[An-da-rie-ga]-Spanish word to describe a woman who is fond of traveling or walking. Comes from the word andar, which means to walk, to go, to move forward.
My mom calls me “andariega” because, according to her, I simply cannot stay still. Phrases like “don’t be so andariega!” or “stay at home for once, andariega!” were common while I was growing up. When I moved to Vancouver to start my International Relations degree at UBC, I proved my mom’s point… I actually do love meeting new people and, especially, visiting new places! But more than just sightseeing, I love learning about the history, culture and people of the places I visit.
I also have a deep interest in international development, human rights and education. Having been born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, I am particularly interested in Latin American politics and issues of social justice in the region. Growing up I was continually shocked by the blatant inequalities in my country, but rarely paused to question the systemic causes of poverty or to consider potential solutions to this problem. As painful as it is to admit it, when one grows accustomed to an unequal environment, it becomes easier to “normalize” it and adopt an attitude of indifference. My education and experience working with marginalized communities have helped me realize that such culture of indifference is extremely harmful—indifference is at the root of inaction, or even worse, ineffective action.
I believe that true development can only be successful when it goes beyond financial aid. We need to combat ignorance and indifference from its very core by working with communities, individuals and organizations who are truly interested in the wellbeing of others—not out of a sense of pity or sympathy, but because they realize that “here” and “there” / “us” and “them” are more interconnected than we think. We must acknowledge that collaborating for sustainability and social justice impacts all of us!
I decided to write this blog for three main reasons:
- I want to write and learn more about development work in order to raise awareness about different solidarity practices and challenge social indifference.
- I want to record my experiences and learning as an andariega. I will include historical backgrounds and pictures of the places I visit.
- Last but not least, the trigger cause for starting this blog— I will be traveling to Swaziland this summer (in 2 days!!) to do an internship with SOS Children’s Village in Mbabane (the Kingdom’s capital). I will be posting a weekly account describing my experiences of working with the organization and living in Swaziland. I will attempt to incorporate descriptive posts about my travels with thoughts and reflections about development.
So for all the other andariegos and andariegas out there… I hope you enjoy it 🙂