Eat, Pray, Love

If travel it is your hobby... Read this book! Eat Pray Love It is written by author Elizabeth Gilbert. Without a doubt is one of the best books I've read. It captures the attention of the reader and intrigue to travel to these places. I found a summary of the book because I have not yet seen the film. This summary points that: “Around the time Elizabeth Gilbert turned thirty, she went through an early-onslaught midlife crisis. She had everything an educated, ambitious American woman was supposed to want—a husband, a house, a successful career. But instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she was consumed with panic, grief, and confusion. She went through a divorce, a crushing depression, another failed love, and the eradication of everything she ever thought she was supposed to be. To recover from all this, Gilbert took a radical step. In order to give herself the time and space to find out who she really was and what she really wanted, she got rid of her belongings, quit her JOB, and undertook a yearlong journey around the world—all alone. Eat, Pray, Love is the absorbing chronicle of that year. Her aim was to visit three places where she could examine one aspect of her own nature set against the backdrop of a culture that has traditionally done that one thing very well. In Rome, she studied the art of pleasure, learning to speak Italian and gaining the twenty-three happiest pounds of her life. India was for the art of devotion, and with the help of a native guru and a surprisingly wise cowboy from Texas, she embarked on four uninterrupted months of spiritual exploration. In Bali, she studied the art of balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. She became the pupil of an elderly medicine man and also fell in love the best way—unexpectedly. An intensely articulate and moving memoir of self-discovery, Eat, Pray, Love is about what can happen when you claim responsibility for your own contentment and stop trying to live in imitation of society's ideals. It is certain to touch anyone who has ever woken up to the unrelenting need for change”.

Once finished reading the book I said to myself: "I want to go to these places!" Although already on my list was to go to Italy just to eat pasta and pizza. I found this book very interesting, full of changes, but mostly I liked because it is based on the life of the author. I got several questions. Among them I said: "why always we have to wait to feel on the edge of desperation to make changes and search our happiness?" I will not explain much on the content of the book, but for me it is a highly recommended book, so I want you to read it and see what happens in all these three places the author visited. I could also see in book the importance of its inner and outer journey in her life and such they influenced in her life.

Which three places you would like to visit?

Julia Robert is the actress of the film.

My External Journey

At present, the semester is almost finished and together with it the activities of the English class that I am taking. Thanks to this course, I had the opportunity to open my knowledge to this new platform. It was a new, different and innovative experience. Something out of routine, because the truth is that I had never done something like this. Remember when I published the post from my journal notebook? If you have not read it yet, I invite you to pass and comment. Both the notebook and the blog are different activities, but the purpose is the same: my journey. With the notebook I could express my internal journey, as I felt, even in the compass I gave a score, but with this blog, I expressed my external journey, where any person is welcome to read, comment and give suggestions. My journal notebook is personal, very mine and up to this day the only person that could read it is me.

I never thought that this blog can relate to the class, but with the pass of the semester I understood the importance of my blog. The professor used with us different techniques that allowed us to meet and develop another part of us. At the beginning I did not know neither how to put my profile picture. At the beginning this was a little bit complicated, but now I can say that this it is easy to handle. Once I learned to handle it a little better I could put the font, the color, background, and photos... in a word, everything what you can see now. But all of this takes a bit of time and patience to know how to do it. In addition, I had to read the blogs of my group (Six Degrees of Separation) and comment on them. I understood here that we all had the same theme, but different thoughts.

 I can say that I liked the activity and even though this is already one of my finals class blog does not mean that I am not going to post more!  I'll keep in touch with you through my blog and of course, I'll see if my classmates continued writing on their external journey.  Finally, I want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving Day. Pass it with your loved ones and special ones of your life and of course, eat a lot of turkey! See ya!

Teamwork!

 "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much." --Helen Keller

And this is what precisely we did in the English course that I am ending: TEAMWORK! At the beginning of class our professor divided us into different groups that we would do the work the rest of the semester. We put by name Six Degrees of Separation, is a name of a song, but the main reason for why we chose this name… I do not remember (UPS!) In the right hand of the screen are the different links of my colleagues of this equipment, you can go, read and comment. No doubt, from the start we share very well, we divided the work and this make more light and easy the assignment. That is the idea of teamwork, which the entire group works together for a common goal. We always had good communication and all of us cooperate with the activities. To make a good team work should be the work divided among the members that compose it. In my group Kevin and I are the note takers, Vanessa is the communicator, Kenneth is the task manager and last, but not least, Noheli and Luis are the researchers.

