Tanya Aguiñiga recounts her experience of traveling to Oaxaca, which was cut short when she tested positive for COVID-19. She emphasizes her concern about potentially exposing a less-resourced community to the virus, prompting an early return to the U.S. Later, she participated in a residency at her Los Angeles studio and subsequently returned to Oaxaca, spending time with Gutiérrez’s family in Teotitlán del Valle. She reflects on how the extended residency allowed for deeper engagement with topics such as trauma, migration, and memory, fostering meaningful discussions and reflection on interconnected ideas.