ya no la hay

In the consulate of Ecuador renewing my long expired passport. They called on me after all the documents were reviewed.

Funcionario: Tenemos una pequeña observación Sra. Yu, a su lugar de nacimiento le pondremos “China” porque solo hay la opción de “China”, ya no hay la opción de “Republica de China Taiwán.”

Me: Qué? Seguro? Pero mi cédula pone “Taiwan”, sí debería de haber esta opción.

Funcionario: Ya no la hay, con esta nueva administración (Lasso), el Ecuador solo reconoce a China. Ahora solo hay la opción de “China”.

Me: (I turned to Fer, in shock) did you hear that?

Speechless. It hit me - my birth country is no longer an option to be selected as birth place because the Ecuadorian government succumbed to the pressure of the authoritarian state for economic reasons.

But who is it to blame? Considering all the future petroleum of Ecuador was sold to China years ago.

Sigh.

Creer

With all the bad news in the past two years, almost anything that is remotely "sentimental" makes my eyes watery. Everyone has different ways of dealing anxiety with Covid and now the Russia-Ukraine war. I turned to Football. It's been my escape from the reality since La Liga games started again after the initial suspension. A lot of ups and downs, more downs for Barça - financial turmoils, club politics, scandals and eventually Messi left. Yet with Xavi arrived late last year to "save" the club. We have gone through so much emotional rollercoaster but never lost hope. Just grateful that we have football to watch regardless we win or lose. It seems that things are turning around. Looks like that we are heading to the right path, gaining 3 points at a time. Very excited and very hopeful with the "new project" and the young generation. It gave me goosebumps seeing Camp Nou had finally filled up 100% since the Atlético (it was only 60% filled when we were there in December when Barça vs. Elche), what a turnaround! 

The Els Hamelins commercial made my watery (when the anthem was played acoustically on an electric guitar), not only it spoke for the ongoing fight of Barça but my own. 

"Who knows?" We just need to keep fighting and believe in the basics/foundation (Masia). 

Jugadors
Seguidors
Tots units fem força
Són molts anys plens d’afanys
Són molts gols que hem cridat
I s’ha demostrat s’ha demostrat
Que mai ningú no ens podrà tòrcer

Blaugrana al vent
Un crit valent
Tenim un nom el sap tothom
BARÇA BARÇA BAAAAARÇA!

And believe that world will be better and believe that our kids will make the world a better place.