Septiembre 27, 2004
One Year Ago
One year ago today, I returned from my second year-long stint in Bolivia. Even though my brother’s wedding was the official reason to why I decided it was time to come back, I fully acknowledge that I was wandering aimlessly in Bolivia with no sense of clear purpose. All signs pointed to trying something new.
My translating gig with an Alternative Development organization more than paid the bills, yet it had little to do with my education or general interests.. With that job, I was able to accompany a delegation from Colombia into the Chapare region. However, that experience was less than two weeks. Seeing poverty kilometers away from the larger towns and main highway just added to my internal database of knowledge tucked away for future reference.
Upon further reflection, the wealth of experiences that I have had in Bolivia continued to add up. Putting them into words was something I’ve always had difficulty with, as I prefer to take in information through my senses, and somehow it registers.
Reading old journals from that first year (nearly four years ago), I cringe and laugh at my relative naivety. I’ve come a long way in better understanding my country and how I fit into that paradox of being an American and a Bolivia at the same time. However, I acknowledge that my internal struggle with self and cultural identity has no end in sight.
Throughout the past twelve months, my mind inevitably wandered back to Bolivia. Flashbacks from my recent history there have encouraged me to ponder the purpose of all those experiences. I am not satisfied with having those experiences for the sole sake of having them. In my mind, they have to used for an eventual purpose.
Ever since I’ve graduated high school, I’ve felt as if I’m working towards something. Every single experience, person that I’ve met, degree that I’ve received, was part of a greater and loftier goal. Over that time period, those goals have come and gone, and now it seems as if the struggle to define the goal at hand, is more difficult than ever. If I can’t use those experiences for the greater good, then what value do they have?
Posted by eduardo at Septiembre 27, 2004 12:44 PM
Comments
Gracias por compartir tus reflexiones Eduardo!
maria teresa
Posted by: maria teresa at Octubre 11, 2004 11:04 PM