My world 20 years ago... how has it changed?
At that time, I was returning from living in Trinidad and Tobago, where I went for 6 months, initially seeking to escape the political chaos that manifested itself in police violence and protests towards the presidency.
I remember that one day they hijacked and burned one of the public transportation units that I used to use to go from my home to the capital of the country. I think that was my turning point.
So I grabbed my savings and paid for an English course in Trinidad, because I had to get something good out of all this madness, besides achieving a peace of mind that was lacking in Venezuela.
At that time, wifi technology did not exist or at least had not arrived in my country. Not to mention smart phones, I dare say that not even blackberries had appeared! So my parents would call my residence on the local phone, and it was hilarious to hear the stories of how they would ask my landlady to put me through, since they didn't speak English and she didn't understand Spanish. LOL.
It was around that time that I also decided not to watch the news anymore, nor read the newspaper, since the fatality was what was highlighted in both media.
Foto de Josue Isai Ramos Figueroa en Unsplash
But with my student visa already expired, I had to return and, in addition to that, my father's illness kept me tied to the country. By then, the public medical service was still of some use, and with the job I got upon my return, I was able to have an economic stability that helped me to pay for medicines and treatments, although in the end my father succumbed to colon cancer at the age of 60.
A couple of years after that, my first son was born, and I remember that I was working as a scriptwriter for a TV program, in which I was asked to talk about everyday topics. One of them was to talk about the great supply of toilet paper that existed at that time, and although it seems banal, I want to emphasize it, because it was not more than 10 years later, when all that was over.
I lived before my eyes, the destruction of a country rich in mineral resources (gold, iron, aluminum, oil) and natural resources (water, land) in such a short time, that it seemed as if it was all a lie.
Foto de Romeo Varga en Unsplash
I went from making large monthly markets for my family, to eating food that I would never have imagined. Trying to trick my children by giving them stewed banana peels, pretending it was meat, was a new turning point in my life.
From that moment on, the idea of emigrating was the best option, and so it was. Although for the last 20 years my network of friendships has been broken up by an extreme migration from Venezuela to the rest of the planet.
Now, 20 years later, I see with sadness what we lost as a country, but also what I had to leave behind and still cannot recover.
20 years is nothing, says a tango immortalized by Carlos Gardel, a French naturalized Argentinean who ended up being one of the great exponents of this musical genre worldwide. But in my case, the changes of the last 20 years have profoundly marked the future of many, especially Venezuelans.
Photo by: Romeo Varga and Josue Isai Ramos Figueroa
Cover picture Behnam Norouzi en Unsplash
Edited by @mamaemigrante using canva
Translated with Deepl
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
From Venezuela, our witness drives decentralization and the adoption of Web3 technology, creating opportunities for the local community and contributing to the global ecosystem. // Desde Venezuela, nuestro testigo impulsa la descentralización y la adopción de la tecnología Web3, generando oportunidades para la comunidad local y contribuyendo al ecosistema global.
Sigue, contacta y se parte del testigo en: // Follow, contact and be part of the witness in:
20 años no es nada cuando se vive en abundancia, prosperidad y facilidad, pero si las condiciones son al contrario se vuelven una eternidad
Sentidas y verdaderas palabras que reflejan los cambios que suceden en nuestro entorno y nos afectan en el interior del ser.
20 years is nothing when you live in abundance, prosperity and ease, but if the conditions are the opposite, it becomes an eternity.
Heartfelt and true words that reflect the changes that happen in our environment and affect us in our inner being.
Haya amiga que de cosas nos hemos aguantos en estos últimos 20 años. Duro nos ha tocado.
Tu tuviste la valentía como ta tos otros de cambiar de panorama.
Que buena publicación, prácticamente resume todo lo vivido de un Venezolano durante 20 años, en nuestra amada patria, una publicación que te hace retroceder en el tiempo y te lleva la mente a esos amargos recuerdos que como Venezolano viviste mientras estaba allí y que todavía lo sigue, viviendo nuestros familiares, amigos y demás, espero esté calma termine pronto y mi querida Venezuela vuelva a ser libre y se levante en todos los aspecto, no se si regresaré a Venezuela para vivir y disfrutar de ese momento, pero en lo profundo de mi alma es lo que más deseo. Saludos estimada amiga….
I believe deeply in destiny and if you had to go through storms, it is because that is how it was written. What I don't know is how the book of your life continues, but like everything else, whenever something goes down, it always has to come back up. You have already hit bottom, it is time for you to start growing in abundance.
Greetings, my friend.
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STOPVenezuela and Nigeria are two countries on opposite sides of the world that were immensely rich in natural resources. They were governed by the most inept and criminal politicians, it is a travesty and downright injustice that neither have been a blossoming working country that people want to emigrate to.
Your bio has you in Argentina, so I am guessing you did finally leave Venezuela?
Hello @mamaemigrante
This is @tengolotodo and I'm part of the Silver Bloggers’ Community Team.
Thank you for sharing your excellent post in the Silver Bloggers community! As a special "token" of appreciation for this contribution to our community, it has been upvoted, reblogged and curated.
Your story touched my heart @mamaemigrante, so tragic that you had to leave your home country! Corrupt and incompetent politicians are destroying many countries worldwide.
We're faced with similar issues here in South Africa, people have been emigrating in their droves. A country rich in natural resources is being looted, basic infrastructure is collapsing, and we have a huge unemployment rate. No wonder crime has escalated!
It is so awfully sad to hear how people worldwide are suffering because their leaders are corrupt!
Well written blog.
We don't have to look far to see the ripples in the pond! Full alert here now till well after the elections, stay safe!
Till today I do not listen or watch the news, the bad news they carry around is just too much.
This was an interesting read, Thanks for sharing.
We live in hope everything will normalize, not to be, so many places are not what they were in 2004.
Much like you it is confusing a handful driven by destruction, leads to poverty, driving youth to find new lands.
Wherever you go I wish you happiness, never easy to walk away from our country of birth.
You've been curated by @plantpoweronhive! Delegations welcome!