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.