TODO TIENE UN FINAL…TODO TERMINA

This time I’ve chosen to start my last posting with a part of the famous lyrics of the song “PRESENT” by Vox Dei. I’m not saying anything new if I say that everything has an end and everything finishes. However, from time to time, it’s not pointless to remind us that we’re not caught in endless and forever-lasting situations and that leaving some situations behind is a natural part of growing.

Starting my last posting with this phrase is totally appropriate since we’re all nearing an end. If yet quite early to talk about the end of the year, we can at least speak of the end of classes. In the blink of an eye, another term has almost elapsed and we’re on the verge of the stressful and demanding period of preparing for the final exams. This year, however, we’re approaching a different end. In my case, I’ll be completing a series of consecutive subjects which I started back in first year such as Phonology, Language and Literature. What about what I feel? A mixture of emotions. A mixture of self- accomplishment for having completed successfully most of my course of studies together with melancholy for having to say goodbye to a number of subjects that were an essential part of my daily routine for four years.

Hand in hand with the end of classes –more specifically language classes- goes the end of this experience of blogging. In my case, this was a most rewarding experience. I had to learn from scratch all what now, I do almost mechanically.

I can say I like endings because each end implies the beginning of a new era full of new challenges and rewards. However, they also involve leaving behind a period which in my case I enjoyed a lot. But as life itself, all situations in life consist of a cycle which eventually comes to an end. And we must do anything but accept it.

Thanks for sharing a wonderful year together!

It’s high time we said: ENOUGH!

Whenever we turn our TVs on, most of us feel surely infuriated at knowing that another innocent citizen has fallen prey to insecurity. Inevitably, we can’t help thinking that it may be us or some beloved person the next victim. What are we masters of if we are not allowed to be the masters of our own lives? Anyone with a knife or a gun can put an end to our lives in a matter of a few seconds.

For those of us who live in towns- small earthly paradises- insecurity is not a direct problem. We can still go out without fearing the worst. Having your cellphones, wallets and bags stolen or your life taken away for stealing your bike are terrible acts we, fortunately enough, still witness through the media. In big cities, however, despicable robberies, assaults and crimes are commonplace. Doubtlessly, the place that represents the summit of insecurity is Buenos Aires. There, crime rates have risen to record levels, with many people being murdered every single day.

I wonder what we-citizens- are waiting for to demand reforms from the Government. I can’t believe that some politicians defend the criminals’ ‘human rights’ rather than that of their victims. This week, the whole country witnessed the murder of Mariano Ferreyra, a young activist of Partido Obrero, in the hands of the ‘Unión Ferroviaria’ mob. They enjoyed a liberated zone by the police, who was there but didn’t have permission to act. In response to the death of this innocent person, a day of strikes and protests was called for. Hundreds of people marched to and gathered at Plaza de Mayo to demand justice.


We can’t live in this state of impunity any longer. We can’t allow anyone else to have a gun, to murder and to go unpunished. Governments: stop arguing that insecurity is being sensationalized. Insecurity is real and is depriving most of us of a dignified life! I’m totally in favour of society marching to say ‘enough’. However, it’s a pity we are only reminded of the necessity to act whenever another innocent person is killed. How many ‘Marianos’ will there still be before politicians react and offer concrete solutions to the growing problem of insecurity?

A day to reflect!

October, 12th! What happens if we ask somebody to say the first idea that comes to their mind when they hear this phrase? Most probably, public holiday! A day to rest from the stressful day-to-day work or school routine. Perhaps only a few would claim that this is the day when we celebrate ‘Día de la raza’ or ‘Día de la diversidad cultural’. Does this generalized cultural oblivion reflect the neglect of aborigines? Most probably.

Years pass by and all that we find on October, 12th are ‘empty’ political speeches and tributes in the news to the group of natives who witnessed and suffered the ‘discovery’ of their land. And of course they deserve the most remarkable tributes because it was they who were brutally tortured and killed in cold blood for defending what was theirs: their culture and their land. But is that enough?

I believe that even though bringing back to memory our own past and history is essential, we need at the same time to move forward and reflect on and try to improve our sad reality: 50 millions of indigenous peoples in the whole of America striving to have their rights recognized. It seems that nobody care about the descendants of the original settlers of our land who live in a shameful state of alienation and poverty. What’s more, many natives are now suffering from extractive industries who keep on perpetuating colonization. Thus, many natives see their land taken away in the name of ‘progress’ to install oil wells or grow soya crops.

I believe it is paradoxical that while we’ve been watching different tributes to Indigenous peoples these days, they still live in a context of alienation, exclusion and racism. It is high time governments start considering the present situation of aborigines as a priority in their agendas.

Growing old

Now that almost all of us have made our presentations, I decided to choose one of the topics and reflect on it: Growing old.

Growing old is part of the natural life cycle. Thus, since we are able to apply critical thinking, we fully understand that getting old is an unavoidable fact of life. But does understanding of this inescapable reality ensure its acceptance? I’m afraid it doesn’t. At least it is so in my case. Although we all know that no one is immortal, we somehow seem to believe deep down that an exception will be made in our case.

Every stage in life is full of its own charms. Each stage unfolds unique, unforgettable and rewarding experiences. Therefore, we shouldn’t be afraid of moving on.

Childhood abounds with plays and fun. Kids don’t have a job to keep or bills to pay. Children enjoy running, jumping, playing dressed-up and creating endless stories out of their imaginations.

During adolescence, teenagers enjoy a life which is not yet characterized by full responsibilities. It is an age of socialization: adolescents take part in countless social meetings, forge strong bonds with their friends and meet new people. During this stage, they also enjoy their first love.

By the end of adolescence, many need to take one of the most difficult decisions in life: the choice of a course of studies. With this comes more responsibilities, more hours of study and less hours of spare time. Mind you, this is a very rewarding and enjoyable stage where most of us are studying what we really enjoy while at the same time being pampered and economically sustained by our own families.

Adulthood may also abound with extraordinary experiences. Everybody who was able to find a partner and raise a family must easily account for the happiness that they find from being surrounded by the love of children and grandchildren.

However, in spite of the fact that there are many happy and rewarding situations waiting to be experienced in every single stage in life, I still feel quite afraid of moving ahead. And I think this will be even worse in some decades. Yes, I’m afraid of growing old. Why? Not because old age has nothing to offer since this is hardly true. Old age has some glorious rewards. It’s a time to enjoy retirement and spare time which will allow us to devote ourselves to hobbies and preferences. However, as time passes by, we become more and more aware that we are coming to an end. It’s almost painful for me to accept that once I leave this world, there will never ever be anything ahead. I’m afraid of time elapsing too quickly and not being able to accomplish all the dreams I dream to achieve. There is so much joy in living that I will like to live forever!