A Decade Of Gratitude

In this article, I want to share with you my experiences of adapting to new environments and finding joy in the little things along the way. My hope is that it reminds you to appreciate the present moment, stay resilient, and stay open to new opportunities—even when life throws challenges your way. Life can be tough, but it’s also filled with growth and unexpected blessings if we keep an open heart.

Ten years ago, I arrived in the U.S. as a foreign student, not knowing that my life would turn into a daily journey of self-discovery! I began noticing triggers, behaviors, and emotions that I never would’ve realized if I had stayed at home, surrounded by everything familiar. Now, I can tell you exactly when I start to feel cold, when my body is gearing up to get sick, or when it's time to switch tasks because my brain is starting to feel heavy.

Over these years, I’ve lived through it all—good and bad: frostbite, ballroom dancing, winter blues from the lack of daylight, random acts of kindness, falling flat on my behind from misstepping on ice, stumbling upon Oprah and Ben Stiller in the street, oversleeping on the subway and missing my stop... you name it! I don’t think I’ve ever experienced true boredom (for more than a day, at least) in the past ten years—there’s always something going on.

That said, there are some lessons that keep showing up in my life, reminding me that we’re all just human—limited, flawed, and sensitive, no matter how tough, upbeat, or discouraged we may feel. Keeping these lessons at the forefront of my days has been essential in helping me “make it” far from home:

If You Give Love to Anything (Even a Place), It Will Come Back to You

From the very first day, I’ve felt nothing but love for NYC. Every time I’ve faced challenges and managed them with gratitude and acceptance, it felt like the city was rewarding me.

My first living situation was a shared apartment on Bennet Ave and 181st Street. My room was probably smaller than 80 square feet, with no windows and noisy neighbors above. My roommates were smokers, but they were friendly. It wasn’t perfect—definitely not ideal by most standards—but for me, it was paradise. It felt like freedom, it was (very) affordable, and I was in NYC! Alone! Woohoo! How cool is that?!

With that mindset, I stumbled upon a graduate student housing community called International House (I-House). I scheduled a tour without thinking much about it, and the first thing that caught my attention was their music practice rooms with grand pianos. Residents could book them anytime—open 24/7—and practice as long as they wanted. That was my sign to apply. I was accepted and moved into a new room, a whole new experience, a new way of thinking, and a community within NYC.

I-House ended up being the catalyst for many of the blessings I have today: my friends, my new apartment, and the most cherished of all, my husband (but that’s a story for another post).

I-House

It’s Going to Be OK—Have Courage

When I finished my degree and moved out of I-House to live with roommates nearby (who were also I-House friends), I was on a tight budget while job hunting. My meals consisted of things I can’t even look at today—mostly unhealthy packaged soups (Cup ‘N Noodles, Lipton), the cheapest sliced white bread, and huge quantities of rice.

I remember several months when I wasn’t sure how I would pay rent or if I’d have enough on my metro card for the week. But somehow, right before I started to panic, something would always come through—a short internship, a quick sub-teaching gig, etc.

What I mean by Have Courage is that I never stopped moving, asking, or knocking on doors. I was applying to jobs day and night. The pressure for stability and income gave me the courage to send that email or ask for that referral.

Eventually, it all came together, and I even found a fulfilling career path I never thought I was capable of. But the key is: you have to keep pushing!

The fanciest dinner I could afford with my roommate - we were celebrating me, getting hired!

Have Fun In The Search

The first five years in NYC were some of the most fun of my life. Since everything seemed to point to me eventually returning to Panama for good, I took full advantage of everything this city had to offer.

I was an everyday tourist. My friends and I went to every party we were invited to, tried new restaurants every week, sampled ice cream shops, coffee spots—you name it. We would make a list of favorite words like "free," "discounted," and "on sale." I probably went to every single free or discounted event in the city. I even stood in line for six hours at the MET Opera to buy discounted orchestra tickets for Aida, featuring Plácido Domingo—for just $20. Yes, I saw him perform for that price.

Random Octoberfest Party in 2014

I can’t tell you how many amazing people I met or how much I learned, appreciated, and discovered during that time. This experience has reminded me that our time on this earth is both short and long—especially when we’re waiting for things to happen. So, love where you are right now (even when it's difficult), aim high (even when it feels like nothing is going anywhere), and enjoy the process!