About

My name is Sara, and I’m 26 years old. For the past eight years, I’ve been wrestling with the whole ‘humanitarian’ concept. Through my journeys in Southeast Asia, and most prominently in Haiti, I have concluded that although the system is flawed; it is not hopeless. I am passionate to pursue the answers and live out the questions. In my pursuits I have been exposed to many realities. In my exposure I have gained perspective. It is this perspective that governs my life.

I have found that immersing myself into the people, culture, and language has energised a lifelong commitment to voicing out against what I — and many others — believe to be damaging practices in aid and development. I aim to devote myself to whichever people and place I am currently a part of, and to always remain connected and engaged to the lives of those I have journeyed with before. This site, in part, documents the journey.

“Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit.”
— Frank Borman

Tiwazo means “Little Bird” in Haitian Kreyol. Ask anybody who has met me in real life: I am one of the tiniest people they've met. I've been told before that the things I do are made greater because of my petite size. As a result, I have a severe Napolean Complex. My Singaporean family also calls me “Chili Padi” (very small, very spicy).

∗ All photos on this blog were taken by me unless credited. For my more “professional” information, check out the Mini Portfolio also linked in the side menu.

And the basics:

Name: Sara
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Birthday: 26 September
Birthplace: Singapore, Singapore (it's a small country okay)
Height: 5’2”
Eye color: Brown
Hair color: Black
Languages: English (fully fluent), French (can work fluently), Haitian Creole (can work fluently), German (beginner), Spanish (casual, one-sided conversation)
Favorite color: Green? I don't really care.
Favorite food: Fried plantains with pikliz!
Do you have tattoos? Yup! Three:



Are you shy? No, just more introverted.
Are you in school? Completed my BA in International Relations in 2011. Completed Certificate in International Development in 2014. Pursuing MA in Economics & Philosophy in 2015.
Best school subject: Political Science. If we're talking purely about grades, my consistently high marks were in Anthropology & Psychology...but I found them quite easy? Anybody else?
Weakest school subject: MATH, forever and always.
What career do you want to pursue: Working in aid & development as a professor & M&E specialist.
Places you've lived: Singapore (2.5 years), Canada (most of my life), Haiti (2 years)
What country would you like to visit: Vanuatu.
Do you have any strange phobias? Well, it would suck to be trapped in a confined space with little chance of escape. What a hellish situation. I also don't like upside-down fish.
What’s your religion? Mostly Christian. I was born into Buddhism and still tap into the wisdom found there too.
Sound you love: Steel drums! Ocean waves.
Favourite smell: Bread being baked.
What’s your love life like: Recovering.
What’s art to you: Beauty, Creativity
Do you drive? Yes. Manual transmission! Hurts my foot/leg in traffic.
What are you reading? Currently reading “Why Nations Fail” by Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson. Great stuff.
What’s the worst injury you’ve ever had? Multiple injuries from a motorcycle accident in Haiti.