Realities Meddling
Lima 7:30 pm, Wednesday, March 15, 2017. Sitting in my chair reading through my cell phone messages, before my dinner is served. The TV is turned on in the kitchen and the maids working at my house are watching the news on the “Huaycos” that hit Punta Hermosa. Some people died, houses got destroyed etc. “School is being cancelled for private and public schools due to the landslide risks” the TV suddenly says. Messages flood my phone, people asking if school will be canceled or not. I join the conversation, asking the same question. My brothers around me, were getting excited because they hear the news that schools around Lima are getting cancelled. I got quite thrilled as well; the thought of having two free days created images in my head of me dancing through fields of flowers.
To be completely honest, I found myself feeling guilty approximately 56 seconds after I had those narcissistic thoughts instilled my head. I would rather go to school on weekends than let people die, and not have homes. And, fields of flowers, not really my thing, they are itchy and um, I rather not dance through them, now that I think about it. My point is: that I was completely senseless at 7:30, March 15, 2017.
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I was part of the enclosed 3.4% high class society of Lima, misinformed inside my little bubble. Little did I know my aunt had a beach house at the epicentre of the landslides, was inside Punta Hermosa and couldn’t leave. My grandmother lives in Lurin, an area adjacent to the areas affected. All of them could have been injured, but, we’re in the higher class right? I could easily get help if I needed it. I am not in the areas affected. My family has money in case of emergencies like this one. Why should I suffer? There is no need.
We are often too focused on our realities, that fleeing them and comprehending the reality of people that are inside the natural disaster, is, well, tough. Here is where the concept of realities comes to play. The people on the landslides have their lives being pulled apart; their houses are being torn apart by the great forces of lakes, family members are passing. I’ll tell you my side of the story: school is cancelled for two days, because of the landslides. The landslides brought scholars like me, that dislike the prospect of getting up to go to school at 6am every morning, a break from the incarcerating heat chambers, I call school. Is it a celebratory moment for me, again, no. But, realities are different.
People in our society that are “saddened” and “want to help”, say it because they want to gather people’s attention frivolously. If they really wanted to help, they wouldn’t be wasting their time telling people they want to help, and actually would use their time to benefit the cause.
A National Disaster strikes Lima and all of our realities come up for conflict. How emotional we are with the people on the landslides. What is in it for us? How can we help? My TV tells me that there is no school. I am happy. The people on the landslides come across loss of what matters to them. My life goes on, cousin just born, loved one out of chemo. For them, it is just from the ground up. From nothing to something. What will I do? Continue with my life. No connection with those people was so strong to keep me on their reality. So I am in mine. See, one foot into their reality, and I realized I have a shoe, something the strong waters swept away from them.
