It is amazing the powers of a rainy day!  As I am watching the rain pour off the roof, I sit, surrounded by the quite of the pitter-patter of the drops on the ground, and am reminiscent of the past.

Some of my first memories are of ballet...in class when I was 2 years old.  My world was ballet.  The challenges and triumphs that I have experienced through dance have made me the determined, confident and disciplined person I am today.

Not every moment in my dance career was good, but each moment taught me something about myself, about the world and about how I can obtain my dreams and goals.   

I dreamed of becoming a 'prima ballerina', a dream that did not come to fruition, however, I always draw on my experiences from my years dancing.  ​

After 24 years in pink tights, a leotard with a perfect ballet bun, I am incredibly proud of the accomplishments that I did have.  The moments on stage were always incredible, where the world slows down and I would captivate the audience with the smallest of movements, the gentle turn of my head. 
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Dance for me was so much more than the pretty tutus or the adrenaline of being on stage but it was the journey to the stage.  Every teacher I have had has brought something out of me that I did not know was there and while some teachers were not my favorite, I have some teachers who are still a part of my life.

Today I have taken the time to dream about my dreams and it brings me such joy to remember the people, places, and 'pointes' in my life that dance has taken me to and given me.  

When I first moved to Bangkok, Thailand, I had an amazing teacher – Mr. Westgate. He was a positive influence who provided me with the insight and acceptance to be confident and proud of who I am - a third culture kid (TCK). 

In Bangkok I was privileged to attend an International School where there were students from 62 different countries.  For the first time, I felt like I “fit” in and realized that I was different and that it was okay to be different in a number of ways: skin color, accent, language, nationality and experience. Mr. Westgate was instrumental in making me and other students proud of the fact we were different.  

The one question that many TCKs find difficult to answer and sometimes dread being asked is “Where are you from?” Most of the time, the answer to that question is a long one. I start answering the question by explaining that I am first a Canadian and from a place that celebrates multiculturalism. My family heritage is Indian, Portuguese, Irish, Scottish, Italian, French Canadian with some other ethnicities mixed in.  I was born in Calgary, where I spoke French and then we moved to Bangkok, Thailand where I spent many of my formative years. This provides me with several different “Faces”: Indian, Italian, French and Portuguese.

Anytime there is free flow champagne or mimosa's, I am there! At the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, the Overlook Grill has just that.  Bubbles and Brunch has free flow champagne or mimosa's.  

I wish I could relive this meal right now.  When we were in Vegas at the end of June, we had a wonderful experience with truly exceptional service.  Our server went above and beyond to ensure that our meal was everything we were hoping for it to be and more.  I thought that Bubbles and Brunch stated at 11am, when it actually started at 12pm.  It wasn't an issue because the chef and staff offered for us to still order off of the brunch menu! We were so thankful that they did, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to try the wonderful brunch menu.