Teacher. Traveler.

God.

2012-01-22T09:00:00.004+02:00

The subject of "God" is an extremely personal topic. I respect everyone's views and beliefs regarding God and I share the following thoughts hoping they may bless someone somewhere sometime.

"And he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him, and kissed him." Luke 15:20, NAS Bible

One day as I was reading the story of the prodigal son, the verbs in the verse above, regarding the prodigal's father, suddenly came alive. I had wondered so many times how God felt about me. Suddenly I knew, for through the prodigal's father I glimpsed the face and heart of God. My heavenly Father was a watching, running, weeping, laughing, embracing, kissing God! He was an encouraging, affirming, praising, affectionate kind of God.

Having the wrong idea of God is extremely sad and may lead us to never get to know who He really is and what He is like. Unfortunately many people think that God is out to get them and see Him as a policeman stopping them from having "fun." Others consider God a made-up story. Other people see Him as an "energy" to help them in whatever they need. God is none of these. God is the most amazing father you can possibly imagine !! He not only created each individual on earth, but when when everyone turned their back on Him, He sent His Son to call them back to Him. He forgave each of us before we even asked for His forgiveness.

Today He is waiting for you to come back to Him so He can embrace you. That's the God I know. He seeks to have a relationship with us, not out of duty, religiosity, or fear but out of love.

I l o v e my Abba Father because He l o v e d me first. When I came back to Him He ran to embrace me !! Every day I thank Him for His constant Grace and Blessings in my life. I am so thankful that He waited patiently for me and when He saw me coming back, He ran to embrace me.

That's who God is. A loving father waiting for you to come home to embrace you.

A blessed 2012 to all ! Un bendecido 2012 a todos !

2011-12-31T20:49:00.000+02:00

Many smiles and much life in 2012 to everybody !!

Muchas sonrisas y mucha vida en 2012 a tod@s !!

The Birth of Jesus

2011-12-24T21:55:00.001+02:00

The Birth of Jesus
Matthew 1:18-25
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (KJV)

Luke 2:1-14
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (KJV)

The Visit of the Shepherds
Luke 2:15-20
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (KJV)

The Visit of the Magi (Wise Men)
Matthew 2:1-12
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.' "
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. (KJV)

Peace on Earth
Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (KJV)

Peace with God
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (KJV)

The Loving Father. El Padre Amoroso.

2011-12-03T16:33:00.001+02:00

The Story of the Lost Son

11 Jesuscontinued, "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger son spoke tohis father. He said, 'Father, give me my share of the family property.' So thefather divided his property between his two sons.

13 "Notlong after that, the younger son packed up all he had. Then he left for acountry far away. There he wasted his money on wild living. 14 He spenteverything he had.

"Thenthe whole country ran low on food. So the son didn't have what he needed. 15 Hewent to work for someone who lived in that country, who sent him to the fieldsto feed the pigs. 16 The son wanted to fill his stomach with the food the pigswere eating. But no one gave him anything.

17 "Thenhe began to think clearly again. He said, 'How many of my father's hired workershave more than enough food! But here I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get upand go back to my father. I will say to him, "Father, I have sinnedagainst heaven. And I have sinned against you. 19 I am no longer fit to becalled your son. Make me like one of your hired workers." ' 20 So he gotup and went to his father.

"Whilethe son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tenderlove for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 "Theson said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am nolonger fit to be called your son.'

22 "Butthe father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him.Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattest calf andkill it. Let's have a big dinner and celebrate. 24 This son of mine was dead.And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.'

"So theybegan to celebrate.

25 "Theolder son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music anddancing. 26 So he called one of the servants. He asked him what was going on.

27 " 'Yourbrother has come home,' the servant replied. 'Your father has killed thefattest calf. He has done this because your brother is back safe and sound.'

28 "Theolder brother became angry. He refused to go in. So his father went out andbegged him.

29 "But heanswered his father, 'Look! All these years I've worked like a slave for you. Ihave always obeyed your orders. You never gave me even a young goat so I couldcelebrate with my friends. 30 But this son of yours wasted your money with someprostitutes. Now he comes home. And for him you kill the fattest calf!'

31 " 'Myson,' the father said, 'you are always with me. Everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad. This brother of yours was dead. And now heis alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.' "

Luke 15:11-32 New International Reader’s Version Bible

Elpadre amoroso

11 Jesús también les dijo:

«Un hombre tenía dos hijos. 12 Un día, elhijo más joven le dijo a su padre: “Papá, dame la parte de tu propiedad que metoca como herencia.” Entonces el padre repartió la herencia entre sus doshijos.

13 »A los pocos días, el hijo menor vendió loque su padre le había dado y se fue lejos, a otro país. Allá se dedicó a darsegusto, haciendo lo malo y gastando todo el dinero.

14 »Ya se había quedado sin nada, cuandocomenzó a faltar la comida en aquel país, y el joven empezó a pasar hambre. 15Entonces buscó trabajo, y el hombre que lo empleó lo mandó a cuidar cerdos ensu finca. 16 Al joven le daban ganas de comer aunque fuera la comida con quealimentaban a los cerdos, pero nadie se la daba.

17 »Por fin comprendió lo tonto que habíasido, y pensó: “En la finca de mi padre los trabajadores tienen toda la comidaque desean, y yo aquí me estoy muriendo de hambre. 18 Volveré a mi casa, yapenas llegue, le diré a mi padre que me he portado muy mal con Dios y con él.19 Le diré que no merezco ser su hijo, pero que me dé empleo, y que me tratecomo a cualquiera de sus trabajadores.” 20 Entonces regresó a la casa de supadre.

»Cuando todavía estaba lejos, su padrecorrió hacia él lleno de amor, y lo recibió con abrazos y besos. 21 El jovenempezó a decirle: “¡Papá, me he portado muy mal contra Dios y contra ti! ¡Ya nomerezco ser tu hijo!”

22 »Pero antes de que el muchacho terminara dehablar, el padre llamó a los sirvientes y les dijo: “¡Pronto! Traigan la mejorropa y vístanlo. Pónganle un anillo, y también sandalias. 23 ¡Maten el terneromás gordo y hagamos una gran fiesta, 24 porque mi hijo ha regresado! Es como sihubiera muerto, y ha vuelto a vivir. Se había perdido y lo hemos encontrado.”

»Y comenzó la fiesta.

25 »Mientras tanto, el hijo mayor estabatrabajando en el campo. Cuando regresó, se acercó a la casa y oyó la música yel baile. 26 Llamó a uno de los sirvientes y le preguntó: “¿Qué pasa?”

27 »El sirviente le dijo: “Es que tu hermanoha vuelto sano y salvo, y tu papá mandó matar el ternero más gordo para haceruna fiesta.”

28 »Entonces el hermano mayor se enojó mucho yno quiso entrar. Su padre tuvo que salir a rogarle que entrara. 29 Pero él, muyenojado, le dijo: “He trabajado para ti desde hace muchos años, y nunca te hedesobedecido; pero a mí jamás me has dado siquiera un cabrito para que haga unafiesta con mis amigos. 30 ¡Y ahora que vuelve ese hijo tuyo, después demalgastar todo tu dinero con prostitutas, matas para él el ternero más gordo!”

31 »El padre le contestó: “¡Pero hijo! Túsiempre estás conmigo, y todo lo que tengo es tuyo. 32 ¡Cómo no íbamos a haceruna fiesta y alegrarnos por el regreso de tu hermano! Es como si hubieramuerto, pero ha vuelto a vivir; como si se hubiera perdido, pero lo hemosencontrado.”»

Lucas 15:11-32 BibliaTraduccion Lenguaje Actual

Don't give up. No te rindas.

2011-11-25T14:35:00.001+02:00

Don't Give Up

by Mario Benedetti

Don't give up, you still have time

to reach up and start anew,

Accept your shadows,

Bury your fears,

Free your burdens,

Fly again.

Don't give up, that's what life is

Continue the journey,

Follow your dreams,

Unstuck time,

Move the rubble,

And uncover the sky.

Don't give up, please don't give way,

Even if the cold burns,

Even if fear bites,

Even if the sun sets,

And the wind goes silent,

There is still fire in your soul

There is still life in your dreams.

Because life is yours and yours is thedesire

Because you have loved it and because Ilove you

Because wine exists and love is true.

Because there are no wounds that timedoesn't cure.

To open the doors,

Take away the locks,

Abandon the walls that have protectedyou,

To live life and accept the challenge

Get back laughter,

Practice a song,

Lower the guard and extend the hands

Open the wings

And try again,

Celebrate life and take back the skies.

Don't give up, please don't give way,

Even if the cold burns,

Even if fear bites,

Even if the sun sets,

And the wind goes silent,

There is still fire in your soul

There is still life in your dreams.

Because every day is a new beginning,

Because this is the hour and the bestmoment.

Because you are not alone, because Ilove you.

Mario Benedetti (1920-2009) is regarded as one of Latin America's most important twentieth-century writers and one of Uruguay's most revered writers of novels, short stories, poetry, plays, and essays.

No te rindas

Mario Benedetti

No te rindas, aún estás a tiempo

De alcanzar y comenzar de nuevo,

Aceptar tus sombras,

Enterrar tus miedos,

Liberar el lastre,

Retomar el vuelo.

No te rindas que la vida es eso,

Continuar el viaje,

Perseguir tus sueños,

Destrabar el tiempo,

Correr los escombros,

Y destapar el cielo.

No te rindas, por favor no cedas,

Aunque el frío queme,

Aunque el miedo muerda,

Aunque el sol se esconda,

Y se calle el viento,

Aún hay fuego en tu alma

Aún hay vida en tus sueños.

Porque la vida es tuya y tuyo también eldeseo

Porque lo has querido y porque te quiero

Porque existe el vino y el amor, escierto.

Porque no hay heridas que no cure eltiempo.

Abrir las puertas,

Quitar los cerrojos,

Abandonar las murallas que teprotegieron,

Vivir la vida y aceptar el reto,

Recuperar la risa,

Ensayar un canto,

Bajar la guardia y extender las manos

Desplegar las alas

E intentar de nuevo,

Celebrar la vida y retomar los cielos.

No te rindas, por favor no cedas,

Aunque el frío queme,

Aunque el miedo muerda,

Aunque el sol se ponga y se calle elviento,

Aún hay fuego en tu alma,

Aún hay vida en tus sueños

Porque cada día es un comienzo nuevo,

Porque esta es la hora y el mejormomento.

