Throughout my year in Venezuela, I felt like I was up against something a lot of times . At times, it seemed like it was me against the world (yes, I realize that this is an exaggeration, but it was quite easy to get caught up in it). In fact, there were even moments when I felt like a cat in the middle of a room of dogs. The phrase "fighting like cats and dogs" came to mind more than once while watching the news or seeing arguments in the street between political enemies. However, I learned that those differences do not have mean that you can't get along... take Nala and Pochi, for example.
Nala the dog and Pochi the cat
Wouldn't it be nice to set aside our differences, if only for a moment, and make an effort to achieve something greater?
Last week I was moved by the way that so many of my friends from all over the world and from all walks of life were posting updates about the Chilean miners' rescue. I heard on the radio about how this was finally a situation where everyone would win, not like a sporting event or competition where one side has to lose. I hope that my Venezuelan amigos can find their own ways to bridge the divide so that the cats and dogs finally stop fighting and unite to share in the simple joy of breathing in fresh air every day.
