It's January 9, 2011 and already an article has been published predicting the countries most likely to go to war in 2011 or to have civil unrest. Of course, I am living in one of them. Shocking! I attract mishaps, danger but rarely complete destruction. Of the other 12 mentioned, I plan to visit 2 of them in the upcoming month: Columbia and Haiti.
One might ask "Why?" Quite frankly, I believe 'Why not?' We must make our own truths and I am one that continues to hope and believe that there is an ultimate beauty in the face of chaos. Somehow beneath the hunger, the ones challenged by their government and the ones challenging their government, the pain and frustration, their is hope in the faces and kindness of humanity. Additionally, there is a curiosity and a life force that makes us want to know and understand and improve our daily lives. Even if we can't live under the crooked umbrella of many of our governments, we have to believe that we can make our lives wonderful independently and have dreams.
So, I will continue to stay here and try to bring out those dreams in this upcoming project. The beforeidieiwantto project aims to humanize polarized cultures and make people realize that we all have very similar dreams no matter where we come from and that ultimately, with connection and dedication, we can help each other fulfill those dreams. Venezuela needs this project, it needs something even if it's something small to bring people together. And though it might be dangerous the idea of rich and poor, over educated and undereducated stories all being highlighted under the same roof, these stories need to be illuminated and shared with each other as a country and with the world.
In Haiti, I have no objectives but to see a friend and be spiritually uplifted by our connections. Perhaps, with that initiative, the one of not having an initiative, I will see more than I anticipate or want to. However, as an educator, right now, the only place to be is in countries like this, living dangerously. Maybe? Or maybe, we are actually just living aloud and real life and change are happening directly in front of our faces instead of under the surface in newspapers slowly. This thing of experiential learning; of being a part of history instead of reading about it in the newspapers. There's something to be said for that and oral histories and narratives passed on to children, friends and colleagues around the world will provide a deeper, if slightly opinionated insight that we always don't get from reading the New York times.
Finally, in Columbia, I will head to do a seminar on cross-cultural leadership training. To be perfectly honest, I am not sure whether this seminar is being conducted in English or Spanish. I am capable of either but it will be whole if it is in Spanish with the cross cultural aspect. Still, after Columbia being romanticized as the rejuvenated country of South America's north side this past year, I look forward to seeing the dynamics at work if people believe war is slowly brewing under the surface. In Venezuela, Columbia is seen as the white swan and Venezuela as the black one from these side of the tracks, but see no evil, hear no evil.. I guess.
So, in true fashion of a year of living dangerously, I will not write about other travel plans or possible adventures. We'll see what happens and cross my fingers that I always remain just on the outside of the circle of action but close enough to where I can see and create somewhat of a valid perspective.
Here's to the crazy ones...
No comments:
Post a Comment