Third Country, Will This Be the Last Move?

I consider myself a “citizen of the world.” I was born in Panama, a very small country in Central America, but I grew up with a vision of what the world was like and a desire to fully experience it. I started by studying my undergraduate degree in the United States, and although I was about to stay there, everything aligned for me to return to Panama. This felt like a second major life move because what I had left behind before going to the U.S. was no longer the same. Friendships, families, restaurants—even the potholes in the streets—were different. So, once again, I had to adapt.

I spent a decade there, diving into different projects with the simple intention of learning, doing, making mistakes, getting back up, and moving forward. Of course, personal life also required attention—building a family meant that balancing personal and professional life was a constant challenge. Then, life took its course, and I ended up in Spain, making my third move to a new country. This time, the environment was entirely different—it wasn’t the Latin American way of life, nor was it the American one…it was the European way.

It has now been three years since that move, and if I ask myself, Will this be the last one?—the honest answer is that I don’t think so. There’s still a whole world out there to enjoy, explore, and discover. With time, I continue to understand what I am (and am not) willing to live with, but I’m sure that eventually, I’ll find that new home that perfectly suits the future version of María.

In the meantime… I’ll keep living in the present, because there’s nothing better than the here and now. :)