International Women’s Day 2020

The Present is Female

I​f not for me, then for her. If not now, then when? That’s what flows through my mind as you struggle to fall asleep for your daily nap. I wonder what your future will look like… will you struggle because of your gender? Or will we finallyunderstand that without women’s contributions we are not living the full human experience? If we are not half the sky or equal members of society then what are we? 

Y​ou are living in a time so blessed, where your fore mothers walked for you so you didn’t have to, where they fought for voice so you could have one. What they didn’t realize was that it wasn’t enough. They were given considerations and platitudes but not given the full protection of the law. Even now, the full proposed equal rights amendment has yet to be passed – in 2020! 

B​ut I just read the rules of Quebec immigration today and it gave me hope. You are required to acknowledge and agree to be in compliant with the first rule being men and women are equal in society. Thank you, Canada! There is hope yet, but what about the place where you spent your first waking moments- the place I still call home, where the division, anger and hatred is palpable?

W​hy is it so difficult for people to say yes to equality in all forms? Essentially being equal and actually being equal is not the same thing. I will fight for your rights as long as they don’t infringe upon mine, is that the motto? I’m not sure, but as you finally rest and dream of whatever babies dream of, I hope you awaken to infinitely better tomorrows. You and every girl deserve them.

I​ also marched for you, so you didn’t have to. And wouldn’t it be great, if we could finally stop marching?

me pregnant with your two loving aunts

Now Introducing…

When I was 25, I made the rash decision to go to China for work. I had graduated university during the worst recession of my lifetime, with little prospects professionally I got what job I could.

I​t was by far the least amount of time I had spent deciding to uproot my life, but not the first time. From job offer, to quitting my job, and moving to China I spent about a month. I know, impulsive to say the least, but it would be change the trajectory of my life forever. 

I​ met myself, my boyfriend- then husband, and confirmed my love of learning and teaching. 

Masaaki Komoro- Unsplash

W​e started on this journey of sharing each other’s cultures and each other’s lives six years ago, and we continue to learn every day. We came from different parts of the world, met and fell in love and now live in another country. Life is not always easy, sometimes it can be hard but through love I believe all is possible. 

Why do this?

  • T​he world has become such a divisive place where neighbors, friends, and family can be in the same room let alone hold conversations of kindness.
  • I​n our family we represent different cultures, different beliefs, and different ways of living life, yet we have found a way to come together and love. 
  • M​y husband is Chinese and speaks Mandarin (the most spoken language in the world), I am Dominican-American and my native language is Spanish (the second most spoken language in the world) and we both speak English. Our daughter has the blessing to have two strong cultural backgrounds from which to speak to the whole world with.
  • I​ want our daughter to know how much love there can be in the world and how despite our differences hope exists in the world. 
Photo by Flora Westbrook on Pexels.com

Relationship

They make us or break us, and they are the best parts of us. If you find one you can love being in, hold on to that…

Photo by Natasha Fernandez on Pexels.com

Self-knowledge

“To thyne own self be true”, we’ve been trying for a really long time to figure it out, yet have we?

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

Parenting

“The best things in life are free”, I hope whoever said that was a parent and can they please help!

  • All those searching for inter-marriage couples, questions and guidance…please help!

We live in a world where we are constantly told what to do, with whom, and for what? So that we can become unoriginal copies of others? Maybe, but I also think it’s important to really know thyself and as best as you can be true to whomever that may be.

I hope that this helps us through this year. We’ve struggled, we’ve fought and we’ve been unkind but there is no one that I would rather go through life with than those I love.

© 2020 Jessy Santana All Rights Reserved