The Etalia Project

The first thing you notice about Juan Cruz is his smile; a giant enveloping glacier of a grin that parts clouds and spans oceans. My two traveling companions and I met him as we wandered cautiously into an unmarked hostel and with just one beam were quickly assured we were in the right place. 

Working as a volunteer in a hostel in El Bolsón, La Casa del Viajero, Juan Cruz lived practically alone in the dormitory as the owner of the property, an 82 year old local, was very particular about the guests he accepted into his hostel (“solo viajeros, no turistas”). Juan Cruz claimed he had enjoyed his time alone on the property, but his eagerness to have others around after three weeks was evident as he offered us flowers of conversation and fruits with honey. He asked us about our hopes and dreams, and savored every word. 

In watching him interact with the owner, it quickly became apparent the unique bond that had formed between the old man and the young one. Bossed around by an individual whose ways were cemented with age and courtesies eroded by time, Juan Cruz was easygoing and patient and followed him around in good humor. Though the old man would never say it, and took every opportunity to showcase even the smallest mistakes, his love for his volunteer was clear.

It was Juan Cruz himself who brought up the idea of an interview, and led us through a field of flowers with a chair in each arm to his secret spot. As I handed him the microphone, two unsure eyes flickered back at me. I relieved his fumbling fingers of the task and placed the piece with renewed care onto the collar of his shirt, unable to hide my smile at the contradiction of such tentativeness from such a bold individual. I stepped away and now that he was set up and ready, Juan Cruz relaxed effortlessly into his chosen space and turned to face the camera reequipped with his exuding optimism. 

The eldest of three born into a middle-class family in San Juan, Juan Cruz recounts a happy childhood peppered with broken windows from playing football in the street. His love of sport eventually landed him in the world of boxing to which he dedicates much of his free time. He showed us a broken panel or two on the property that had been collateral damage of his training, winking mischievously, “exposición a los elementos.”

A bit of online investing allows him to travel his country and discover new places. He searches specifically for volunteer work that allows him to both deepen and lengthen his travel experience, and dreams one day of traveling the world on a motorcycle. He’s owned many bikes, but never one that could take him so far.

Juan Cruz’s wish for the world is for humanity to find a way to transcend the paradigms that divide us and realize that we are all, in essence, the same. 

Thank you Juan Cruz, for sharing your story /// Gracias Juan Cruz, por compartir tu historia.

Watch the full interview: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8soEv6YQTy4