Sunday 22 June 2008

Do I miss Venezuela?

A lot of people in Venezuela love to ask me the same question "Don't you miss...?" and my answer is always: NO, and it's really hard for them to understand that. Well, I should specify something first, family is not included in this package, I obviously miss my family, that it's something that I shouldn't even have to mention.

They always ask:
Do you miss the beach?: No, I never was a beach person, I prefered mountains ;) and I'm ok enough with a pool from time to time. Did I go to the beach? Yeah, it was fun, but not something that I actually miss.

Do you miss arepas?: No, because we have them here! In Toronto we have access to a LOT of the ingredients we use in Venezuela so we can make a lot of things here and just a few are missed. Enough to come back? Not even close to visit!

Do you miss the music?: No, who said that we can't have latin american music here? Do you miss Venezuelan TV?: I hated Venezuelan tv in Venezuela, why should I miss it here?

Really, not everyone can think like that, but a lot of people has the misconception that we are moving to a place where you won't have anything from your country and that it's not true, specially if you move to a multicultural city like this one.

My perfect example was last weekend, a Venezuelan picnic en Toronto!


They had typical venezuelan food and drinks that we enjoyed so much! So many venezuelans together having a great time takes you to your home country really fast, and we had venezuelan music too:


Did I miss Venezuela more with that picnic? Again, sorry but no, I just thought, what a great event! I hope to keep going to this kind of event here in Toronto so I can have the best of this world and part of the best of my home land :D

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Same here, I don't really miss France (minus the family thing, like you). There is no reason to... I wasn't very patriotic in the first place.

Johnada said...

Wow, very honest post. I'd say I miss the U.S., but Canada's just about the same, though no Bush is good.

Aiglee said...

Me neither, I love to say I'm from Venezuela but I'm not very patriotic and I would change a LOT of things in my country if I could.

hehe, thanks Johnada... well, not everyone leaves their contry in the same situation, that's why some people miss it and some people don't... The parts I've been in USA are similar in the consumist point of view but politics seems a little bit different.

Anonymous said...

Donde conseguistes la información sobre este picnic venezolano?

Anonymous said...

Donde conseguistes la información sobre este picnic venezolano?

Aiglee said...

Hola Nelson, en mi blog en español creo que especifique esa parte un poquito mas (ya no estoy segura). Fue a traves de la Fundacion Alma Llanera, ellos fueron los que lo organizaron.

Si estas interesado, el 5 de Julio hay un Buffet en un restaurant cubano en celebracion de la independencia de Venezuela.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the info.
I did not know about that "Fundación", but going into a closed space (restaurant) with kids and nothing for them to do is an adventure that I'm not sure I'm willing to take ;-)

I think Aiglee that you haven't been here long enough to miss things from Venezuela.

One day you are going to be walking down College St, perhaps thinking about going into Kensington Market a buy some stuff, and it will hit you!
You'll see a Genip (Mamón), a Sapodilla (Nisperó)or a Soursap (Guanábana), and even you might not like any of these fruits, it is going to transport you.

Or someday, you are feel a light breeze (late August) that brings that "December Aroma" that some Venezuelans say the felt while living there.

Things like these kind of accidental, non-related, out of the blue episodes in your daily life , will force you, sub-consciously, to feel the longing for Venezuela things.

People, you are always going to miss.
No matter how assimilated you think you are into this culture, there will be times where you will notice that culturally speaking, you are different...and that is good.

On my first trip back home, I had been living in Canada for 6 years.
On my last trip (a very short one, 1 week), I wanted to come back home...meaning Canada.

If you were ever a fan on Franco de Vita (apparently he is going to be at the Hershey Center in Mississauga), read the lyrics for his song "Extranjero".

I believe after a few years, you'll feel pretty much like Franco's dad.

Take care.

Anonymous said...

In reading my comment, I noticed I omitted some words and verbs.
Next time I will write my comments in my email program.
This box is too small and I edit too much!!

Aiglee said...

hahahah, don't worry Nelson, I got what you meant, and I agree, I may feel different in a few years, at least in the missing a few more things, but I'm sure I'll be like you on the "my home is Canada" subject.

