Quick update.
My son is here with me. Finally.
He arrived in Canada on Tuesday but stayed in Toronto for a few days (which he forgot to mention before he got there) for a couple of interviews at the University of Toronto.
A few weeks back he mentioned in passing -very casually, that he might try and transfer his credits to a Canadian university. He’s currently doing the equivalent of an honours degree in History and Political Science in our hometown.
I didn’t know what to make of that cause he had repeatedly said he would never leave Colombia again. I didn’t want to get my hopes up and since he was so casual about it, I decided not to get excited.
Now that he’s finally in Ottawa with me, we went for a little walk and had a little chat.
Things are bad. He’s in the middle of a depressive episode. It hurts so much to see him like that. Damn my stupid, effing genes.
But that’s not all. He said he can’t wait to get out of Colombia. No, his actual words were “I NEED to get out of Colombia”. That’s where my heart skipped a beat.
He’s been threatened. Again. His life is in danger. Probably the only thing is his favour is his Canadian passport. They think it twice before acting on a North American citizen. But in the end, it won’t stop them. In Colombia, if you speak up your mind and they don’t like it, they kill you. End of the story. It doesn’t matter if you are comedian, a soccer player, a presidential candidate, or a university student. They kill you just the same.
So my son is with me for a week and a half. Then he goes back to that god-forsaken country.
And then what?
Summer Solstice Musings 
SSG,
Well, now that he expressed his wishes to be out of Colombia, what are his chances of staying with you in Ottawa? I’m sorry he’s having such a hardtime. At least he has you, at this very moment.
Le Clown
I’m gonna try to convince him to not go back but I don’t think I have a good chance of succeeding because there’s the not so little matter of a certain girlfriend.
But he talked to people at University of Western Ontario so we’re gonna try and go next week. Now that I know, I’ll start looking for programs here in Canada.
Wish me luck! :(
SSG,
Luck and love.
Le Clown
Haing grown up among communism and terror, I ache for your son, and for you and how you are both feeling right now. I hope he can come back to Canada. Permanently, or for as long as he needs to recover before he goes some other place that is safe. I thank you for writing honestly about Colombia here. People who haven’t lived in a place like that have so little understanding of it. It is good to let peope know the truth. And of course there are amazing and beautiful things about Colombia too. *caring* hugely. Love from Rach.
Thank you! <3
Yes, Colombia is a beautiful country with beautiful people. And when I say beautiful I don't mean good looking, I mean the real beautiful, loving, caring, giving people. But there's also a lot of bad people there. I know I sound cliche and silly but I don't know how else to explain it.
If it wasn't for all the social injustice, poverty and all the problems associated with it, it'd truly be a paradise.
Same with the Philippines.
Rach.
What a horrible situation, SSG. Is there any way that maybe your son’s girlfriend can leave Colombia too, and also go to a school in Canada? Hearing this sort of thing makes me remember how different things are in other countries. It’s a sobering thought.
Slim to none.
There are to ways:
1. If my son to marries her and then sponsors her.
2. She claims refugee status. I don’t know if she’s been threatened too.
Otherwise, it is virtually impossible for a Colombian citizen to get a visa -even a visitor one, nowadays.
I wish both of you the best of luck and you’ll be in my thoughts. I can only imagine what it must be like.
Thank you!
I’m driving myself crazy thinking so I think I’m gonna watch a movie now (son is out hanging out with high school friends)
I’m keeping you and your family in my thoughts SSG.
Thank you! I’m quite concern. My son says he can’t sleep cause he has nightmares all the time :(
Wow, Claudia. You’re a strong woman, and I bet you passed on those genes as well. I am hoping for the best for you both, and praying for you both – something I don’t do often enough or well enough, but there it is all the same.
Thank you, Sid. All prayers/good vibes are welcome!
Fingers crossed he moves as soon as possible.
What a terrible situation. I hope he stays in Canada. Good luck.
That is very scary!!!!
I hope he gets his ass over here a.s.a.p. I don’t care how old you are, you need family near. Unless their a bunch of dillholes…which you are not. You must be freaking out.
yeah, pretty much. I have a week and a half to convince him to stay.
But there’s the girlfriend…. grrrrrrrrr
I don’t know what to say. I’m thinking of you and your family. Best to you.
Thank you. Hard times ahead for sure
What an awful situation! My thought and hopes are with you, I really hope that things can work out somehow.
Thank you, miss Sophy. Me too. I’ll do my best to convince him to stay
I cannot like this post…
I don’t like the idea of your son being in danger. :(
Thank you. There’s hope…