Decembers

Contain humor: When we travel, we travel because we want an experience, not because of pictures. Okay, that’s an understatement. Everyone takes pictures. Some more, some less.

TCB, baby. You do what you want.

Oftentimes when I meet travelers we talk about trips and I’ve been asked many times what’s my favorite trip ever. I have some luggage and I try the minimalist style but gosh half of my bags are full of photos, cards, and most importantly, currencies. I have lost the count. I dont’ have one BRL (my home country currency) but perhaps in South Africa I could get a candy.

The indelicate truth is that at the end nobody cares if we travel. Everyone who has to know already knows we are travelers, so that’s the point. We have traveled and that’s all. Plus, it doesn’t matter where you have been, all you have is 20 seconds to talk about your trips. No one is going to get that interested. Been there? Nice. Been here? Nice. And the best: been to Nice? NICE. But been to Mars? Wow, that’s starting to get interesting! We will give you 40 seconds.

Now back to my favorite trip on this Earth. I’ve got 10 seconds to entertain you dear reader so here is an indelicate truth. It was Moscow, last December. This weekend I’ve just met a Belarusian and last month I was working with Ukrainians. Is this a contradiction? Yes, yes, yes, 100 times yes. But with contradictions we learn something. WHY?

Because at the end of the road “time and reflection modify your vision”, quoting Paul Cézanne. This is a quote I found at London’s Tate Modern while visiting it with a friend of mine a few months ago. But why Moscow, why time, reflection, vision, why? I always wanted to go there as I studied Russian Studies, besides that I did work with Russian organizations and projects, but I later knew that after an amazing week meeting people from all over the world (mostly from the global south) it was still a life-changing experience at 21. Now looking back as I'm 22, Moscow told me in secret that it was the end. The end of many things in my life.

With the endings, there are new beginnings.
This December I'm back to Albania for the 3rd time.
This month the state of affairs tells us that I(sr)
and P(al)  don’t get along. B(el) and R(us) are going
to be  mad at U(kr) for a while. And it’s crazy to think
that V(en) is occupying the G(uy). The guy? Oh boy.
Do we have to support these things, nein.
But do we have to reflect? da!

Modifying our vision is key to not repeat mistakes. If there’s something I’ve learned with one of my first mentors was that every experience is good because it allows you to grow.

If you have read this one, let me know your thoughts, and see you in the next chronicle.

And as I usualy bring a reflective song, my 2 cents go to Ms. Swift today who is shaking the world too (science tells us music gives goosebumps and joyful moments):

But I keep cruisin'
Can't stop, won't stop movin'
Players gonna play. And the haters gonna hate.
Heartbreakers gonna break. And the fakers gonna fake.
Baby, I'm just gonna shake.
I shake it off, I shake it off (hoo-hoo-hoo). SHAKE IT OFF>

RIP.
In honor of a different Amelie, not anyone, but a certain Poulain.

Let's say today's graphics are more abstract. Modern.

In some places this is also known as western ideology.

They say Demos are not for everyone. Beta version loading...