But something else for you to think about, if you've been living here for 6 years that means you left Venezuela when things weren't THAT bad, but for people that's been leaving since last year, everything is different, we don't remember much of the beautiful Venezuela since it has been missing for too long already.

Anonymous said...

Actually I have been living here for 13 years (since 1995).
So you might say that at that time things were much, much better.
I never felt that way.
And even though I agree that there several things that do not feel the same in Venezuela, I believe what's happening now is like Eduardo Fernandez used to say: "Más de lo mismo"…only that is much worse.

Back in '95 I kind of knew that things would never change for the better (although I had hopes in HC back in '98).
Sadly I came to the realization that the main problem in Venezuela is us, people.
We all say that the corrupts do this and that, but in the end, and given the chance to be in a power position, most (not all) will fall and transform themselves with disregards to their old convictions.

My most recent example of what people do is precisely what you said you don't like that much: Beaches.
My last trip to Morrocoy should be renamed to My last trip to Garbagecoy!

In any case, as I said before, people (and I mean family and friends) is what you will miss the most.

Aiglee said...

I agree!!! :D

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

Hello Aglee, Thats so interesting , the other day I was just thinking of Toranto ( I have fsmily there) ythis is a nice informative series.
JoAnn

Aiglee said...

Thank you Joann!!!

Unknown said...

Hiya!...If I finally get to move to Canada, I don't think I'd miss my country either. My family yes!. But I'll be leaving with the person I love the most, and my dog.

Aiglee...¿Donde esta el blog en español?

Aiglee said...

It's exactly like that papeyo.

The blog in spanish is http://aiglee.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Well, I am Venezuelan and very proud of it as I know you are...I am looking towars to make m life of venezuela and it just because I am tired of work for nothing. It is just amazing how a person can work that much back in vzla and have nothing just enough to live yep I worked for 6 years while I studied my univ plus 2 more years and I realized that I did not have money to buy my own car...but bank can give you loans and you can have a house and a car...I have to say that gov is giving some options (I am not CHAVIZTA) just you know who to talk...if you know what I mean...any how I still live in venezuela but I work for an US company which I travel every 3-4 months to US and I have recieved some job offers but I havo not working visa but I still looking for that co that sponsor me and a friend of mine told me JIMMY! why you dont look for a Canadian visa they are not that hard...I thought and say well not a bad idea so I am starting to look for info about how to get the working visa going u know and I sow this post...which I think is OK 4u to say "I dont miss my country" but I think a bit different because I am always going to miss the parties at the farms ( I love the field o EL LLANO) La musica llanera, la carne en vara, mi solera verde...and I can keep going...I love beaches I am from puerto la cruz I am party lover so I hate the 2 AM closing bar or 4 AM party is all night till morning...like new orleans jeje. Now vandalism robering that is sowmthing that is killing us in vzla plus the food that for some reazon there are not might be meat, chicken, rice, coffe, sugar something new everymonth who can miss that..the weather, jum I like cold but not as Canada I guess I will get used to that, no big deal...but yes not matter the age even when I am 40 I will miss many things of my country...but Hey we all want the best things for our family right...so changes for GOOD are very good wellcome...! and I hope to get every thins straight up and see you in some of your picnics...! love ya'll Jimmy Errr Orientarrr chao

Aiglee said...

Thanks Jimmy :)

Rafael Vivas said...

Hi guys, I found this blog by chance and I have a few questions. I'm living in Venezuela right now, I just graduated from University, and got a degree of Engineer in Information Technology, I'm 23, I speak English and French, and I am wondering about emigrating to Canada given the current situation here. I've read many pros and many cons about moving to Canada, specially some situations about immigrants, how real is this? is it hard for a person like me to find a job there and start the legeal citizenship process?. I'd very much appreciate your responses. Thanks.

Aiglee said...

Hi Aphys, in my opinion is well worth it! Your career is perfect for finding a job relatively fast. In your case, you would have to go through the Quebec process since that career is not in the 38 for the Federal.