PLACES I'VE BEEN

I always thought New York was the city that never sleeps, but Makkah proved me wrong. I went to perform Umrah with friends for a spiritual reset. By the end of the trip, they weren't just friends anymore, they became my brothers.

One of the most tranquil cities I've ever visited. I met so many kind people and the energy of Doha is something special. It's modern, calm, and welcoming. Honestly, I could see myself living here one day.

A quick trip for a JP Morgan hackathon. My team didn't win, but I learned a lot and met great people. One thing I can confirm, Southern hospitality is very real.

Invited to a GE Aerospace event which was an amazing experience. The coolest moment though was being the catcher for the ceremonial first pitch at a Cincinnati Reds game.

Traveled here for the ColorStack Summit. Visited Twin Peaks and the Golden Gate Bridge, and met some incredible people in tech. Also discovered Cracked & Battered, one of the best brunch spots I've ever been to.

A quick weekend trip with friends. We visited the Grand Canyon for the first time and went ATV riding through the desert. Phoenix surprised me a lot. I could honestly see myself starting my career here.

My first ever tech conference was AfroTech, and it completely changed how I think about networking. I met other ColorStackers and so many Black professionals in tech. I also caught a Houston Rockets game and got to see KD play live, which was a moment.

Atlanta almost feels like an NYC dupe with how many New Yorkers live here. I attended my first hackathon through Microsoft after being invited by my old elementary school teacher. Spent time around Emory and Georgia Tech with friends and tried Waffle House for the first time.

The first stop on my Euro trip. I watched the New Year's fireworks and toured Arsenal's stadium with club legend Perry Groves. A surreal experience as a football fan. Also tried Nando's for the first time.

Paris was special. The Eiffel Tower really has an aura in person. I watched PSG play Paris FC and saw my favorite player growing up, Ousmane Dembélé, score a great goal. I also visited Versailles and had an incredible meal at Waly Fay, a Senegalese restaurant where I randomly met a server from the same neighborhood as my mom back home.

Took a break from the cities to ski in the French Alps. Got to ski on Mont Blanc with an amazing instructor. Safe to say skiing might be my newest hobby.

Milan had a great vibe. Had brunch on a rooftop near the Duomo and watched an insane Serie A match between Inter Milan and Napoli. Also had my first real Italian pizza… still think NYC pizza wins.

Probably my favorite city of the trip. Walking around felt like being back in world history class seeing the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain in real life. Met a Senegalese brother selling bracelets and watched Senegal vs Egypt at an African restaurant before going to a Roma match.

A surreal city. Had amazing pasta, took a gondola ride through the canals, and even played football with random kids in the streets.

A quick day trip to Lake Como. Met a lot of Americans traveling through and spent the day enjoying the lake views. Easily one of the most beautiful places I've been.

The final stop of the trip. It rained every single day I was there, but I still had an amazing time exploring the architecture, visiting the Picasso Museum and Park Güell. I also watched the Senegal vs Morocco final and celebrated with Senegalese fans in Barcelona.