When I was growing up, one day I went snorkeling in the shallows of my childhood beach, when suddenly heart racing I was face-to-face with one Moray eel—running, I went ran back to shore like one looney toon. This is where flavor and chaos live together, where every bite, every wave, every salty breeze broke da mouth. Pull up a plate, pour yourself a little sparkle, and let these poems feed your hunger for home, mischief, and magic.

The humidity hit me the second I stepped out of the airport in Santiago. It clung to my skin like a reminder that I was far from home, and yet, something about it felt familiar. The airport itself, buzzing with people offering rides to resorts, pulled memories from my childhood—Puerto Rico, my homeland, and even Nicaragua, where airports hum with that same particular chaos of arrivals and departures.

This was the beginning of my 11-day journey through Constanza and Sosúa with Global Glimpse—a program designed to cultivate leadership, cultural immersion, and community among students. What I didn’t realize at the time was how much the trip would leave its mark on me, not just in memories but in the way I carry myself as a leader.

Tucked deep along the banks of the Chagres River, I found myself bruised from a bumpy canoe ride and barefoot in the jungle—yet entirely at peace. The Emberá village wasn’t just a destination, it was an invitation into a world where music heals, food connects, and every step is in rhythm with the earth. I watched strangers become friends through dance, children light up with donated soccer balls, and felt the quiet strength of a community rooted in gratitude and simplicity. This journey wasn’t about checking a box—it was about unlearning, listening, and remembering how much power there is in living close to the land, and even closer to each other.