Porque no estás solo, porque yo tequiero.

Mario Benedetti (1920-2009) es considerado como uno de los escritores Latinoamericanos mas importantes del siglo XX y uno de los novelistas, poetas, dramaturgos y ensayistas mas queridos de Uruguay.

The Road. El Camino.

2011-11-18T12:59:00.001+02:00

"The road is an endless lure." Anonymous

"El camino es una atraccion constante." Anonimo

visited 40 states (17.7%)
Create your own visited map of The World or jurisdische veraling duits?

Acompaname a estar solo. Accompany me to be alone.

2011-11-05T20:27:00.000+02:00

Accompany me to be alone

To get rid of the ghosts

To get in bed withouttouching

Accompany me to themystery

Of being alone together

To go to sleep withoutexpecting

anything to happen

Accompany me to be alone

Accompany me in silence

Talking without words

Knowing you're therenext to me

and I next to you

Accompany me to theabsurdity

of embracing withouttouching

You in your space and Iin mine

Like a guardian angel

Accompany me to be alone

Chorus

Accompany me

Saying without words

What a blessing is to betogether

and to be unfaithful

only with this solitude

Accompany me

Loving you withoutsaying it

Touching you withoutcontact

the reflection of yourskin in the light

To think of me so I canlive for you

Accompany me to be alone

To get rid of the ghosts

To get in bed withouttouching

Accompany me to themystery

Of being alone together

To go to sleep withoutexpecting

anything to happen

Accompany me to be alone

Accompany me in silence

Let's talk without words

knowing you're therenext to me

and I next to you

Accompany me to theabsurdity

of embracing withouttouching

You in your space I inmine

Like a guardian angel

Accompany me to be alone

To calibrate my fears

To poison little bylittle

my memories

Love me a little

So I can love you as Ido

Detoxing me from thepast

Accompany me to be alone

Chorus

Accompany me

To say without words

How blessed I am to haveyou

and to be unfaithful

only with this solitude

Accompany me

Loving you withoutsaying it

Touching you withoutcontact

the reflection of yourskin in the light

To think of me so I canlive for you

And if the light goesout

And if hell breaks loose

And if I feel lost

I know you will be there

To save me with a kiss

Accompany me to be alone

Chorus

Accompany me

To say without words

How blessed I am to haveyou

and to be unfaithful

only with this solitude

Accompany me

Loving you withoutsaying it

Touching you withoutcontact

the reflection of yourskin in the light

To think of me so I canlive for you

this time

Accompany me to be alone

It is better to give than to receive.

2011-10-30T07:39:00.002+02:00

Money may notbuy you love but it might buy you happiness if you spend it in the right way,US researchers say. In studies they found that the old adage "it's betterto give than to receive" is correct: spending money on others or giving tocharity puts a bigger smile on your face than buying things for yourself.

"Mostpeople would think that if you make more money you are going to be a lothappier," said Michael Norton, a professor at Harvard Business School."Our results, and a lot of other people's results, show that making moremoney makes you a little bit happier, but doesn't really have a huge impact onyou. Our studies suggest maybe that little changes in how you spend it make adifference."

The researchers'work is published today in the journal Science. Norton and his colleaguesquestioned 632 Americans about how much they earned and how they spent theircash. They also asked them to rate their own happiness. Regardless of incomelevel, those people who spent money on others reported greater happiness, whilethose who spent more on themselves did not.

In a secondstudy, the team questioned 16 employees in line for a company bonus of$3,000-$8,000. The team asked the subjects about their happiness before and sixto eight weeks after the bonus, and how they spent the money. The size of thebonus did not determine how much happiness grew. Instead, the amount spent onothers or given to charity was correlated with how much individuals' happinesslevels had risen.

The team alsogave 46 volunteers either $5 (£2.50) or $20 to spend. They instructed theparticipants to spend the money on themselves or someone else. Again, thealtruistic group reported feeling happier whatever the size of their gift.Norton said: "So instead of buying yourself a coffee buy your friend acoffee and that might actually make you a happier person."

ProfessorStephen Joseph, of the University of Nottingham - an expert in the psychologyof happiness who was not involved in the study - said: "Most of theresearch in the past has said money isn't that important in terms of happiness.The things that are important are things to do with relationships, with otherpeople, and things that help to promote meaning, the purpose in life. I thinkthat's what this study speaks to."

Although theclear implication of the study is that altruistic spending will make youhappier, Joseph said it would be wrong to use the research to formulate advice."Being prescriptive about how people spend their money, even if it is forseemingly worthwhile causes, is a very dangerous path to go down. Research likethis describes society - it doesn't tell us what society ought to be."

Professor RuutVeenhoven, of Erasmus University in Rotterdam, said the study showed that theeconomic view of human motivation was incorrect. "This may come as asurprise for economists who have learned that humans are essentiallyegoists," he said. So why don't people give more money away to makethemselves even happier? "Often people don't know what really makes themhappy," he said. "Doing nice things to other people isn't so badafter all."

The Guardian, Friday 21 March 2008 James Randerson, science correspondent

Please visitChildrentolove.org to make a donation for Romanian orphans. Godbless you !!

I crave your mouth. Tengo hambre de tu boca.

2011-10-22T12:18:00.000+03:00

I crave your mouth.

I crave your mouth, your voice, your hair.

Silent, starving I prowl through the streets.

Bread does not nourish me, dawn disquiets me,

I search the liquid sound of your steps all day.

I hunger for your sleek laugh,

For your hands the color of the wild grain,

I hunger for the pale stones of your fingernails,

I want to eat your skin like a whole almond.

I want to eat the sunbeam flaring in your loveliness,

The nose, sovereign of your arrogant face,

I want to eat the fleeting shade of your lashes,

And I walk hungry, following the twilight

Looking for you, for your hot heart,

Like a puma in the barren wilderness.

Pablo Neruda

Tengo hambre de tu boca.

Tengo hambre de tu boca, de tu voz, detu pelo

Y por las calles voy sin nutrirme,callado,

No me sostiene el pan, el alba medesquicia,

Busco el sonido líquido de tus pies enel día.

Estoy hambriento de tu risa resbalada,

De tus manos color de furioso granero,

Tengo hambre de la pálida piedra de tusuñas,

Quiero comer tu piel como una intacta almendra.

Quiero comer el rayo quemado en tuhermosura,

La nariz soberana del arrogante rostro,

Quiero comer la sombra fugaz de tuspestañas

Y hambriento vengo y voy olfateando elcrepúsculo

Buscándote, buscando tu corazón caliente

Como un puma en la soledad de Quitratúe.

Pablo Neruda

Love, Life and Happiness. Amor, Vida y Felicidad.

2011-10-10T20:27:00.003+03:00

Love, Life, and Happiness

It was1934. A young farmer fell in love with a young girl in a hamlet in the south of Guatemala. His name was Transito Garcia, her name was Natalia Aguirre. He would go to the river to try to talk to her while she washed clothes but she would run away when he approached her. Finally, he convinced her to talk with him. A few months later the young farmer's father went to ask her dad for her hand. They were married a year later. They began asimple life working the land and starting a family. He planted corn, beans, rice, peanuts, and tomatoes. Shestayed home. At one point she had 80 hens to feed and 12 children to raise. With few resources but with a lot of love they raised their children until they moved to Guatemala City. One of their daughters is my mom. They are my abuelitos (grandparents).

My abuelitos are myinspiration. My grandpa went to heaven 2 years ago. He is still with us in the heart of his children, grandchildren and great-granchildren. Don Tancho y Dona Nati were together for 75 years. Their faith in God, sense of humor and optimism taught me so much growing up in Guatemala. I am so proud of them. I am thankful for their life and their example. Because of them I learned that happiness comes from loving and living a simple life.

God bless my abuelita and all my family in Guatemala.

Amor, Vida y Felicidad

Era 1934. Un joven campesino se enamoro de una jovencita en una aldea al sur de Guatemala. Su nombre era Transito Garcia, ella se llamaba Natalia Aguirre. El solia ir al rio a tratar de hablar con ella cuando ella iba a lavar ropa pero ella salia corriendo cuando el se acercaba. Finalmente, la convencio que platicaran. Meses mas tarde el papa del joven campesino fue a hablar con el papa de ella para pedir su mano. Se casaron un añodespues. Iniciaron una vida sencilla trabajando la tierra. El plantabamaiz, frijol, arroz, mani. Ella se quedaba en casa. En una epoca llego a tener unas 80 gallinas que cuidar ademas de 12 hijos. Con pocos recursos pero con mucho amor criaron 12 hijos hasta que se trasladaron a la Ciudad de Guatemala. Una de sus hijas es mi mama. Ellos son mis abuelitos.

Mis abuelitos son mi inspiracion. Mi abuelo partio al cielo hace 2 años, pero sigue con nosotros en el corazon de sus hijos, nietos y bisnietos. Don Tancho y Dona Nati compartieron sus vidas 75 años. Su fe en Dios, sentido del humor y optimismo me ensenaron mucho al crecer en Guatemala. Estoy tan orgulloso de ellos. Estoy tan agradecido por su vida y por su ejemplo. Gracias a ellos aprendi que la felicidad viene al amar y vivir una vida sencilla.

Dios bendiga a mi abuelita y a toda mi familia en Guatemala.

72 Wedding Anniversary in 2007.

Aniversario de Bodas 72 en 2007

A Glimpse. Un Destello.

2011-09-23T21:19:00.000+03:00

“I wish I could describe the feeling of being at sea, the anguish,frustration, and fear. The beauty that accompanies threatening spectacles. Thespiritual communion with creatures in whose domain I sail. There is amagnificent intensity in life that comes when we are not in control but areonly reacting, living, surviving. I am not a religious man per se. My owncosmology is convoluted and not in line with any particular church orphilosphy. But for me, to go to sea is to glimpse the face of God. At sea I amreminded of my insignificance -- of all men's insignificance. It is a wonderfulfeeling to be so humbled.”

Steve Callahan

NOTE: I am a Christian. I share this quote as an interesting example of how even people whose belief system may not be clear, they s e e in nature the image of God.

