A Golden Box Creates Trans-Continental Relationships

This blog post is by Karla Casique, a sophomore journalism major.

​

A bridge woven by cameras, lights, speakers, hundreds of text messages and e-mails, dozens of tongues lighting the path, images not flickering but incarnating a beating heart that’s a continent or a nation away, just a few feet in front of you.

I was surprised how intimate the set up was, there was no room to be self-conscious since the only thing I saw was a full-body image of Miguel Angel. That way, I was completely focused and invested in him, instead of being consumed with my appearance or demeanor.

20 minutes was too little yet just right for a spark, an ignition of minds, a friendship to flourish within the walls of a golden shipping container box that was resting nonchalantly in The Clarice’s Theatre Courtyard, its magic unknown to those who ate and laughed at the tables surrounding it.

Shared Studios paired me with Miguel Angel Cervantes from Mexico City. We awkwardly stared at each other before laughing and launching into the default questions that come with meeting a stranger—where are you from, what do you study, what are your interests, etc.

We quickly found out that we are both in our second year of university, are infatuated with art and music and are interested in traveling the world, whether that may be to Mongolia or the Middle East.

“Comó hablas Español?” was one of the first questions he asked me and I answered that I emigrated to the U.S. from Venezuela when I was little. I silently thanked my parents for not pushing me to strip away my native tongue.

I was surprised how intimate the set up was, there was no room to be self-conscious since the only thing I saw was a full-body image of Miguel Angel. That way, I was completely focused and invested in him, instead of being consumed with my appearance or demeanor.

It wasn’t a coincidence that the festivities for Mexico’s Independence Day began that night, Miguel Angel preparing himself for all the exquisite foods and festivities that would take place throughout the nation. When the session ended, I said goodbye with a “Feliz dia de independencia!”

We had exchanged names in order to find each other on Facebook, but once I typed his name, a bunch of politicians and people who were not the Miguel Angel I had conversed with, appeared. I gave up the search and was trying to accept that I wouldn’t interact with the rad graphic design student until…

My aunt from Venezuela found him.

She sent me a photo on Facebook with a greeting and I responded without seeing the image. Once I looked closer I realized it was the photo Miguel Angel took of me in the portal!

I still am not sure how she found him before I did, but now through Facebook Messenger, we are ranting about the huge difference in the university systems—he only pays $10 every 3 months while I pay over $25,000 in tuition—the age gap between our siblings and how he’s a morning person while I’m not.

Clearly, Shared Studios is accomplishing their goals and expanding the ability of human interaction, human imagination. The structure and the essence of the masterpiece enhance the idea that although we have a vast variety of differences, there are just as many similarities. On the other hand, our distinctions push us to dive in deeper into the other person, getting to experience the small pockets of their world and establish friendships that would’ve never existed if it weren’t for this simple, golden shipping container.