It’s been an exhausting past few weeks to say the least. Conversations with friends and family inevitably turned to the political, listening to NPR while I worked throughout the day, once enjoyable only now served to heighten my anxiety. I chatted with friends and family abroad, almost tightening my bonds with them should anything happen. I have tons of content that I can’t wait to share with you. But to be honest, it has been difficult to get in my ‘N A Perfect World mindset. At times, it even felt frivolous. But tonight, while going through my Notes looking for a song, I came across a quote from Maya Angelou.
Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.
That was my reason for starting ‘N A Perfect World and it’s ‘N A Perfect World’s role in Trump’s America. My intent was to combine all of my interests in advocating Maya Angelou’s philosophy, not solely as just another millennial that’s a cultural voyeur and taking a selfie in a cool place.
The basic idea for ‘N A Perfect World… a curated intersection of travel, fashion, food and geopolitics inspired by the global citizen lifestyle of the millennial and quite honestly, anyone of any age that shares these sentiments.
I want more Americans (that can afford it) to have passports and to encourage cultural exchanges that will lead to less insular thinking and misunderstandings. It’s important to put a brown girl’s point of view on this. And it’s pretty wonderful when I can use my otherness to gain access into communities, that frankly are skeptical of the average American tourist.
I remember being in the pool at Disney World in the early 90s, and running to my mum, so excited to introduce her to a new friend I made from Ireland. Assuring her that I’d visit soon, maybe next vacation. That’s always been me. I don’t forsee it changing and that’s my place here: cultural exchanges, be it through travel, fashion, art that will make you think. Maybe this sh*tstorm is my call to action.
Feeling all my feelings tonight, I made this little diddy.
Hi! We follow you on Instagram, but have never spent the time to check this wonderful blog out until today. It was your beautiful pictures/locations that initially captured our attention, however after reading this post there is so much more to discover. It’s nice to see you express your political opinion without fear of it losing you followers. And, if there were more people such as yourself trying to enlighten the world to different cultures and ways of living we’d be so much better off. All we can do is try and show people the beauty of other cultures, and hope it allows them to see we’re all human and want the same thing.
Thank you so much for your comment. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to respond, but I can assure you, comments like your make me so happy and empower me — I immediately sent the email to my mum and best friend! You know, in a world where opinions have replaced facts and even the mainstream media has drawn the line at unbiased journalism vs. expressing what is right and wrong, I never thought twice about how expressing my opinion would have me loose followers. In terms of human rights, there’s never been a choice for me and IMO, until now, the line was blurry, I could remove myself from political talk but now there’s such a strong rhetoric of us and them. I’m just doing my part to make sure that us still stands for that inclusivity we’d like to think America was built on. 🙂
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