“Desearia poder describirlo que siento al estar en el mar, la angustia, la frustracion, y el temor. Labelleza que acompana espectaculos amenazantes. La comunion espiritual con lascriatures en cuyos dominios navego. Hay una magnifica intensidad en la vida cuando no tenemos el control sino solamente reaccionamos, viviendo,sobreviviendo. Yo no diría que soy un hombre de fe. Mi visión del mundo es muycomplicada y no esta en línea con una iglesia o filosofía en particular. Peropara mi, ir al mar es ver un destello del rostro de Dios. En el mar me doycuenta de lo insignificante que soy – de lo insignificantes que somos todos. Esun sentimiento maravilloso el ser humildes.”

Steve Callahan

Nota: Yo soy Cristiano. Comparto este fragmento para ilustrar como incluso persona cuyas creencias no estan muy claras v e n en la naturaleza la imagen de Dios.

Instantes. Instants.

2011-09-20T21:12:00.000+03:00

Uno de mis poemas favoritos, atribuido erroneamente a Borges, escrito por Don Herold y publicado en Reader's Digest en 1953.

Instantes

Si pudiera vivir nuevamente mi vida,

en la próxima trataría de cometer máserrores.

No intentaría ser tan perfecto, merelajaría más.

Sería más tonto de lo que he sido,

de hecho tomaría muy pocas cosas conseriedad.

Sería menos higiénico.

Correría más riesgos,

haría más viajes,

contemplaría más atardeceres,

subiría más montañas, nadaría más ríos.

Iría a más lugares adonde nunca he ido,

comería más helados y menos habas,

tendría más problemas reales y menosimaginarios.

Yo fui una de esas personas que viviósensata

y prolíficamente cada minuto de su vida;

claro que tuve momentos de alegría.

Pero si pudiera volver atrás trataría

de tener solamente buenos momentos.

Por si no lo saben, de eso está hecha lavida,

sólo de momentos; no te pierdas elahora.

Yo era uno de esos que nunca

iban a ninguna parte sin un termómetro,

una bolsa de agua caliente,

un paraguas y un paracaídas;

si pudiera volver a vivir, viajaría másliviano.

Si pudiera volver a vivir

comenzaría a andar descalzo a principios

de la primavera

y seguiría descalzo hasta concluir elotoño.

Daría más vueltas en calesita,

contemplaría más amaneceres,

y jugaría con más niños,

si tuviera otra vez vida por delante.

Pero ya ven, tengo 85 años...

y sé que me estoy muriendo.

One of my favorite poems, mistakenly attributed to Borges, written by Don Herold and published in Reader's Digest in 1953.

Instants

If I were able to live my lifeanew,

In the next I would try to commit more errors.

I would not try to be so perfect, I would relax more.

I would be more foolish than I've been,

In fact, I would take few things seriously.

I would be less hygienic.

I would take more risks,

take more vacations,

contemplate more sunsets,

climb more mountains, swim more rivers.

I would go to more places where I've never been,

I would eat more ice cream and fewer beans,

I would have more real problems and less imaginary ones.

I was one of those people who lived sensibly

and prolifically each minute of his life;

Of course I had moments of happiness.

But if I could go back I would try

to have only good moments.

Because if you didn't know, of that is life made:

only of moments; Don't lose the now.

I was one of those that never

went anywhere without a thermometer,

a hot-water bottle,

an umbrella, and a parachute;

If I could live again, I would travel lighter.

If I could live again,

I would begin to walk barefoot from the beginning of spring

and I would continue barefoot until the end of autumn.

I would take more merry-go-round rides,

contemplate more dawns,

and play with more children,

If I had my life ahead of me.

But, you see, I am 85,

and I know that I am dying.

Italy, France & England.

2011-09-14T21:39:00.001+03:00

The summer of 2011, from June 19 to August 14, I traveled from Palermo, Italy to Manchester, England, 2080 km / 1290 mi. I visited 50 cities in 5 countries (The Vatican and Monaco count as countries hehe). These numbers are just that, numbers. They do not convey the joy and gratitude I feel in my heart for having met so many wonderful people and visited so many amazing places. I met most of them through Couchsurfing.com. They welcomed me and made me feel home for a day or two or more. We shared meals and stories. We walked around cities and beaches. We laughed and we were quiet. We learned from each other and shared our views on travel and life. Each place became a memorable moment because of them. I thank every one of them for making this the most awesome trip ever !!

Martina, Bruna, Katryn, Natasja, Iwona, Sven: Praia A Mare
Nunzio, Vito, Natalia, Emma: Matera
Marina and her daughter: Taranto
Mina, Maria, Agata, Alessandro, Luca: Sorrento
Julie and Juliet: Florence
Chloe: Venice
Moreno and Luisa: Genoa
Magaly and her 2 sons: Nice
Chou and Lola: Avignon
Claude: Caen
Patti: Southampton
Tania: Oxford
Tatiana: London
Jane: Manchester
Ann Cat, Stephanie and Liz: Paris

TOP TEN MOMENTS Summer 2011

1. Standing in front of Nike of Samothrace at the Louvre.
2. Stumbling upon a Picasso, Dali and Miro exhibition in Florence.
3. The Eiffel tower by night, Arch of Triumph by day.
4. Strolling around quaint little Ostuni, Bayeux, and Chester.
5. Hiking Cinque Terre
6. Swimming in Lipari and Vulcano off the coast of Sicily.
7. Riding a scooter down the Amalfi Coast.
8. Missing Florence to Venice train catching it in Milan.
9. Rome, Florence, Venice, London and Paris, what else can I say?
10. Fireworks in Matera, Italy; Avignon, France; and Southampton, England.

May all of us enjoy each day's small and great adventures !!

Blessings to all my friends !!

More pics at: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/myphotos

El Mar. The Sea.

2011-08-24T20:13:00.005+03:00

El Mar

Necesito del mar porque me enseña:

no sé si aprendo música o conciencia:

no sé si es ola sola o ser profundo

o sólo ronca voz o deslumbrante

suposición de peces y navios.

El hecho es que hasta cuando estoy dormido

de algún modo magnético circulo

en la universidad del oleaje.

No son sólo las conchas trituradas

como si algún planeta tembloroso

participara paulatina muerte,

no, del fragmento reconstruyo el día,

de una racha de sal la estalactita

y de una cucharada el Dios inmenso.

Lo que antes me enseñó lo guardo! Es aire,

incesante viento, agua y arena.

Parece poco para el hombre joven

que aquí llegó a vivir con sus incendios,

y sin embargo el pulso que subía

y bajaba a su abismo,

el frío del azul que crepitaba,

el desmoronamiento de la estrella,

el tierno desplegarse de la ola

despilfarrando nieve con la espuma,

el poder quieto, allí, determinado

como un trono de piedra en lo profundo,

substituyó el recinto en que crecían

tristeza terca, amontonando olvido,

y cambió bruscamente mi existencia:

di mi adhesión al puro movimiento.

Pablo Neruda

The Sea

I need the sea because it teaches me.

I don’t know if I learn music or awareness,

if it’s a single wave or its vast existence,

or just its harsh voice or its shining

suggestion of fish and boats.

The fact is that even when I am sleep,

in some magnetic way I move in

the university of the waves.

It’s not simply the crunched shells

as if some shivering planet

were giving signs of its gradual death;

no, I reconstruct the day out of a fragment,

the stalactite from a sliver of salt,

and the great God out of a spoonful.

What it taught me before, I keep! It’s air

ceaseless wind, water and sand.

It seems a small thing for a young man,

to have come here to live with his own fire;

nevertheless, the pulse that rose

and fell in its abyss,

the crackling of the blue cold,

the gradual collapse of the star

the tender unfolding of the wave

squandering snow with its foam,

the quiet power, there, certain

like a stone throne in the depths,

replaced the enclosure in which were growing

stubborn sorrow, gathering oblivion,

and my life changed abruptly

as I became part of its pure movement.

Pablo Neruda

Song of the Open Road.

2011-06-16T13:01:00.004+03:00

By Walt Whitman

Italy, France and England await. As I make the final preparations for a summer adventure, I feel so thankful for the opportunity I have to do what I love: to teach and to travel. Here are a couple of my favorite stanzas from one of my favorite poems of all time. Enjoy!

H a p p y S u m m e r !! :o)

1
AFOOT and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.
Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.
The earth, that is sufficient,
I do not want the constellations any nearer,
I know they are very well where they are,
I know they suffice for those who belong to them.

4
The earth expanding right hand and left hand,
The picture alive, every part in its best light,
The music falling in where it is wanted, and stopping where it is not wanted,
The cheerful voice of the public road, the gay fresh sentiment of the road.
O highway I travel, do you say to me Do not leave me?
Do you say Venture not-if you leave me you are lost?
Do you say I am already prepared, I am well-beaten and undenied,
adhere to me?
O public road, I say back I am not afraid to leave you, yet I love you,
You express me better than I can express myself,
You shall be more to me than my poem.
I think heroic deeds were all conceiv'd in the open air, and all free poems also,
I think I could stop here myself and do miracles,
I think whatever I shall meet on the road I shall like, and whoever
beholds me shall like me,
I think whoever I see must be happy.

9
Allons! whoever you are come travel with me!
Traveling with me you find what never tires.
The earth never tires,
The earth is rude, silent, incomprehensible at first, Nature is rude
and incomprehensible at first,
Be not discouraged, keep on, there are divine things well envelop'd,
I swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell.
Allons! we must not stop here,
However sweet these laid-up stores, however convenient this dwelling
we cannot remain here,
However shelter'd this port and however calm these waters we must
not anchor here,
However welcome the hospitality that surrounds us we are permitted
to receive it but a little while.

15
Allons! the road is before us!
It is safe - I have tried it - my own feet have tried it well - be not
detain'd!
Let the paper remain on the desk unwritten, and the book on the
shelf unopen'd!
Let the tools remain in the workshop! let the money remain unearn'd!
Let the school stand! mind not the cry of the teacher!
Let the preacher preach in his pulpit! let the lawyer plead in the
court, and the judge expound the law.
Camerado, I give you my hand!
I give you my love more precious than money,
I give you myself before preaching or law;
Will you give me yourselp. will you come travel with me?
Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?

How much does a miracle cost?

2011-06-07T15:29:00.004+03:00

A little girl named Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes.

Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good.

Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice.

"I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages," he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick and I want to buy a miracle."

''I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist. His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?"

