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| Maya Bond in Guatemala |
I'm a member of The Bond's family. I was born in Catania, Sicily although my parents are from Guatemala and I have been living some years in this American country. Living in a city next to the Etna, the most powerful active volcano gives you another way to understand life. I studied Volcanology in the Università degli Studi di Catania and went to Guatemala to finish my degree doing a specialization in active volcanoes. I love fire and because of this I started to feel a great attraction to magic. Finally, I chose to dedicate my life to the magic without forgetting volcanoes. I like History, volcanoes and animals. You can share hobbies if you want. It's only a question of being organized and believing that impossible is nothing.
-Good morning, Maya Bond, and thanks to attend us.
-Good morning. It's a pleasure.
-Well, to start this interview I would like to know how you define yourself.
-I'm a magician, a person who creates illusion and different points of view with ability, concentration and tricks.
-Some people don't believe in these skills. How can you explain them to them?
-Impossible is nothing. Our scientists can't explain lots of things but this is not enough to avoid people continue believing in them. We can not explain the existence of God but this doesn't mean that we must deny it. We can not explain the origin of life and universe but it's obvious that there was a beginning.
-Do you believe magic has a part of mysticism?
-All things which have a connection with the unexpected world need a part of mysticism and perhaps this is good because we will continue searching these answers. If we knew all the answers and there was no mystery in the world, it lost interest and became cold. It's good we haven't all the explanations because the science will continue its searching and, as you know, science is progress and progress means more opportunities.
-How do you feel being a member of The Bond's family?
-Well, very well. We're a great family full of happiness, collaboration and sense of humour.
-How is a normal day with The Bonds?
-I think there isn't a normal day, if you consider normal like standard. Every day is a different day, isn't it? Then, why is the reason you try to do the same every day? Today is March, 17 2017. Is another date like this going to exist? No. This is The Bond's philosophy: enjoy your time and do whatever you wish because impossible is nothing.
-How long have you been studying English?
-Since I was a child. Sicily is a great attraction to tourism and you need English. For other hand, volcanology is an international subject and you must travel a lot, go to many conferences and visit lots of countries. English is the most common language in these events.
-Then, you speak two languages? Is it very difficult to do it?
-Well, in fact, I speak five languages. I also speak Sicilian, Q’eqchi’ and Spanish. I was living some years in Guatemala and I learnt them.
-What is Q’eqchi’?
-Q’eqchi’ is one of the 21 Maya languages that you can find in Guatemala. Moreover, you can listen to two more languages: garÃfuna and xinca.
-Which is the real situation of these languages?
-They're in a difficult situation. The colonization provoked the expansion of Spanish culture and Maya culture was destroyed. The language was a part of the culture. When there's a process of colonization, there is a special interest of eliminating any kind of reference to the native culture, because if you don't know anything about your own culture, you don't defend it and you accept the colonizer easily. The UNESCO has elaborated a great project for recovering as languages as it was possible but to keep a language is very important the conscience of being a part of this language, of being a part of this community, of sharing culture and habits and nowadays, in a global world, this is more difficult, although I think we are in the correct way.
-Do you believe the new generations will keep the language?
-Yes. Although living in a global world means diversity, and diversity is something very good, every human needs to belong to somewhere, and even your life was a constant travel when you go to sleep and think to yourself, you speak only one language. This language determinates your culture and your culture indicates your place. We are the best ambassadors of our cultures.
-What can you explain about your life with The Bonds?
-Well, we're a multicultural family and this is one of our great secrets. You learn something every day because every one of us has something to explain and share. It's amazing and beautiful but we must accept that all has a beginning and an end.
-And after?
-We will never forget this experience. We will continue being a Bond but every one of us will take his/her path although he/she knows that he/she is not alone and we will be always a united family.
-Which is your best memory with the family?
-Lots of memories but, perhaps, one of the best was when I talk about Guatemala to The Bonds. It was a special day for me because I remember my good moments in this magic country.
-You have said, you like History and animals. Could you talk about your favourite event in History?
-Wow. It's impossible to choose one but when I was in Guatemala I discovered there is not only one History. All depends from the point of view because the History that we know is the History which has been written by the winners. We have never had the History from the point of view of the oppressed, of the colonized, of the cultures which suffered terrible wars and occupations. This is something that I learnt reading about Christopher Columbus, the man who believed the Earth was round and decided to sail west from Spain, on August 3rd 1492. He travelled during ten weeks. I remember the moment when a sailor saw a bird and an island and he named it San Salvador because they hadn't got more food and the island had been their salvation. This moment changed the destiny of all the American cultures forever.
-You have also said that you like animals. Which is your favourite?
-The whale shark. It's incredible. It's the largest shark and its teeth can be 7.5 centimetres long and it has 3,000 teeth. It finds their prey with its sense of smell.
-What kind of magic trick would you like to do?
-Without any doubt travelling in time like Mr. Spock in Star Trek.
-That's impossible, even for a magician.
-Remember: impossible is nothing. Albert Einstein said it was possible. He talked about parallel universes and time worms. People thought he was crazy but nowadays science accepts his theories and the most part of them have been verified.
-Then, we must accept impossible is nothing.
-Of course. I'm a believer like Nelson Mandela. Do you remember his quote? It always seems impossible until it's done.
-Do you like this message?
-Yes. It's a great message of motivation to arrive to reach your objectives. If nobody had believed in doing things, we would have lived Prehistoric times and we're in 21th century. Think in Levi Strauss, the creator of Jeans who realized the prospectors were cold because they had thin trousers. Levi used the sailcloth which he transported to make stronger trousers. The prospectors searched gold in the rivers and Levi helped to reach their dreams offering better conditions. It's not only a question of working hard but improving day by day.
-Thank you very much, Maya Bond.
-Thanks to you.
Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!
Audrey Hepburn
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