Octavio
A Paraguayan man who is both far away and close with his family. Interviewed in February 2018 at Centre de la Roseraie in Geneva. Translated from Spanish and edited for content. Photograph and video by Martina Bacigalupo © 2018.
It was relaxing, and, well, I feel very comfortable [in the booth]. It is a little bit strange. I have never done it before. So, I felt a little bit weird, and very relaxed at the same time.
I don’t like enclosed places. I always have to have a window. So, I felt a little bit strange, but I was relaxed. You feel only what you are feeling. I even was able to hear my own breathing. That isn’t easy when you are out in the streets, because of all the noise. You don’t really have time to think clearly, and, here, you start thinking with more clarity.
Considering the short time that I was there, I had a lot of thoughts, especially about my family. I am far away from them. My family is in two places: mine—my son and wife—are in Spain, and my other relatives are in Paraguay.
I was thinking about my family mostly, but a little bit of everything. Many things crossed my mind. I saw my family as if they were right in front of me, present—as if they were really here in person. You know what I mean?
I saw things and felt at peace, quiet, and everything felt real. I felt them close. I haven’t been far for a long time; it’s been only 20 days. But we used to be together all the time. And now that I am here, I notice the absence. Sometimes, when you are close to your beloved ones, you don’t realize what you feel, or what is happening. But when you are away, you look for them. You need them.
But in this place, I felt as if we were all together. That is why I say this is the first time that I’ve experienced something like this. And, I feel a little bit strange in that sense, because I have never put myself in a situation like this.