"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you," the pharmacist said, softening a little.

"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs."

The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does your brother need?"

"I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money."

"How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago.

"One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly. And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to."

"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven cents--- the exact price of a miracle for little brothers. "

He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need."

That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery.

The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well. Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.

"That surgery," her Mom whispered. "was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?"

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost, one dollar and eleven cents, plus the faith of a child...

Oda a La Vida. Ode to Life.

2011-06-01T20:55:00.000+03:00

Pablo Neruda

Oda a la vida Ode to life

La noche entera   The entire night
con un hacha   armed with a hatchet,
me ha golpeado el dolor, has broken me with grief,
pero el sueño   but sleep
pasó lavando como un agua oscura   like dark water washed away
piedras ensangrentadas.   the bloody stones.

Hoy de nuevo estoy vivo. Today again I am alive.
De nuevo   Again,
te levanto, I lift you up,
vida, life,
sobre mis hombros.    upon my shoulders.
Oh vida, Oh life,
copa clara, clear cup,
de pronto   suddenly
te llenas    you fill up with
de agua sucia,   dirty water,
de vino muerto,    lifeless wine,
de agonía, de pérdidas,      agony, losses, and
de sobrecogedoras telarañas,      overhanging spider webs,
y muchos creen   and many believe
que ese color de infierno   this nightmarish tint
guardarás para siempre.   you will guard forever.
No es cierto. That is not true.
Pasa una noche lenta,      A lingering night passes,
pasa un solo minuto      just one minute passes
y todo cambia. and everything changes.
Se llena   Life's cup
de transparencia    fills up
la copa de la vida.    with transparent brilliance.
El trabajo espacioso   The wide quest
nos espera.   awaits us.
De un solo golpe nacen las palomas   Doves are born in a solitary burst.
Se establece la luz sobre la tierra. Light reigns again over the earth.
Vida, los pobres Life, the poor
poetas      poets
te creyeron amarga,      believed you to be bitter.
no salieron contigo   They did not rise from bed
de la cama   with you
con el viento del mundo.         and face the winds of the world.
Recibieron los golpes    They received beatings
sin buscarte,    without searching for you.
se barrenaron   They tunneled
un agujero negro      a black hole
y fueron sumergiéndose      and continued their journeys,
en el luto      submerged in mourning,
de un pozo solitario. drowning in a well of loneliness.
No es verdad, vida, That is not true, life.
eres      You are
bella    beautiful
como la que yo amo       like my beloved;
y entre los senos tienes            between your breasts,
olor a menta.    the perfume of spearmint sings.
Vida,      Life,
eres      you are
una máquina plena,     a complete instrument,
felicidad, sonido   happiness, sounds
de tormenta, ternura     of storm, tenderness
de aceite delicado.       of mellow oil.
Vida,   Life,
eres como una viña:        you are like a vineyard:
atesoras la luz y la repartes           you treasure and share light
transformada en racimo.      in the fruits of transformation.
El que de ti reniega    Whoever disowns you
que espere      should wait
un minuto, una noche,    a minute, a night,
un año corto o largo,     a short or long year,
que salga   to emerge
de su soledad mentirosa,       from his mistaken solitude,
que indague y luche, junte     should search and fight, should join
sus manos a otras manos,      hands with other hands.
que no adopte ni halague       should not adopt, should not praise
a la desdicha,   misfortune,
que la rechace dándole      should reject it, giving it the form
forma de muro,    of a wall,
como a la piedra los picapedreros, like the stonecutter with the stone.
que corte la desdicha   should take scissors to misfortune,
y se haga con ella and make
pantalones.    a pair of trousers.

La vida nos espera    Life awaits for us
a todos    all of us
los que amamos     who cherish
el salvaje the wild perfume of the sea,
olor a mar y menta    and the celebration of spearmint
que tiene entre los senos.       nestled between its breasts.

South America

2011-05-22T20:37:00.003+03:00

This pic is from 2007, when I traveled from Salta to Ushuaia.

My first trip in South America, summer 2002

South America has been amazing! 8 weeks visiting Peru, Bolivia, Brasil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. This past week I've spent a fantastic few days in Buenos Aires.

I am a bohemian. One of the bohemian singers-songwriters I admire most is from Argentina. His name is Facundo Cabral. I had the chance to go to one of his recitals in Costa Rica while teaching there. I have listened to his music since I was a teenager. Now, guess whom I saw having coffee as I walked down Recoleta ? Yeah !! A friend told me that these kinds of moments happen to me because I have the best karma. LOL When I first saw him I hesitated for a minute to approach him for an autograph. I didn’t want to interrupt his conversation with a friend. But I had to. I went in the café and said: Don Facundo, could I have your autograph? He immediately asked me: Where are you from? I told him: Guatemala, he then he says loudly: Waiter, a coffee for my friend from Guatemala! He pulled a chair and invited me to sit. We chatted for a while. He told me about a Guatemalan girlfriend he had and how much he loves lake Atitlan. It truly was a very special moment. One of Facundo's song says: I'm not from here, I´m not from there, I´m from everywhere. He has so many beautiful songs about life and love and this world we live in. You can see why he is one of my favorite musicians.

As I travel I notice everyone longs for the same things everywhere: making a living, having friendships and love. I've met lots of friendly and cool people in Argentina and South America. Even though our encounter was brief, it was meaningful.

Another of my favorite singer-songwriters is Ricardo Arjona, from Guatemala. He actually sang on the streets of Buenos Aires in his beginnings. As I walked down a pedestrian street called Florida, I heard the tune of one of Arjona’s songs. I got closer and there was a guy singing on the street just like Ricardo Arjona. He really sounded just like him! I spent two hours listening to songs I know by heart. I could close my eyes and it sounded just like Arjona singing on the street. I will never forget going to an Arjona recital on the streets of Buenos Aires.

A couple of days ago I visited the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. I saw paintings by Picasso, Renoir, Van Gogh, Monet, Frida Khalo and others. Amazing exhibit. I didn’t know Buenos Aires would have a collection such as this. Beautiful arquitecture can be seen on every street.

I love people-watching. Sitting on a bench in Madero, a fancy area where they have restored old warehouses by the port to house shops and restaurants, I observed a clown making balloons for children. I loved watching the kids’ faces as they got their animal balloons. There was a lady selling roses and as they always do, she would approach the guy in every couple walking by. This one girl hit her boyfriend on the head after he said no and kept walking. I laughed so hard! It seems Argentinian girls don’t put up with lack of romanticism, and they show it!! LOL

My South American adventure is slowly drawing to a close. South America is almost waving good bye. The following is part of a poem from a little book I found in a used book store. I share it with you as a good bye from South America...

I´ve been goin a long time now
along the way I´ve learned some things.
You have to make the good times yourself
Take the little times and make them into big times
and save the times that are all right
for the ones that aren't so good.

Two weeks later in Chile

This email is being sent to many of the new friends I made while travelling this summer. To those friends I met in Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile, I like to thank you for the special moments we shared. To my friends in Central America, the US, Canada, and several other places in the world, I thank you for sharing this trip with me through my emails.

This week I visited the houses of Pablo Neruda in Chile. If you haven't had the opportunity to read him I encourage you to. While visiting his house in Isla Negra, as I stood watching the ocean from the huge window in his bedroom and saw the table where he wrote many of his poems, I got teary eyed. I took a deep breath and said “Thank you for your poems Pablo.”

With this poem I say "until next time" to you my friend, and to South America.

Colors, words, whispers
mountains covered with snow
the sun smiling
smiles, dreams, sights
South America has given me all these
and more
friends, memories, poetry
gratitude in my heart
Thanks South America!

Thanks for making me feel alive
planes, buses, boats, trains
the sound of rivers and waterfalls
the crisp air in my lungs
the beers and meals shared with friends
friends for a day, or two
or forever
two months, eight weeks,
thousands of stars
hundreds of hours
enjoying places and people I'll never forget
this time, this place have reminded me of
the beauty of today
the joy of friendship
the delight of living the moment
I thank God for this deliciously adventurous trip
and I thank you for sharing it with me in my heart

Letter to my mom. Carta a mi mama.

2011-05-08T15:11:00.002+03:00

Dear Mom,

Today is your day !! Today I want to thank you for being the best mom in the world !! I have so much to thank you for.

Thanks for carrying me in your womb for 9 months mom. Thanks for taking care of me as a baby. For changing my diapers and holding me when I cried or simply to show me how much you loved me. I am so thankful you taught me how to talk as I love words so much !! Words are so wonderful when you speak them, read them, write them or listen to them.

Thanks also for teaching me how to walk because I going out for a walk !! Thanks for feeding me and later in life for cooking every day for us !! You know how much I l o v e your cooking. You are a really great chef and the most importantly you sing and smile when you cook, putting all your love in every meal. Thank you for that mom.

Thanks for taking me to the doctor and giving me the medicine I needed to get well when I got sick. I am thankful for all the times you took care of me so I would get better soon. Thanks for being there helping me grow feeling your love mom.

Thanks for bringing me into the world mom. I am so happy you brought me here!! Life is awesome !! There is so much to be enjoyed every day !! From the morning coffee, the moon and the stars at night, the smile of a friend, a book, a trip, feeling proud of a job well done, helping others, dreaming and working hard to achieve our dreams, overcoming obstacles, to strawberries and chocolate !! The list goes on and on !! Yes, I've lived painful moments, but they are also part of life, but they have not been your fault. But even those moments seem necessary to help us grow and be appreciative for the times when life is the most amazing adventure ever !! You brought me here and for that I thank you mom.

Thanks for taking me to school. Thanks for preparing a lunch box for me. Thanks for buying the school supplies I needed. Thanks for asking me what I had learned each day and for getting excited when I told you. I know learning is important because of you. Thanks for being patient with me when I didn't feel like doing my homework. And thanks for going to the parent-teacher conferences too. I love learning because I always noticed how proud you felt when I got good grades. Thanks for being there with me for my graduation and for celebrating with tears and smiles the success I achieved thanks to your support and your love.

Thanks for your patience and constant love during my teen years mom. I know many times you got worried because of me. I gave you a few headaches and heartaches. I am sorry for that. Thanks for letting me know you loved me even when I did not behave like I should have. Thank you for loving me despite my negative attitude and my rebellion those years.

