family on this trip, even creating an itinerary. On the night of their anniversary, we went to dinner at the Ocean Echo, where they had their first dinner on their honeymoon. He gave all the girls (My grandmother, my mom, my aunt, and my cousin) all necklaces with a Bermuda charm to symbolize where our family first started. He gave all of the boys (both of my uncles, my two brothers, and my father) a money clip with Bermuda on it so they too could have a piece to represent where this family started.
While we were eating dessert, we suddenly heard a large boom, outside a fireworks show began. Fireworks that my grandfather had set up for my grandmother. We all rushed outside and watched the fireworks go off, and I will never forget the tears I saw falling down my grandfather's face as he held my grandmother at his side. As the fireworks were going off, he handed my grandmother a purple star sapphire ring which she still wears every day, even five years later.
The most amazing part of that trip was when my grandparents ran into old friends, they had met on their honeymoon fifty years ago. This couple had gotten married the same day as my grandparents and went to the same place for their honeymoon. On the exact day of their anniversary, they ran into a couple that was also there to celebrate their 50th anniversary. After talking for a little, they realized that it was the same people they had met fifty years ago. The couple met our whole family when they were invited to our family's dinner, which brought the biggest smile to my grandparent's faces. It is amazing what connections you can make when you travel the world.
Another trip that I got to experience building connections was my mission trip to Oaxaca, Mexico. During this mission trip, a few friends from my school and I worked to build four houses for families who needed them.
We had four separate teams to build four separate houses. I had the Rubio Family who were sleeping on mattresses outside their home and mainly ate the food they grew themselves. Not only did I get the chance to give this family a roof over their heads, but I also got the chance to bond with them on a deeper level. Their daughter Catalina became particularly attached to me; every day after school, she came to help me build and tried to communicate with me the best she could without speaking the same language.
We also had a day where we attended the schools where the children from the Rosas family attended. I got to see Catalina perform a dance in beautiful clothing, and afterward, she ran up to me and gave me a big hug. I will never forget the smile on her face. We gave all the children at the school bookbags filled with fun treats, and when I was with Catalina, we spent most of our time playing with the bubbles. On the last day, I hugged Catalina and cried the whole time.
These moments were truly some of the best times for me, and I have no regrets except not finding a way to stay in contact with Catalina and the Rosas family. I hope to one day go back and visit them to see how they are doing now. It truly is amazing the connections you can build with people from all around the world. I encourage everyone to try reaching out to people everywhere they go and immerse themselves in the world because love truly has no borders.
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