Mariom Carrasco never planned to emigrate from Guayaquil, Ecuador. Growing up in a family-run
plastics business, she developed a passion for engineering. A traumatic kidnapping as a teenager left
her with lasting anxiety and a deep desire for safety. After years of hard work, starting her own plastics business and balancing family life, money-laundering unfair competitors forced her to close the business. When her husband’s job offered a transfer to Kingston, Canada, in 2023, the family took a leap of faith. Initially struggling with the language and unfamiliar systems, Mariom relied on her determination to rebuild. She quickly secured a job as a Maintenance Planner and embraced the safety and family time Kingston offers. Reflecting on her journey, Mariom smiles at life's unpredictability. Once a meticulous planner who vowed never to live in the cold or speak English, she now thrives in Canada, grateful for the lessons of resilience and the beauty of going with the flow.