So, I have now spent a few months back in Northern Ireland
after spending a year living in Colombia, South America. Whilst in Colombia, I
was faced with what seemed like a never ending string of situations and
experiences that challenged me and helped me grow into something closer to the
person that I hope to be.
Marcel Proust, a popular French novelist and literary critic
stated that “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new
landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Leaving the comforts of a life as a
teacher in the UK in search of something more exciting, Colombia provided much
more than I ever expected, and perhaps desired in some occasions.
I grew to develop a love/hate relationship with the culture
and all aspects of life that stemmed from it. Like Proust said, I headed for
Latin America in search of seeking new landscapes, new sights and new
experiences but I was not ready…well not completely for some of the lessons
that I would have to learn during my time there.
I am a firm believer that in order to fully understand some
things, removing yourself (and in my case physically) from the situation who
can look at it with fresh eyes. Eyes that have had time to adjust to reality
and reflect critically but sensibly upon what they have just witnessed.
I guess that it is now time to look at my time in Colombia
through what I guess Proust would have called ‘new eyes’.
1.
Time is precious, spend it wisely
Corny, cheesy, cringe-worthy…call it what
you like but it’s true. There were times I wished my time away in Colombia,
desiring of returning home to the comforts of the UK or to other far-away
lands. Having lived in various parts of the UK, Europe, Asia and South
America…I have become used to but not numb to having to say goodbye. Every time
I leave somewhere, and a little piece of my soul there I can’t help but be
thankful for the time I spent there growing to know a new culture and
developing friendships. Time really is precious; spend it wisely doing whatever
it is that makes you happy…and never stop
2.
Tell people daily as much as you can how much
you love them
Being British, we tend not to open up our
hearts and struggle to show our emotions. Perhaps it’s due to a fear of
rejection, or of being hurt. Perhaps, more simply, we see it as unnecessary and
perhaps slightly OTT. In Colombia, I grew to not only accept or appreciate but
begin to endorse the Latin American culture of telling people how much I loved
them. Family and friendships are fundamental aspects of not just Latino culture
but the world and the essence of life itself.
3.
Be thankful for what you have. There is always
someone worse off than you
I am by no means wealthy. I am a Modern
Foreign Languages teacher in a London school. My salary disappears on rent,
bills and transport. Nonetheless, I have learnt to stop complaining. I have
friends, I have family, and I have opportunities. Travel has opened my eyes to
the fact that I am extremely lucky and I hope that I never cease to realise how
blessed I am. I have worked with orphaned children in Uganda, spoke to land
mine victims in Cambodia, seen the prostitutes at work and the homeless begging
in Colombia and thank God every time that it’s not me…not out of pity, nor to
be patronising but to appreciate that life has been kind to me and to be thankful.
4.
Push yourself out of your comfort zones. You
will be amazed at what you will learn
Go bungee jumping, trek the Andes in
Ecuador alone, take a one-way flight to Bogotá. Whatever it is that pushes you
to the extreme…do it. Sometimes, it’s scary, sometimes it’s hard but the
rewards are endless. Walsch said ‘life begins at the end of your comfort zone’.
Push yourself until you find whatever it is you’re looking for.
5.
Never judge a book by its cover
During my time in Colombia, I met a lot of
people. Spending time in hostels and talking to strangers taught me that you
should never make assumptions. Respect people, their culture and the decisions
they have made as to how they live their life. Try not to be prejudice towards
someone based purely upon their nationality, stereotype, gender, sexuality or
anything else which you feel may define them as a human being.
6.
Take risks but be prepared to suffer the
consequences
It’s good to take risks but that’s not
always to say that you don’t have to suffer the consequences of your actions.
Stepping out of your comfort zone is never easy and sometimes you end up in
tricky situations, especially abroad. Move on from your errors, reflect upon
your past but try not to dwell upon it.
7.
Being alone and being lonely are not necessarily
the same thing
There is nothing wrong with being on your own.
This year I took a month to travel myself around Ecuador. This was my first
experience of travelling properly on my own, and it was exactly what I needed…a
sort of meditation. I left all my ‘baggage’ back in the jungle somewhere in
Ecuador and headed back to my life in Colombia feeling fully refreshed and
rejuvenated.
8.
Stop and listen
I am a perfectionist. I like to do things
my way and I like to also tell people how I think things should get done. I
guess that being a teacher; I somehow feel that I am always right and that
being opinionated somehow makes me a better person. Recently, I read a blog by
a friend and gifted writer who wrote:
‘Read the signs - Take your time. Look for the red light and listen to
the alarm bells ringing. Go with your instinct and that gut feeling. Signs are
like a language that one has to practice throughout life in order to become
fluent. You can waste a lot of time and energy by denying the obvious, ignoring
the hints, warnings and nudges in the right direction. Follow the path that
leads you to peace by listening and understanding the energy that surrounds you’
Every so often, stop doing what you do and question your actions. Listen to
others and learn from them. Try to see others point of view, even if they are
contrary to your own…You never know what you might learn.
9.
It’s ok to make mistakes sometimes
Author Rick Warren wrote that “We are
products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it.” Learn from
your mistakes but try not to make them twice. Don’t become a slave to guilt and
certainly do not permit it to stop you living life to the full. Life wouldn’t
be half as interesting without a few stumbles and falls along the way. Our past
shapes our future, but it doesn’t have to dictate it. Find out who you want to
be and do what you have to do to get there, without letting your past stop you.
10.
If you put our mind to something…you can achieve
it
Realise that you are the captain to your own
ship…a piece of advice from my father. You are in control, no one else. Realise
that! Life is short and for living, but that’s not to see that it comes without
its own set of challenges and difficulties. Don’t let anything stand between
you and your goals.
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