"Immigrant and Puerto Rico today"

Grew in a place where the opportunities to be a professional or for a better life is really hard. And it’s harder when you have to move and leave behind your country, your family, and all you love. This are one of the thousands things that immigrants have to do when they decide to move to another country to have another opportunity to get a better life.

In General Studies of the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus, the English Program presented: “Students Interventions in General Studies: Interdisciplinary projects and creative initiatives”. In this activity we found different groups of students from different English courses presenting their research writing. 

There was an interesting panel that was about immigrants that was called “Immigration and Puerto Rico today”. In this panel there was three girls presenting their research about the immigrant’s topic, and also share their personal experience as immigrants. They came from Dominican Republic and share to the audience how the society accepted they as immigrants, and how is their life being here in Puerto Rico. Also share that even they cant speak very well the English language, they are in the intense English course and present how is treated the Xenophobia here in the island and in their country.

“Mini sagas: My creative process”

Its quite interesting how can simply words can be represented by a simple gest. And how simple gests can be explained by simple words. There are so many people that have talent, and with a little push they can take out the most amazing projects that many of us don’t have. And that’s the objective that has English professors with the students. To take out the person that is hiding inside in students that take their classes. We don’t see these kinds of professors really often.  

            Last week the General Studies of the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus presented an English Conference titled: "Students Interventions in General Studies: Interdisciplinary projects and creative initiatives". This conference offers to share the research writing of different students that course English classes this semester. Many panels were presented in this activity. And one of the most interesting panel was "Mini sagas: My creative process", that were presented by a group of students of professor Mildred Lockwood.

            This consists about to explain a topic with only 50 words, it really not easy like say it, and it is hard to find the right words that can best described well the topic.  Was an interesting project what those students did, they transmit a great message doing this mini sagas with such a few words. And have the opportunity to listen and enjoy what others students can do with a different method, it’s a really good experience that not everyone has.

The Rum Diary...

This film based on a novel by Hunter S. Thompson is a brilliantly tangled love story of jealousy, treachery, and violent alcoholic lust in the Caribbean boomtown that was San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the late 1950s. The narrator, freelance journalist Paul Kemp, irresistibly drawn to a sexy, mysterious woman, is soon thrust into a world where corruption and get-rich-quick schemes rule and anything is permissible. Exuberant and mad, youthful and energetic, this dazzling comedic romp provides a fictional excursion as riveting and outrageous as Thompson’s Fear and Loathing books.

"Human beings are the only creatures on Earth that claim a God. And the only living thing that behaves like it hasn't got one. -The Rum Diary". This quote, a powerful one… was in the movie and it was really deep. When you think about it, its really true and its even more when you read it several times more and analyze it. Even is sad, the world is full of hypocrites and sadly full of liar people. You can see a lot of people trying and fighting for a better new world when others do all they best trying to sink it. Like is mention in the film “bastards” that I think is the best word that describes not the people, but yes a phenomenon. a kind of character that was created by humans.

We tried to fit in; the way we act, speak, or behave, those kinds of things that drive us to be how we are; drugs, alcohol, money, women or men, sex, honor. Is a kind of combinations of our desires, even if they are natural or made up, hat invades our moral judgment and make us take all kind of risks. Like trying something new, something that we didn’t know that exists. All those kinds of thoughts came into our minds when we see this film, The Rum Diary. It’s hard to explain why, but all the drama, the scenes, the confusion, the betrayals; it all comes to the same thing, “bastards”.

It’s an amazing movie, very interesting. Even more interesting when Puerto Rico came an important role in the movie, and more interesting when one of the best actors that exists, Johnny Deep, is the main character of this film.

A Puerto Rican tourist in Puerto Rico…

            What a beautiful day, I’m so excited. I have the feeling that this is a perfect day to visit one of the best beaches of Puerto Rico. The beaches in this island are the most beautiful beaches in the world.  I spent the all day in Ocean’s beach of Condado, admiring the sea, the people and feeling like in the balcony of my own house.

            The beach is really amazing, so clean, so big, so beautiful. There were a lot of people on a Sunday. Like people say is a beach day. A lot of people running jet skis, kite surfing, or inside the water, and others sunbathing. There was also a lot of tourist in the area, little groups of friends, others with their family with music and food. Thank God is not raining. Otherwise it would be a shame. I think one problem was the parking, is a little complicated to find a parking near the beach. They should have a big parking or a big space where the people can park if they are going to visit the beach or the near places.

            Later we went to lunch at Tijuana's in Condado, which was really delicious. The place around doesn’t feel like you were in Puerto Rico, it was really beautiful, a nice place to sit and have a really good time. Also the people was really nice. Many people was riding bicycles, others walking their dogs, other making exercise and others like me, eating and admiring the place. Is a really nice place, with a lot of restaurants, lot of tourist, amazing hotels and beaches. A perfect spot to vacating.

             I think there is a big event tonight, called “Heineken Jazz Fest”where people sitting around, drink and play some dominos with a group of friends or family listening to great music. A perfect event to finish an awesome day in the great island.  Condado is the perfect place for everything, full of activities, people, restaurants, hotels and beautiful beaches.

            I have to admit that is a little hard to picture everything from the view as a tourist, living here in Puerto Rico. This was a great and different experience because I focus on things that I didn’t realize before. And view things from another point of view. I was able to view with a different eyes the places that I been before and didn’t admire with the same attitude.

A strong message...