| Sumario: | What follows is an account of an anthropological journey taken over the course of several decades. This journey involved theories, but also different disciplines, as well as shifts between languages, countries, and continents. The whole process has involved stories of identity (imagined, constructed, or both), changes of place (teaching in seven countries on three continents and in four languages), looking for a safe haven, and my firm belief in the importance of understanding the motives that govern human beings. Anthropological theories arise from specific cultural and social circumstances, and they continue to develop, as well as draw their inspiration, from different historical events. Theories are related to itineraries, and in my case, I find myself completing a full circle as I come back to Brazil—where my professional journey took off more than two decades ago. With all the stops along the way, this was a journey through different perspectives leading to a rather obvious conclusion about understanding others. Contrary to what some believe, understanding others and the multiplicity of cultures and life-forms is not about building bridges, it is about understanding that we all live on the same island.
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