Hello From My (New) Home

Hola!

My name is Hallie and I am third year double majoring in Photography and Spanish at Seattle University. For the next three months I will be in Valencia, Spain with ISA which is an SU Sponsored Program. I am taking five classes completely taught in Spanish which will satisfy a majority of the major requirements.

Travel, for me, is the broadest term, encompassing adventure outside the place I keep my belongings. Home is where I am. In Spain, I want to experience the lifestyle, adapt to the Spanish routine, and feel comfortable in another home. I hope to explore parts of the world and show people where I find joy in the dreamy imagery I create with words that bring them into my experiences. I usually center images around people, so while abroad I aspire to incorporate photos into stories that bring out the vibrancy of the moment as I experience it in adjectives both in English and Spanish.

I dream of photographing people all over the world, and having ease with the Spanish language would greatly influence how well I could do this. I am passionate about the ways we are connected by human nature and the inherent value of each individual life. We are more similar than we are different. I believe I am able to portray this through portraits of people in the places around the world that we can all call home.

While studying at Seattle U, I have unraveled a side of me that is passionate about issues both social and political that influence how we move in the world and what people or places we consider to be home.

When I hear people say:

“I cannot wait to go home,”

I wonder, what IS it that makes your home, HOME?

Is it the place, the people, the activities, the memories, the freedom from due dates?

Today I find myself on a journey,

in this body,

in search of home,

wherever I may find myself on the globe.

I hope you find your best friend under your chest, always reminding you that

you are home,

in this very instant.  

I want to remind you that each day you don’t feel “at home,”

is an allowance you give yourself,

to notice,

you have the opportunity,

to carve out time to do something you find peace and joy in,

and find yourself,

at home.

Our first home is our body.

Let us not forget to find

ourselves,

before we go

asking the world for a singular room we find harmony.

What a shame it would be,

if we only considered one place home,

in a world of abundant beautiful spaces

awaiting our discovery.

Notice, you are already home.

- Hallie