“ I always forget my age!! But I think that we get experienced and become more mature”
Name : Gaston Ariel Veliz
Gender : Male
DoB : 21.11.1980
City of Birth : Bahia Blanca
Status : In Relationship
Family : 2 Sisters (25 and 36), 1 Brother (29)
Hometown : Ushuaia, Argentina
Education : Dropout at 17yo
Job : Salesmen at art furnitures shop
Religion : –
Politics : –
As a child… How would you picture yourself at 30?
JOB – How did you decide to do this job?
As a child, I wanted to be an astronaut, I don’t really know why… I guess it’s a fantasy I have always had. Maybe because of the movie or the images I had of this prestigious and adventurous job!
Then I started to work at 18 (after my trip) in a supermarket and this is the kind of job I did for about 10 years before moving to Ushuaia.
I found the motivation and it was the biggest step in my life…. And today I am very happy to be here. Even if I miss my family, I don’t regret at all!
HOME / PLACE OF LIVING – Where you thought we would be living by now?
I never thought about it… I always had my world… Never thought where I could live…. Or travel…. Nothing. I was born in Bahia Blanca and ended by staying there almost all my life, until I was about 30yo.
Around the age of 17 I wanted to travel, I wanted to go to Venezuela… I could stay at an aunt there but my parents didn’t let me.
Still, I quit school at 17 and began travelling within Argentina (Mendoza, Cordoba, San Luis, La Pampa) for about a month… But I never had any idea of where I could settle.
Gaston works as a salesman in an art shop in the center of Ushuaia.
Gaston was moving at the time of our meeting!! We can see him filling up the truck with a couple of friends!
Striking and memorable events…
IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE – What are the most memorable event of your personal life?
My trips… More than anything… Moments of my trips, not one trip in particular. I often have memories of my trips, the places I have been, great moments… Those happened mainly in Brazil, Chile and Argentina.
Travelling makes me feel good and relax. It is actually more important than my family, I do miss them when I am away but I prefer travelling!
If I had to choose one moment, It would be this trip that brought me to Ushuaia… a trip that changed my life. I have always wanted to do it but didn’t have the guts. At the time I wanted to move for several years but I was scared, especially if it was abroad… I think it was an excuse to stay… But I found the motivation and it was the biggest step in my life…. And today I am very happy to be here. Even if I miss my family, I don’t regret at all!
This place is gorgeous, and there is a huge mix of ethnics, only 30% of people are locals…. All other come from other parts of the country or the world.
IN THE WORLD – What are the main events that stroke the world you are living in?
The economic crisis that occurred in Argentina 12/15 years ago really left a mark on me… I don’t really remember the circumstances because I am not really into politics but I still have images in my head and can remember that there was a huge devaluation of the Argentinian Peso. That time was very difficult for the country and brought a lot of poverty.
BEST MEMORY – What is your best memory?
What a difficult question…. I don’t know… But maybe when I was a child… I did not ask myself any question at the time (about future)… my parents were still together…
The birth of my brothers were really amazing moments… We were a very poor family but so united. I have a big family with many cousins and siblings and they are very important to me.
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT –
I was able to overcome every challenge that was offered to me… in a successful way… I was always able to meet my own expectations. Like I did for this trip…
Looking back / Reviewing expectations
10 YEARS AGO, Married!! With children for sure! I thought it would happen by the age of 25, like most of the people did in my region (Bahia Blanca). I wanted 4 children! When it comes to my professional life, I have always wanted to have a bar/pub in some remote Caribbean island… living from my paintings…
TODAY, well… It’s very different!! I am not married and don’t have any children but I have a girlfriend who has one… I don’t have a bar… But still have this project! And I started to travel, which I think is the biggest step towards where I want to be.
Like many Argentinian, Gaston is a meat lover… He is ordering his dinner at this local meat restaurant.
Gaston and his girlfriend spending some time at an Irish bar on a saturday night in Ushuaia.
30 years old, a turning point?
WHAT’S NEW? – Did you notice some changes since you are 30 YO?
No, my age never mattered to me. I always forget my age!! (laughing). But I think that we get experienced and become more mature, and I know that it is the reason why I moved here around 30. The way I think today is definitely different than when I was 20….
I have a complicated character… But this is who I am… If I were different, I wouldn’t be here for sure… So I do not want to change it.
OLD OR YOUNG? – Do you feel « old » or « still young »?
Very young! Because I am very healthy and fit, like I was at 20/22. Snowboarding in winter and hiking during summer help me stay fit!
I think that this feeling is a state of mind… I you feel young you will live longer and have more vitality…. For me everything is in the head… In our mind…. I am convinced that this is also the case for deceases…. If you think that you will not get sick u do not…. But if you think you will, you definitely will…
CHANGES OR REGRETS? What are the things you would like to change?
I do not think there is something I would like to change…. I have a complicated character… I am a bit rebel…. That affects in some way the relationship with my family and partners…. But this is who I am… If I were different, I wouldn’t be here for sure… So I do not want to change it.
My Values
My Typical day
And tomorrow?
YOUR STORY IN 10 YEARS – What is the story you want to tell within 10 years?
Same as today… Enjoying life… Married or not, with or without children. I think that travelling will still have an important part in my life even if it may depend on my responsibilities at that time. And it is funny but I have no idea of where I will be living…
I do not have a clue about how life will be at 50 yo but I think that my 40’s will be pretty similar to the life I have today.
THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS – How do you imagine the world you will be living in within 10 years?
Argentina : Same or worse… Still poor and dominated by other countries….
In my opinion, very bad people run the country… There is a lot of corruption. I also think that there is a terrible lack of education, generally speaking, and I am a good example because I am a dropout and I did not complete my studies.
Insecurity, poverty and disparities of wealth are also important issues in Argentina and I think that it get worse….
World : Same…Maybe less poverty but lots of wars… Conflicts for the power… Unfortunately this will never change…
Fears and Dreams…
FEARS – What are you afraid of?
Death… More than anything… Because I don’t know what there is after… And ignoring something always intrigues me. I like to know where I am going…
ACHIEVEMENTS – What are the things you want to achieve?
My project…. This bar in the Caribbean I told you about… keep on travelling as well…
DREAMS – What is your craziest dreams?
I don’t have any… I am rather down to earth….
Maybe be rich…. But not for the money in itself but because of what it would enable me to do… I could travel more, meet more people and know more cultures.