As I write this letter I realize that everything good in my life is because of you mom. This includes my faith in God. Your faith in God, even if you never said it out loud, was evident from the moment I became a conscious human being. I am so happy that you and I have gotten closer to God as years have gone by. I know both you and I have made mistakes in life, but God's amazing grace has covered them and we can celebrate and enjoy God’s love for us without reservation. Thanks for helping me realize that having faith means more than going to church every Sunday. It means accepting and helping others every chance you get. Your generosity, even you didn't have much, is the best example for me to strive to bless others as I have been blessed. I thank God every day for giving me a mom like you. I also pray for you every day. I pray for you to be healthy and happy. Surrounded by God’s love and the love of those around you.

Thanks for sharing your wisdom. As I've become a grown man you have continued to support me in everything I did with your gentle advice. You really inspired me to be the best man I can be mom. Yes, you! Today I want you to know that I love you for who you are and for everything you have done for me since the moment you knew I was on the way.

I hope this letter finds you smiling mom. Today and every day of the year know that you are loved mom. God loves you. Your children and grandchildren love you. And you know I love you more than words can tell.

So, this letter is to wish you

H a p p y M o t h e r ‘ s D a y M o m !!

I L o v e Y o u M o m !!

Your son,

Mario Orlando

PS. Thanks for being my mom mom :o)

ESPANYOL

Querida Mama,

Hoy es su dia !! Hoy quiero darle las gracias por ser la mejor mama del mundo !! Tengo tanto por que darle las gracias !!

Gracias por llevarme en su vientre por 9 meses mama. Gracias por cuidarme cuando era un bebe. Por cambiarme los pañales y por abrazarme cuando lloraba o simplemente para mostrarme cuando me quería. Estoy tan agradecido con usted por haberme enseñado a hablar, porque me encantan las palabras !! Las palabras son maravillosas cuando las hablamos, las leemos, las escribimos, o las escuchamos.

Gracias por enseñarme a caminar mama, porque me encanta salir de caminata !! Gracias por darme mi comidita y por cocinar todos los días para nosotros. Usted sabe cuando me g u s t a su comida. De verdad que usted si sabe cocinar y lo mas importante es que lo hace cantando y sonriendo poniéndole todo su amor a cada comida. Gracias por eso mama.

Gracias por llevarme al doctor y darme mi medicina que necesite cuando me enferme. Estoy tan agradecido por todas las veces que me cuido para que me recuperara pronto. Gracias por ayudarme a crecer sintiéndome amado mama.

Gracias por haberme traido al mundo mama. Soy tan feliz porque me trajo aca !! La vida es maravillosa !! Hay tanto para disfrutar cada dia !! Desde el cafecito de la mañana, la luna y las estrellas en la noche, la sonrisa de un amigo, un libro, un viaje, el sentimiento de orgullo cuando hacemos algo bien, ayudar a otros, soñar y esforzarnos por alcazar nuestros sueños, superar los obstáculos, hasta las fresas y el chocolate. La lista no termina !! Si, he vivido momentos de dolor, pero esos momentos también son parte de la vida, y no han sido por su causa. Pero aun esos momentos nos ayudan a crecer y a ser agradecidos por los momentos en que la vida es la mas impresionante aventura jamás !! Usted me trajo aca y por eso le doy gracias mama.

Gracias por llevarme a la escuela. Gracias por prepararme la merienda. Gracias por comprarme los utiles escolares que necesite. Gracias por preguntarme que había aprendido cada dia y por emocionarse cuando le conte. Se que el aprende es importante por usted. Gracias por ser paciente conmigo cuando no tenia ganas de hacer la tarea. Y gracias por ir a hablar con mi maestra cuando la llamaba también. Amo la educación porque siempre vi lo orgullosa que usted se ponía cuando sacaba buenas notas. Gracias por haber estado en mi graduación y haber celebrado con lagrimas y sonrisas el éxito que con su ayuda y amor alcance.

Gracias por su paciencia durante mis años de adolescencia. Se que muchas veces usted se preocupo por mi. Se que le di varios dolores de cabeza e incluso heri su corazón. Perdoneme por eso. Gracias por hacerme sentir su amor incluso cuando yo no me portaba como debía. Gracias por amarme a pesar de mi de actitud negative y mi rebeldia esos años.

Mientras escribo esta carta me doy cuenta que todo lo bueno en mi vida es por usted mama. Inclusive mi fe en Dios. Su fe en Dios, aunque usted no lo haya dicho en voz alta, fue evidente desde que tengo uso de razón. Soy tan feliz porque usted y yo nos hemos acercado a Dios al transcurrir de los años. Yo se que tanto usted como yo hemos cometido errores en nuestras vidas, pero la maravillosa gracia de Dios ha cubierto esos errores y ahora podemos celebrar y disfrutar del Amor de Dios por nosotros sin reservas. Gracias por mostrarme que la fe es mucho mas que ir a la iglesia cada domingo. Es aceptar y ayudar a otros cuando lo necesitan. Su generosidad, aunque cuando usted no tuviera mucho, es el mejor ejemplo para mi buscar bendecir a otros como yo he sido bendecido. Doy gracias a Dios por darme a una mama como usted. Tambien oro por usted todos los días. Oro para que tenga buena salud y sea feliz. Rodeada por el amor de Dios y el amor de los que la rodean.

Gracias por compartir su sabiduria conmigo. Al hacerme hombre usted ha continuado apoyándome en todo lo que he hecho con sus suaves consejos. Usted me ha inspirado a ser el mejor hombre que puedo ser mama. Si, usted!

Hoy quiero que sepa que la amo por quien usted es y por todo lo que ha hecho por mi desde el momento que usted supo que yo venia en camino.

Espero que esta carta la encuentre sonriente mama. Hoy y cada dia del año sepa usted es amada. Dios la ama. Sus hijos y sus nietos la aman. Y usted sabe que yo la amo mas de lo que las palabras pueden decir.

Asi que esta carta es para desearle

F e l i z D i a d e l a s M a d r e M a m a !!

L a A m o M a m a!!

Su hijo,

Mario Orlando

PD. Gracias por ser mi mama mama :o)

Mario Benedetti

2011-05-02T13:26:00.007+03:00

Mario Benedetti es uno de mis poetas/novelistas favoritos. Me parece genial como juega con las palabras y las ideas en este poema.

Viceversa

Tengo miedo de verte

necesidad de verte

esperanza de verte

desazones de verte

tengo ganas de hallarte

preocupación de hallarte

certidumbre de hallarte

pobres dudas de hallarte

tengo urgencia de oírte

alegría de oírte

buena suerte de oírte

y temores de oirte

o sea

resumiendo

estoy jodido

y radiante

quizá más lo primero

que lo segundo

y también

viceversa

Lee mas en: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Benedetti

ENGLISH

Mario Benedetti is one of my favorite poets/novelists. I think it’s brilliant how he plays with words and ideas in this poem.

Vice versa

I am afraid to see you

I need to see you

I hope I see you

I don't think I will

I want to find you

I am worry I will find you

I am certain I will find you

I doubt that I will

It is urgent I hear you

I am happy to hear of you

I am lucky to hear of you

I am afraid to hear of you

summarizing

I am screwed

and radiant

maybe more the former

than the latter

and also

viceversa

Egypt. Egipto.

2011-04-27T11:46:00.002+03:00

August 25, 2007

Only when the airplane flew over the pyramids I could believe I was actually here. The land of Cleopatra and Tutankamen: Egypt.

My first task was to find an apartment. I found a great place in 3 days! I was worried the first couple of day because the apartments were way too expensive for my stipend. But thank God I found a 3 bedroom one in the coolest area of town, El Maadi. I got quaint white bedroom with two big windows and a balcony with a view of my tree-lined street. School is great. Nice campus and a fun group of teachers. Very diverse crew: single and married, younger and older. There are Egyptians, Americans, Europeans and and one Latino, me. :o) Our common trait is that we all love to travel. Together we have taught in 52 countries. A week ago we had a dinner and dance at a posh Cairo hotel and yesterday we went to the pyramids. Students start on Sept 2, so I have a week to get ready for my 22 students. I will teach Math and Science to 2 groups of 5th graders.

Every day I thank God for the opportunity He gives me to do what I love. To teach, to travel, to explore this amazing world He created for us.

ESPANYOL

25 de Agosto, 2007

Solo cuando el avion sobrevolo las piramides pude creer que realmente estaba aquí. La tierra de Cleopatra y Tutankamen: Egipto.

Lo primero que tenia que hacer cuando llegue era encontrar un apartamento. Encontre uno excelente en 3 dias ! La verdad estaba un poco preocupado los primeros dias porque los precios estaban demasiado altos. Pero gracias a Dios encontre uno de 3 dormitorios en una de las mejores areas de la ciudad, El Maadi. Mi dormitorio es blanco con dos grandes ventanas y balcón con vista a la calle con arboles. En el colegio todo bien. El campus es moderno y hay un grupo buena honda de maestros. Muy diverso, solteros y casados, jovenes y mayores. Hay Egipcios, Norteamericanos, Europeos y un Latino, yo :o). Lo que tenemos en comun es que a todos nos encanta viajar. Entre todos hemos dado clases en 52 paises. Hace una semana tuvimos una cena y baile en un hotel de lujo en Cairo. Ayer fuimos a las piramides. Los alumnos inician el 2 de Sept. asi que me queda una semana para prepararme para mis 22 alumnos. Voy a dar Math and Science a dos grupos de 5to grado.

Cada dia le doy gracias a Dios por la oportunidad que El me da de hacer lo que amo: enseñar, viajar, explorar este maravilloso mundo que El creo para nosotros.

Bucharest, Romania

2011-04-15T08:11:00.001+03:00

Bucharest's unmistakable Palace of Parliament, due to its immense physical, psychic and historic stature, is perhaps the most controversial building in Romania. Meant to be the crowning achievement of 'Centrul Civic' or 'Civic Centre' - Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu's ambitious urban development plan - the Palace of Parliament represents one of the most extravagant and expensive building projects in the history of mankind; certainly of the last century. Claiming superlative as the world's second-largest building by surface area (after the sneakily spacious US Pentagon), the Palace of Parliament is one of Romania's biggest tourist attractions.

Note: I took the pic on my first trip to Bucharest in 2008. Little did I know that I'd be living here 2 years later. :o)

That's how I roll. Ese es mi estilo.

