For me personally, the Avatar project was both the most challenging and rewarding dimension of this class. One of the hardest things for me was to translate aspects of the larger historical narrative of Chile into the everyday experiences of an individual. Speaking in the voice of my avatar, sometimes… Read more“Final reflection”
Author: franciscoarayaperez73
September 2012
Today, something compelled me to take some time to look back at my past journal entries. It dawned on me that this journal has accompanied me since 1969…wow has time flown! Each journal entry offers a window into a specific point in time. The resonance of those emotions all of… Read more“September 2012”
March 2006
Maria, Emily, and I were sitting in the living room; silence pervaded the room in the absence of the sound of the television. I realized that we were all holding hands. We all agreed to take a trip to Santiago, that today should be a family day. The car ride… Read more“March 2006”
March 3rd, 2000
It is March 3, 2000, and Pinochet is finally going to pay for his crimes against the Chilean people. It has been 11 years since Pinochet was voted out of the presidency…11 years. The prospect of holding Pinochet and his conspirators accountable was inaccessible idea during the dictatorship. When the… Read more“March 3rd, 2000”
March 11th, 1990
It has been over a year since Pinochet was ousted from political leadership. At the time, I thought that public opinion would be turn strongly against him once society was liberated from the yoke of his rule and people could speak more freely. I thought that all Chileans would be… Read more“March 11th, 1990”
October 6, 1988
When it happened, Maria and I were at her parents’ house. There was a festive, hopeful, yet tense atmosphere in the air. Several friends and members of her family were there. We were all clustered around a radio on a dusty coffee table in the basement. Some nervous laugher cut… Read more“October 6, 1988”
August, 1986
It is August, 1986, and for the first time in a long time, I feel that there is hope for Chile. In retrospect, I have been pushing the idea of hope out of my conscious awareness, learned not to question it’s existence because I was afraid of the conclusion I… Read more“August, 1986”
September 14th, 1982
It has been many years since I have written in this journal; I found it collecting dust on the floor behind the small bookshelf next to my desk. Thinking back, I remember that I stuffed it behind there frantically when those who pretend to be civilians came knocking at our… Read more“September 14th, 1982”
September 14th, 1973
September 14th, 1973 Over the course of the past few days, our world as Chileans has been turned upside down. In the past few years, the political unrest and violence, and the stalemate as a result of the dysfunction of our democratic institutions had reached an intolerable level. It has been… Read more“September 14th, 1973”
1st blog post
Entry Date: march 30th, 1969. While I was at work the other day, trying to write yet another cookie cutter article, I had the urge to write something different. Not to anyone in particular necessarily, I just have felt a restless need lately to get my thoughts out, so here… Read more“1st blog post”