What separates us should instead bring us closer

 Although I haven't been blogging lately, I've been reading other blogs. I wanted to come say hi, and write, something, but I was wordless, not for lack of topics to talk about, but for ways to express myself, and the will to share my thoughts. I do, however, want to talk about the video I posted a few months ago: The dangers of a single story.

A friend, whom I had not been in touch for a while, sent this video to me to show me how I was being narrow-minded and not nice to her. After hearing her point of view, I explained mine, and I think we got on to a good start. I was deeply touched by the video, though, because it rings true to me in so many ways that I wanted to share with the world, hoping that I'd be able to enlighten some more people into knowing that it's unfair to see only one side of a person or a situation. I believe ignorance and stupidity lead to intolerance, and that for lack of understanding another person's point of view we end up having prejudice. We don't understand or even respect other people and the way they want to live their lives. I also believe that if everyone gave it a try, and put themselves in other people's shoes, our world would be a more peaceful place.

I come from a good middle-class family with a good lifestyle, I went to a good university before moving to Canada, I studied law and was set to be a lawyer. But I decided on a different path and I moved to Canada as a nanny. I've said before that immigrating is life being born again, because you don't have history, people don't know all of the sides of you, just a single story of your struggle to adapt to a new country, with a new language and  a different culture. I've been taking care of my little ones for 3 and a half years now, and I'm good at what I do, just as I believe I'll be good at anything else. When I tell people that I'm changing jobs soon because I want to focus on my education I get a funny look when I say I study Political Science and Economics. Comments like "Oh, wow, I thought you'd be a  teacher" or "Oh, that must be hard., " and even "isn't it expensive?" I guess most people assume that because I love kids, that I should or would be focusing on working with them. Or because I immigrated as a nanny that I have no aspirations regarding education or that I'm here because my conditions in Brazil were bad. 

I understand that for many girls, that come like I came, it's about survival and to seek a better life in Canada, but to assume that we're all in the same boat, is to not care about our personal stories. I don't think people should know about my personal history, but let's admit that we all lack understanding about other countries and we choose to believe in stereotypes and on the stories of few who we happen to hear here and there.

In my case it's just annoying to get looks when you correct people of their stupidity, but in some cases, when you look only at one side of the story, it involves countries, beliefs and millions of people. I'm to blame just as many around me. I also jump into conclusions and false judgments of cultures and situations, but I really try to keep an open mind and to not close myself before giving someone or another culture a chance.

We just want to be heard, to be respected and to be seen. It's funny to see that people fight to be different, but in reality, they end up looking the same within a group. It is as if we're all voicing our values on our clothes and behaviour, but we always end up part of a "clan" of people who believe and act, just as you do. Different nationalities, different cultures, different sex, different beliefs, different religions.. In the end we're all humans, and we suffer from the same problems and we search the same end as to live a peaceful life with people we love. 

The danger of a single story

This video is too good not to share. It talks about the danger of having one, and one only, idea or perspective of a person, a country, or a situation.

I'll come back to comment more later, but I have to go back to my philosophy paper... The end of the semester is near!

If Music be the Food of love, Play on!

It's almost 3 in the morning but I can't sleep. Thinking back now, there are at least 10 posts I'd like to have written this past 2 months, but instead of putting my life into words, I was actually, for once, living it. I'm a person who lives for the future, but is always attached to the past, being nostalgic about something good that happened. Today, as I was listening to the soundtrack of my city-hopping trip (my backpack tour through Europe last winter) the memories that came to me, weren't of me leaving Rouen back to Paris. I was totally in the moment, singing lyrics that have been true to me, but that somehow, are not anymore. Well, a little bit at least. 

I lost track how many times I heard "Perfectly Lonely" in the bus, train, or metro in Europe. It was like an anthem of someone that was enjoying life solo, totally comfortable about being on her own skin.. A long time running from what I used to be. I believe that being alone is better than being in bad company, and my time is worth millions to me, to waste it with someone who won't bring change to my world. Maybe, that's why the lyrics ringed true from the first time I heard them:

Nothing to do

Nowhere to be

A simple little a kind of free

Nothing to do

No one but me

That's is all I need

I'm perfectly lonely
 I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
Yeaah...
Cause I don't belong to anyone
And nobody belongs to me