2011-04-12T10:34:00.006+03:00

March 19, 2008

Two friends and I took the night train from Cairo to Aswan. 14 hours of travel. Yeah, that’s how I roll. I did not have a ticket because I was told I could buy one once on board. I boarded the train and it was practically empty, but I got worried in Giza when a bunch of people got on the train and I had to move out of the comfy seat I had. In the end I got the very last seat in the "foreigners" car (first class with AC). This sort of thing happens often to me. I guess my optimism hasn’t failed me yet and I hope it never does!

After 14 hours on the train we arrived in Aswan. Aswan is a quaint little town by the Nile in southern Egypt, only 3 hours north of Sudan. That afternoon we went to Philae Island to visit a temple built with Roman and Greek influence. The classical Egyptian hieroglyphics don’t cease to amaze me. We also visited the dam that forms Lake Nasser, one of the biggest man-made lakes in the world. When we returned to town we had a couple of beers as we watched the sunset overlooking the Nile. We ended the day sailing on a felucca with a cool Nubian dude. This part of Egypt is also called Nubia. That night we ended up on the other side of the Nile with the most beautiful full moon you can imagine. The wind blowing as we sailed in the Nile. It was definitely worth the 14 hours in the train.

My friends got on a cruise the next day. Before that we went on one more felucca ride to visit a Nubian village where they bought “galabeyas”, the traditional robes worn by Egyptian men. I stayed in Aswan because I had made plans to travel to Abu Simbel, a spectacular site where Ramses’ II ego is carved out of a mountain in the form of 20 mt (60 ft) tall statues. I had to wake up at 3 in the morning to take the mini-bus. The site can only be visited from 6 to 9 am, as the heat after that time is unbearable. After 3 hours I arrived. Abu Simbel is such a majestic example of ancient Egyptians’ mastery of the sciences and arts. Not only are the two temples at Abu Simbel among the most magnificent monuments in the world but their removal and reconstruction was an historic event in itself.

When the temples (280 km/170 miles from Aswan) were threatened by submersion in Lake Nasser, due to the construction of the High Dam, the Egyptian Government secured the support of UNESCO and launched a world wide appeal. During the salvage operation which began in 1964and continued until 1968, the two temples were dismantled and raised over 60 meters up the sandstone cliff where they had been built more than 3,000 years before. Here they were reassembled, in the exact same relationship to each other and the sun, and covered with an artificial mountain. Most of the joins in the stone have now been filled by antiquity experts, but inside the temples it is still possible to see where the blocks were cut. You can also go inside the man made dome and see an exhibition of photographs showing the different stages of the massive removal project. Impressive.

I left Aswan the next day after trying to buy a train ticket three times. For some reason they would not sell it to me. I had to go talk to the chief of the tourist police and literally beg him to approve me going in the 2^nd class wagon. Apparently the 1^st class foreigner’s wagon was sold out. I explained I needed to get back to Cairo to teach and he finally wrote me a sticky note for the train ticket teller. I got a ticket after waiting over an hour in the local’s ticket window. Everyone kept cutting the line and at some point I had to tell a supervisor and he took me up front I told the teller to sell me the ticket. Yeah, that’s how I roll. My train left at 8 pm that night. I spent my last day walking around the bazaar, went swimming and read by the pool of the Isis hotel. I was so glad I did, because the temperature was about 45 C (110 F). No wonder tours to Abu Simbel go so early in the day.

One of the most memorable moments of the trip is having seeing a mirage in the desert. After exploring the amazing Abu Simbel site. In the minivan looking out the window on the way back to Aswan, when I suddenly saw what looked like a lake in the middle of the desert. I smiled and thought: Yes, that’s how I roll.

Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aranamario/collections/

ESPANYOL

19 de marzo, 2008

Dos amigos y yo, tomamos el tren nocturno de Cairo a Aswan. 14 horas de viaje. Si, asi viajo yo. Yo no tenia boleto porque me dijeron que podia comprarlo una vez a bordo, pero me empece a preocupar cuando en Giza un monton de gente se subio y me tuve que mover de mi comodo asiento. Al final me toco el ultimo asiento en el vagon de los "extranjeros." Primera clase con aire acondicionado. Despues de 14 horas en el tren llegamos a Aswan. Aswan es una pintoresca ciudad a la orilla del Nilo en el sur de Egipto, a 3 horas al norte de sudan. Esa tarde visitamos la isla Philae donde vimos un templo construido con la ayuda de los Romanos y con influencia Griega con los clasicos jeroglificos egipcios que no dejan de impresionarme. Tambien visitamos la presa que forma el lago Nasser, uno de los mas grandes lagos hechos en el mundo. Al regresar a la ciudad nos tomamos un par de cervezas y mientras veiamos el atardecer a la orilla del Nilo. Terminamos el dia con un paseo en barco de vela (feluca) con un cool chico Nubiano. A esta area de Egipto tambien se le conoce como Nubia. Una hermosa luna llena, el viento, el Nilo... definitivamente valieron la pena las 14 horas en el tren.

Mis amigos abordaron un crucero el siguiente dia. Antes de irse paseamos en velero de nuevo para visitar un pueblo Nubiano donde ellos compraron galabeyas, que son la tunica tradicional que visten los hombres egipcios. Yo me quede en Aswan porque tenia planeado viajar a Abu Simbel. Un sitio spectacular donde el ego de Ramses II se transform en enormes estatuas de 20 metros esculpidas en una montania. Me desperte a las 3 de la maniana para tomar un minibus porque los tours solo los hacen de 6 a 9 am debido al calor que llega despues de esa hora. Despues de 3 horas llegue a mi destino. Abu simbel es un majestuoso ejemplo de la maestria en las ciencias y lasartes de los antiguos Egipcios. No solo los monumentos son de los mas majestuosos en el mundo, pero su relocacion y reconstruccion fue un evento historico en si mismo.

Cuando los templos (280 km al sur de aswan) estuvieron amenazados de ser sumergidos por las aguas del lago Nasser debido a la contruccion de la presa, el gobierno Egipcio aseguro el apoyo de la UNESCO y lanzo una compania mundial para salvarlos. Durante la operacion que duro de 1964 hasta 1968, los dos templos fueron desmantelados y elevados 60 metros desde el risco arenoso en los que fueron construidos mas de 3,000 anios antes. Ahi fueron re-emsamblados en la exacta relacion el uno al otro y al sol, y cubiertos por una montania artificual. La mayoria de las uniones en la roca han sido rellenadas por expertos en antiguedades, pero adentro del templo aun es posible distinguir donde los trozos de roca fueron cortados. Ademas se puede obvervar una exhibicion fotografica que muestra las diferentes etapas del masivo proyecto de recolocacion. Impresionante.

Sali de aswan el dia siguiente despues de tratar tres veces de comprar un boleto. Finalmente logre comprar mi boleto despues de hablar con el jefe de la policia de turismo. No me querian vender boleto en segunda clase porque aparentemente el de primera clase estaba vendido. Le explique que yo debia regresar a Cairo a dar clases. Al final me dio una nota en un post-it para que lo entregara en la ventanilla. Despues de esperar mas de una hora en la ventanilla hable con un supervisor porque todo el mundo se colaba y yo no avanzaba. El supervisor me llevo al frente y compre mi boleto. El tren salio a las 8 pm esa noche. Pase mi ultimo dia paseando por los bazares y nadando en la piscina del hotel Isis. Que suerte que lo hice porque la temperature ese dia llego a los 45grados (113 Farenheit). Si, habia calor.

Uno de los momentos mas memorables del viaje es haber visto un espejismo en el desierto. Despues de visitor el impresionante sitio que es Abu Simbul, miraba por la ventana en el camino de regreso a Aswab. De repente vi lo que parecia un lago en medio del desierto. Sonrie y pense: Si, ese es mi estilo.

Fotos http://www.flickr.com/photos/aranamario/collections/

Ode to Hope. Oda a La Esperanza.

2011-04-07T15:53:00.011+03:00

Ode to Hope

Oceanic dawn,

at the center

of my life.

Waves like grapes,

the sky's solitude,

you fill me

and flood

the complete sea,

the undimished sky,

tempo

and space,

seafoam's white

battalions,

the orange earth,

the sun's

fiery waist

in agony,

so many

gifts and talents,

birds soaring into their dreams,

and the sea, the sea,

suspended

aroma,

chorus of rich, resonant salt,

and meanwhile,

we men,

touch the water,

struggling and hoping,

we touch the sea

hoping.

And the waves tell the firm coast:

"Everything will be fulfilled"

Oda a la Esperanza

Crepusculo marino,

en medio

de mi vida,

las olas como uvas,

la soledad del cielo,

me llenas

y desbordas,

todo el mar,

todo el cielo,

movimiento

y espacio,

los batallones blancos

de la espuma,

la tierra anaranjada,

la cintura

incendiada

del sol en agonia,

tantos

dones y dones,

aves

que acuden a sus suenos,

y el mar, el mar,

aroma

suspendido,

coro de sal sonora,

mientras tanto,

nosotros,

los hombres,

junto al agua,

luchando

y esperando

junto al mar,

esperando.

Las olas dicen a la costa firme:

"Todo sera cumplido."

Pablo Neruda

How to Live a Delicious Life! Como Vivir una Vida Deliciosa!

2011-04-04T21:31:00.007+03:00

HOW TO LIVE A DELICIOUS LIFE !

Inspired by "How to be Really Alive"

Go where your heart tells you.

Live simply.

Learn from a child.

Do not fear making hard decisions.

F O R G I V E.

Be proud of who you are and what you do.

Appreciate other cultures.

O b s e r v e.
Create excitement!

P r a y.

Read poetry, preferably aloud.

See beyond what your eyes see.

Dance!

Explore the world around and inside you.

Share your talents, time and resources.

A D M I R E.
Be patient.

Wander, you may find

what you've been looking for unexpectedly.

Open your windows.

Take pictures!

Live today.

And remember:

Share your life with others!

Mario Arana

COMO VIVIR UNA VIDA DELICIOSA!

Inspirado por "How to be Really Alive"

Ve a donde te diga tu corazon.

Vive con sencillez.

Aprende de los ninos.

No temas las decisiones dificiles.

P E R D O N A.

Siente orgullo de quien eres y de lo que haces.

