@kiahzellnersmith

Months later and i still don't have the words to express all that my noma trips (costa rica, '23, and brazil ‘24 hosted by melissa) meant to me. i did noma on a whim with my sister - to see what it would be like to travel for a bit longer than a normal vacay, to explore how work and travel can integrate, and to meet new people my age. my humble goals were shattered upon arrival in costa rica. it was so much more than that. i shared this on my instagram:

"i didn’t know two weeks with a bunch of strangers could be so profound. i didn’t know as an adult you could play this much. i didn’t know work and travel could integrate so seamlessly. and i didn’t know how much i was craving the chance to shake up my life a bit and connect with new folks from around the world. i feel uprooted in the best way - renewed, restored, reflective and excited by the ways this experience has inspired me to incorporate more novelty, play, exploration, movement, and adventure into my everyday life. i feel like i got the green light to pursue all things good, in all aspects of my life, at anytime possible. and i feel in tune with the richness of life and excited to keep moving in that direction."

if you aren't sure about noma, i invite you to take the leap. at the very least you'll have a blast, and more likely than that - you'll feel more in tune with yourself & the things that matter most to you, and a renewed commitment to cultivating your life around the most invaluable things we have at our disposal - adventure, friendship, exploration, love, connection, collaboration, chosen family, nature, and the brilliant unfamiliarity of being in a new place. the noma community is one i am forever grateful to have stumbled upon. enjoy!