Malik Watkins's Bloglines

When I first started this blog, and over the life of it, its primary purpose was to allow my children and loved ones to be able to follow along with me to these unique places.  Then part of it was to also document some of the interesting projects I was working on….then, as the places became unique so then the purpose of my blog began to evolve.  Not long ago I was talking with a group of colleagues, and the discussion of our hobbies came up.  Of course, one of my most loved hobbies/passions centers around international travel – unique places, things and people.  When they asked to name the places, oddly enough…those in the room had to fill in some of the places I didn’t name.  Not because I had forgotten the places, but over time it has become less about the places and more about the people – people – friendships in all walks of life.  When asked which of the places were my favorite, I didn’t have an answer for them.  All of these places are wonderful in their own way, and they all have problems in their own way.  What makes them so special is less about the architecture, the way of life, the scenery, or even the silliness and immaturity of naming a place simply for the effect of portending to be better than someone else who has not had that specific experience.

Because now it is less about the place, although they are all wonderful – even a post-civil war/conflict country such as Liberia, it is more about the people.  In some instances, places may help shape us, but for me it is the people and their life stories that make such a huge contribution to the expansion of the sense of humanity.  As far as I’m concerned, if my breast is not expanded after being someplace, then that means I have not spent enough time getting to know the human story attached to that area.  Thus, while this blog has its beginning in one context…it now has evolved into more of a tracking of my own spiritual journey.  Maybe one day I’ll put all of it together and fill in the blanks regarding emotional and spiritual evolution or what I was dealing with at that particular time.  Maybe one day, I’ll turn this into something similar to our grand matriarchs writing, “All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes” (Maya Angelou).  But, in the meantime, I shall continue on my journey…. whether I am limping along the way or not 🙂

One of the things I like the most about international travel, is when you get to spend either enough time in a place to get to know people or you can go frequently enough over a longer period of time so it becomes less about just the geography and place and more about the people.  And, so in returning to Buenos Aires, it was so wonderful to get picked up at the airport and return to a familiar setting, face and personality in the form of My Man, Osvaldo….

Now, please excuse the fact that I look like I have landed a starring roll on Criminal Minds as the new Psycho Path that Hotch, Morgan and the Team will be tracking down…nothing I can do about that right now 🙂  But, it does say something about moments….

Osvaldo is one legacies of a different era of Tango – Milonguero.  My Spanish sucks – although I am working on it – and, he doesn’t speak much English…probably none – Osvaldo speaks the Argentine version of Spanish – meaning Lunfardo.  Which I am even worse at, but better now.  So for the 40 minute ride from the airport other than body language, smiles, and a generally good mutual disposition – you have to love the human language….he said “muy calor”…and I said, “si, muy calor”… and we both laughed at that…meaning it is “hot as hell.”  But, that was sufficient.  It was a good ride, a good feeling, good to be back amongst the familiar.  It isn’t always about the spoken language…just an appreciation for humanity and the human story.  And, to add the effort to learn a new language, a new culture, a new way of life, a new dance…and to build appreciation for more that is going on in the world…brings a smile to my face.  Especially now, that I am making progress on my ability to communicate with others around the world…

Thus, it takes a little longer to write about the experience…as there is so much going on….”Hola Malik, Bienvenido”….