I'm a Disney nerd. I first visited Walt Disney World when I was 13 and I fell in love. I was expecting to hate the experience (like most young teens) but I think I remember crying in the airport as we had to fly home.
There is nothing more magical than walking down Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom or traveling all around the world at Epcot. I love wandering through old Hollywood at Hollywood Studios and watching with a curious eye on the safari at Animal Kingdom. I can usually be found with a Mickey shaped pretzel and a Dole Whip.
One of my favorite characters of all time is Pocahontas. Pocahontas is the first Disney movie I remember watching as a kid. 2020 marked the 25th anniversary of the Disney classic and I happily celebrated it by watching the movie over and over again. I think what I love the most about Pocahontas is that the movie is about a real person that lived hundreds of years ago in the land that I now call home.
Pocahontas and I in Walt Disney World, 2018
The Historic Triangle of Virginia is one of the best places to live for a history buff like me. On any given day, you can find me exploring Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, or Jamestown. It's like taking a walk through 1600s America. Thanks to living in Williamsburg, I can explore the old world anytime I want.
Pocahontas spent her youth and teen years in Jamestown, Virginia. Whenever I visit the area, I love reading more about how much of a warrior she was. She inspires me with how strong she was and how she bridged the gap between the English and the Native Americans.
While there are many differences in the Disney version and it's more about the romanticized love story of Pocahontas and John Smith (though she married John Rolfe in real life), Pocahontas was the reason that the English and the Indians became friends. She betrayed her father and befriended the English and the rest is history.
Posing with the Pocahontas Statue in Jamestown, 2020
I'm all for women empowerment and Pocahontas is that figure for me. She wasn't your typical princess, she was a hero to her people. I love all that she represents and who she was when she was alive. When I watch the movie now, I reminisce on my childhood but I also become inspired to be a woman who makes a difference in the world, just like Pocahontas did.
Signing off,
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