I am back in Norway trying hard to understand how things could go so terrible wrong. Since my last post the situation in Venezuela kept getting worse every day. It was after the National Guard had been shooting and throwing gas bombs at my residence I made the decision to leave the country.

As I try to write about what happened (and is still happening) I cannot keep the tears away, I am heartbroken. I have learned to love Venezuela, even with its obvious flaws. I have met people who have touched my heart in ways i cannot describe. I have left a country and it’s people who are desperately fighting for their freedom, democracy and a better future, but at what cost?

Innocent people are being killed, hurt and taken to prison where they are treated with violence and torture. Why? Because they using their right to demonstrate against a government who fails to provide its people with basic needs like food, work and security. The military who has sworn to protect its people are the ones killing and hurting them. This is something I personally got to experience.

The last two weeks in Venezuela was a nightmare I thought I would never experience in my life. Because demonstrations were getting violent l I was advised to stay indoor as much as possible, so I did. Basically trapped inside all I could do was checking Twitter and Facebook for information, all other media was being blocked by the Government. The demonstrations passed my house everyday, people in the apartments were making noise with casseroles as support and cars honking constantly. I tried to take some breaks from the social media and spend time with friends, but the constant noises made it impossible to forget that injustice and crime were happening right outside.

After a little less then a week spent mostly indoors the situation went from bad to horrible. The arrest of opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez had made hundreds of thousands take to the street and by night the demonstrations went violent. The following day major roads were blocked by the protesters and it became extremely hard to move around the city. The government answered with more violence, not only in the streets. The National Guard started attacking private residences with shots and gas bombs as well as entering apartments arresting for students.

It was then I decided it was time to go back. It was not an easy decision to make and the following night was spent in tears, heartbroken by the thought of leaving my friends behind in this mess. I could not help but feel guilty for leaving, but when the National Guard started shooting at my house the following day I knew I had made the right decision. We received texts from friends telling us the situation were even worse in other places in the country and in San Cristobal they had even taken their internet, the only way of getting information.

As the shooting continued outside we got news that the National Guard were entering buildings looking for students. We locked the door and hid in the bedroom. A friend was telling me how to use vinegar if the gas came into the apartment and how to make clean water. I started to panic, was this really happening? How can a government make its people live in fear of their lives without having done anything wrong? I realized that Venezuela is in more trouble than I first thought. Being a foreigner I had the opportunity to leave this nightmare, an opportunity most Venezuelans don’t have. They are left in an everyday life where they have no idea what will happen tomorrow. Uncertainty is a horrible feeling and living this day by day is extremely exhausting.

I packed my things and moved to a safer place until my departure. This was not an easy task as most roads were blocked, but we managed to convince a taxi driver to take us. The last days I tried my best to create some good memories with my friends. This is not easy as the world was falling apart not just in front of us, but on us. We said goodbye on my 25th birthday and I left Venezuela with an endless stream of tears.

I will continue to write about Venezuela. The media is not covering these events enough and it is more important than ever that the people of the world spread the news about what is happening in Venezuela. Be a voice for Venezuela and let everyone know that Venezuelans are fighting for its freedom!!!

P.S: Venezuela: I will be back. You have my heart.