To provide some insight into who I am, let me start with my background. My family lineage is rooted in hard work, high values, and perseverance.

My Father's Heritage

On my father’s side, we have a rich Swiss heritage. Our Swiss ancestor, Johann-Baptist Frener, was an artist whose legacy has endured for generations. He was a sculptor, the designer of the national coat of arms of Guatemala, and the founder of the Casa de la Moneda in Guatemala, a country that did not have its own currency at the time. His influence expanded throughout the region, and other countries sought his expertise to help them create their own coins. His name can be found in history books.

His grandson, Bartolomé Azmitia Frener, acquired a printing company from Europe in the early 1900s, which was later passed on to my grandfather Sergio Aníbal Azmitia and his two sisters. Eventually, my father, David Alberto B. Azmitia, advised my grandfather to buy out his sisters’ shares of the printing business, which he successfully did.

My grandfather managed the printing business until his death, after which it was sold by an unknown family member. During his life, he was a man of great influence in our region. He was a member of the “Club de Leones” social club and later became the governor of the department of Sacatepequez, with his office located in “Santiago de Los Caballeros de Guatemala,” now commonly known as “Antigua Guatemala.”

My Mother's Heritage

On my mother’s side, her oldest known ancestor came from Spain with his aunt, carrying a significant sum of money to purchase many acres of land. My great-grandfather, Javier Castellanos, was a prominent landowner who, besides speaking Spanish, mastered three indigenous languages: Kakchiquel, Quiche, and Kekchi. My great-grandfather had my grandfather, Salvador Castellanos, when he was 66 years old. Unfortunately, he passed away when my grandfather was only 7. Two of my grandfather’s sisters were living in the United States at the time, leaving him to fend for himself as his mother was occupied with other matters.

This experience shaped my grandfather into a resilient person who overcame many challenges on his own. He enlisted in the army, raised a family of 11 children, and was always a provider who worked in the coffee business his entire life. He collaborated with German entrepreneurs who exported Guatemala’s first-class coffee to Germany and became the deputy of the Department of Sacatepéquez. To me, he remains one of the most honorable men I have ever known.

My Parents' Business and My Upbringing

As for my parents, my father married my mother when he was 25 and she was 21. With the help of my grandmother, they started their own business with just one printing machine. By the mid-90s and early 2000s, the printing business had grown to employ around 30 people and had several German-made printing machines, making it the major printing distributor in the city and surrounding areas.

This is where I enter the picture. I grew up in a Christian family of hard workers. I witnessed my parents working tirelessly day and night. I remember being with them and my siblings at 3-4 am, sometimes helping them, sometimes just sleeping among the huge piles of paper. We always felt part of the business, and my siblings and I learned the value of hard work from a young age. I became proficient in administrative duties, customer service, and later, I was known as the “rubber stamp maker.”

Education and Personal Growth

My mother always wanted us to study Business Management, inspired by her eldest sibling, a prominent consultant in Guatemala City who achieved financial freedom. Although I had different interests, I wasn’t sure what to study. When I turned 17, I graduated from high school, and due to financial constraints, my parents could only afford the local university, which had limited options. So, I ended up studying Business Management.

After completing two years of Business Management, I came out of the closet, which led to some family issues regarding my personal life. It was then that I met two of my greatest friends who invited me to Oslo, Norway, to explore opportunities. Despite the language barrier preventing me from staying, I returned home with a new perspective on life that began to shape my character.

European Adventures

I fell in love with Europe and was determined to find a job so I could return and explore more. Oslo wasn’t my first travel destination; I had already visited the United States twice, Mexico, and El Salvador. Once back home, I secured my first significant job as a receptionist in a hostel, later becoming one of the managers. I earned a little more than three, and sometimes four, minimum wages at the time. This allowed me to visit London in 2017, only six months after starting at the company—a trip I funded myself. I will never forget the emotional moment of being there and realizing the fruits of my labor.

I traveled to Europe four more times, which I did for personal exploration but also to find ways to move to the continent. That’s when, in 2021, I took a trip to Germany, Portugal, Seville, Barcelona, France, and the Netherlands. Portugal was my 19th country at the time, and I stayed there for the majority of that trip, where I volunteered in a surf hostel in Ericeira, a Portuguese beach town. There, I was informed of a way to move to Portugal, so I decided to go back to Guatemala and find my way to return with a visa.

The Leap of Faith

Time passed, and I was working as a Sales Representative for a Cruise Company when I felt a huge urge to leave Guatemala once and for all. I decided to bet everything: I returned the apartment I was renting, sold much of my property, including my motorcycle, and I went to Mexico City to apply for the visa.

Writing about this makes me remember those times of uncertainty, where I was trusting the process and trusting the Universe that everything was going to be okay. And actually, it really was. I was unemployed at the time I was applying for the visa; I had to pay for an additional round-trip ticket to Mexico City because the first time I didn't get a document stamped (honestly, because they didn't state it on the website); and I had to go back to pick up my visa. During this time, I was staying back at my parents' place, crossing my fingers.

All that experience shaped me into knowing that whenever change is imminent, and when you decide to listen to the waves of change, everything will be fine. All things happen for a reason.

Life in Europe

Finally, I made it to Portugal. I worked here as a Content Reviewer for exactly a year. I met a lot of people during that time, and I already spoke the language by then, so it was easy for me to integrate and live a quiet life.

But again, change knocked on my door. That's when I found this job in digital marketing for TikTok. The role consisted of calling new business owners who were investing in the platform regarding their campaigns and assisting them by providing 30 days of support to help them improve, innovate, and invest more in the platform.

Nowadays, I've decided to take a break from work to dedicate myself to discovering my artistic side further. To do so, I decided to spend two months in Madrid and now I am back in Lisbon to start a Hospitality role but with a new perspective to start exploring my artistic side and achieve greatness through it.