Through the semester we were able to develop different jobs and we could take ideas for our final work because as we did many activities I feel much more confident to do so. In addition the professor assigned us readings in class to work on team where we had to prepare ourselves to make an oral presentation. Working as a team we can see different points of view and opinions based on a theme in common. So everyone could contribute and help us to complement and elaborate  the goal.

Finally, I know that many people dislike working in team because they work better alone or bad experiences with other people. This was certainly not my case this time. We must learn to work with other individuals to see the great things that we can create with the different types of thoughts, but keep in mind that the goal is just ONE. 

A Night in The Old San Juan

One day as a tourist in old San Juan was a good and funny experience. As part of English class that I am taking the professor sent us to go to somewhere on the island and did the role of tourists. Even dress up as a tourist. It came out better than planned because I planned to go to the beach, but that evening one of my best friends called me that her boyfriend break up with her and she wanted to distract her mind and hangout. So the new destination was the Old San Juan. I came to San Juan at about 10:00 pm was super full and the roads were closed because the parking was full. Here the story begins. I found a police and I asked to him if I can park my car in the other side of the Street. He said: “Well, I’m not here because I am cute” I was like: “Really? What is your attitude? It was just a question!”

Even if you are a resident of this beautiful island, whenever one goes to the Old San Juan feels as a tourist! But I definitely belong here, to this island. That air of happiness, a different environment, where there are more tourists.  Once there, the question was: Now what? We started walking and I explain to my friends the assignment, so they also helped me and were able to do the activity with me. It was really funny! We spoke in English. I remember that we asked a couple where was “El Paseo de la Princesa” and “Calle San Sebastián”. They were very kind and explained to us how to get there.

I could see the different treatment which give the residents to the tourists, treat them well! So I feel in goup an out group at the same time. They were really, also they recommend places to visit. In their list never missed “El Yunque”, Crash Boat in Aguadilla and Flamenco Beach in Culebra.  Without a doubt, make the tourist paper was a fun activity, I had a very good time. In addition, I could share with my friends so long ago not seeing them. One day you should do this activity, you will see the surprises and the adventures. Have fun!

Something Totally New!

Dr. Adam G. Riess is a Professor of astronomy and physics at the Johns Hopkins University and a member of the Committee of Science at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. He proposed a series of discoveries in the field of cosmology. So in the year 2011 was awarded with the Nobel. Together with his team, they showed that the universe is expanding at one ever increasing speed. The universe is huge and full of galaxies, so it seems to be static, but it is not. The separation of galaxies ever increases more and more. His research includes measurements of the cosmological framework with supernovae. These measures, showed an improvement in the ability to distinguish between a dark energy constant, dynamic static and cosmological.

Expected that the universe downturn under the gravity brake applied by its own mass, so this was a huge surprise. An amazing reason was because the attraction of all the matter in the universe should act as a retainer natural expansion. Therefore, the rate of growth of the universe should be decelerating. There are three possible reasons given by Dr. Riess: power vacuum, dynamic dark energy and relative gravity, showing the otherwise in Einstein's theory. What began to ask different questions, how old are the universe and the Earth.

                In the end, it seems to me that there is still much to discover. This was a step forward in science, but this is a too varied range and great discoveries still wait. I thought it was a very interesting conference and was a privilege for us as a University  that Dr. Riess exposed the research with us. All of this for me is something new, so I learned the main reason for the conference: the universe is expanding, totally new concepts to my knowledge and the photos that he showed. On the other hand, it is interesting to see how as the years pass still continue questioning theories such as the Einstein, but it is as Dr. Adam Riess  mentioned in the presentation: "If Einstein was wrong, why not us?" I think that all of us should be like the universe. We must continue to expand our knowledge and discover new galaxies which in this case would be our future experiences. These experiences will lead us to discover more about our internal and external journey. Let's investigate!

The Rum Diary

In the class of literature of English that I am taking, we were assigned to see The Rum Diary. This movie is starring famous actor Johnny Depp playing the role of Paul Kemp. This is employed to work for a newspaper on “la Isla del Encanto”, Puerto Rico, to the year 1960 entitled: San Juan Star. The purpose is to apply some elements learned in class as the location, the perspective and the group in / out group.

