When I was twelve years old, my family took a holiday to Hong Kong. Both of my parents are from Hong Kong, and while we’ve visited before, this trip was different. At twelve, I was old enough to fully take in another place, and appreciate the many differences between Hong Kong and the Michigan college town where I grew up.
Hong Kong’s colors, smells, sounds, and activity are uniquely its own. Chinese junk boats lingered past a skyline of high rise buildings. The sounds of the harbor woke me up every day as the humidity slowly rose as well. I feasted my eyes on delicately presented Cantonese dim sum, European pastries, and was fascinated by the ultra-fashionable Hong Kong girls clad in black. It was an awakening. With so many people that resembled me, and hearing my parents’ native language everywhere, I felt like I belonged.
Travel has always been a bit like that for me. In every place I visit, I can’t help but imagine what it would be like to live there and become a part of that culture and community. How many worlds can we be a part of?
The answer in my experience is many but only know a few places intimately. We’ve lived in Tel Aviv, New York City extensively, and now reside in the sunny island of St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
A Girl Named Natty is a postcard to my travels, the places I’ve come to know well or have just passed through along the way. It is also a way for me to share my experiences in design, style, culture, and parenting.
Thank you for reading and joining me in my journeys. Send a note to me at natalielo@agirlnamednatty.com.
