As I am sitting here, in front of my computer with all this technology around, makes me wonder how far I am in the future and how life has changed since then. Who could ever imagine, that we were going to live in a planet that, after all the waste we have created, we would be fascinated in getting involved in so many ways in philanthropic organizations to save our habitat. Some are directly involved on those groups; others are participating online, since it is a big number of non-profit organizations and causes out there that was unknown and with the Internet, they are having a huge impact on our society. I have chosen to take this opportunity to go back in time and experience those moments all over again, moments that are reflecting on my daily decisions and at the same time, a feeling that was long gone.
It brought me back in time when I was a 9 year old girl, living with my family, in the South West part of Brazil. I remember spending most of my time in the country with-out electricity and needlessness to say, no television or telephone. The only form of communication with the world was a battery operated radio with one station only that sometimes did not have a good reception or no reception at all.
In the morning, I attended a local school. I remember spending most of my afternoons, sitting at the roots of an old key lime tree planted in socked clay with my little sister. As we tasted all the lemons we could, or climbing barefoot the coconut tree to get some coconut's to drink the milk and eat the inside. I have so many scars on my knees for trying to open the coconuts with a big knife and accidentally, hit myself. Other seasons, we would be climbing on mango, guava, avocado trees and many other trees. As we run to the back of the house, to a river nearby; showering and playing with water for hours until my mom's voice echoed like a siren to go back inside the house.
One of the greatest experiences was to drink the water from a "mina". The meaning of mina is "water from a mine", a round hole made of white clay in an about 1 meter deep font of pristine water next to a river, built by nature. We were so aware to protect the "mina" with a wooden cover after we tasted the flavor of pure water, to keep the rodents and leaves to reach the water, so the neighbors or travelers from all over the world could experience this phenomenon.
Other days we could be found on the country road, horseback riding as if we owned the road. As I find myself running freely far from the car motors of the big cities. Just the clapping of the horses, marching in the same motion like guardians and we trusted them as you trusts a best friend. After, we were at the stables, feeding and brushing they long, shiny mane. We could live right there, in the barn with a milder smell of manure. After all, those horses were our favorite toy and as I mentioned; best friend.
Most of the Sundays, my mom packed enough delicious home made food for a picnic for the entire family and guests. And we spent the day eating, swimming under the waterfall and running around. Some played cards and my father was definitely fishing. At the end of the day we were so tired. But, everyone had an expression of happiness on their face.
Going back in time brings me so many exciting, happy moments. It was one of the best times of my life. Today, I have a special bond with horses because of the reflection of those unforgettable moments. I am so thankful to God to have sent me here in a time that I was able to live in a time that seems so far away, and having a chance to learn and live today, all this tremendous sophistication and technology at the palm of my hands.
-Jade Da Rocha