Paul Kemp is a North American and an alcoholic writer who meets Sanderson. Sanderson is a businessman who is determined to turn one of the Islands near the coast of Puerto Rico into territory only for tourists, even driving out residents, through the town that has the island. Paul Kemp did not know such detail.  Sanderson wants that Kemp write an article about their new business project, to what Paul resists. Even introduces to Pail Kemp to his partners and the construction plan. A night of alcohol Kemp was in trouble with police and Sanderson goes and rescues him from jail, so that Kemp was in debt and agree to write in the newspaper about this project. In the course of the film, they go to another island, St. Thomas, and Paul knows the truth of the plan of Sanderson. Kemp returned to the island and begins to write about the corruption of this entrepreneur. Once ready to publish, the newspaper is closed, but he seeks the way of posting it and manages to do so, leaving the exposed truth.

I believe that Kemp had a perspective about Puerto Rico, and through this experience changed completely and could see what Puerto Rican crossed.  In addition, I can perceive the concept of in group/out group applied in class when they offered the job to Kemp where had to write based on what the entrepreneur wanted that he wrote, otherwise the work would not be for him. All this leads to Kemp to return to the United States becoming a very famous writer.

“I was not proud of what I had learned but I never doubted                that it was worth knowing.”

― Hunter S. Thompson, The Rum Diary

A Big Problem!

In my class of literature that I'm taking this semester the professor sent us to read two chapters of the author Jim Cooper. This is a professor that teaches in the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus, better known as "Colegio". The first chapter is titled: “Teaching”. The author tells of his experience in the Campus teaching English, and he wondered to himself about the teaching in Puerto Rico. Where perceived that students have serious and grave problems with the English at the University. Cooper decides to go to the root of the problem, the schools because this place is the first center of education for any student. He understands that from here begins the problem and decides to give a solution to the problem begun to propose a new curriculum where students could learn the language.

The second chapter is called: “Helping”. Helping or cheating?  Jim Cooper narrates that he saw a wrong behavior in the students. The students copied and when the professor claimed to them they answered: “But I’m just trying to help him, he is my friend" and even if it was a test they “helped” so their partner would take good a good grade. But the problem begins when the student is in school. Where the professor tell to the students that if they have any questions, they can look at the test of the other. In my opinion, that never happened to me. Any professor told me that when I had questions look for 'help'. In fact, this concept of "help" is wrong. That cannot be allowed, although as the author describes very well, the Puerto Rican is the most hospitable person that there is.

I think that these are situations that we see daily in schools and universities in our country. There are things that should be prevent from the beginning, giving the necessary tools and act against the problem, not in favor of it. Even though English is our second language the majority of Puerto Ricans don't handle for many reasons. Fear of the ridicule, and the accent, which makes us feel intimidated. I disagree in a few things with what the author tells us, because the same thing would happen when you try to teach someone the Spanish or another language that is not their first language. But I believe that if you have good bases from the beginning, you can break down many barriers and not having the fear that many people suffer. For that, education should be the first thing in the priorities. 

My Journal Reflection

I really liked the experience of daily writing in my journal notebook.  When I was a child I had a diary in which it felt very personal. This notebook made me remember when had done it previously. Without a doubt, served me this exercises because I could see my progress in writing in just ten minutes, although sometimes I wanted to continue writing.

Occasionally I checked dates in which had already written to remember what I had done that day and I transported to that moment, that instant and could perfectly well compare my statements during days or weeks. On the other hand, I saw the compass and observed in a manner more summarized what I wrote that day, as it was my mental, emotional, physical and religious status. It helped me to meditate so much, and to reflect on what had happened to me recently and in way of thinking. Also, for me, this is something very private because in the same way helped me to evaluate myself and analyze many things, this is why I find it so personal. So I'd like to continue writing for my own benefit, although this activity is not practiced in class already.

I think that people should practice this type of exercise, does not take much time, because you only need a paper, a pencil, and the desire to write.  Your mind can manifest and you could write whatever you want; dreams, thoughts, things that you wish to occur, experiences, even things with no sense and the facts more important that happened that day. Without a doubt, was a great experience for me, I liked and it was very useful because this lead me to think and internalized so many things and information in that lapse of time. If you have not yet tried this exercise, I invite you to try it and see the production which can be for your own benefit.

