Claudia

“Hello, are you enjoying yourself?” Claudia the hostess asks my sister and I. We both nod with agreement and with smiles on our faces. Then we begin a long conversation where we get to know much more about her. Claudia is a 19 year old student who works at the villa we are staying at, for the summer but lives in Porto, Portugal. She then shares her desire to move to California one day. We ask “why?” So she goes on to explain her home is beautiful but very inconvenient. For her to get anything, for example, a pill… she must travel 45 minutes to get it and 45 mins to get back home. Then I realize how we constantly forget - well at least, I do - that I have it so good. I am spoiled to live in America. Where everything is at my fingertips if I want it. As for others, they aren’t as fortunate.

Meeting Claudia made me see life differently. It made me view life with fresher eyes. Not saying that I am old by any means - I am 27 about to be 28 years old after all. However, I mean listening to her life and future goals made me revisit the many possibilities I have. I forget them when I work day in and day out. But right now that I am away I can see them again. And I am excited and happy that she sees them as well. Because eventually even if it may take time, work, and patience she will have the life she desires. That makes me happy. Not that I am religious but like in the Bible Jesus had faith that the river would open for him to walk through. I shall have faith that the world will allow each and everyone us to walk through life in the path to our happiest self. Amen.