Tamara Grau

"My desire to travel was born out of the wish to perfect my English. As an English-Spanish student, I sought to test my knowledge with native speakers. I explored various opportunities for students, such as courses abroad, exchanges, and au pair programs. Finally, I came across XPA, an agency specialized in Working Holiday programs, which caught my attention due to my student status.

Dedicating myself to work and with the support of my family, I managed to afford the program and embarked on a journey to the United States. Once there, I had the opportunity to meet people from different parts of the world: Americans, Brazilians, Peruvians, and more. I shared a home with 15 Latinos, creating a kind of family. Together we experienced mutual support, laughter, tears, celebrations, trips, and coexistence over an extended period.

We were fortunate to have a generous employer who took us to places like Gatlinburg, Knoxville, Asheville, and Charlotte, in addition to exploring hills, parks, bars, and other points of interest. On one occasion, we rented a van and ventured to explore Atlanta, visiting the Georgia Aquarium and the Coca-Cola factory.

After three months and as the date to say goodbye to my work team approached, I began my last week-long adventure, this time solo, exploring Charlotte, New York, and finally, Miami, where I would take my flight back home.

In New York, I was amazed to visit iconic places like the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Times Square. Everything seemed magnificent, and at that moment, what once seemed impossible became a reality. Later, in Miami, I lived a completely unknown Caribbean adventure for me, a spectacular experience.

On this journey, I met incredible and kind people who became fellow travelers. As the saying goes, the impossible only takes a little longer. For me, borders and barriers disappeared, and now my longing to keep traveling is greater than ever."