Lexi Sunberg

Writing this letter while visiting my Twin Cities hometown feels serendipitous, as I’m about to wax poetic on the notion of, you guessed it: home. As someone who can’t stay put in one spot for too long, the idea of home is less of a physical residence and more of a feeling, rooted in community and experiences. More of an “it’s the people that make the place” sort of mentality, if you will. For others, perhaps home is grounded in consistency.

“You see that pointy black rock peaking above the green vegetation there? He’s about half a meter directly below that,” our naturalist Jaime said patiently as he handed a pair of binoculars to me … for a third time. He had spotted a Galápagos short-eared owl — a tricky sight to catch as its dark features and diminutive stature blend effortlessly into the shades of gray and black on the Galápagos’ island of Genovesa.