We met in Brazil in 2016. I was cooking something for dinner with other backpackers and I asked her if she wanted to join us. We connected very well straight away. She taught how to cook rice for 20 people (I am the worst cook EVER) and we spent the following day together.
She is, ever since, one of my favorite persons and one of the most inspiring girls I know. I am so proud to feature Michelle here and finally introduce her to all of you. Please, meet my hermanita de alma. 😀
- Name: Michelle Carreño
- Nationality/ Country where you are based on: Dual Citizen Colombian/American based in North Carolina, USA
- Age: 26 years old
- Occupation: Clinical Research Coordinator/Public Health Educator in Latino/Hispanic Immigrant Health & Yoga Instructor
A little bit about yourself…
I am a proud daughter of Colombian immigrants who migrated 30 years ago to the United States. I was born in Long Island, New York, where I lived till I was 15 years old. I moved to North Carolina in my early teens and lived there till my early 20s. I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelors in Global Studies: Global Health and Environmental Studies in Latin America and a minor in Medical Anthropology.
During my undergraduate, I was given many opportunities to live abroad and travel. I took a gap year between my undergraduate years where I lived in China to study Mandarin and teach English for a year. I also did an exchange at the University of Sydney for a semester. When I turned 20 years old, I took my first solo trip to Mexico and ever since then I have been traveling as much as possible.
I have lived in 4 different countries (Mexico, China, Australia, and Colombia) in these past 6 years for different durations. I am currently based in North Carolina, USA, where I am working in Latino/Hispanic Immigrant Health with Duke University School of Nursing and teaching yoga early mornings three times a week at a beautiful studio called Mandala Yoga.
Things you like to do…
Dance, I love to dance any chance I get to! If it was for me I would dance all the time! I love to do yoga, go on hikes, swim, read, photography, try new types of foods, go to museums and art galleries and write in my journal (something I picked up during my travels). Of course, traveling!
A funny story about yourself…
When I moved to China, I knew very little Mandarin just to say hello and how are you... I was very nervous to move to a country where I did not know the language or anything.
Luckily, I had my cousin from Colombia to help me settle. He would send me on missions to go grocery shopping and stuff. One day he asked me to go buy milk, in which in mandarin milk is niunai 牛奶 . So, I went to go buy the milk down the road from my house and I kept repeating to myself the word niunai, niunai, niunai. So, I wouldn’t forget. However, the moment I walked inside the store, I got distracted by a sign and I completely forgot how to say the milk. I looked all over the store trying to find milk and thinking I was going to find it BUT there were so many bags that could look like milk that I gave up. 🙁
I went to the store owner and began signing with my hands like if I was milking a cow and making moo noises that he was able to understand and said NIUNAI? My face lit and I shook my head yes and till this moment I have not forgotten how to say milk: niunai.
When did you start traveling?
Since the age of 3 years old when I went to Colombia for the first time by myself without my parents just my abuelita. I didn’t realize how that moment going to where my parents are from, where my family was and is currently, will mark my life forever. My two abuelitas till this day tell me how fearless I was when I got on a bus to go to my dad’s pueblito.
Fast forward 10 years and I get to go back with my parents and siblings and that was when I realized my love for traveling. My family and I had many family trips, but when I moved to Mexico for a Summer during college really opened my eyes to the wonders our world has.
What motivates you to travel?
Everything! I’m an open book who is excited and eager to learn everyday. Traveling truly gives you the opportunity to this in every aspect!
What is in your travel bucket list?
To visit as many as countries as possible before I die. To really venture out and always go out of my comfort zone when it comes to traveling. Eat new delicious dishes, learn a new language, make new friends, dance and learn about a new culture. I hope when I have a family of my own I am able to take them with me all over!
Do you travel alone? And why?
Yes, and I recommend everyone to do so some time of their life! Traveling solo has been something I have always wanted to do ever since I can remember. The idea of going to a foreign place: meeting new people, learning about a new culture, a new language, trying new types of food, dancing different types of music, visiting new places, making decisions on my own from the smallest to the biggest ones and all of this “solo” sounded so fascinating to me, and especially in Latin America (my big solo trip), with an indefinite time.
I decided to take this trip through Latin America because it has been one of my dreams and I, also, wanted to show and empower women especially, Latinas that they can travel “sola” through their own continent. We can overcome our fears and take risks that will change us forever!
Coming from a Latino background, a machista culture, where women are overprotected and are install in their way of thinking a fear in everything we do makes it very difficult for women to travel alone. It is also frowned upon by women and men if a woman is traveling solo because many believe that they are looking for trouble. Something many parents tell their children, “no busque lo que no se te ha perdido/don’t look for something you have not lost.” What many people do not realize is that traveling brings heaps of enriching perks to our lives and helps humans become stronger, more secure of themselves, independent, solidarity with others, compassionate. It helps us to realize our world is filled with so many magical wonders.
Additionally, I soon realized in my travels, you never travel alone because you meet millions of people disposed to give you a hand and share with you your path if it’s for 5 minutes to a few hours to days to months to years. The other beautiful part of traveling solo is that in the moments you want to be alone you can remove yourself from everything and enjoy the beauty of solitary.
Advice for traveling solo
DO IT!
Don’t be scared to step out of the box society encloses us in. Take risks and see the beauties our world has to offer. It can get heaps scary in the beginning, but it’s the fear family, friends, society and the media puts in our heads. I was very hesitant especially because everyone in Colombia was telling me that it’s very dangerous as a woman traveling alone and that I was crazy for going. So all that bad energy was getting to my head.
I soon learned, the first few weeks of my travels that the energy and thoughts one brings to the place makes a huge difference. So, if you’re a bit paranoid thinking something bad will happen, something bad will eventually happen because you’re thinking about too much and in a way calling for it. If something bad does happen then take it as a learning process and don’t take it personally. Bad stuff happens to everyone. Luckily, on the trip I have been surrounded with such lovely people that I cannot complain! I know this might sound a bit cliché, but you only live once and this is your life. You decide what you would like to do with your life and I promise you won’t regret one bit of your travels.
Like I said before, you’re never alone you will always meet wonderful people on the way. People you might meet for 5-10 minutes and you might never see them ever again and they teach you so many things in just those 5 minutes. Or you meet people who end up going the same route and you will travel with them for a few days to weeks to months. That’s the wonderful part of traveling the beautiful souls you will meet on the way and all the interesting things you will learn from them and even learn about yourself.
You will grow in so many ways, you will be very surprised. Best of all, you will see how you’re not either from here nor there and that we are all world citizens/darte cuenta que no eres ni de aquí ni de allá y que todos somos ciudadanos del mundo.
How many countries have you visited?
What is your favorite country so far?
That’s a very difficult question because every country has it charm, su encanto. Every country has marked a special place in my heart. ¡Todos!
What was your worst moment while traveling?
I really don’t have any bad moments to be honest, they might have been bad during the moment it happened but it turned out to be funny or crazy fun at the end.
Tell me a funny story that happened to you during a trip…
Ah, so many but I don’t know which are appropriate or not haha I need to talk to you, Dani! 🙂
Where do you want to go next? And Why?
I’m moving to Brazil next year for the Fulbright Teaching Fellowship and I’ll be conducting a service project dealing with yoga and adolescents.. After Brazil, I want to go to South Africa, Nepal, India or back to China OR wherever life takes me. To be honest, I’m open to go to anywhere! I’m always ready to pick up and go!
Instagram: @mscarreno
Facebook: Michelle Carreño
Thank you Michelle 😀
You are AMAZING!
Espero que tenham gostado. Deixem os vossos comentários e sugestões pff.
Beijinho,
Daniela