My Bostezo Story
When you yawn, I yawn. When I yawn, you yawn.
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It’s one of the most curious reflexes we share as humans—physiological, involuntary, and mysteriously contagious. A five-second act that’s been studied, judged, and mythologized. There are so many theories about why we yawn, but here’s what we know for sure: something powerful happens when we do.​
In just one yawn, your brain lights up. You release a cocktail of dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and opioid peptides. You activate the precuneus—the part of the brain tied to consciousness and self-reflection. In short, yawning can trigger pleasure, calm, empathy, pain relief, and maybe the coolest of all: a surge in self-awareness. It’s like a tiny meditation—an involuntary reboot.​
Still, yawning has its baggage. It’s been seen as rude, lazy, even demonic (Yikes.) But beyond the folklore and frowns, there’s something deeply human about a yawn. It connects us. It reminds us that we feel things—together.​
That’s the spirit behind BOSTEZO (Spanish for yawn). It’s a creative space to share work that wakes us up and brings us closer: nonfiction writing, poetry, photography, literature, art, and more. Here, yawns aren’t a sign of boredom—they’re an opening. An invitation to breathe, feel, and reflect.
So go ahead, scroll slowly. Exhale. Let a yawn slip. And notice what stirs.​
With peace and love,
Luciana Paz
About Me.
​I’m Luciana Paz—a program and event leader, communicator, educator, and creative spirit rooted in Bolivia and branching out wherever stories need telling. I create experiences, stories, and strategies that spark connection between people, cultures, and causes.
Bostezo is my creative and professional space. A home for the in-between: yawns and awakenings, silent moments and loud feelings. It’s the space I come back to when I want to make meaning, not just deliver information. Here, I gather the many threads of my work—from bilingual environmental storytelling and policy writing to poetry, public programming, and cross-cultural education.
Right now, I serve as Project and Event Coordinator at Isabella & Ferdinand, a nonprofit Spanish language academy that teaches through culture and immersion. I lead bilingual initiatives that invite people into shared language, identity, and purpose. Whether I’m coordinating a donor campaign, organizing a cultural festival, or shaping a workshop that blends art, environmental education, and community voices—I bring strategy, creativity, and heart to every detail.
My path has taken me across sectors and continents. At the U.S. Department of Agriculture, I worked in science and environmental communications, supporting environmental risk analysis under federal statutes like NEPA, FIFRA, and the ESA. I managed writing workflows, built knowledge-sharing systems, created SOPs, and helped onboard new staff—all with the goal of making complex ideas more accessible, human, and clear.
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Before that, I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mozambique, where I coordinated health and education campaigns for 300+ students, co-launched a community computer lab, trained 50 youth health activists, and collaborated with ministries and organizations like USAID and UNFPA. That experience shaped the way I work: with humility, adaptability, and a deep belief in the power of local voices.
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I’m fluent in English and Spanish, speak advanced Portuguese, and thrive in multilingual, mission-driven spaces.
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Thanks for being here. I hope something on Bostezo makes you pause, take a breath, and feel a little more connected.
Education
University of Tampa
B.A. Political Science, Journalism Minor (Magna Cum Laude)
Tampa, FL | May 2019
Emerson College
MFA Creative Writing
Transformational Leadership Fellow
Boston, MA | Sep. 2023- May 2027
Experience and Skills
Writing and Editorial Experience: 10+ years of experience in editing, writing, and content development across newsletters, technical reports, articles, and event communications. Skilled in crafting clear, engaging, and accessible content for diverse audiences across digital platforms.
Newsletter & Digital Content: Led and supported the development of newsletters and digital publications, collaborating with teams to curate, package, and optimize stories for maximum reader engagement. Proficient in plain language editing, audience-first writing, and platform-specific storytelling.
Project and Event Management: Managed multi-stakeholder initiatives, balancing content priorities, timelines, and audience needs across events, editorial calendars, and strategic campaigns.
Language Skills: Fluent in English and Spanish; advanced in Portuguese. Skilled in multilingual content development.