Apprecia otras culturas.

O b s e r v a.

Crea emocion!

O r a.

Lee poesia, preferiblemente en voz alta.

Mira mas alla de lo que ven tus ojos.

Baila!

Explora el mundo alrededor y dentro de ti.

Comparte tus talentos, tu tiempo y recursos.

A D M I R A.
Se paciente.

Camina sin rumbo,

lo que buscas puede aparecer sorpresivamente.

Abre las ventanas.

Toma fotos!

Vive el hoy.

Y recuerda:

Comparte tu vida con otros!

Mario Arana

Travel is more. Viajar es mas.

2011-04-01T11:37:00.003+03:00

July 20, 2007

I am exhausted. I left Chetumal, the Mexico-Belize border, at 6 in the morning. I just arrived in Flores in northern Guatemala. It is 3 pm. In 4 hours I take an overnight bus to Guatemala City. By the time I arrive there it will be exactly 24 hours of travel. I will have crossed 2 borders and been in 3 countries.

What is travel to you?

Traveling to me is more. It is more than discovering deserted beaches, exploring ruins in the middle of the jungle, admiring amazing landscapes or strolling down quaint little towns. Traveling is much more than meeting friendly and captivating people on the road. Traveling is much more than the thrill and joy of new adventures. To me travel is life. And, like life, travel does have its challenging days as well as its glorious ones. Travel, and life, has its unexpected turns, good and bad. Life brings us tender moments but also tough situations. What truly matters is how we react to them.

I have been on the road for two weeks and I have no clean clothes. The humidity and the heat in this part of the world are suffocating. I am sticky and dirty. But, believe it or not, I am happy ! I ran out of shampoo. I miss my bed and my pillow. I can't wait to get home. Yet, I am enjoying myself!

In my camera I have lots of pictures. In my journal there are many words. In my heart I carry many memories of this trip. In Flores I had a fun conversation with the fisherman who took me around the lake in his boat after he saw me watching the sunset. There was a full moon and I will never forget its reflection on the water with the Flores lit in the background. The bus driver from Belize drove like a madman so I prayed the whole way to Flores. I will never forget that ride! We all have felt proud after we have accomplished something through our hard work and initiative. Like traveling 24 hours straight to get to a beautiful beach and live two weeks that you will remember for the rest of your life. I don’t travel to escape, I travel to live. And I love living as much as I love traveling.

Every day, no matter where we are, we collect images, words and memories. Let’s enjoy them to the max! And may our attitude help us overcome the ones that are not so easy!

Yep, travel is definitely more.

ESPANYOL

20 de julio de 2007

Estoy agotado. Salí de Chetumal, la frontera entre México y Belice, a las 6 de la mañana. Recien llegue a Flores, en el norte de Guatemala. Son las 3 de la tarde. En 4 horas tomare un bus nocturne a la ciudad de Guatemala. Al llegar a Guate serán exactamente 24 horas de viaje. Habre cruzado dos fronteras y habre estado en tres países.

¿Qué es viajar para ti?

Para mí viajar es más. Mas que descubrir playas desiertas, explorar ruinas en medio de la selva, admirar paisajes espectaculares o pasear por pintorescos pueblitos. Viajar es más que conocer gente amigable e interesante en el camino. Viajar es más que la emoción y la alegría de nuevas aventuras. Para mí viajar es vivir. Y, al igual que vivir, viajar tiene sus días difíciles, así como sus dias gloriosos. Viajar, y la vida, tienen sus giros inesperados, buenos y malos. La vida nos trae momentos de ternura y situaciones difíciles. Lo que realmente importa es como reaccionamos a ellos.

He viajado por dos semanas y no tengo ninguna ropa limpia. La humedad y el calor en esta parte del mundo es sofocante. Estoy pegajoso y sucio. Pero, lo creas o no, estoy feliz ! Me quedé sin champú. Echo de menos mi cama y mi almohada. No puedo esperar para volver a casa. Sin embargo, la estoy pasando super!

En mi cámara tengo un montón de fotos. En mi diaro de viaje llevo muchas palabras. En mi corazón llevo muchos recuerdos de este viaje. En Flores, tuve una alegre conversación con un pescador que me llevó en su lancha por el lago despues que me convencio mientras miraba el atardecer. Habia luna llena, y nunca olvidare su reflejo en el agua con las luces de Flores en la distancia. El conductor del autobús de Belice conducía como un loco, así que oré todo el camino a Flores. Nunca olvidaré ese viaje! Todos nos hemos sentido orgullosos después de haber logrado algo a través de nuestro esfuerzo e iniciativa. Como viajar 24 horas seguidas para llegar a una hermosa playa y vivir dos semanas que recordarás por el resto de su vida. Yo no viajo para escapar, viajo para vivir. Y me encanta vivir tanto como me encanta viajar.

Todos los días, no importa donde estemos, coleccionamos imágenes, palabras y recuerdos. Disfrutemoslos al maximo! Y que nuestra actitud nos ayude a superar los que no son tan faciles!

Sí, viajar es definitivamente más.

March 21: Did you know? Marzo 21: Sabias que?

2011-03-21T13:42:00.019+02:00

Spring Equinox. An equinox happens each year at two specific moments in time (rather than two whole days), when the centre of the Sun can be observed to be vertically above the Earth's Equator, occurring around March 20/21 and September 22/23 each year, the first days of spring and fall depending on which hemisphere you are in.

World Poetry Day is on March 21, and was declared by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1999. The purpose of the day is to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world and, as the UNESCO session declaring the day says, to "give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and international poetry movements.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid "pass laws". Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the United Nations General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. It also coincidents with Harmony Day.

ESPANYOL

El Equinoccio de Primavera es entre el 20 y el 21 de marzo en el hemisferio norte, y entre el 22 y el 23 de septiembre en el hemisferio sur), Se denomina equinoccio al momento del año en que los días tienen una duración igual a la de las noches en todos los lugares de la Tierra, excepto en los polos. La palabra equinoccio proviene del latín aequinoctĭum y significa «noche igual».

El día mundial de la poesia poesía es tributo a la palabra poética propuesto en el año 2001 por la Unesco, se celebra cada 21 de marzo con el propósito de consagrar la palabra esencial y la reflexión sobre nuestro tiempo. Este evento que fortalece la cultura en nuestro planeta se realiza en importantes capitales del mundo como París, Ámsterdam, Berlín y Bogotá. En Europa es llamado Primavera de los Poetas y en Colombia la Común Presencia de los Poetas, por ser instituido por la Fundación que lleva el mismo nombre, la cuál trabaja desde hace dos décadas en la promoción del universo poético en hispanoamérica.

El Día Internacional de la Eliminación de la Discriminación Racial se celebra el 21 de marzo de cada año. Ese día, en 1960, la policía abrió fuego y mató a 69 personas en una manifestación pacífica contra las leyes de pases del apartheid que se realizaba en Sharpeville, Sudáfrica. Al proclamar el Día en 1966, la Asamblea General instó a la comunidad internacional a redoblar sus esfuerzos para eliminar todas las formas de discriminación racial.

La Palabra - Words

2011-03-14T11:17:00.002+02:00

La Palabra
Todo lo que usted quiera, sí señor, pero son las palabras las que cantan, las que suben y bajan... Me prosterno ante ellas... Las amo, las adhiero, las persigo, las muerdo, las derrito... amo tanto las palabras... Las inesperadas... Las que glotonamente se esperan, se acechan, hasta que de pronto caen... Vocablos amados... Brillan como piedras de colores, saltan como platinados peces, son espuma, hilo, metal, rocío... Persigo algunas palabras... Son tan hermosas que las quiero poner todas en mi poema... Las agarro al vuelo, cuando van zumbando, y las atrapo, las limpio, las pelo, me preparo frente al plato, las siento cristalinas, vibrantes, ebúrneas, vegetales, aceitosas, como frutas, como algas, como ágatas, como aceitunas… Y entonces las revuelvo, las agito, me las bebo, me las zampo, las trituro, las emperejilo, las liberto... Las dejo como estalactitas en mi poema, como pedacitos de madera bruñida, como carbón, como restos de naufragio, regalos de la ola...Todo está en la palabra... Una idea entera se cambia porque una palabra se trasladó de sitio, o porque otra se sentó como una reinita adentro de una frase que no la esperaba y que le obedeció. Tienen sombra, transparencia, peso, plumas, pelos, tienen de todo lo que se les fue agregando de tanto rodar por el río, de tanto transmigrar de patria, de tanto ser raíces... Son antiquísimas y recientísimas... Viven en el féretro escondido y en la flor apenas comenzada... Qué buen idioma el mío, qué buena lengua heredamos de los conquistadores torvos... Éstos andaban a zancadas por las tremendas cordilleras, por las Américas encrespadas, buscado patatas, butifarras, frijolitos, tabaco negro, oro, maíz, huevos fritos, con aquel apetito voraz que nunca más se ha visto en el mundo... que ellos traían en sus grandes bolsas... Todo se lo tragaban, con religiones, pirámides, tribus, idolatrías iguales a las que ellos traían en sus grandes bolsas... Por donde pasaban quedaba arrasada la tierra... Pero a los bárbaros se les caían de las botas, de las barbas, del los yelmos, de las herraduras, como piedrecitas, las palabras luminosas que se quedaron aquí resplandecientes… el idioma. Salimos perdiendo... Salimos ganando... Se llevaron el oro y nos dejaron el oro... Se lo llevaron todo y nos dejaron todo... Nos dejaron las palabras...

