Growing wild

Part five in my interview series. In this series of blog posts I’m researching the impact of nature. I realized that I have my perception of nature and I know what it means to me, but I’m really curious how others think about it. I’m hoping to collect many stories. Maybe in the end I have enough material to make some interesting conclusions. But there’s only one way to really find out.

This time I’d like to introduce you to Javier.

I met Javier during my second workaway. At that time he had been at that workaway for five months. During my time there I learned that he came to live in Spain only the year before, just before the covid lockdown. He’s from Argentina and used to live a completely different life. He is very happy that he is allowed to live in Europe now because life here is so much better. I’m happy to have met Javier. He’s such a friendly person, so helpful. I dare to say he’s one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.

Can you define nature?

Something growing wild, for me. What I assume in my head is being in an open place, green. Whatever place you are it’s something growing wild.

So it’s alive?

It’s something alive, growing. Not indefinitely, because nothing grows indefinitely.

How does nature affect your life?

In every way. Because if I don’t care about the recycling it could be a disaster for me. If I don’t care and I throw something away, eventually, it’s like the butterfly effect. There could be floods or droughts, rains or snow and everything.

So you want to be carefull with the world so you don’t get it back to you one day?

Yes

What does nature mean to you?

A place to go relax and clear my head. Think about nothing or something or you need to sort out something. That’s more or less it.

What’s your favourite piece of nature?

The beach.

A specific beach?

Ibiza. There are a lot of beaches in Ibiza. In Argentina when I was a kid we went a lot to a place called Santa Teresita with my family. All my childhood and teenage years we were there. But if I would compare that with Ibiza, Ibiza is clean. The water at the beaches of Argentina is too brown. You can’t see anything, it’s dark. Basically it’s contaminated.

So you rather go to a clean beach and sea?

Now I’ve had a taste of clean sea and beaches. I prefer this.

What activity do you prefer to do in nature?

Bike riding. I did a lot of biking as a child with my father and my cousin. But eventually I grew up and I didn’t want to do it. I forgot about it. Now I’m here and now I cycle all the time.