I was lucky enough to spend a month teaching English in Palmas, Brazil. When I wasn’t in the classroom, I explored the small, beautiful city with my host families and some local teachers who took me under their wing. Together, they helped me with my Portuguese while we explored hidden waterfalls, secret beaches, and sat for hours at barbecue joints.
My travels have taken me near and far these past few years. The top of Australia’s Sydney Harbor Bridge at sunset, swimming with wild dolphins off the shores of the Galapagos Islands, and most recently mountain biking to a remote waterfall in the mountains of Colombia. But what makes travel so special isn’t just epic destinations or experiences—it’s the people and cultures who bring them to life. For this, there is one place that stands out in my memory. Ponta do Ouro, Mozambique.