Cómo viajar en el tiempo a través de cartas | Paula Hoyos Hattori | TEDxRiodelaPlata

Quick Overview

Paula Hoyos Hattori shares a deeply personal story about connecting with her past, specifically the legacy of her Japanese immigrant grandfather who traveled from Japan to Lomas de Zamora, Argentina, in 1970, and the enduring impact of the letters he wrote, which she and her family now use as a means of time travel and connection.

Key Points: Paula Hoyos Hattori connects with her heritage by reading excerpts from letters written by her Japanese immigrant grandfather, Francisco Petraca, who arrived in Argentina in 1970. The grandfather traveled from Japan to Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires, a journey that took 34 hours by plane and involved crossing the Atlantic and Pampa regions. The letters, written in the 16th century style, served as a form of 'time machine' and a means for the grandfather to communicate his experiences and the existence of a network of Jesuit missionaries. The speaker highlights the emotional significance of the letters, contrasting her grandfather's arduous journeys with the modern ease of travel, emphasizing that the letters helped them understand the past. She describes her grandfather as a man of 'white hair, prominent nose, and wrinkled hands' who, despite his advanced age, undertook significant journeys. The family used these letters to understand their roots and connect with the stories of their ancestors, including those who traveled across oceans without the current technology. Hoyos Hattori concludes by emphasizing the power of words and the connection forged through these historical communications, which helped her family understand themselves better.

Context: Paula Hoyos Hattori delivers a TEDx talk at TEDxRiodelaPlata, focusing on the profound personal connection she found by studying letters written by her Japanese immigrant grandfather, Francisco Petraca. Petraca immigrated to Argentina in 1970, and his correspondence, written in an archaic style, revealed stories of early Japanese settlers and Jesuit missionaries, effectively bridging the gap between generations and continents through written communication.