ISTANBUL / MEXICO CITY – This year, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the 2024 YJI Global Conference in Mexico City. It was my first time traveling without my family, and while I was excited, I was also deeply anxious.
I had never ventured anywhere without at least one family member, except for a brief school trip to Lahore, where I had relatives. The prospect of traveling so far on my own at 15 was daunting.
As the conference drew closer, my excitement grew to the point where I literally started dreaming about it.
Despite my nerves, my fears were eased when Arooj Khalid, a YJI alum, accompanied me from Karachi.
We traveled together to Mexico, and my apprehension gradually gave way to anticipation. After months of looking forward to this trip, it was finally happening!
Our journey began with a six-hour flight, followed by a 15-hour layover in Istanbul, Türkiye.
There, we met YJI student Mayama Opare from Accra, Ghana, and together we explored the city with İpek Eser, a fellow YJI student from Istanbul. We enjoyed a delicious lunch in Taksim Square before setting off to explore.
Istanbul is truly a breathtaking city, though our feet were sore from all the walking! Climbing the Galata Tower was a highlight, offering a stunning panoramic view of the city. The sight of everything below – tiny like ants – was both exhilarating and slightly terrifying.
Afterward, we indulged in some Turkish ice cream, which quickly melted and dripped onto my clothes, but it was well worth the mess!
Later, we strolled through a park, watching the water and the seagulls, before saying goodbye to İpek and making our way back to the airport.
Climbing back up to Taksim Square was unexpectedly challenging – Istanbul’s steep hills are no joke! After much huffing and puffing, we returned to the airport for our 14-hour flight to Mexico, during which I slept soundly.
We finally landed in Mexico City, where we were warmly greeted by YJI co-founder Steve Collins and Alejandro López, the father of Regina, a YJI student from Mexico City. They drove us to our house and conference headquarters, which we called La Casa de YJI, in the historic neighborhood of Coyoacán.
As we arrived, I felt a wave of nervousness wash over me. Would the other attendees be friendly? Would they like me? A thousand thoughts raced through my mind. But as soon as I met the other YJI students, all my worries evaporated.
Over the first few days, we bonded quickly, sharing experiences and getting to know one another.
The conference took us to some extraordinary cultural and historical sites that I had only ever read about, like Templo Mayor, the Palace of Fine Arts, the artist Frida Kahlo’s house, and the awe-inspiring pyramids of Teotihuacán.
These places, which had seemed like distant dreams, were now right in front of me. I’ve always had a deep interest in Aztec culture, and Frida Kahlo is one of my personal heroes, so being able to visit these landmarks felt surreal.
One memorable visit was to Reforma, a major Mexican newspaper. Seeing the inner workings of a newsroom was fascinating. I had no idea how many people and processes were involved in producing just one issue. The sheer size of the printing presses was astonishing.
Though some of the students already knew each other from previous YJI events, I felt immediately welcomed. We shared every meal, with everyone pitching in to clean up afterward, and the sense of camaraderie made us feel like one big family.
Our evenings were filled with laughter, playing games like charades and 20 questions. I formed close friendships, especially with my roommate, Anjola Fashawe, from London.
Every day brought a new adventure. From the colorful floating gardens of Xochimilco to a museum entirely dedicated to chocolate, the experiences were unforgettable.
Back at La Casa de YJI, we celebrated with piñatas and far too much candy. I also got to try international snacks, like the grape candy YJI student Damian Nam brought from South Korea.
One of the personal highlights for me was helping cook meals. At home, I was rarely allowed in the kitchen, but after this trip, my mom has let me cook a few dishes!
Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to attend the conference. I made lifelong friends, discovered new foods (including grasshoppers!), and gained valuable insights—not only into journalism, but also into different cultures and perspectives.
It was a transformative experience, one that I miss deeply.
Before attending the YJI conference, I knew I loved writing, reading and research, but this experience showed me how journalism truly works.
I have begun to understand the depth and complexity of the field and realize how much there is to learn about the world.
It opened my eyes to the role journalists play in uncovering stories that matter.
Anya Farooqui is a Reporter with Youth Journalism International.
