Love for Latin America: This Is Not Just a Phase

In this personal column, author Alina Schwermer reflects on her evolving relationship with Latin America. Once an exoticized and romanticized destination in her youth, she returns to Chiapas, Mexico, for the men's soccer World Cup. She finds the region both foreign and familiar, recognizing elements from past travels while confronting her own neocolonial attitudes. The narrative explores how her perspective has matured, moving from superficial tourism to a deeper, more genuine connection. She notes the irony of coming 'home' to a place she has never been, and hints at a renewed, more respectful engagement with the continent.