I just spent 33 hours on a bus from Santiago to Arica. I have learned to really appreciate these long trips (although this one may have been a little too lng for comfort), because they force me to slow down and reflect upon what I have been seeing and experiencing. This busride marks a major transition for me. Like I said before, I turned down the opportunity to work on another farm because I wanted to see the North of Chile. So here I am. On a bus going North. I`ll start in Arica, which i son the border of Chile and Peru, and work my way down to Santiago where I will fly home on May 2nd. But before I commit myself entirely to the reality of the Northern desert, I want to reflect upon the realities I have been blessed to experience on farms over the past five months. Clearly, there is far too much to say in words or put in writing, and obviously I will be continuing to decompress this experience for years to come. So consider this a brainstorming session, rather than a final thesis.
What is real in San Jan: I learned that it is never too late to change your life. After spending years in an office working as investment bankers, Pedro and his wife moved to a plot of ragged land and started to create a beautiful educational farm. They were brave and they chose a path different from the rest of their family, and they are happy. But in order to succeed, they needed help. They do use some books and online resources (although I think they should take advantage of other people`s published knowledge and read more), but the majority of the help they receive is international. WWOOFing has given them the chance to use the skills and knowledge of people from around the world. With our help, and with their ideas and their guidance, we have been able to transform this desolate piece of land into a farm. But we have to think long term: even after three years of intense hard work, the farm isn`t perfect. So you must take one day at a time—you must enjoy the food you eat and talk about how it was made, you must go to town each day to buy what you need and talk with your neighbors, you must give your body its daily siesta so it can continue to function for you, you must slow down and love what is around you, and you must work hard with those around you. And that´s the only way anything great—allbeit difficult—can be accomplished.
What is real in El Bolson: These are some of the happiest people I have ever met in my entire life. Here, at the heart of their reality is their community. As Blanca Rosa said, everyone here more or less shares the same vision—respect for life, awe of nature, love of each other. There is a feeilng of warmth and generosity in the air, and it is because everyone appreciates and utilizes the skills and offerings of their neighbors. In the market, every niche is filled. Crasfts. Seeds. Music. Entertainment. Home products. Food. Whatever you are good at, you embrace and you share. That is community. You do favors for each other. You have conversations about important issues. You support other people`s projects. You live comfortably, and you take only what you need. You live with nature, and you live with each other. In this reality, everyone has a sparkle in their eye.
What is real in Tunuyan: The best things in life are worth fighting for. Here, nothing comes easily. These women gave up their comfortable lives in the United States to begin their own farm in a small conservative town in Argentina. For them, there is no other way to live. At the end of the day, reality is food. Reality is producing what you need to surive. Reality is living in relation with nature. Reality is learning to listen to yourself and to love yourself. But while you can make your own decisions and create your own life, you are still part of a greater global reality—one that you cannot control, but you can respond to. In this current global reality, we are all heading for a very big collapse. Those who live at the highest levels will have the furthest to fall, and those who live at the lowest levels may not survive. This global reality, unfortunately, is largely the result of selfish actions taken by leaders in the United States (leaders of the past and of the present). This reality broke my heart, and made me bitter. But I cannot control this reality, I can only respond. And I must respond, because the more you learn, the more responsability you have. But pessimism and isolation will not work for me, although they appear to work for those on the farm. For me, the only reality I want to live is one of inspiration through optimism and of happiness through laughter, gardening, music, dance, and nature.
What is real in Pucon: The reality of a farmer is one of hard work. It is all-encompassing. Farming is a business—and you must always be aware of your financial situation—but it is also a way of life—and you must live a simple life in union with nature. These farmers have no time to advocate for themselves against the governments and big-businesses that are taking advantage of them. But they choose this life because it is beautiful, pure, and wonderful. The unhappiness and tension that resides on thsi farm, however, comes from three factors: the constant desire to buy more land, the self-imposed obligations to their family, their unwillingness to really participate in the larger community. I believe that farming could be the happiest lifestyle, however only if you are a farmer who can share with his community, who can make his own life choices without feeling indebted to family, and who works to live comfortably rather than to keep accumulating more and more. Only then will their reality be filled with that spark and optimism the life of a farmer deserves.
...at least that`s what seems real for now.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Well, hello there.