I feel so fortunate for the international exposure and experiences I have had up to this point in my life. The people I have met, personal challenges I have faced, and new places I have seen have forever changed my outlook on life. It's hard to put into words, especially for an artist who isn't well versed in words, but most of all this collection of experiences have put me in touch with the humanity which we all share. While we may find ourselves in different environments and speaking in languages that don't comprehend each other, we all seem to have similar hopes and dreams, trials and troubles. It's too easy to think of someone as "other" or "different" but in reality we are all very much the same.

Jon and I are still hosting our blog that we wrote during our time in Malawi. It's nice to go back and read about what I was learning in that space and how to keep those things alive in my life right now. For the most part, I encountered the most culture shock in relation to TIME, RELATIONSHIPS, and PRODUCTIVITY. In Malawi, I liked how relationships were more important than staying on schedule. Back home, I like the satisfaction of productivity achieved by being on schedule. I'm working on bringing the best of both worlds together.

To read more from our Malawi blog visit: Barrio Malawi