ONE: Daniela Aracena de la Familia

Musician and music student Daniela is a real joy to spend time with.   Within a day of meeting we felt so close and connected we were calling one another sisters.  Daniela’s family is based in neighboring town Coiquimbo where Mauro and I shared Daniela’s delicious vegetarian lasagna one Friday afternoon, meeting her little sister, C and wee niece Maite.   

Daniela’s cousin had brought along his moped that afternoon and we each got to have a go riding it around the land out the back of their home – I started off slow and timid but after a few rounds upped the speed (a bit!).   Daniela studies music in Santiago and headed back there after our first week, which happened to be her final week of summer holidays.   It was a happy surprise when she reappeared at the house the following the Friday evening – perhaps not a surprise taking into account her romance with Mauro – and after so many goodbyes and reconnections with my Chilean sister I feel sure our paths will cross again somewhere – fingers crossed for Brazil in July!

Daniela was a huge influence and help in the postcard design and the first to share her answers with me:

Daniela Aracena

A challenge overcome: I overcame bitterness.

A dream for her future: to be continually learning and to be able to share it

A hope for the global community: that every day there is more consciousness and respect

 Special shared moments with Daniela:

Walking side-by-side the afternoon of the surprise birthday party for Christian, sharing reflections on spirituality and the communicative power of the arts whilst knotting macramé gifts for the lads (Daniela’s a flower for Mauro, mine a key-ring birthday present for Christian) and bonding on the roof of the house during the party – Daniela shared with me the moving song by Violeta Parra “Verso por la niña muerta" whose video here on youtube showcases her amazing weavings:

Laughing joyously as we splashed and dived in the waves at Playa Toto at sundown on my first Friday night in la Serena.

Delicately brushing, scratching and scraping the sand from our other family member, la Divina  Kwan Yin statue, into the early hours of the morning on our return from Playa Toto -  la Divina had had a close run in with a particularly energetic wave during the time-lapse shoot and because of her recent base coating of glue ended up coated in sand.  I was worried Mauro would be stressed or angry that I had been responsible for damaging her but he reacted in his typically calm manner and once she was cleaned up again we all saw the soaking, sanding and cleaning as a symbolic process of her connecting with her environment and I drew parallels with the death and re-birth cycles of psychology.

Cooking side by side late into the evening on my final Saturday night, as a goodbye and thank you dinner with la Familia.  Daniela made delicious soya burgers and I did rice-stuffed peppers and tomatoes (thinking of how Dad used to love making stuffed peppers for you Mum!)

Sharing a delicious veggie meal with Daniela's family as her despedida on her way back to Santiago to study, and taking photos of them on the beach in an impromptu photo session.

Painting a joint mural on the wall of la Mano de Ramon Ramon, a fascinating squatted space with a library of socialist and anarchist material, and a schedule of films and talks throughout the week.  Daniela and I went there one lunchtime with Oscar (cheap and healthy veggie platter for just 1 luca about £1.30) and at Daniela’s suggestion came up with a design in the moment to add to their energetic walls.  We painted two women looking out from behind veils, Daniela’s hair flowing into water that carries a boat, my hair rising into flying birds, both perhaps a commentary on finding freedom from repression.  The final touch was one of the ONE postcards and the writing “What is your point of view?”

Daniela truly is an brilliant person, amazingly mature for her 21 years and with an abundance of creative energy that certainly had me inspired!  What a pleasure to collaborate... we felt like we'd found kindred spirits in one another...

Gracias mi  hermanita!

:-)