National Saudade

In the Portuguese language, there is a term untranslatable to other languages "Saudade". This is a feeling similar to nostalgia or melancholy, caused by the temporal or spatial distance of a loved one, with a desire to resolve that distance. It can be translated as "I miss you", “I Love you” or "I hope to see you again".

Yesterday that was the prevailing sentiment in our family. My oldest son, almost 18 years old left home to start the adventure of a lifetime. Traveling for 10 days, through 6 countries from our city Barinas in Venezuela, to Santiago Chile. Our reality is not unique, farewells like ours yesterday have been repeated millions of times throughout our nation. Venezuelans are the protagonists of the largest migratory displacement in the history of Latin America.

One fifth of the national population (5.4 million people) have had to leave our borders in search of a better future, as a result of the immense economic and social crisis that our country has experienced in recent decades. Leaving thousands of children and young people without their parents, thousands of separated couples, and as in our particular case, thousands of children who leave the nest prematurely. Our country is full of Saudade.

In the past, Venezuela has generously welcomed thousands of refugees from the region and other parts of the world. Now, the number of Venezuelans forced to flee their homes continues to rise, and a significant number of them are in need of international protection. Millions of Venezuelans have left our country to date, according to data from the governments that receive them. People continue to leave Venezuela to flee violence, insecurity, and threats, as well as the lack of food, medicine, and essential services.

Many now remain without any documentation or permission to stay regularly in nearby countries, and therefore lack formal access to basic rights and services. This makes them particularly vulnerable to labor and sexual exploitation, human trafficking, violence, discrimination, xenophobia, and to complete this scenario, the pandemic.

The pandemic substantially aggravated the precarious conditions in which Venezuelans find themselves in the host countries, previously marginalized. The closure of businesses and the confinement left thousands of them unemployed, surviving on a day-to-day basis or informally. Many people are dying not from Covid19 , but from hunger. This has forced many to return to our native country, with no choice but to walk. Men, women, and children are walking thousands of kilometers through Ecuador and Colombia to return to Venezuela.

On the other hand, there are also hundreds of examples of Venezuelans who improved their economic reality in other latitudes. I personally know many who with hard work, decency and professionalism have been able to be recognized in their places of work. People who have built businesses and get up day after day to take their families to a better future.

My sister-in-law left Venezuela almost four years ago. Her husband (who had left our country months before) was waiting for her in Chile. They have had many ups and downs but thanks to God, with their efforts and integrity their restaurant has prospered. My son is on his way to meet them. He will work in the restaurant as soon as he arrives. I trust in God that he will have a better future. That he will have the opportunities that this country does not have at the moment.

I trust in God that soon our country will again be full of opportunities for those who want to return. They will bring the values, colors, and flavors with Latin American, North American, and European flavors. Our country will be filled with children of dual nationality. I hope that someday, God will free us from our chains and that this feeling of national Saudade will no longer exist.