Point B (Reflections): Rio de Janeiro

Almost ten years ago, I embarked on a life-altering trip that reinforced what I truly value in this world and unleashed a passion for travel which will keep me trotting the globe until the day I die.

It was the summer of 2013. A few weeks earlier, I graduated from Seattle University with a master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership. In the months leading up to my capstone presentation, I knew I wanted to reward myself for achieving a major milestone. At first, I considered Greece as a destination. Then I spent a few weeks flirting with the idea of Sydney. Then, out of a clear blue sky, Christ on a mountain revealed himself, and I landed on Rio.

Before touching down in Brazil, all I knew of Rio were cliches and the film, City of God. I didn’t know where to stay, how to get around, or what to do after I arrived. I should also mention the fact I cannot speak Portuguese. There was so much I did not know when I booked my flight, but I set my heart on having an experience that would test my boundaries, push me beyond my comfort zone, and, hopefully, change me for the better. This is a tall order for a travel experience, but I found myself open to all the possibilities before me.

My journey to Rio was not a smooth one. I missed a flight out of Houston thanks to a weather delay. I found myself rerouted through Caracas, Venezuela, and then…