TRAVERSE Issue 53 - April 2026 | Page 92

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breaks through, and it is one that is quite unique in South America. Venezuelans are friendly, polite, and trustful, and they appear even warmer and more hospitable than their neighbours.
When I would take a meal at a restaurant, strangers passing by would wish me buen provecho. Fruit vendors would tell me to pay later when they didn’ t have change( which is an ongoing theme). Walking in the capital Caracas felt safe in most areas, with women and children being in the streets after sunset.
What has happened since the tougher years, then? The government has acted against gangs, and many have left by themselves as they found themselves in a country so poor it was no longer lucrative to be a criminal. The vast majority of Venezuelans, of course, are great people. With life still being tough for most, I feel like Venezuelan culture is stronger than the challenges imposed onto it. There’ s a sense of watching out after one another that made me feel safe even in urban areas, more so than in other South American cities.
Nothing lasts forever. Eventually, there will be a change, and I believe that Venezuela will live a bright future thanks to its culture of decency, its natural resources, its perfect climate, and natural beauty. Venezuelans have grown tired of the political situation, but they haven’ t lost their hope, they are just waiting,
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