Perspective

We arrived in Puerto Vallarta last night and the cab driver cautioned us about going to our destination hotel, La Rosita. The reason for his caution was that three American touristas had been shot dead outside that hotel the night before. Paternally, our driver kindly suggested an alternative hotel and we accepted his recommendation given that we, ourselves, were dodging bullets a few short days ago in Mazatlan.On top of the risks to personal safety we ourselves have witnessed in Mexico, there is some security concern for our youngest daughter, Lisa. Lisa, has been teaching English in South Korea for nearly a year. A week ago, she was sent a high security notice from the Canadian Embassy requiring her to have all documentation, belongings and money in hand and to ready herself for evacuation from Korea at any time the Embassy deems the security risk intolerable. We are all aware of the dictatorship in North Korea and the concern regarding that type of political instability. Naturally, our concern is high for Lisa’s safety and security.As a result of our blogging regarding the shooting in Mazatlan, we have received numerous notes of concern. These notes of concern are coming from both family and friends. These concerns are regarding the wisdom of travelling to Sri Lanka and leaving home, family and friends for two years. Also the expressed concerns are regarding the risks that may be inherent living in a developing country.
Bill and I deeply appreciate these concerns from those whom we know care for us. Bill and I often have ambivalence about moving to Sri Lanka and are sometimes riddled with deep doubt, grave misgivings and unsettling worry.However, a situation that took place this weekend gave us some perspective. A person we know was punched, knocked unconscious, received stitches and a broken nose. This incident took place in Canada and not in some foreign country. He was not in Mexico or Korea or Sri Lanka. He was at home, in Canada. Staying in a comfort zone out of fear and believing that here in Canada, we cannot be harmed, is faulty thinking. To allow fear to drive our decisions is also not safe for our emotional health or our sense of personal freedom. Bill and I refuse to allow these incidents to take away our sense of safety and freedom. I suppose we are a couple of fatalists. We believe in that old adage, “If it is your time to go, it is your time to go.” All the worry in the world is not going to change the outcome.

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