We Are More

We Are More
by Shane Koyczan

When defining Canada
you might list some statistics
you might mention our tallest building
or biggest lake
you might shake a tree in the fall
and call a red leaf Canada
you might rattle off some celebrities
might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie
might even mention the fact that we've got a few
Barenaked Ladies
or that we made these crazy things
like zippers
electric cars
and washing machines
when defining Canada
it seems the world's anthem has been
"been there done that"
and maybe that's where we used to be at
it's true
we've done and we've been
we've seen
all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine
and turned into theme parks
but when defining Canada
don't forget to mention that we have set sparks
we are not just fishing stories
about the one that got away
we do more than sit around and say "eh?"
and yes
we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One
who inspired little number nines
and little number ninety-nines
but we're more than just hockey and fishing lines
off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes
and some say what defines us
is something as simple as please and thank you
and as for you're welcome
well we say that too
but we are more
than genteel or civilized
we are an idea in the process
of being realized
we are young
we are cultures strung together
then woven into a tapestry
and the design
is what makes us more
than the sum total of our history
we are an experiment going right for a change
with influences that range from a to zed
and yes we say zed instead of zee
we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy
we dream so big that there are those
who would call our ambition an industry
because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow
we do more than grow wheat and brew beer
we are vineyards of good year after good year
we reforest what we clear
because we believe in generations beyond our own
knowing now that so many of us
have grown past what used to be
we can stand here today
filled with all the hope people have
when they say things like "someday"
someday we'll be great
someday we'll be this
or that
someday we'll be at a point
when someday was yesterday
and all of our aspirations will pay the way
for those who on that day
look towards tomorrow
and still they say someday
we will reach the goals we set
and we will get interest on our inspiration
because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks
more than backpacks and hiking trails
we are hammers and nails building bridges
towards those who are willing to walk across
we are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss
we are not the see-through gloss or glamour
of those who clamour for the failings of others
we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers
uncles and nephews aunts and nieces
we are cousins
we are found missing puzzle pieces
we are families with room at the table for newcomers
we are more than summers and winters
more than on and off seasons
we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay
because we are more than what we say or do
we live to get past what we go through
and learn who we are
we are students
students who study the studiousness of studying
so we know what as well as why
we don't have all the answers
but we try
and the effort is what makes us more
we don't all know what it is in life we're looking for
so keep exploring
go far and wide
or go inside but go deep
go deep
as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss
and suddenly there was this location scout
trying to figure some way out
to get inside you
because you've been through hell and high water
and you went deep
keep exploring

CISV and the Olympic Games

A while back, I friend of mine posted on Facebook that the Olympic Village in Vancouver looks like a CISV camp: Full of flags! The more I thought about it, the more I liked her analogy. Last year, I was an adult leader at a Village Camp for CISV. I was responsible for 4 children who were 11 years old, and we traveled across Canada to meet another 56 children and 20 adults. We spent a month playing, learning about each others cultures, teaching others about our countries, correcting stereotypes, and Building Global Friendship. It was a wonderful summer, a wonderful experience, and one that I can't wait to repeat (although I won't be able to go this summer for lack of vacation time). The children at camp were chosen to represent their countries, their culture and their beliefs. 

At camp, there were people representing 4 of the 5 continents, and although not every child spoke fluent English, everyone was able to communicate and to have a great experience. There wasn't any competition, and there wasn't anyone trying to prove they were the best in something, but I think I can relate to some of its aspects to the Olympic Games here in Vancouver. First, the games gather together people from over 80 countries in the world. These countries, from  all 5 continents) might or not have a history with winter sports, but somehow, these athletes fell in love with the art of the North Pole, and here they are.

Some people will be watching them carefully, wishing they were in the athletes place. Over 5000 of them made their way to the Olympics. Some of these will go back home with with a medal. Some will have realized the experience of merely participating in the games. I can already see (and hear) lots of children that are seeing these magic moments, and will grow up with a dream. A dream to participate in the games in a distance, or not so much, future. It's common to watch interview with winners and they'll comment on their heroes and the inspirational moment that started the dream. 

If you ask me, I'd love to be participating in the events outside the competition. I see the Olympic Villages as a big Village Camp with people from all over. They're here to compete, and I doubt there is one who will come thinking they're here just for "being," but besides the games, when their competition is over, I bet they socialize, talk, enjoy and meet people from all over the world. I have many friends volunteering for the Olympics ( and I'm sad I didn't apply sooner, but I wasn't sure I'd have time between classes and work) and I can see all that goes on behind the scenes, with the lounge room where athletes can relax in the Village, or the place where they eat, live and sleep during the games. It's normal to see the athletes hanging out downtown, watching their friends competitions, and even in the skytrain. After all, they're just normal people (with special talents of course!).
 

As we approach the end of the games, I saw only one sore loser who didn't accept the silver. All other times, people were congratulating each other, and some athletes even train together although they compete for different countries. There are athletes who changed countries to be able to compete, those who are competing for their parents citizenship. It doesn't make a difference. In the end, they're here, and they're participating in the magic. As I said before, just as a CISV camp has a peace education program, the games serve the purpose of healthy competition, instead of irrational rivalry. I hope everyone taking part in the games enjoy them as much as possible. It is a magical event that happens only so often, and for the 5000 athletes, 25000 volunteers, thousands of workers and spectators, will forever leave a mark. Just like my summer Camp.