Clearing Debris: Do You Believe in Fate?

By Rafael Polo Rodríguez

In 2011, Rafael Polo, an officer in the Venezuelan Military Aviation, was appointed to fulfill a state mission in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Upon completion of the mission, he chose to visit the city of Guaratinguetá in the interior of São Paulo, where he had been trained at the School of Aeronautics Spe

• Language: English
• Publisher: ibukku, LLC
• Release date: May 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9781685747282

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Clearing Debris

Do You Believe in Fate?

Rafael Polo Rodríguez

All rights reserved. The total or partial reproduction of this work is not allowed, nor its incorporation into a computer system, or its transmission in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright holder is a violation of these rights and may constitute a crime against intellectual property

The content of this work is the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of the publishing house. All texts and images were provided by the author, who is solely responsible for their rights.

Published by Ibukku, LLC

www.ibukku.com

Cover Design: Ángel Flores Guerra Bistrain

Graphic Design: Diana Patricia González Juárez

Copyright © 2024 Rafael Polo Rodríguez

ISBN Paperback: 978-1-68574-727-5

ISBN Hardcover: 978-1-68574-729-9

ISBN eBook: 978-1-68574-728-2

TABLE OF CONTENT

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

CHAPTER I PICKING UP MY STORY

CHAPTER II THE ARRIVAL

CHAPTER III STARTING THE GREAT ADVENTURE AT EEAR

CHAPTER IV FIRST NIGHT IN THE CITY

CHAPTER V STARTING AT EEAR

CHAPTER VI GETTING TO KNOW THE CITY

CHAPTER VII SOLITUDE AND NOSTALGIA

CHAPTER VIII A COMPROMISING OUTING

CHAPTER IX UNMASKING A GIRLFRIEND

CHAPTER X A DECISION THAT SAVED MY LIFE

CHAPTER XI LOVE KNOCKED ON MY DOOR

CHAPTER XII THE FIRST TIME

CHAPTER XIII A LEGACY AND A PUNISHMENT

CHAPTER XIV FIRST WINTER AND FIRST ARREST

CHAPTER XV ESCAPADES AND CHESS

CHAPTER XVI ENJOYING THE VACATION

CHAPTER XVII A TOUGH TEST

CHAPTER XVIII GRADUATION AND DEPARTURE TO VENEZUELA

CHAPTER XIX AN UNFORGETTABLE CARNIVAL

CHAPTER XX BIRTHDAY IN UBATUBA

CHAPTER XXI SONG FOR RENATA AND A DANGEROUS OUTING

CHAPTER XXII A TOUGH BLOW

CHAPTER XXIII THE ENGAGEMENT

CHAPTER XXIV INTERNSHIP AND CONFLICT AT RENATA’S HOUSE

CHAPTER XXV REACHING A GOAL

CHAPTER XXVI A DIFFICULT AND SAD DECISION

CHAPTER XXVII END OF THE YEAR AND FAREWELL

CHAPTER XXVIII A BETRAYAL LED TO ANOTHER

CHAPTER XXIX COMMISSION TO BRAZIL

CHAPTER XXX REUNION WITH RENATA

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my friends, Stewar, Héctor, and Saúl. To Mrs. Mónica and her entire family. To all those people I had the privilege of meeting in the city of Guaratinguetá, friends, classmates, and superiors. I want you to know that you still live in my mind and in my heart, and I remember your faces as if time had not passed. You taught me a lesson in life with every experience, every conversation, and every minute we shared together. I am sure you will enjoy and be moved by reading this book.

It is a gift to you for being an essential part in the building of my destiny. Our story comes to life and is immortalized through this work, giving millions of people around the world the opportunity to know it.

To you and your families, my respects, my appreciation, and my unconditional affection.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Firstly, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to experience my life as a great adventure from an early age. For being with me in every paragraph written in this book, making me remember with details every event, every conversation, and every feeling, after so many years.

To Mrs. Marianny, for being the person who motivated me to keep writing each chapter. Her excitement to know how the story ended made me write with greater will.

To Mrs. Rosario, for making constructive criticisms to improve the narrative and continue with this project.

To my wife, Yemma, for giving me the opportunity and the time to write. Her understanding and patience were fundamental to completing this work.

Finally, to the Polo and Haudji families, for being by my side, supporting me, and always believing in me.

Life will always surprise you with something simple, easy, and yet inexplicable. However, we must face such events with maturity and wisdom in order to grasp everything it truly means to tell you. Yes, as incredible as it may seem, everything is connected: your life, your surroundings, your experiences, and, of course, your future.

Every step we take forward or backward carries a series of consequences that will temporarily modify your own destiny. However, your destiny will be there, waiting for the exact moment to be resumed. How much time will pass? That will always be decided by you, with your actions. You must be attentive at all times. Life will give you many signs; you just have to recognize them.

At the age of 9, while in the 4th grade, a sign was revealed to me, and after many years, I was able to recognize it.

