My last day in latinoamerica (well actually tomorrow, but it will be entirely in latinoamerica’s airports) and it feels like the end of a journey. From tomorrow night till early February I’ll be in places I’ve called home at one time or another.
Yesterday I met a family connection who had settled in Costa Rica before I was born and never really returned, so he was rather surprised to find his past pop up before him in this fashion. We had a pleasant coffee together at which he did most of the talking (suits me, as always) and I shall forgive him for taking one look at me and exclaiming, ‘you have your father’s nose!’. It is a noble family proboscis and I suppose he retained a vague memory of extent if not outline.
It was an interesting conversation, occasionally veering into whatsapp uncle territory which suggested that Pakistani-ness was not entirely left behind, or it overlaps with Tico-ness. He said at one point that he settled here because it has no army, and he had been sickened by the effects of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which had changed his city, Peshawar, beyond recognition and had terrible impacts on his own family. Though I did wonder to what extent it was a story that came to be true, but then I come from a violent, warlike part of the world and not everywhere need be like that.
I was supposed to meet a friend of a friend for dinner but cancelled as she was tired from work and I had a deadline. If we return to Costa Rica I shall try to track her down.
This afternoon I took my hostess out to lunch to a very mediocre Japanese restaurant and had a pleasant conversation, although the slight communication gap continues. I did manage to convey that I’m not vegetarian, but got only as far as pescatarian (hence the Japanese restaurant), and was also taken to be a very spiritual person who undoubtedly meditates. I am neither, but I suppose I look like a hippy in this city where all women are perfectly coiffed.
The Turkish assault on the Kurds has begun. It chills the heart, what is happening, and I’m fearful for the future.