Diego - Painters' Gallery
Well I’m back in Sydney - welcome to reality - ready to confront 2004 full of energy.
This year is really important to me. I really want to achieve several goals and most of them are decisive for my future life.
I’m going to apply for residency in Australia. Yes!
I have been working really hard for this, almost three years and I am almost there. Well it is a long story but I feel like writing it down now, to encourage myself for this New Year.
It is just that I don’t know how to start but I’m remembering how hard it was to leave my country, how difficult it was to leave my family, to leave my friends and a really stable economic situation.
I remember that I sold all my stuff, everything that I really liked and all the things that took me time and effort to collect; things like my plants, my truck and my dog Draco. I had to start again with nothing, just a dream in my pocket. (This reminds me how good it was to read the Alchemist by Coelho)…Wow what years!!!
The first year was really hard, especially because nothing was certain. I just knew that I didn’t want to be in Peru anymore. It is not because I don’t like my country, I love it! But, I couldn’t stand to be there any more…well, not for now.
My country is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever been to. It has beautiful beaches, huge mountains and the amazing Amazon. Rich in natural resources, culture and beautiful people. It has everything; minerals like gold, silver and copper - plants like Uña de gato and a bunch of medicinal plants that maybe could be the cure for the most horrible disease. It also has the most amazing animals in the world like the pink dolphins, pumas, monkeys and cholos con revolver. More than that, its ocean is rich in sea animals too, and also has the most variety of and perfect waves in the world…wow what waves…
I remember going backpacking with my brother and friends up the mountains… just with an old map, hungry for adventure.
In Peru, you can be in the middle of nowhere in just five hours and see people who live in the mountains far away from civilization. They even live without electricity, just in small primitive houses. You will see some chickens around and maybe some mountain goats…
Sometimes these Serrano’s people cannot even speak Spanish, just the kechua that is one of Incas languages and you will be just as surprised to see them as they are; amazing people…
Peru is a beautiful country but the system and the mediocrity of some people make the country a place were poverty is a national symbol and frustration is its loyal partner. There are not many opportunities in Peru. You have to create your own. Being creative is a big part of the culture.
We grow up being creative: Being creative can be confusing sometimes especially if you think about survivals skills.
It is very interesting that you can go to the street and always find something that makes you think; wow that’s creative...I love it.
I love it when you are in a bus and suddenly these small kids jump in from the back door without being noticed by the driver. They locate themselves strategically and when they get in the right position, they start their show.
First they start with a short speech in order to capture the attention of the passengers... “Ladies and gentleman while you are having a trip I WOULD like to sing a song that I really like and I hope you will like it to”
They take out of their pockets a couple of objects and hold them with their hands like holding a big grenade and start to rasparthem making a rips, rips, rips sound and then sing. If you really look close the objects are just a couple of shells from the beach... the sounds are magic - it is magic my friend.
I have friends that come from the best private schools in Peru, with bachelor degrees and masters from the best universities not only from Peru but also overseas, with a lot of very good connections and contacts, but still looking for a job after almost two years
For the continuation of this ten page story down load PDF - Click here