Spring Snow / Nieve Primaveral

Talking about the unanticipated, of surprises, of the unexpected... spring snow.  Snow in April.  Those things in life that just surprise you; sometimes taking you off your feet, sometimes gradually making you grow, and sometimes simply bringing a smile to your face. This snow has just made me think a lot...
Taking the bus to and from work has been very interesting.  Probably the curious anthropologist, but mostly the curious human in me, is just looking at everything and everyone I can, to try to understand, learn, enjoy... One day I talked to a man that was trying to sell Colorado flags and bandannas; being jobless for a while now, he was having a hard time paying the monthly rent.  He was talking to one of his friends on the bus about shelter options.  Another man in the bus stop was pretty worried that it would start snowing again: no home, no refuge, no warm, dry place.  So much need, and feeling a little too impotent or powerless  many times.
I've also seen a blind man in the bus several times, with his guide dog: so much love and hope emanate from those two...  And it just made me think of how many people are in need of kindness and love.  And we have the power to give that, all the time.  And then working moms, taking their kids to school or the nursery, musicians carrying their guitar or music paper, kids reading, curious kids staring back at me, people smiling, others frowning...  I wonder what's going on in their lives.  What happened today?  What are their stories?
Life can be so complicated and simple at the same time.  So full of everything, all happening at the same time.  So full of beauty, and so full of the uncontrollable.  And so, with so much intensity and normality going on around me, inside me, this song came to mind.  Spring snow.  Here are the lyrics.  Whatever you're going through, don't lose hope.  Things change; things get better... And there's kind people around you, and people in need of your kindness.

Talked to a man today on the bus, he was afraid of the snow.
"I've been jobless for far too long; being homeless is no fun", he said.
All I could do was wish him good luck, "Hope you sell all your flags".
Don't give up hope, keep holding on, keep holding on...

All I could do was wish him good luck, "Hope you sell all your flags".
Don't give up hope, keep holding on, keep holding on...

Even when it's supposed to be spring and it snows, keep holding on.

Even when it's spring and it snows.

Don't lose hope, keep holding on...
Don't lose hope... the spring will come.

Through your eyes / A través de tus ojos

Inspired by conversations and music sharing with Andrea Matus :)

I want to travel through your eyes
And share with you memories of my own road
As if we were together, walking...
Eat books and songs,
Sing along with the wind and the trees.
Learn to see and smile with the heart.
Enjoy the sun and the stars,
The moon and the sand,
The waves and the land.

So much to see and live and be...
So many mountains to climb and try to touch the sky...
So many flowers, and colors and people, and smiles...
So much to see... through my eyes, through your eyes.

Inspirada en conversciones y música compartida con Andrea Matus :)

Quiero viajar a través de tus ojos

Y compartirte las memorias de mi propio camino

Como si estuviéramos juntas, caminando...

Comer libros y canciones,

Y cantar con el viento y los árboles.

Aprender a sonreír ya  ver con el corazón.

Disfrutar del sol y las estrellas,

de la luna y la arena,

de las olas y de la tierra.

Tanto qué ver y vivir y ser...

Tantas montañas por subir para intentar tocar el cielo...

Tantas flores, y colores, y personas y sonrisas...

Tanto qué ver... a través de mis ojos, a través de tus ojos.

Alive / Viva

Golden light,
Playful leaves and singing wind

It's good to be alive,
to be here,
to be now

Night decorated with stars,
Infinite dreams,
Infinite smiles.

It's good to be alive,
to be here,
to be...


Luz dorada,
Hojas juguetonas, y el viento cantando

Es bueno estar viva,
Es bueno ser, aquí,
Es bueno ser, ahora

Noche decorada de estrellas,
Sueños infinitos,
Sonrisas infinitas.

Es bueno estar viva,
Es bueno ser, aquí,
Es bueno ser...

From theory to practice, from practice to theory

I'm a visual person, so this is an attempt of "visualizing" the complex and swaying movement between theory and practice (as researchers, professionals, practitioners, etc.).  Whether we are more on the theory or practice side, will or can be affected by the kinds of paradigms and theories we choose to use, our biases and training, the methods and the knowledge we have (or think we have).  Most importantly, the "balance" will be strongly influenced by the needs of the project we're involved with, the objectives and the actors involved.  The context plays a huge role as well.

But whether we are doing applied research or in-depth ethnography, policy analysis or policy implementation, what is important to keep in mind is an auto reflexive position.  We must constantly ask ourselves why we are doing what we are doing, how we are doing it, and what could be some of the unintended consequences of what we are doing, producing, participating in.  No one said it's an easy process, but it is important to know your position, and to reflect on how that affects your work.

Soy visual, entonces este fue un intento de "visualizar" el movimiento complejo y en constante balance, entre la teoría y la práctica (como investigadores, profesionales, practicantes, etc.).  El estar más en el lado de la teoría o en el de la práctica se verá afectado por los paradigmas y teorías que escojamos usar, nuestros sesgos y entrenamiento, los métodos y el conocimiento que tengamos (o pensamos que tenemos).  Sobre todo, el balance se verá afectado por las necesidades específicas del proyecto en el que estemos involucradas, los objetivos y los actores involucrados.  El contexto juega un papel enorme también.

Pero ya sea que estemos haciendo investigación aplicada o etnografía a profundidad, análisis de políticas públicas o implementación de políticas, lo que es importante mantener presente es una posición auto reflexiva.  Nos debemos preguntar constantemente porqué estamos haciendo lo que estamos haciendo, cómo lo estamos haciendo, y cuáles podrían ser algunas de las consecuencias no intencionales de lo que estamos haciendo, produciendo o de lo que somos parte.  Nadie dijo que es un proceso fácil, pero es importante conocer nuestra posición, y reflexionar sobre cómo ésta afecta nuestro trabajo.

Balance

Let go
Be comfortable with the unknown
Cry, sleep, eat
Function
Dance and listen to music
Seek for the peace inside
Sing, write music
Breathe, just breathe...
Let go of the guilt
Let go of what you can't control
Let go of the fear
"Everything goes away"...

Atardecer / Sunset

La luz de durazno se escapa silenciosamente entre el algodón para acariciar las montañas mientras el sol descansa, desapercibido en el horizonte.

The peach light silently escapes through the cotton to caress the mountains while the sun rests, unnoticed  in the  horizon.

31/8/2012 (Denver airport)

Moonrise / Salida de la luna

For my friends who are in love with the moon...

The flirtatious moon peeks between the angles of the stone wall.
She takes her time.
The river slides patiently, waiting.
The wind and time run to the rhythm of the same song, waiting.
The sky explodes into stars, waiting.

And suddenly,
everything stops.
Not a single breath, as the moon gracefully rises dressed in fine cloudy clothes.

Then the music, the wind, the river and the sky keep going, knowing that it was worth the wait.

Para mis amigas que están enamoradas de la luna...

La luna, coqueta, se asoma entre los ángulos de la pared de piedra.

Se toma su tiempo.
El río se desliza pacientemente, esperando.
El viento y el tiempo corren al ritmo de la misma canción, esperando.
El cielo estalla en estrellas, esperando.

Y de pronto,
todo se de tiene.
Ni un solo respiro mientras la luna se alza graciosamente vestida de finas telas nubosas.

Luego siguen la música, el viento, el río y el cielo, sabiendo que valió la pena la espera.