To a better life (Feature story) - Print Version

By: Symphony Griffith

Photo of Maria in Columbia, taken by a family member.

 Maria was born and raised in Colombia, a country that she described as “lively,” an impression she said not seen by the majority of people in the world. She had a carefree childhood and recalled children in her neighbourhood taking part in various activities like riding bicycles, playing basketball and other games such as “Rayuela,” which is also known as “hopscotch.” These were the most dominant memories that she held dear to her heart.

However, that chapter of her life was closed when she had to leave Columbia with her parents at the age of nineteen to live in Venezuela. Her life was never the same.

At that time, political upheaval rose its ugly head in Venezuela and it was not easy for her as a Columbian to get a job when she arrived.

“Venezuelans did not like Columbians,” she said, as she was turned down by almost every company after taking a one-year secretarial course and was barely accepted in the end.

Maria remained in Venezuela for thirteen years. It was there that she met her spouse, who was Barbadian, and later married and had two children. However, she lost her husband to cancer and struggled to maintain a safe environment for her children.

With a trembling voice, she recalled a moment that will never leave her mind up to this day.

Her safety felt threatened as she went shopping with her children years ago and soldiers suddenly started shooting at perpetrators in the mall. Therefore, she and her children were locked in the store, with nowhere to escape during the crossfire, until police gave the all-clear to exit.

“It was a very scary moment, because you did not know when you come out from the store what was going to happen outside,” she said.

Unfortunately, this became a frequent occurrence which she could no longer tolerate.

Photo of  shops in Bridgetown Barbados. Photo from stockphotos.com

One day she decided it was time for her to take her children and move to a safer environment where she would also be accepted. After months and months of visiting various countries she eventually made her way to her husband’s homeland in 2001; that place was Barbados.

Even though she knew no English, when she arrived, she was grateful for a job opportunity offered to her by a jewellery store owner in town. She was so desperate that being able to get any job was considered a blessing. 

“I am not interested in your English. I am interested that you speak Spanish. I want that you be here to assist the Spanish tourists when they come to the store,” said the owner.

Maria accepted the offer and was able to provide for her children and send them to school.

Fortunately for her, job opportunities kept rolling in. She eventually became a Spanish teacher in various primary schools across the island. As a result, she learned English by interacting with the students on a daily basis. These opportunities made her feel welcomed into the Barbadian society, unlike the judgmental responses she encountered back in Venezuela.

Venezuelan protests, 2014. Photo from thejournal.ie,com

She was relieved and thankful to God that she made it out of Venezuela just in time before everything else escalated from 2014 and onward. It all happened when a series of protests, political demonstrations, and civil insurrection began in Venezuela due to the country's high levels of urban violence, inflation, and chronic shortages of basic goods and services.

It wrenched her heart to know what the rest of her family had to suffer during this period.

“They didn’t have enough water. They only allowed citizens access to water in the evening time for thirty minutes. It was just enough time to fill our containers,” said Maria, after she had returned to Venezuela three years later, to visit her family for one week.

“I went with my sister and my mother to the places to get some groceries. We were standing in the line for about three hours. When we arrived at the entrance of the supermarket they said there were no more groceries that we could get,” said Maria.

“Unfortunately, it was like this at every single supermarket.”

This made way for items to be sold at outrageous prices if anyone was able to get their hands on anything.“For example, my sister said that a dozen eggs cost like one month’s salary,” Maria added. 

Customers buying produce at Cheapside Market Barbados. businessbarbados.com

Maria’s appreciation for Barbados grew even more. She was happy to be able to access many of those things she could not get in Venezuela. 

“In Barbados, we are still generally able to have a job and supply basic needs for our families. Wherever you go you can find fruits and vegetables every day. There is also plenty food and it’s very affordable,” compared to Venezuela she said.