On a morning of a regular school day, my guide teacher told us we had to do an individual assignment. She gave us some materials and made us choose, from a small basket, a little paper. On it was the name of a country with its flag. The assignment was to make the flag of the selected country out of paper and with a wooden pole. Of all the countries that were in the basket, I picked the paper with the name of the Federative Republic of Brazil. At this age, I only knew Brazil from the World Cup, but I certainly didn’t know anything more about this great country. I clearly remember every part I had to cut and paste to form the flag. I even remember its motto in the middle of it: Ordem e Progresso. I had no idea what it meant; all I did was dedicate myself to making the flag as accurate and beautiful as possible.

As I said before, many years later, I was able to realize what it really meant in my life to have chosen the name of that South American colossus from that small basket. Coincidence or not, for me, it was and will be a sign that the universe set before me to see a glimpse of what my future would hold.

The story I am about to tell is true. I should have written it many years ago, but the circumstances of life made me postpone it each time I decided to write it.

CHAPTER I

PICKING UP MY STORY

It’s 10:00 AM, and I’m arriving at the bus station in the city of Guaratinguetá, a small town in the interior of São Paulo, Brazil. Still on the bus, and looking out one of the windows, so many memories of so many experiences I had when I was just a teenager come flooding back... It had been 21 years since the last time I was in that city. It’s the year 2011. After such a long time, I have returned. How can one not become romantic and nostalgic at the same time?

As I disembarked from the bus, I smelled food coming from some of the bus station’s eateries. This sent me traveling in my mind back to that time. Walking towards the exit, I stopped, closed my eyes, and was able to experience the same feelings from those years. I could taste in my mind the flavor of those foods that I enjoyed for almost two years and that, in a way, made me passionate about Brazilian daily life.

I headed to one of the food places to buy a coffee. The night before, I had been enjoying some night spots in the city of São Paulo with one of my work colleagues. For that reason, I was a bit sleepy and hungover. I needed a good black coffee at that moment. I asked the lady at the establishment for a cup of coffee and if it would be okay for me to step a few meters away from the place to smoke a cigarette. She replied yes, to do it with complete confidence.

I went down a corridor and came to the open air, where I could smoke in peace. I lit my cigarette and took a sip of coffee. Looking around the bus station, I noticed something strange. I couldn’t remember anything I saw; it just seemed familiar. I came to think that everything had been transformed, but at the same time, I could see that the structure was not new; it had the same style I remembered; however, it was not the same place that came to my mind.

I keep looking around as I finish my cigarette and coffee. I looked up at the buildings outside the bus station and was surprised to see one of the towers of the church of Our Lady of Aparecida. This cleared up my doubts: I was not in the city of Guaratinguetá; I was in the neighboring city, the city of Aparecida.

The bus I took from the city of São Paulo only went as far as this city. I don’t know if it was the confusion of the person who sold me the travel ticket or if I was the one who failed to notice such error and bought the ticket anyway. The fact was that I had not yet arrived at my destination.

I went back to the coffee place, returned the cup, and asked the lady where I could catch the bus to Guara. She, very kindly, told me that just outside the bus station I would find a stop, and that I could wait there. I thanked her with a tip and walked towards the exit.

It was no more than a block I had to walk to reach that stop. So, in five minutes, I was at the said stop. As soon as I arrived, I asked a young woman who was sitting on a bench when the next bus to Guaratinguetá would pass. She answered that they usually come every 15 minutes, and that one should be arriving soon. I sat next to her, and we started talking about the heat at that moment. I was wearing a brown jacket, a white shirt, jeans, black dress shoes, and my travel bag, where I carry my documents, glasses, pen, and money. I had to take off my jacket for a moment to catch some fresh air; the sun was almost directly in front of us.

The bus arrived in five minutes; I boarded and began the short journey to the next bus station. It took just about 15 minutes to reach Guaratinguetá. Upon entering the bus station, I could easily remember it. Now, I had indeed arrived at the right city, full of expectations. I hadn’t seen Renata for such a long time. I wondered if she looked the same, or on the contrary, had completely changed.

I got off the bus and headed for the exit. I began walking down one of the streets I had often driven on with Renata in my car. I kept noticing the changes the city had undergone. More than two decades had passed. It’s impressive how cities change over time. I continued walking on that cobblestone street until I reached an elementary school on the left side of the street. Seeing it, I recognized it immediately; right there, in front of that school, I parked one afternoon with Renata. There, I asked her to be my girlfriend.

When she said yes, I gave her the first kiss.

I couldn’t help but feel moved. I smiled and at the same time, tears welled up. That place made me relive that wonderful moment. That first kiss that lasted more than a minute. I could still feel her lips kissing mine.

I took a photograph and continued walking towards the main square of the city. In a few minutes, I was already arriving. I passed by the church that precedes the square and remembered all the times I passed in front of it since the first time I drove a car. I reached the Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves square, what memories came to mind... I felt a little pain in my chest from so much nostalgia, I was there again after so many years.

I sat on one of its benches and sent Renata a message. I told her I was already in the square and just waiting for her instructions. It took about thirty minutes for her to respond. I was getting a bit nervous. I came to think that she had given up on the meeting. She told me I had to wait a bit longer because she was running an errand, but that she would soon arrive at the place where I was.

