Heritage, Independence, & Ease: A journey through Vilnius, Vienna, and Paris

This past month has been an emotional whirlwind as I traveled across Europe — not just visiting cities, but tracing the paths that shaped my family and my own sense of adventure. It began in Vilnius, Lithuania, where I finally got to see my mom’s hometown and meet some of the people and places she had told me about my whole life. From there, I couldn’t pass up a stop in Vienna to spend time with my brother, which overlapped a tour my mom co-led with her friend, Jonna, which was equal parts inspiring, chaotic, and full of laughter. At the end, I snuck in a solo adventure in Paris, my first time traveling completely on my own. Each leg of the journey brought its own lessons, surprises, and small joys. Together, they shaped not only this issue, but also the stories I’ll carry home. But before you dive in, I wanted to share a little backstory on how this trip came to life.

By now, most of you know that my mom is a full-time artist. She makes a living traveling the world and painting the places that inspire her. She’s also a wonderful storyteller, always sharing her adventures with the friends and acquaintances she’s collected over the years on Facebook.

About six months ago, her friend Jonna — a sharp, business-minded woman — came up with an idea: what if they led a tour through Europe together? Instead of watching my mom’s travels online, people could join her and see it all through her eyes. Long story short, they made it happen. Nine people signed up for their first-ever tour, which would take them from Vienna to Venice.

Jonna’s daughter, Marron, is an old friend of mine — we grew up dancing together at the same ballet school, which is how our moms met in the first place. One night over the summer, the four of us had dinner. As our moms talked excitedly about their upcoming trip, Marron and I joked about tagging along. I didn’t actually think I would, but a few months later, everything fell into place. My mom learned that her childhood best friend would be visiting Vilnius from Russia the week before the tour, and she didn’t want to miss the chance to see her. It had been twelve years since my mom last visited her hometown, and the timing couldn’t have been better. I’ve dreamed of seeing where my parents grew up for most of my life, and with my dad being from Iran — a place I may not be able to visit anytime soon — I felt an even stronger pull to take this opportunity while I could. Of course, I couldn’t travel all the way to Europe without stopping in Vienna to spend time with my brother — and I might as well add on the solo trip to Paris I’d been craving. It’s like girl math, but for travel. Marron, who had been more serious about joining our moms from the start, decided she wasn’t missing out now that I was in.

A trip that was unplanned and unexpected turned into one of the most meaningful, beautiful, chaotic, and fun experiences of my adult life — a collection of moments that redefined what home, connection, and independence mean to me. I wanted the inspiration from each city to live in this issue, reflected both in the style and the stories I share. My hope is that as you explore, you feel it all — the nostalgia, the challenges, the inspiration, the memories, and everything that went into defining this journey.