There's No Place Like Home, But What If Home Is Hurting?
Conflict. Catastrophe. Hurricanes. Earthquakes. War. These familiar terms have taken a predominant presence in the headlines of 2017. In the past week alone, we've seen disasters strike in Mexico and the Caribbean causing crippling damage with lasting effects. Here, in France or in the United States, these turmoils may not directly affect you, but in the globalized world we live in, perhaps a friend, an acquaintance, or even the person sitting next to you may feel differently. Possibly their home nation is touched by said turmoil. While these people's lives may be far from home, the same can't be said for their thoughts. I decided to reach out to some who are living far from their homes to ask about their experience grieving from abroad.
Miguel Fernandez, Age 46, Puerto Rico
Image Credit: Facebook/Jake Jones
"The nature of my country's turmoil is a category five hurricane that traversed the island dead center, bringing about one of the most devastating occurrences in the island in the past 100 years. I have some of my closest family members residing in Puerto Rico. My mother and aunt, who raised me, being on top of the list. I worry about their well-being in general since they are at a fragile age and they have cared for my well being all of my life."
"I was worried during the storm due to its destructive strength and I am worried about the state of affairs in regards to daily life since this catastrophe has diminished the infrastructure of the island to an almost nonexistent state."
Image Credit: Wikimedia/ Naval Research Laboratory
"A few anecdotes make me reflect the most as to what it means to find yourself in an environment experiencing a catastrophe. Losing the roof of your house and having no electricity. I find this to be staples of civilization and symbols of how we live today. Once they are negated live changes considerably."
"I have an urge to have my family come to stay with me, out of harm's way. The catastrophe is extremely recent and they are advising that going to the island will just take resources away from those who are there already and need them."
Fernanda Sapina, Age 20, Mexico
Image Credit: Facebook/Marijose Sapiña
"My name is Fernanda Sapina, I am From Mexico and I was born and raised in Mexico City. There has been a 7.3 magnitude earthquake that hit Mexico City. All my family is safe, but I have heard, from family members, about others they knew dying. There was one case in which a building collapsed on a boy and another where a boy fell off a bridge and debris fell on top of him. Not only that but I've seen pictures from my friends, of people, that they are looking for, who are missing, people that I've seen before, that I've spoken to, we don’t know where they are."
Image Credit: Wikimedia/ProtoplasmaKid
" I want to go back, I want to go home really bad, I'm frustrated, I see all my friends creating centers to shelter others, I've seen friends lifting debris, searching for people. A lot of my friends have motorcycles and they've been transporting paramedics around the city, they need gas, supplies are running out, we need help, we need funding, we need volunteers, we need people to be going there because what's happening right now hasn't been seen in 32 years."
Mohammed Jabur, Age 24, Syria
Image Credit: Facebook/Mohammed Jabur
"I am from Syria, there has been, for a while now, a war there, a very complicated war. It is a civil war between the Syrian government and the Free Army, as well as other groups such as Daesh. It is all very hard on us Syrians."
"I left Syria in 2013, four years ago. With my family, we all went to Jordan. My home was bombed, our area was very dangerous. My brother is there, my grandmother is there, my friends are there. In the last two months I've lost my uncle, he was found killed, before that I've lost many friends, I don’t know the stories behind their deaths. No one knows anything there, not even if they will be alive the next day, there could be a bombing, there could be fighting."
Image Credit: Flickr/Jordi Bernabeu Farrús
"Of course I want to go back, it is my home, but that is not possible. My area is where the conflict started, where the revolution started, and even if I am not apart of that, even if all I care about is the well-being of my country, I can't go back."
"If I went back one day I'd want to rebuild, to begin something new. But I don’t see that possibility anytime soon, this has become a game of politics and business, the people who are causing this don't care about the Syrian people."
"I am here for now, in Paris, and I am lucky, I am grateful, I have found myself here, I am creating my future, no matter how much I miss my home, my neighborhood, my neighbors, my friends, I cannot return, and if I did there would be nothing I could do, so I will continue building my future here."
Gonzalo Otaola, Age 22, Venezuela
Image Credit: Facebook/Gonzalo Otaola
"The current turmoil has spun out of control in the last couple of years, reaching a point of utter desperation. Disease, famine, crime, hyperinflation, broken institutions, and corruption have plagued Venezuela. Just last week my parents decided to leave permanently as well. I have one grandmother who is currently trying to go live with my cousins in Australia."
"My parents tell me that the ATMs are empty, the lines for the supermarkets are worse than ever, lack of supply has supermarkets empty most of the times, the press is controlled, the people scavenge through trash bins, people my age, arms deep in fucking trashcans to feed themselves in public squares."
"Leaving one's house is a constant risk, my uncle Leo, was murdered outside his home while walking his dogs. He refused to lead the kidnappers into his house, where his wife was and therefore he was shot on the spot in the fall of 2012, a memory that has stayed with me and my family since then."
Image Credit: Wikimedia/Andrés E. Azpúrua
"When I left in 2008 I thought I would come soon after graduating from high school, or perhaps after college. now the reality of the country is unwelcoming to anyone trying to start a career."
"If I head back, it would be to fight a government that has all the military power to silence me and anyone wishing to see a free Venezuela, where political ideologies are not imposed by an all-powerful, authoritative, populist government, but respects the rights of people, of freedom of choice, freedom of speech, freedom of press, and all the other freedoms that have been suppressed in the past decade."
Over 300 dead in Mexico, six years of war in Syria, a hurricane surging through Puerto Rico, civil unrest in Venezuela. For many of us, these are just the headlines of today but for some, perhaps even a friend of yourself, they are a reality, taking place in the streets they grew on, with the people they grew with. Understand this, because one day it may be your home in the headlines.
Call to Action
Learn more about Mexico and how you can help after the earthquake, check out the latest from the Peacock Plume.
Learn more about the Puerto Rican hurricane in the New Tork Times and for how you can help through Change.org.
Learn more about the Syrian crisis and how to donate to charities providing humanitarian aid in Syria and to refugees.
Learn more about Venezuela and how to aid in the ongoing human rights protests.
