Category: Women

April began and with it the showers and thunderstorms that terrify my dogs, Rusty and Sasha. On Tuesday, I woke up at 4 a.m. thanks to the lightning crossing the Southeast. Half asleep, I walked to the kitchen to calm down my four-legged babies with a piece of bread.

Two hours later, while eating breakfast, I read the latest reports about the landslide that occurred in Colombia last Saturday evening. More than 280 people were killed, 200 injured, and over 80 persons are still missing.

For one second I wondered, if I am scared while I listen to the heavy rain–even though I know our house is built up to code, on a sturdy terrain that is designated residential–what did the victims feel before the rivers of mud struck them on April 1st? Continue reading “Landslide in Mocoa, Colombia”

My last vacation in Colombia left me–besides several extra pounds–a new philosophy of life. The days I spent in the country made me reflect about the way I exist in time and how little power I have over it.

The fact is that the Earth moves at the same velocity regardless of the latitude or longitude I am at, and nothing in the Universe can change that. My uncle, who grows rice, lives his life literally and metaphorically, at the speed of light, without rushing. Meanwhile, I live my life as if I were a lab-rat running around in a metal wheel, never reaching the end.

Keeping in mind my geographic limitations, I decided to implement the “country life motto” and apply a couple of small changes to benefit my mental health–if there is any left! Continue reading ““Rushing things can make you tired””

My loyal readers may have wondered why I did not publish my column last week. Well… I ran away with my husband and son for Spring Break, far from our routine in the US. The destination: my homeland, Colombia.

In a big family, secrets are mission impossible. So, with the help from my uncles, I was able to surprise my mother with our unexpected arrival. Although I almost killed her of a heart attack, we cherished an amazing memory.

Besides the anticipated diabetes comma, induced by the culinary delights gobbled during eight days and seven nights, we visited two marvelous regions of the country: The plain in the state of Casanare, and the mountains in Cundinamarca and Boyacá. Continue reading “Colombia Enchanted”

Last Sunday the screens of the world broadcast a TV show with the best special effect of the year; the unexpected error during the Oscars’ Best Movie award. Instead of naming the controversial Moonlight as the winner, Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty gave a brief moment of glory to the favorite La La Land.

Although I didn’t see the chaotic scene live–I was watching the new season of Homeland–I watched the videos on Twitter the next morning. Immediately, I thought of Steve Harvey. Wherever he was, I am sure he was happily dancing, because he passed on the biggest screw crown by a TV awards host. Continue reading “Do what you do best”

Last Sunday, February 18th, Norma McCorvey died; she was the woman behind the legal pseudonym, “Jane Roe” from the American landmark lawsuit Roe v. Wade. The historic and controversial ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States on February 22, 1973 found that individual state laws prohibiting abortion were unconstitutional.

Before I read this case in depth, I thought that Norma McCorvey had herself undergone an abortion during her life. But she never did. Instead, she gave birth to three children: her first daughter, Melissa–who was adopted by her grandmother against McCorvey’s will–and two other unknown babies she gave up for adoption. Continue reading “Choosing Life”

The political scenario of the US has become so annoying lately that I had to tune out from social media and do what millions of  millennials do to escape reality: wear earphones.

Nonetheless, no matter how hard I try, I can’t stand them. My ears heat up and the cartilage starts hurting after five minutes. I used to think that I was old fashion, but then I read the report of the study conducted by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention released on February 7th about hearing loss in America and felt relieved. One less thing! Continue reading “Premature Hearing Loss”

Last Wednesday, February 1, a Colombian young woman was deported from Houston, TX to Bogota after the immigration official denied her entry to the US. Immediately, the Colombian and Hispanic american media published the story under terrorizing tittles about the new discriminatory policies from the Trump administration against all Colombians.

Nevertheless, the so called “journalists” that are prompted to throw a stone and then hide, had to rectify their story just hours after the initial news flash due to the inconsistencies. Continue reading “Welcome to the U.S.”

Although there is a vast geographic distance between my home country, Colombia, and the United States, they have something in common: their current political losers, The Progressive Movement and The Democratic Party respectively.

The similarities are not in name only, but the causes of their protests in the last couple of weeks. In Colombia, it was the beginning of the bull fight season, and in the US our new president Donald J Trump, ironically accused of bullying. Continue reading “Ask me nicely…”

Last Friday, January 20, marked the end of the Barack Obama era and the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States. The beginning of the most controversial administration in American history, has generated visceral reactions all over the world.

Near and far, the US has received the opinions of millions of people across the globe, even though they don’t live on American soil; everyone believes they have the right to criticize and disrespect the new President and his family. I read a lot of insults on social media during the past weekend, but there was one that caught my attention because of the nature of the source.

A Colombian “journalist,” who was broadcasting the inauguration o live radio described the new First Lady while broadcasting the inauguration on the radio as follow, “She came to the US as a prostitute and now she is the First Lady.” Continue reading “The power of the microphone”