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I add new stories and updates every few weeks. Sometimes I'm traveling, often there are cool experiences to share, and occasionally I run into some college suprises! 

As a California Native, I did not realize the true meaning of freezing cold until I walked along the waters of Milwaukee. Earlier this year, I visited some family members in Indiana and I had the chance to explore Chicago and Milwaukee during my time there. Having never been to Milwaukee, I was thrilled at the amazing views I would get to see and the chance to run into anyone from the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team! Being that the chances of that were slim, I accepted my defeat. 

Nevertheless, we took the three-hour road trip to Milwaukee and made our first stop in Milwaukee Bay. It was here that I realized that the three layers I was wearing underneath my trench coat would not suffice for the cold breeze I was feeling at that moment.

Although the temperatures were low, the fantastic views made up for that. Walking around the bay bridge, near DiscoveryWorld, you are able to get to take a closer look at the architecture that makes Milwaukee so unique, including the art museum that sits not far from the bay. Although I could stand there glancing at the beautiful views beside me, there was also a cup of hot chocolate waiting for me somewhere in the heart of the city. 

My family and I continued our tourist walk, accidentally stumbling into Milwaukee’s Public Market where warmth meets spice. From the offerings of coffee and sweets to cheese and wine, my family spent the rest of our evening there. I don’t think I’ve eaten as much flavorful cheese as I did when I walked up to the counter of West Allis’s Cheese and Sausage. From the combinations of blueberry goat cheese to classic sharp cheddar, I indulged in everything! For something sweet, Freese’s Candy Shoppe offered the best strawberries with milk chocolate I’ve tasted to date. Although I was not able to stay through the night in Milwaukee, I hope to make another trip there soon to visit the many cool experiences Milwaukee has to offer. If you can visit, I highly recommend checking out Milwaukee’s Public Market if possible. If not for the cheese, at least visit for the experience! 

Have you ever experienced a feeling of true happiness and warmth that is unexplainable? It is not the location or the people around you that make you feel so happy but, the connection to something far greater that makes you feel like you're in the right place. I don’t experience this much but, when I do, it’s something I try to write about, so I don't ever forget the feeling. 

Earlier this year, I had the amazing opportunity to visit the Field Museum in Chicago. My mom, who loves museums, wanted to revisit this museum again with my aunts who don’t experience museums as much. I, who like my mom loves museums as well, couldn't disagree with a trip to Chicago. We made the two-hour trip from Lafayette, Indiana to the museum and to say that it was worth it is an understatement. 

Walking through the main lobby of the museum, I noticed that they had an exhibition highlighting the Native community in Chicago, called Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories. Upon realization, I immediately booked it to the entrance. 

When first walking in, one is introduced to the powerful words of tribal leaders from various communities. The room moves one after the other, introducing clothing worn by tribal leaders and certain community members, highlighting the tools and methods used to produce certain works of art, capturing how tribes were able to create food in their communities, and even offering a glimpse of how traditions were presented inside the home.

 Every room I walked into felt so much more warm as I made my way through the exhibit. It wasn’t just the images and artifacts that made me emotional but the stories behind those beautiful objects. Having not intertwined myself as much as I wish into the Navajo community, I struggle to find connectivity at times with that aspect of my identity. As much as I research and read the journals of my great-grandfather, it can be hard to connect to something through someone else’s experiences. It’s in those times that I’m grateful for exhibitions like this. Although this beautiful place was thousands of miles away from home, it brought similar stories of my great-grandfather to life and allowed me to feel things I’d never felt before. 

My favorite part of the exhibit was learning more about the musical geniuses who used their music to showcase more of the experiences and resilience of certain communities such as Frank Waln, pictured above, who presents his music as a form of healing for individuals. As someone who comes from a music family, his work and his story inspired me to pick up my guitar again and just write.

No matter if you are Native American or not, I recommend checking the Field Museum out! Apart from the amazing Native Truths exhibit, the Field Museum offers other amazing exhibitions highlighting birds and ancient Egypt! 

Every spring break, I have the privilege to go to San Francisco with my family! It's the perfect time because baseball season is starting right up and it's neither too cold or hot in the area!  Although I usually take the trip with my family as a whole, my mother and me decided to go alone this trip to explore more of the museum side of San Francisco and it did not disappoint. 

The California Academy of Sciences is located on the south side of San Francisco, just 14 minutes away from the Golden Gate Bridge! Apart from inhabiting a very popular albino alligator named Claude, this museum contains four exhibits in one, ranging from sea life to exotic birds!  The best part: It's considered one of the greenest museums on earth thanks to the many plants inside that help it stay fueled! 

One of the more popular places to visit within is the Osher Rainforest, a four-story high rainforest dome that houses over 1600 plants and animals. Don't let the cold weather you may feel outside steer you away from visiting this specific exhibit because it is both humid and beautiful in there!  

Wherever you walk, there is sights to see and I recommend coming to visit this museum if you ever have the chance!  It's located right in the middle of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, which houses three other popular museums as well! If you can, try to visit on Academy Day in which the price of your ticket is the amount you wish to donate to the museum! 

California State University, Fullerton's music department hosts wonderful productions in various categories every year and I had the privilege to attend CSUF's opera production of Mozart's Magic FLute a few days ago for a review!  Given that I had never watched a production from the CSUF's opera before, I was excited partly because I had not talked about melodies and stage life since I graduated high school three years ago. With every interview I did with cast members leading up to the day, I got more enthusiastic for the show and what surprises I would get to see. To say that this production did not disappoint me would be an understatement. 

Written by Mozart, “The Magic Flute” follows Prince Tamino and his companion Papageno, a comedic bird-catcher, as they travel on an adventure to save Pamina, the daughter of the Queen of Night who is entrapped by a high priest. On the journey to save her, Tamino and Papageno are faced with challenges in which magic and unity serve to be of great power which are in the end. 

In the first few minutes of the show, crescendos from both the opera and the orchestra foreshadow both struggle and resilience in the quest of love and passion. As the production progressed, there is times where reflection from all characters serve to be the greatest power in overcoming the challenge of love they all face. 

The involvement of graffiti marks on props alongside lively, colored backdrops curated a world of expression and freedom, alluding to the realities of characters throughout the performance. No character was dressed in simple colors or clothes. Feathers, lace, ruffles and prints walked around this world of fantasy.

In the end, growth and determination led to an array of triumph for those involved, breaking the divide in gender roles and affirms the notion that wisdom and passion evoke the best possible harmony of community to exist between people.