Pablo Neruda

Words
You can say anything you want, yes Sir, but words sing, they soar and descend . . . I bow to them . . . l love them, I cling to them, I run them down, I bite into them, I melt them down . . . I love words so much . . . The unexpected ones . . . The ones I wait for greedily or stalk until, suddenly, they drop . . . Vowels I love . . . They glitter like colored stones, they leap like silver fish, they are foam, thread, metal, dew . . . I run after certain words. . . They are so beautiful I want to fit them all into my poem . . . I catch them in mid-flight, as they buzz past, I trap them, clean them, peel them, I set myself in front of the dish, they have a crystalline texture to me, vibrant, ivory, vegetable, oily, like fruit, like algae, like agates, like olives . . . And then I stir them, I shake them, I drink them, I gulp them down, I mash them, I garnish them, I let them go . . . I leave them in my poem like stalactites, like slivers of polished wood, like coals, pickings from a shipwreck, gifts from the waves . . . Everything exists in the word . . . An idea goes through a complete change because one word shifted its place, or because another settled down like a spoiled little thing inside a phrase that was not expecting her but obeys her . . .They have shadow, transparence, weight, feathers, hair, and everything they gathered from so much rolling down the river, from so much wandering from country to country, from being roots so long . . .They are very ancient and very new . . .They live in the bier, hidden away, and in the budding flower . . . What a great language I have, it's a fine language we inherited from the fierce conquistadors . . . They strode over the giant cordilleras, over the rugged Americas, hunting for potatoes, sausages, beans, black tobacco, gold, corn, fried eggs, with a voracious appetite not found in the world since then . . . They swallowed up everything, religions, pyramids, tribes, idolatries just like the ones they brought along in their huge sacks . . . Wherever they went, they razed the land . . . But words fell like pebbles out of the boots of the barbarians, out of their beards, their helmets, their horseshoes, luminous words that were left glittering here . . . our language. We came up losers . . . We came up winners . . . They carried off the gold and left us the gold . . . They took everything from us and they gave everything to us . . . They left us words…

Pablo Neruda

F a i t h

2011-03-02T09:03:00.006+02:00

In times of trouble, what keeps your mind clear and your heart hopeful? Faith can give you the strength you need while you walk the path only you can walk. May you gain courage from these quotes about faith!

As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit. --Emmanuel Teney

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.-- Mother Teresa

Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself - and thus make yourself indispensable. -- Andre Gide

Do not put your faith in what statistics say until you have carefully considered what they do not say. -- William W. Watt

Exercise of faith will be the safest where there is a clear determination summarily to reject all that is contrary to truth and love. -- Mahatma Gandhi

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith. -- Henry Ward Beecher

Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof. -- Kahlil Gibran

Faith is a passionate intuition. -- William Wordsworth

Faith is a process of leaping into the abyss not on the basis of any certainty about "where" we shall land, but rather on the belief that we "shall" land. -- Carter Heyward

Faith is courage; it is creative while despair is always destructive. -- David S. Muzzey

Faith is like electricity. You can't see it, but you can see the light. -- Author Unknown

Faith is not a delicate flower which would wither away under the slightest stormy weather. -- Mahatma Gandhi

Faith is not something to grasp, it is a state to grow into. -- Mahatma Gandhi

Faith is not trying to believe something regardless of the evidence; faith is daring something regardless of the consequences. -- Sherwood Eddy

Faith is reason grown courageous. -- Sherwood Eddy

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark. -- Rabindranath Tagore

Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light. -- Helen Keller

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. -- Saint Augustine

Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted in spite of your changing moods. -- C.S. Lewis

Faith makes the discords of the present the harmonies of the future. -- Robert Collyer

Faith means belief in something concerning which doubt is theoretically possible. -- William James

Faith means living with uncertainty - feeling your way through life, letting your heart guide you like a lantern in the dark. -- Dan Millman

Fear can keep us up all night long, but faith makes one fine pillow. -- Philip Gulley

Fear clogs; Faith liberates. -- Elbert Hubbard

He who has faith has... an inward reservoir of courage, hope, confidence, calmness, and assuring trust that all will come out well - even though to the world it may appear to come out most badly. -- B.C. Forbes

If you can't have faith in what is held up to you for faith, you must find things to believe in yourself, for a life without faith in something is too narrow a space to live. -- George E Woodberry

If you think you can win, you can win. Faith is necessary to victory. -- William Hazlitt

It's faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes a life worth living. -- Oliver Wendell Holmes

Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe. -- Gail Devers

Living without faith is like driving in a fog. -- Proverb

On a long journey of human life, faith is the best of companions; it is the best refreshment on the journey; and it is the greatest property. -- Buddha

Only the person who has faith in himself is able to be faithful to others. -- Erich Fromm

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. -- Helen Keller

Scepticism is the beginning of Faith. -- Oscar Wilde

Talk unbelief, and you will have unbelief; but talk faith, and you will have faith. According to the seed sown will be the harvest. -- Ellen G White

The keys to patience are acceptance and faith. Accept things as they are, and look realistically at the world around you. Have faith in yourself and in the direction you have chosen. -- Ralph Marston

To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible. -- St. Thomas Aquinas

When you put faith, hope and love together, you can raise positive kids in a negative world. -- Zig Ziglar

Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. -- St Francis of Assisi

You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith. -- Mary Manin Morrissey

Travels. Books. Life.

2011-02-10T18:00:00.003+02:00

I love to read. And when I travel I love to read even more. Before a trip I get excited about the books I will take with me. But sometimes a book winks at me from a hostel shelf, or in a used bookstore. While traveling in the Patagonia in 2006 I stumbled upon a book titled “The Book of Disquiet” by a Portuguese author named Fernando Pessoa. These are some of his thoughts:

Literature -which is art married to thought, and realization untainted by reality- seems to me the end towards which all human effort would have to strive, if it were truly human and not just a welling up of our animal self. To express something is to conserve its virtue and take away its terror. Fields are greener in their description than in their actual greenness. Flowers, if described with phrases that define them in the air of the imagination, will have colors with a durability not found in cellular life.

What moves life. What is said endures. There´s nothing in life that´s less real for having been well described. Small-minded critics point out that sush-and-such poem, with its protracted cadences, in the end says merely that it´s a nice day. But to say it`s a nice day is difficult, and the nice day itself passes on. It`s up to us to conserve a nice day in a wordy, florid memory, sprinkling new flowers and new stars over the fields and skies of the empty, fleeting outer world.

Everything is what we are, and everything will be, for those who come after us in the diversity of time, what we will have intensely imagined - what we, that is, by embodying our imagination, will have actually been. The grand, tarnished panorama of History amounts, as I see it, to a flow of interpretations, a confused consensus or unreliable eyewitness accounts. The novelist is all of us, and we narrate whenever we see, because seeing is complex like everything.

Right now I have so many fundamental thoughts, so many truly methaphysical things to say that I suddenly feel tired, and I´ve decided to write no more, think no more. I´ll let the fever of saying put me to sleep instead, and with closed eyes I´ll stroke, as if petting a cat, all that I might have said.

The Book of Disquiet is described by Pessoa as his “factless biography.” Here is another phrase that impacted me:

We never know self-realization. We are two abysses -a well staring at the sky.

I don’t subscribe to the pessimistic view of life that Pessoa portrays in his writings. But I admire how passionately he expresses his views. I have not read any more of his books but I’d like to. He also wrote poetry. Here is one of his poems.

To be great, be whole; exclude

Nothing, exaggerate nothing that is you.

Be whole in everything. Put all you are

Into the smallest thing you do.

The whole moon gleams in every pool,

It rides so high.

Reading and traveling have become inseparable in my life. I cherish those long flights and bus/boat rides just to immerse myself in a book. When I arrive to my destination I go back to the real world, where ideas become moments, moments become memories, and memories become life. Because I love to read but I love to live even more.

Roots and Wings. Raices y Alas.

2011-01-23T15:23:00.008+02:00

Roots and Wings

In June of 2004, after going to college in Arkansas for 4 years and teaching in Honduras, Costa Rica and the Carolinas for 7 years, I decided to take a sabbatical in Guatemala. I wanted to get back to my roots. I spent most of that year in Antigua Guatemala and Lake Atitlan. Two of the most beautiful places I know. I was home. My family. My food. My people. My land. I felt "Chapin" again. Chapin is the nickname given to Guatemalans. As the end of my sabbatical got closer I began thinking of looking for a job. The thought of returning to the US came to my mind, but somehow I thought of Mario Benedeti, poet and novelist from Uruguay, who said: The South also exists...! So, after giving it some thought I decided to go South. I found a job in Cochabamba, Bolivia. I arrived in August 2005 with 2 suitcases and a backpack full of dreams. For the next two years I had the opportunity to live, to teach and to travel in South America. I had the joy of becoming friends with many Bolivians and with many people of other nationalities. I volunteered in an orphanage teaching English twice a week. I explored Ecuador, Colombia, Venuezuela, Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, I had previously traveled in Peru, Brazil and Uruguay. From the sunny Cartagena to the spectacular Patagonia. I watched the sunset in the Galapagos and sang at a Ricardo Arjona concert in La Paz. In June 2007 I went back home again. On that first morning waking up in Guatemala I felt more chapin, more latino and more a citizen of the world. Today I am happy for that moment when I realized that the South also exists...! From that moment on, I not only have roots, but I also have wings.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aranamario/collections/

Raices y Alas

En Junio del 2004, despues de asistir a la univerdad en Arkansas por 4 anios y dar clases en Honduras, Costa Rica y las Carolinas por 7 anios, decidi tomar un año sabatico en Guatemala... Queria volver a mis raices... la mayor parte de ese año lo pase en Antigua Guatemala y el Lago Atitlan... estaba en mi tierra.. con mi familia.. mi comida.. mi gente.. me senti "chapin" de nuevo... chapin es el sobrenombre que se nos da a los Guatemaltecos... al terminar ese año tenia que buscar un empleo... pense en regresar a los Estados Unidos, pero de alguna forma me recorde de Mario Bennedetti, poeta y novelista Uruguayo, quien dijo: "El Sur tambien existe...!" asi que despues de pensarlo decidi ir al Sur... encontre un trabajo en Cochabamba, Bolivia... llegue en Agosto del 2005 con dos maletas y una mochilla llena de suenios.. por dos años tuve la oportunidad de vivir, enseñar y viajar en Sudamerica... tuve la alegria de establecer una amistad con mucha gente de Bolivia y de muchas otras nacionalidades... fui voluntario en un orfanato dando clases de Ingles dos veces por semana... explore Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina y la bella Bolivia... previamente habia viajado en Peru, Brazil y Uruguay... desde la soleada Cartagena hasta la grandeza de la Patagonia... desde ver el atardecer en Galapagos hasta ir a un concierto de Arjona en La Paz... volvi a mi tierra en Junio del 2007... esa mañana cuando me desperte de nuevo en Guatemala me senti mas chapin, mas latino y mas ciudadano del mundo... hoy soy feliz por haberme dado cuenta de que el Sur tambien existe..! A partir de ese momento no solo tengo raices, sino tambien tengo alas...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aranamario/collections/