“ I definitely feel young. The explanation is pretty simple… I am less than halfway of my life.”
Name : Alvaro Vera Vergara
Gender : Male
DoB : 21.10.1983
City of Birth : Santiago, Chile
Status : In Relationship
Family : Future father
Hometown : Santiago, Chile
Education : University of architecture
Job : Architect
Religion : Agnostic
Politics : –
As a child… How would you picture yourself at 30?
JOB – How did you decide to do this job?
Around 8 or 10 years old, I wanted to be either an astronomer or an architect. I decided to choose the architect career, pretty early, at my 12 years old. It was a more stable and secure job at the time in Chile.
I am proud of my mother. She raised my 2 brothers and I on her own, with a demanding job and on a low wage.
HOME / PLACE OF LIVING – Where you thought we would be living by now?
As a child, I wanted to live in the countryside, but still near Santiago. Now, I have changed my mind and I would like to move from Santiago. Go to South Chile, maybe around Valdivia, a medium-sized town of 300 000 inhabitants where you can find nature, countryside, and good schools for the future of my children.
Alvaro having a quick breakfast before going to work.
Alvaro and some friends (including his partner Ximena) relaxing at a park nearby his apartment.
Striking and memorable events…
IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE – What are the most memorable event of your personal life? I would say 1-My childhood with my parents, it was an happy period of my life, 2-When my parents got separated around 12 years old, 3-Entering university at my 18 years old and meeting Ximena, my wife, and finally 4-When my brother died, he was 28 and I was 19.
IN THE WORLD – What are the main events that stroke the world you are living in? The closest event I can think of is the 2010 earthquake in my own town. It was a real disater for all the people who have seen their houses being destroyed. I am also afraid of the increasing power of the Islamic State, and I really do not see how we can fight against it.
BEST MEMORY – What is your best memory? A really recent one I would say… When we found out that my wife got pregnant. Being a father and having a baby is the happiest memory I can think of. (Even if the baby is not yet born, the birth is planned in a few months… but I already can feel it)
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT – I am proud of my mother. She raised my 2 brothers and I on her own, with a demanding job and on a low wage. She worked hard but she succeeded, the 3 of us went to university, and got good jobs and quite good personal situations.
Looking back / Reviewing expectations
10 YEARS AGO, I pictured myself a father of children and working hard in order to earn money. I did not imagined that one day it would be possible for me to travel out of my country, it was not an option, as my family did not have a lot of money. For me, work was the key of my success.
TODAY, I am so happy with the life I am living. I have a wonderful family (soon growing, smiles) and my relationship is going really well. I have a good job that enables me to have a gentle life and I work with people I appreciate very much.
Music has an important role in Alvaro’s life… Here he is bying some Vinyles at a small market.
Alvaro having an unexpected sunday lunch with his friends and partner.
30 years old, a turning point?
WHAT’S NEW? – Did you notice some changes since you are 30 YO?
Oh, yes! My body has changed, it is getting older. I am much more tired than before. I would rather go home early to sleep than going out and partying all night long. I am also a bit more conformist, before I wanted to change the world and I was an idealist. Now, I do understand that some things cannot be change and that we just have to with it.
I am a bit more conformist, before I wanted to change the world and I was an idealist. Now, I understand that some things cannot be change and that we just have to with it.
OLD OR YOUNG? – Do you feel « old » or « still young »?
I definitely feel young. The explanation is pretty simple… I am less than halfway of my life. I am 30, I already lived 30 years since I was born, but I do remember only 20 years of it (from 0 to 10 years old, I cannot say that I have been living as a conscious grown-up). I have more than 30 years left (until my 60s) to live. This is merely wonderful.
CHANGES OR REGRETS? What are the things you would like to change?
No, I don’t want to change anything in my past…
My Values
My Typical day
And tomorrow?
YOUR STORY IN 10 YEARS – What is the story you want to tell within 10 years? I see myself living out of Santiago, more in the countryside… maybe in a house with a garden, raising animals or growing crops or fruits. I will live with my wife and my 2, 3 or 4 kids (don’t know yet!). And I would like to work as an independent architect, working on quite important and famous buildings.
THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS – How do you imagine the world you will be living in within 10 years?
World : I see the world wasting its natural resources and at the same time, I do hope that people would take care of keeping their world clean. I think life will be much more modern, using every time new technologies. I do believe that the differences between poor and rich will increase, due to the capitalist system.
Chile : I think that the country will develop at some point but Chile’s economy is really cyclic; it has always been booming for a few years and then collapsing the next few years. So maybe the It can be that in 10 years the economy will be at the same level as it is today. I am also a bit afraid that Chile won’t be able to diversify its sources if incomes – mainly relying on copper (70%) and fruits.
Fears and Dreams…
FEARS – What are you afraid of?
In my personal life, I am afraid to be unemployed, and, as a consequence being unable to answer my family needs. In my country, I fear that wrong decisions will be taken, and will eventually create more and more conflicts and raise the racism within the country (the racism feeling is already quite strong in Chile)
ACHIEVEMENTS – What are the things you want to achieve?
I want my family to be happy.
DREAMS – What is your craziest dreams?
Living and traveling around the world, having a house next to the sea, live a quiet life with my family without any health problems and … maybe build a football stadium as an architect.
