2013: A Journey Full of Changes

This year has given me a lot of lessons. Some of them harder than the others, but if one thing is true, is that I have learned from EACH one of them. I thought that it was gonna be easier to be back at home, and live the adult and independent life... but it didn't happen that way. Every time, everywhere I was aware of many things that I was not in the past. I saw things differently, and that did not allow me to settle that easily. I knew myself better, and I was not willing to give up my own self because of fear, or just to please others. This time I decided to take decisions and to make changes.
I have been living a journey of a lot of changes. A journey with a lot of quitting and starting over... always pursuing my heart and what God has put on it. However, it has not been easy to take every decision, because every decision has its own consequences. This year has been a year of sacrifices, just to try to figure out what I really want and to pursue it.
At the end, I know that every little decision, every little sacrifice will be worthy, and I will never regret the decisions I have taken today.
Yes, I have had three jobs in one year. Yes, I have had to give up my family sometimes. Yes, I have had to be lonely many times. Yes,  I have felt so tired a lot of times. But, I have hope that things will start to make sense now. I trust that time will bring those new friends I really want and need. I trust that I will grow professionally in the place I have chosen to do so. I hope I will have enough time to enjoy my family. And, I also hope I will have time for rest and time with God.
It is just a matter of patience, faith and intentionality. I'm just excited and looking forward for what life has in store for me.

Que clase de guatemalteco sos?

Soy una persona que ama Guatemala, que trata de ver las cosas buenas y minimizar todas las noticias negativas. Sin embargo, es difícil tratar de sólo ignorar las cosas... y aún más difícil ser tolerante a lo que frente a nuestros ojos pasa, aún en detalles tan insignificantes.
Esta semana me frustre por un simple tramite de pago de multa de la Muni... resulta que he querido pagar tres veces diferentes durante la semana, y ninguna de las veces me ha funcionado. He tomado un respiro, para llamar a servicio al cliente y ser lo más cortés posible, para que sólo me digan que todo ya está solucionado y cuando voy de nuevo a intentar pagar... no se puede!!
No entiendo que es lo difícil de hacer un trabajo y hacerlo bien. Nos quejamos de que las clientes nos tratan mal, cuando en realidad los servicios que prestamos son pésimos. Todos somos parte del sistema. Algunos somos de los que atrasamos y obstruimos el proceso de las cosas... y unos pocos somos de los que hacemos todo lo que está en nuestras manos para hacer un buen trabajo.
Muchas veces pienso que ya nos rendimos, ya nos acomodamos a que las cosas sean ineficientes... a que vivamos en un país de gente incapaz e inexperta.
Quiero creer que no soy la única que quiere dar lo mejor de sí; que no solo está esperando un sueldo, sino que en realidad está dando sus energías para hacer del presente y futuro de mí país algo mejor.

Y vos en qué grupo estás? Estás dando todo de vos en lo que haces, o simplemente estas "pasandola" y haciendo la vida de los demás un poco más complicada.

Espero que algún día entendas que de los pequeños actos que haces, tu país va cambiando y avanzando poco a poco. Nunca pares de hacer las cosas bien!!

Do I have to fit in?

This past year, has been a journey of learning about myself. I thought it was gonna be easy to come back home. However, it has been not as easy as I thought. I have found out that I am not just a Guatemalan anymore, but in my heart there are little pieces of the whole world. I had the blessing to meet people from all over the world and make some lifetime friendships with them. During the time I shared with them, I learned part of their way of living faith, their humor, their taste and their way of showing affection. Therefore, when I came back, my behavior was not fully Guatemalan, it had so much more to it. Some things that maybe for other people are hard to understand, and sometimes, I wish I could explain.
For now, I am enjoying this phase of life. I am trying to enjoy adjusting back as the new person I have become. I have realized that I do not need to fit in, but I just need to be myself.

Thinking beyond the product...

Lately, I have had the chance to visit different production factories.
It has been an awesome experience to observe the amazing process that products go through before we can buy them at the store.

As a marketing student, I was taught to think about the client first.
However, this experience helped me realize that there is so much more I should think about when wanting to merchandise a product, or things I should think about when buying something.
I realized and learned about the hard-working hands that put all their effort to create the best products. Hard-working hands that depend on that salary to pay for school or to sustain a family. I am amazed of the commitment and loyalty this employees have. I realized I have been so selfish so many times, that I do not even think about the origin of a product, and I don't care if the conditions where people work to manufacture these products are the adequate. Sure, I can't do a lot, but as client, I have a say.
We, as buyers, have the power to choose those products and companies that are responsible with their employees and with the environment.  If you are not sure about the origin of a product, do a little research. Learn about how companies treat their employees, and do your best to support those companies that care about them.

Y a vos quien te inspira?

"Es mi Dios aquel que inspira la fe que sostiene en el tiempo la fuerza para vivir, la perseverancia para seguir, la  paciencia que no renuncia frente al contratiempo, que sostiene la mirada en el horizonte, que camina sobre el agua aun en medio de la tormenta, que ama en medio del terror que crucifica"  - Libro Jesús del Pueblo, Pag. 60 

Hoy leí la frase escrita arriba en el libro que estoy empezando a leer. Me encantó sentirme identificada con el Escritor, saber que ese Dios descrito arriba es real. 

Leer palabras como esas me dan energías, me suben los ánimos y me dan esperanza. Ésta frase me recordó que aunque no vea soluciones cerca, El está trabajando. Sólo debo estar en tune con El para saber cómo yo puedo ser parte de su equipo e impactar mi mundo. Esta frase me hizo recordar que así como El no se rinde ni pierde las esperanzas, así debo actuar yo cada día, cada minuto y cada segundo que me es concedido.