Written by: Temoc Zamora, Caminos al Futuro 2024
It is hard to believe that it is my last week in DC. The time has flown by, and I have learned and experienced things that I would never have encountered back home.
This weekend was particularly eventful. The first major event on Sunday was a boat ride on the Potomac River, where we saw historical sites such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Union Bridge, and the Washington Monument. After that, we watched the UEFA European Championship finals between England and Spain. After an exciting game, we ate dinner at Shenkman Hall and watched a movie in Georgetown. Watching Despicable Me 4 as a group made the experience much more fun. Afterwards, we rushed to watch the Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia. Because neither the USA nor Mexico was playing, Alejandro dubbed me an honorary Colombian for the game and we cheered on Los Cafeteros together.
The next day started off as any other weekday: wake up, shower, get dressed, and have breakfast. But there was an event that set this day apart. As someone who loves food, I was excited to find out that we would have the opportunity to eat at Cranes, a Michelin Star Spanish-Kaiseki restaurant! At Cranes, we were treated to a four-course meal by Chef Pepe Moncayo, the founder and head chef of the restaurant. The meal included gazpacho, mushroom rice, beef cannelloni, and soy crémeaux for dessert. It was some of the finest food I had ever eaten in the Northeast. In between courses, we received etiquette lessons from food and beverage expert, Mirian Coronel. At the end of lunch, Jose Carlos Linares, Chairman and CEO at Linares Foundation, spoke to us about the tech industry and future potential of AI.
Reflecting on the opportunities I have had and the people I have met in these past few weeks creates a bittersweet feeling. While it is disappointing that the program will end soon, I am optimistic about the future, knowing I have forged lifelong friendships and created memories that will always stay with me.
Temoc Zamora is a 2024 Caminos al Future Scholar. Temoc’s views are his own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.