My name is Juan Francisco Rosas (but everyone knows me as juan fri) , and I’m originally from Lima, Peru, where I lived until I was 19. Even though I now study abroad, Peru is still home base for me. I spent some time studying in Madrid before transferring to the University of Miami, where I’m currently majoring in Economics. I’ve been in Miami for a little over a year, and the city’s strong Latin American presence makes it feel both new and familiar at the same time.
My family background is a mix of different cultures. My mom’s side is Croatian and French, her father was Croatian-born and her mother was French, but she moved to Peru at 12 and speaks perfect Spanish, so I grew up fully Peruvian in day-to-day life. Still, having that blend of histories in my family made me curious about the world from a young age.
Traveling has always been a major part of my life. I love exploring new places, and I’ve been lucky enough to visit more than 42 countries so far. Every trip has given me a different way of seeing the world, and travel has shaped a lot of who I am — from the way I think about culture to the way I approach new experiences. Moving between countries to study has only reinforced that. For me, travel isn’t just movement; it’s a way of learning.
This blog brings together my background, my time studying abroad, and my interest in travel as I explore new places and connect them to what I’m learning in class.
Habla, Barrio 