Raul Tovar – Co-founder of Noche de Cuentos Project

Raul Tovar

Raul Tovar

During my six month trip in Mexico, a special moment took place in a magical mountain village along the Sierra Madre mountain range in Oaxaca. My younger brother was visiting me during my stay in Mexico and after some eventful days in Puerto Vallarta, Tepic, Guadalajara, and Oaxaca City we both needed some peace.

We bought our tickets to the village and on the ride there I decided to listen to a podcast my brother had recommended. The woman on the podcast was vulnerably sharing the story of her past relationships and what she had learned. Her rawness cut right through me. The rest of the ride I was emotional and pensive.

Sometimes it is difficult to be vulnerable with those closest to us, but it can also be the most rewarding.

 When we arrived we checked into our rustic rooms and went out for a hike. I brought up the podcast to my brother and we talked openly about the difficult breakups we had each experienced in the past year. At one point we were both crying and we spontaneously hugged in the middle of the woods. It was the longest hug I have ever given my brother. Sometimes it is difficult to be vulnerable with those closest to us, but it can also be the most rewarding.

As the evening clouds started rolling in we headed back into town. We sat down at a homey restaurant overlooking the Sierra Madre and ordered a large bowl of mushroom soup. It is the most healing bowl of soup I have ever had.

DE LA RAIZ is a project dedicated to gathering and sharing stories of the rich and diverse Latinx communities of Southern Oregon. Through personal interviews, research, and visual art, De La Raiz hopes to center and uplift our voices while challenging stereotypes and national narratives of who we are.

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