There, I began to remember my whole story, in that Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves square in the city of Guaratinguetá, where my entire adventure would begin, which I want to narrate below.

After having gone through countless situations in the military school in Venezuela, they decided to send me on a scholarship to the Federative Republic of Brazil. I recognize that it wasn’t easy, that part of the beginning of my military life and that at some point, I will narrate.

CHAPTER II

THE ARRIVAL

On the morning of April 2, 1988, I was arriving at Galeão International Airport. Many people had told me before this trip that I would encounter a lot of dark-skinned people and that I would be a " catire " (blond) among the Brazilian population, something they said quite jokingly. Upon entering the airport, I noticed something funny: I was one of the darkest-skinned people in the terminal. I remembered every joke made at my expense in that moment.

There were two of us awarded scholarships to study in Brazil: my colleague Raúl (19) and myself (17). Raúl was white, and I was brown-skinned. At that time, people often joked about skin color; of course, without ever demeaning anyone. Thankfully, everything has changed, and equality in all aspects has nearly reached its fullest expression.

We went through immigration and, upon collecting our luggage, there was a commission of Brazilian and Venezuelan military personnel waiting to take us to the city of Guaratinguetá, where one of the best aeronautical schools on the continent was located.

The commission that would take us to the city of Guaratinguetá consisted of a Brazilian student, two soldiers, also Brazilians, and two Venezuelan students. The Venezuelan students had already been in Brazil for a year. One of them was tall and white (Steven), 22 years old, and the other a bit shorter, brown-skinned (Hernán), 23 years old.

Upon introducing ourselves, Steven and Hernán appeared very serious and a bit arrogant. Both were in uniform with the number 5 dress of the Venezuelan air force, that is, light blue shirt, white vest, blue belt with a plated buckle, slate blue trousers, black shoes, and a blue beret. Both were wearing Rayban brand sunglasses.

They welcomed us, introduced themselves, and we talked a bit about the journey we would make before heading to the city of Guará.

We headed to the airport parking lot and proceeded to load our luggage into a blue Volkswagen combi van, emblazoned with aviation logos.

Once inside the van, we started a conversation with more confidence. The first thing the Venezuelans asked was from which part of Venezuela we were. I replied that Raúl was from Barquisimeto and I was from Guacara, Carabobo state.

They asked many personal questions, including whether we drank and smoked. Both of us had such habits. Even being very young, Raúl (19) and I (17) had already acquired some vices typical of most military students.

We left there heading to the Formula 1 racetrack in Rio de Janeiro, where some races were taking place. We could notice the speed at which those vehicles move, truly impressive.

We had arrived from Venezuela in long-sleeved blue military dress, but we had to stay only in the white T-shirt and blue pants, due to the intense heat in the city.

We spent a short time at the racetrack watching the races. Then we headed to Copacabana, a beautiful beach with stunning landscapes, an avenue that stretched along the entire beach. There was also a mosaic engraved on the sidewalk, bordering the entire length of the beach. And in front, a large city, full of restaurants and luxury hotels.

The sun was radiant. There were a lot of people on the avenue and on the beach, especially young women, some without the top part of the swimsuit. Where I came from, there was no such exhibitionism. People walked along the sidewalk in sportswear and some in swimsuits; others played volleyball or beach soccer in the sand.

I could have never imagined being in such a beautiful place, so far from home and completely alone without a dad or a mom telling me what to do or not. It was something very different. My life had taken a drastic turn overnight.

We didn’t have much time to enjoy the city, so we had to enjoy, for a moment at least, what Rio de Janeiro offered us with that beautiful landscape.

Steven and Hernán decided to buy some beers to pass the time. I took that moment to walk on the sand towards the beach. It seemed unreal to be there after having gone through a nightmare at the military school in Venezuela. As I walked, I felt my black uniform shoes sink as I approached the shore. The breeze hit my face with some sand while I admired the beauty of that bay. Looking towards the horizon, standing in front of the sea, I thanked God for having given me the opportunity to be there at that moment, at the age of just 17. I wondered what my life would be like from that instant on. I sighed and turned back towards where the others were.

Rejoining them, we started a conversation about what the first year had been like in the school in Venezuela and which of their classmates we had met. We shared some anecdotes with their classmates and the tough situations we had lived through before being selected to come to Brazil. Then they gave us an idea of what school life would be like at the new school: the treatment by the officers, the classmates, the language, and what we should or should not do inside and outside of it.

With us were two more military personnel: a Brazilian colleague of theirs, who was driving; and a soldier, who acted as the escort for the commission.

We had two or three beers each before heading to the city of Guaratinguetá in the interior of São Paulo, a distance of 260 km.

As we began our journey, a part of me was there in the combi, and my other part in Venezuela. I wondered what my family imagined of the things happening to me on this trip. How to tell them it was a unique experience, that I was fine, and that I was enjoying it a lot?

We took the highway called Dutra, a highway that crosses the two states, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Within a few minutes, I began to feel the fatigue of the trip; still, I couldn’t stop admiring each landscape that passed by my window. We listened to a