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I just hit him up like “Hey how are you today?” 

I’ve had this title sitting on my Drafts for a while now. At first, I had a clear idea of what I was going to write but as time progresses and I fail to put my thoughts into words, the whole thing has turned foggy in my brain. 

A lot has happened since I thought of this whole article. Some of you are familiar with the news regarding my country. There’s been a propagandistic war going on between people that are pro-Maduro and those who aren’t. Unless you’ve lived here or have family here or have actually experienced the chaos that goes on every day, there’s not much you should believe. People will always distort the information to their benefit.

I know some people may read this and think I’m promoting some sort of agenda and I’m not. The fact that my English is rather good and that I have a computer to get this message through doesn’t mean I’m some sort of capitalistic monster who’s pro-Trump and wants to see the world burn. It’s not that profound, still, it somehow is more than just words on a Tumblr post. I’m merely a teen. One that has hopes and dreams, yet, they get crushed every day. But you have to keep going.

Living in Venezuela is like being in a zombie apocalypse. Or the beggining of one. It sounds exaggerated but it surely feels like that sometimes. You don’t know what’s coming to you the minute you get out of your home… or if you’ll come back. Many people don’t. 

It’s not being able to eat properly because you depend on a stupid box of imported food from other countries. Sounds great, having food brought to you. Not when the food is expired and could be a potential threat to your health. Many of you are thinking, just go buy something at the store! Many of us don’t have that benefit. A kilogram of cheese is worth more than the minimum wage. Imagine having to buy food for an entire month when you can’t even buy a piece of cheese. Or meat. Or vegetables. Or any kind of food. 

It’s looking at your loved ones lose an overwhelming amount of weight. Having to help them out with whatever you can find at home so they don’t starve to death. It’s going to work or to study with only a meal in your stomach, sometimes, not even that. It’s kids fainting in classrooms, people fainting in the subway… It’s looking at people scavenge for food in the garbage. Sometimes, even well dressed people look through trash to find something to eat. 

Living in Venezuela is not going to the doctor because you don’t have enough money for a private consult and if it’s urgent, you can die waiting in a public hospital. It’s finally getting the money for a check up but not finding the medicine or not having enough money to even pay for cough syrup… or some Ibuprofen. It’s hearing stories about people losing their loved ones because they were sick and couldn’t do anything about it. It’s losing loved ones because you couldn’t find medicine to regulate illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure amongst other things that are perfectly treatable. It’s having to pay crazy money for a vaccine if you’re not lucky to find it for free.

It’s having to hide your belongings inside your clothes everytime you go out in fear you might get robbed, or worse, killed. Over something as simple as a cellphone. Sometimes a pair of shoes. Even killed over a bag of food. It’s not being able to pick up a call in the middle of the street because you’re too afraid you might get shot. It’s looking at your boyfriend get pistol whipped over a phone and rushing to a place where they can treat the wound in his head that’s bleeding so bad you thought he got his skull cracked. It’s hearing stories about people being killed over the silliest things, being kidnapped over the fact that they’re some of the lucky few who are still living well. 

It’s having to work two or three jobs to pay for the few things you can buy. It’s not being able to study in a decent university because it’s on strike, or worse, it’s too dangerous – or you aren’t able to pay a private school because you either eat or study. 

Living in Venezuela is having to walk from your house to your job because public transportation is terrible. It’s getting trapped on the subway due to power outages or train malfunctions – sometimes, you get trampled on your way in, because everyone needs to get somewhere in time.

It’s not being able to go out at night because it’s not safe. Having to switch parties at clubs for parties at home because you don’t wanna risk yourself too much. It’s going to the movies twice a year because you can’t afford it. It’s not being able to eat out, not even an ice cream cone because you can’t afford it.

Living in Venezuela is having to walk through many establishments looking for something as simple as toilet paper and returning home, with tears in your eyes because you either didn’t find it or you couldn’t afford it. Can you believe that? Toilet paper being more expensive than food? I can’t either. But I have to live with it.

It’s looking at people escaping the country in hopes they find something better, leaving their families and their dreams behind.

It’s crying yourself to sleep because you don’t know if continuing college is worth it when all of this is going on. 

Living in Venezuela is living in a failed communist state. An attempt to socialism that went wrong, just like every single time it was attempted. It’s having to read and listen to people explaining to you what’s going on, with their dogmatic way of thinking, when they have never set foot in this damn country.

So please, before you start trying to explain to me my own politics and the way I live and what’s going on – before you start promoting your political agenda on me (no matter your political stance), try walking in my shoes.

docwithtardisfez :

wildlifewednesdays :

A porcupine’s Halloween present (+ original sound effects)

I had no idea giant porcupines made fucking precious sounds