The Countdown

The Countdown

I look at the calendar and I can´t believe we´re almost finishing the year and I have the sensation that time flew and I didn´t realize.  Generally, at this point of the year we make a general balance of the year we have had in terms of health, relationships in general, our academic achievements and work. For me, this year was excellent at all levels and that is why I´m so thankful for it. Besides the balance, I usually get a little nostalgic as regards teachers and specially classmates.

This year is the last I share most of the classes with them and some others –thanks God-get the degree! I know I´ll see some of them next year but it won´t be the same. I´ll miss their sayings and their craziness (craziness in the good way).  As regards teachers, I´m very thankful for having had so good and wise people as teachers that always care about us and we know that even though we have no more classes with them, they will be there for us. In general, I´m very thankful for all the people I´ve met at the IFDC.

As regards academic achievements, I have passed several subjects this year and I have to pass seven so as to get my degree; I get closer and closer.  Looking back four years earlier in 2012, I remember that I thought “oh my God this is too much, I don´t know if I can do it” but with the support of my family and classmate I could do it. Now I´m finishing the fourth year –that I saw so far away- and I´ve learnt to enjoy more and try not to rush things, to live one day at a time and enjoy the moment; the rest is coming soon. I´ve learnt to think and to learn in a different way

So, in this countdown-of the year and of my degree- I´m very thankful for my family (my little daughter and my husband) that always support me and they are always by my side. I am thankful for my beloved classmates that made my classes better and to the teachers for being with us.  Thank you everybody!  In this Christmas I toast for you. I wish you the best and I´ll be there for you whenever you need me. Cheers!!!!

Presidential Election 2015

¿Votar o no votar a los 16 años?

Juan Cruz, Martín y Tomás -a la izquierda- optaron por votar el próximo domingo. En cambio, Bruno, Millán, Juan V., Juan M. -a la derecha- esperarán hasta los 18 años, cuando el sufragio sea obligatorio. Foto: Flavio Raina 

Casi un millón de jóvenes de todo el país, que al 25 de octubre tendrán 16 y 17 años, están habilitados para votar en las próximas elecciones presidenciales, a partir de que la ley del “voto joven” del año 2012 estableció el sufragio -no obligatorio- para esa edad. Es la primera vez que esa franja etaria tendrá la oportunidad de participar en la gran elección para presidente de la Nación.

Next Sunday is a very important date for our country since the Presidential Election is taking place. This article deals with the chance that sixteen-year olds have to choose our next president. Even though it is not mandatory, if they are sixteen they can suffrage. This issue is kind of controversial considering some people´s complaint about this possibility they have; they think that teens are not mature enough to make such a decision. Sometimes, teenagers themselves think they are not prepared to suffrage.

Personally, I consider that the act of voting is very determining since we are making a decision that will affect us in one way or another. Hence, some people discuss that adolescents can´t vote because they do not know anything and they don´t care about anything. I believe that they have their own opinions and their own vision of the situation and it is very worthy to listen to them. That is why I consider generalizations are not correct due to the fact that some grown-ups are not that engaged with elections either-we can tell about it by looking back in our politics history. So, let´s give them a chance to show they can do it.

From my viewpoint, it is ok to give teenagers the possibility to vote so as to make them feel that their opinion is valuable. However, these voters should be guided beforehand; to inform them how the electoral process is and what they are choosing when voting. For this, the government should design some workshops in schools where they can debate and give their own opinion about politics. Besides, they should be acquainted with all the parties and candidates for them to know their proposals. After all, these electors are the future citizens, so it is time they started to take a look to the different options they will have in the “cuarto oscuro” next Sunday. 

Keeping up with the Syrian refugees’ situation, I was reading some newspapers and I found this piece of news. 

The controversial republican candidate for President Donald Trump says that if he wins the presidential elections, he will send all the Syrian refugees back home. Dear Mr. Trump, let me tell you with all my respect that these people HAVE NO HOME!!!. That is why they are looking for a new place to live. According to Mr. Trump, Syrian people are a potential danger for the States since some of them do not have identification. I agree it is difficult to receive thousands of people who are looking for a better situation, but being a leading world power like the U.S I strongly believe that there is something to be done. If the U.S can´t welcome the Syrian refugees, then there must be something to be done to stop the war so as to allow these people to go back to their homeland.

What this declaration made me understand is that some human selfishness has no end. I mean, this country being one of the most powerful and rich in the world they could help these desperate people. There are some countries from the third world-as they call us- that have welcomed many Syrian families such as Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. These South American countries are neither the richest nor the most powerful but they share what they have despite it is not that much. That is to say that these countries’ economy isn´t as thriving as those of the first world.  Sometimes the ones that have less are the ones who share the most. I think it will be better if the p powerful nations used their power to help and not to destroy.

What defines you?

                  There´s no place I´d rather be

In this Sunday, July 19, 2015 file photo, Syrian refugee girl, Zubaida Faisal, 10, skips a rope while she and other children play near their tents at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. (AP/Muhammed Muheisen)

It is widely known the Syrian refugees´ despairing situation these days. They are escaping from their homeland and looking for a decent place to live, a place where they can finally leave behind all the sorrow and pain caused by a senselessness war. Entire families travel thousand kilometres risking their lives trying to find a place to settle in. Not only a safe place and food they want; what they desperately need above all is peace. Peace, it seems so obvious for us but something so cherished for  them.

This image shows a refugee camp in Jordan where some tents were given to Syrian people who are waiting for a place to be safe in. This picture is the striking proof that these children -despite their despairing situation-they believe that everything is going to be alright. They show us that they are still kids no matter what. Playing is the only thing they can´t be deprived of.

  A profound shame is what invaded my eyes; shame on our mankind that can´t stop hurting and causing pain to the ones of their kind. Despite our intelligence for technological improvements, we are not able to put ourselves in the others´shoes. If only the powerful ones stopped the nonsense wars and used all that power for worthy causes, all these atrocities wouldn´t exist. These children show us that the show must go on" and we have to keep on going even though our situation is tough. Zubaida´s eyes are supplicating that we adults stop letting her- and every child on earth- down and start doing something right now.