Techniques of Writing

This past weekend I tried something different. I'm used to write in my journal notebook during the evening or at night. This time I did it in the morning, as soon as I woke up. I liked the experience. When compared I realized that in the afternoon, sometimes, is more difficult to write for me or  I have to think more things to see how I organize them in my mind. On the other hand, when I did it in the morning it made me much easier, because my mind was clear and fresh. The thoughts were flowing in a quick and convenient way. I tried to remember my dreams on Saturday and Sunday, but I do not remember them, so I wrote as I felt in the morning.  In addition, those two nights my dog slept in my room and was more incline to it and not so focused on what I was writing. The name of my dog is Peluche. I would write in the morning without my dog in the room, because this will not distract me. One of the techniques that I most like is to go to the yard of my house. There I perceive much silence and I feel completely relaxed, I feel comfortable. I look for that time of day in which I flow, choose the place that I like the in the yard and write. Another technique that most use when writing is at night just before going to bed. I prepare in my room, look for a good lighting and my mind flows. Anyway, this experience was pretty good for me, had never tried to write in the morning and liked it, but I don't think that I would practice it all the time. The most I like is when I'm in that contact with nature, and I'm in my comfort zone. I recommend that you try these techniques, but first find your space and favorite moment before you start writing.

Identiy-- "A Small Place"

I did a little search for my benefit and relate more on what Jamaica Kincaid wrote in her book, "A Small Place", I did it because I wanted to find out more information about the identity of Antigua. I found that Christopher Columbus discovered the island in 1493, and called it: Lady of Antigua.In the year 1632 the British arrived on the island, then the French took possession of it and later the English managed to reconquer it. Antigua remained under the British regulation until it achieved its independence.

The first chapter describes how the island is in a geographical and tourist way. You enter in the environment and atmosphere since you're flying on the plane until you reach the hotel. Consequently, you are transported to our neighboring island and have a clearer idea about what Antigua is, in a general way, describing houses, cars, buildings and poverty.  It focuses more on the tourist and vacation. On the other hand, the second chapter describes it more clearly as the face of the real island, where Kincaid grew. It shows us its British colonialism and racial problems. Without doubt these initial chapters talks about national identity, neo-colonialism. The objective is to show us the real identity of Antigua, despite the past whereby the island went through, including the resistance and the imposition of a culture, language and customs by the colonizers, searching their own identity.

The identity has own traits and is what characterizes us against others. I liked very much when she mentions: “But some natives--most natives in the world--cannot go anywhere. They are too poor. They are too poor to go anywhere. They are too poor to escape the reality of their lives; and they are too poor to live properly in the place where they live, which is the very place you, the tourist, want to go--so when the natives see you, the tourist, they envy you, they envy your ability to leave your own banality and boredom, they enjoy your ability to turn their own banality and boredom into a source of pleasure for yourself”. This is an example of which I wrote in the previous paragraph. See the impact that has its past in its present and questioning it.

All discomfort comes from suppressing your true identity". - Bryant H. McGill

A General View-- "A Small Place"

"A Small Place" is a book written by Jamaica Kincaid where talks about the small island located in the Caribbean, Antigua. It describes about how tourists see this small piece of land, compared with which she lived, and makes it to taking into consideration only their point of view. The style in which Kincaid wrote it I really liked, because I was always in the expectation that what is going to happen while continue the reading.

As soon I started to read the first chapter, the first thing I did was transported to Antigua. I had the opportunity to go in many occasions, because the times I've traveled on cruise ships, there are some who make a stop on this Caribbean island. The most I remember of this island is the beach is so crystalline and the sunset is spectacular. As she recounted, made me feel in Antigua, or imagine things as she described it. I imagined people, cars, buildings, history that island have, definitely captured my attention. The way in which she narrated it made me feel a part of history and enjoy the journey of the author wrote. Even, motivated me to search more information about the island's history.

I found very interesting the first two chapters. I would like to continue reading and see how just the narration end. By hers manner of writing, I understood that he speaks in a tourist and resident way, the history and the political aspects. But I liked it, because it does not in a bad  or in personal way . Also, I really liked the way that Kincaid described the things and how realistic she was. Finally, in general my reactions about these initials chapters was positively. I felt comfortable while I was reading it, and motivated me to continue the reading.