Student News Action Network

Write it; Film it; Make it happen

My Grandfather, The Nobel Laureate

PeruLeandro Vargas-Llosa, Washington International School
January 24, 2011

NEWS

From his apartment, Mario Vargas Llosa received a phone call from the Swedish Academy. After hearing the remarkable news, he proceeded to call his three children. First he phoned my father, Alvaro Vargas Llosa, followed by Morgana and Gonzalo Vargas Llosa. Those ten minutes prior to the announcement being made on television were some of the longest of my grandfather’s life, as he waited to see if all of this was true. On October 7, 2010 Professor Peter Englund, permanent secretary of the Swedish, announced that he had been awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature.

I first heard the news that morning as I got out of bed. Slowly making my way to my parents room, I read the headline “Mario Vargas Llosa: 2010 Nobel Prize Winner.” The news shocked me. Throughout the day, the telephones wouldn’t stop ringing, as what seemed like the entire world wanted to congratulate our family and share this momentous achievement in what had been a long journey.

Mario Vargas Llosa, born on March 28, 1936, is perhaps the most prolific Peruvian writer to have ever lived. Born in Arequipa, Vargas Llosa started writing in 1957 when he wrote “El Desafio,” and has since dazzled his fans with the likes of “La Ciudad y Los Perros”(City of Dogs), “La Tia Julia y el Escribidor” (Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter), and many other notable pieces. Throughout his career as a writer Vargas Llosa has won numerous awards highlighted by the likes of “Premio Miguel de Cervantes” and “Premio Principe de Austurias.” Despite all of these accolades there had always been one award that eluded him, the Nobel Prize. Year after year many believed that the coveted prize would duly be awarded to Vargas Llosa but it never was. In 1982, he was pipped by another prominent Latin writer, Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Days after the announcement, I went with my family to visit my grandfather in Manhattan and celebrate the prestigious honor alongside him. It was chaotic but well worth it. Every time we went out people would stop him for an autograph or a picture. At the apartment the phone rang even more than at my home. Many journalists and cameramen kept on coming in through the front door to interview my grandfather. The whirlwind continued in the coming months.

On December 5, 2010 the entire family traveled to Stockholm, Sweden where the annual international prize is awarded. As expected there were paparazzi and journalists that greeted us at the airport. As we were being driven by taxi to the Royal Hotel, I couldn’t help but stare at the gorgeous city that was Stockholm, covered in a blanket of white snow. Nearly 100 friends and family members congregated at the Royal Hotel to begin the festivities.

Things got started on Monday the 6th with a visit to the Nobel Museum. During the visit to the museum my grandfather was asked to leave something of his to put on display. He chose a toy hippo. My grandfather is a big fan of hippo because they are very simple and almost always happy. This was followed by a press conference. Many members of the press showed up and filled the room. The rest of the day involved a photo shoot with all of the 2010 Noble Prize winners and an interview, both of which I could not attend. At night there was a dinner at the Nordsteds Publishing home. The entire family was invited. We were led to the entrance by a shining pathway that shined bright thanks to some candles that were set up. When we arrived at the entrance there was a choir waiting for us. They sang to us as we made our way inside. During the dinner there was a number of toasts and congratulations to my grandfather and at the end of the dinner, Swedish versions of my grandfather’s books were handed out.

The following day started with two interviews for my grandfather. Then came my grandfathers Nobel Prize Speech. The speech was to be televised in Sweden and Peru. Almost the entirety of both countries tuned in to watch the speech. My grandfather began by talking about politics. He gave examples of good governments like the Dominican Republic and poor ones like Cuba. He also spoke of the improvements many Latin American countries were making. He talked about his childhood and how he learned to read at the age of four living in Bolivia, and about his idols. Then around the middle of the speech he spoke about his wife Patricia. With that one paragraph my grandfather made the entirety of Peru shed tears. He spoke about how she organized all the trips and how she “did everything and did everything right.” He also spoke about his three children and six grandchildren that “prolong (their) lives.” When the speech ended we all went to eat dinner. The dinner was hosted by the Swedish academy. All the family and friends filled the restaurant and again there were many toasts to my grandfather.

The next day, my grandfather went to speak to children at the Rinkeby School. The children had kindly sent a tape in which they congratulated my grandfather. This tape was played during the lunch at the Instituto Cervantes. Then all of the family and friends went to a reception at the Nordic Museum. Here my cousins, my sister and I met almost all of the 2010 Nobel Prize winners. Later that night we all had dinner at the Dance Museum which was hosted by Fernando de Szyzlo and the Peruvian embassy. My grandfather yet again received a kind toast.

Friday December 10th was the day that my grandfather would officially become a Nobel Prize winner. There was a rehearsal in the morning. The award ceremony began at 4:30. Many speeches were given, one for each prize that was awarded. After a couple of the prizes were awarded it was my grandfather’s turn. As the speech ended my grandfather stood up, walked to the middle of the stage and in front of all of his family, friends and all of Peru shook the Kings hand and received the Nobel Prize. The ceremony ended and we all went to the Nobel Banquet. During the banquet there was a small play between the food courses. Later some of the Nobel Prize winners had to give a toast to the royal family and the Swedish academy. Then the prizewinners exited along with the royal family and the banquet ended. During the after party my cousins, sister and I were allowed to meet the royal family. After conversing with the royal family we all left for the hotel.

During the final two days of the visit my grandfather had to attend a book signing and a couple events with the royal family. The visit ended on the 12th and we all left for home. Even though the visit ended the memories will live with the family for a long time as my grandfather was given the greatest honor that a writer can receive.

Article Rating: 
 

You need to be logged in to rate an article.

Tags: nobel prize, literature, vargas, peru

Printable version

Comments

You must login or register for NewsAction's community partner, TakingITGlobal, to post a comment!


Mentions

If this article is referenced on web sites, blogs, or tweets, those "trackbacks" will automatically appear below.


Endorsements

"The Student News Action Network is just the type of initiative to which schools of the future will gravitate. It represents the best of current strategies to engage students in their schooling (project-based learning that addresses real-world, global problems and events), and at the same time demands the most polished and sophisticated 'demonstrations of learning' via 'publish-worthy' work from student reporters covering the world's news."

Patrick Bassett


- Patrick Bassett, President of the National Association of Independent Schools

One Question


How has Cuba's history influenced its food?
United States Anabelle Basterrechea-Jones

more

Toolbox

In partnership with TakingITGlobal

© 2010 Washington International School & TakingITGlobal. Terms of Service & Privacy Policy. Articles are property of their respective authors. Icons by Turbomilk.