I found Jonathan in the Sweet Arts Cafe, newly opened, this cute little place right next door to my daughters dance school gave me the perfect opportunity at the end of the day to find someone to talk to.
This young man, excitable, happy to be a part of the project, was eager to chat. It seems he and his family have set up business here with him being Chef and his wife as cashier, his Mother was also in the kitchen, there was an older gentleman too I wonder if that was his Father. I hope that they get nice and busy because this young man has a lot of energy and will need to be challenged in order to stay interested!
Name: Jonathan
Occupation: Chef (Aspiring Rock Star!)
Back in my country I was a Lawyer and a musician, a pianist, a drummer…
1.Where were you born and raised?
‘I live with my Mother and my Father is a Lawyer, I studied law too. I wanted to be in the Army that was my dream but it is not so good with the Government and the Army is with the Government and it is corrupt and I oppose the Government.’
Venezuela is very difficult, there is no food. You have to queue for 2 hours for food in the supermarket for one or two things.’
‘I have a brother he is in Panama but the people in Panama do not like people from Venezuela because they feel we take their work.’
2.Tell me a childhood memory.
‘I remember something, do you want something good or bad? A bad one. I was in middle school, there was a poet coming to the school. My teacher said you are going to recite his poem to him. I had to study the poem and remember the poem. I never studied the poem, I thought that this would be easy and I didn’t remember the poem. That day I came to school and stood up, there was a black cloud and I fainted because I didn’t remember the poem and I was very terrified!’
3.What is your favourite season and why?
‘Spring is good for the flowers and the colours, everything is beautiful and new.’
4.Tell me about someone you love.
I love my life! My wife she is my partner, my everything, my friend, she is my lover, my everything. I cannot live my life without her, it would be impossible. So many things, we are connected. So many good things have happened and so many bad things but every time we fall down but together we get up and we carry on.’
5.What words of wisdom do you have for the reader about life?
‘Just enjoy your life, don’t be blind just for the money, live for the moment.’
6.Dreams for the future.
‘I want to be a Father for two or three children and I just want to find happiness for my family.
Jonathan had a lot of energy and 100’s more stories he would be happy to share. I can see in him and all of his family that it has been a long road and I sincerely wish them success in their venture to secure their life here, life in Venezuela sounded like a scary alternative to Florida.
There was a passion in this young mans eyes, he wants it all from life. Not money as he said but experience. To sing in a band, play the drums and feel the adoration of the crowd. He is a creative and he wants people to like him, love his work and for his art to make them happy.
His wife was quiet and observant, the balance in his life. Interesting to see and also familiar.
I shall look forward to visiting the cafe and see how they are all doing and I am sure that I will get to hear a new story, perhaps a song and one day soon perhaps meet a tiny new member of the family.
