Family Values
Traveling reveals many of the similarities and differences in the planets humanity and the way humans choose to live their lives… from religion to economics to academics and family values. I continue to be amazed by how people in emerging countries really look after each other. Whether they are on the streets selling stuff to make a living or sharing rides to work, they all seem to watch out for each other on a level I have not experienced in the USA.
One of the topics from my travels that has continued to grab my interest are the differences in family values from country to country. Since we only have our own personal experience and perspective to go by, mine being the family values in the USA… or the lack thereof. So, when I travel to other countries, I get to witness the people really looking after each other and not getting so caught up in the minutia of the rat race collecting materialistic items and money. Don’t get me wrong… I think everyone must go through the process of wanting status, power, money and material things before we realize that those are not the important things in life that bring us happiness.
The plan was to come to South America the summer of 2020. I had airline tickets and a place to stay in Uruguay… and then the pandemic hit. Now fast forward to today… Uruguay wasn’t the place for me to go. I wanted more of the tropics in the north and not have to experience winter in back-to-back seasons. Oh, the joys of traveling to south of the equator.
So, Colombia it is! I’m not exactly sure how I came to this decision other than I’ve wanted to visit Latin America, let loose a little bit, wring out the doldrums of the winter snow and cold and sit on the white sand/blue water beaches. Cartagena seemed like the best place to do that. The place where Colombians travel to vacation.
Sometimes when people see me in a foreign country with the light color of my skin, they think I am a westerner full of money, rich and thriving. Granted, I am comfortable, and the USA has provided for me so that I can be generous with people and where it will make the most difference. I have bought groceries and food for two families since I have been here. I believe that raising humanity from the bottom up is the most important. So, we can get the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter to everyone who needs it. It’s not that I can’t do that in the USA, I just don’t agree with the cyclical economic principles of the USA… encouraging debt, working to never pay it off, only to go into debt further, to have to work forever to pay it off. USA is the place where medical bankruptcy is the most common form of bankruptcy. We have an unstated obligation to each other… to see each other thrive in our lives.
I am staying with a really nice family in the middle of party central, Cartagena. The rules here in most family Airbnb stays is that you cannot bring people back into your room. Which is fine with me. But I’m curious as to why? In india it was because the government wanted to keep track of all the tourists. I do know that it’s not because they are afraid you are going to steal everything from them. It’s a bit different. Most people here live with their families. The family I am staying with have grandparents’, parents and grandchildren living there. Yes, that’s right…. three generations, with the possibility of a fourth generation. Even the 25yr old daughter doesn’t bring her boyfriend home to stay overnight with her. There are hotels you can rent for a short time for that, where it’s unspokenly encouraged. It’s nothing like that in the USA. I see this as an example of the importance of family and their family values to the people here. Something I highly respect, admire and desire for myself as I have experienced some of the lack of family values in my life experience.
Another way I can translate the family values here is in the history of religious dogma that has translated into dharma here. The Spaniards came here in the 1500’s and brought with them Catholicism and the teachings of Jesus which has stuck around for centuries. Jesus’ teachings are all over the place here…
- Love God.
- Love your neighbor as yourself.
- Forgive others who have wronged you.
- Love your enemies.
- Ask God for forgiveness of your sins.
- Jesus is the Messiah and was given the authority to forgive others.
- Repentance of sins is essential.
- Don’t be hypocritical.
- Don’t judge others.
- The Kingdom of God is near. It’s not the rich and powerful—but the weak and poor—who will inherit this kingdom.
It is obvious to me in my engagements with the locals that they are kind, friendly and understanding. Yes, sure, I have to tell the street vendors “no gracias” so many times for them to get the message of “no”. One of the men I met on the beach recognized some of my irritation at the end of the day. He saw what was happening and came over, sat next to me, put his hand on my shoulder and said to me “no thank you” with a smile. Giving me the lesson I needed to put away that irritation and realize people are only trying to make a living. I made up the story that he was looking out for my well-being. Was this an example of how we can care for each other? I think yes!
Now what? I have a few more days to explore Cartagena and the islands before I head to Quito and Otavalo, Ecuador and the Galapagos.
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