When you mention you’re going to Portugal, most people ask – Are you going to Azores? Are you going to Lisbon? However my trip wasn’t just any ordinary vacation. It was a time to create new relationships and bonds with a (large) family I’ve never met. I’ve been to quite a few countries already, but this time I was traveling alone. Most people would say I’m brave, and while I know how to push through and hit an end goal, I have never been more terrified in my life to go somewhere. This trip was meant for me to meet my birth Father and two half brothers whom I grew up my whole life never knowing and the rest of my large family.

Growing up I was raised with my loving mother, and although I think it was the best way for me to be raised, I always wondered where the other half of me came from. I remember when I was in elementary school and my science teacher made us do a project at home where we had to have a photo of our Mom, Dad and Me and then show who we got our eyes, nose, lips, smile, shape face, etc from and everyone in the class knew because they were raised with both parents, except one other boy and I. I had always said “atleast I have a photo, so one day when I meet him I’ll know exactly who he is.”

Years later, after not being in contact with anyone from that side of the family, we (my mother and I) found one of my cousins on LinkedIn (I know of all websites). We exchanged emails and she gave me a family tree (thanks Claudia :D). Everything matched up and I knew it was real. It was also a coincidence that she was the only cousin I had a picture of, from years earlier. We exchanged facebooks and about a year later she introduced me to some other cousins who spoke with that side of the family more often. At this time I also found out I had two brothers (an older and younger) of which I didn’t know prior.

My cousins and I continued to stay in contact from time to time. On the 5 of May last year, I asked my cousin to wish my father a happy birthday. At that time I still had not talked to my brothers or had known what they look like. My cousins directed me to contact with my brothers (thanks Carlos!), where I got to speak with them on the first time the 6th of May (which also happens to be my birthday)!

Reaching contact with my long lost brothers was one of the greatest opportunities of my life. Growing up in different settings, with different moms, it’s amazing how alike others can be despite different cultures, different households, different ages, etc. I was so eager to meet them that I booked my flight as soon as I could and made my way to Portugal the following year.

When you go to meet family, specifically immediate family, for the first time, all anyone ever says is – that will be a great moment in your life, or something of the sort. They were right, meeting my family for the first time was the greatest moment in my life and more than that. My two weeks there were filled with lots of emotions – nervousness, anxiety, sadness, happiness, joy, excitement, peace, love and more. If you could envision an emotional roller coaster, that certainly was me. I had anxiety my entire way there and almost turned around, but I’m so glad I didn’t. I shared so many joyful memories with my brothers and step mom over those two weeks that I can never forget. Meeting my father was my dream come true, literally. I could go on and on about meeting a family for the first time, but instead I’ll end with this: life is only lived once and we shouldn’t let our fears keep us from following our dreams. Our lives aren’t limited by our fears and our dreams are only a leap of faith away. I’m not sure how I got so lucky as to meet my father, siblings, and experience such beautiful moments with these people across such a large ocean, but continuous prayer, my eye on the prize and a little help on from the internet got me there and I’m so glad it did.

My brothers and I

My father and I