Flavors of Latin America.

Until I moved to Miami, I didn't really have many immigrant friends.
Hell, until I moved to Miami I didn't really have any minority friends!

Growing up, I had a life that was beautiful but its landscape wasn't very colorful. Words in Jersey English (not the kind Junot Diaz uses in his book though) and recessive genetic traits were the norm in this little town where most families had been there for generations.

[Thank God] I am not in Kansas anymore!

Last night we were out celebrating Sonia's birthday. Y luego de la parrila Argentina, we ended up at Tapas y Tintos and had a really good time. At one point I looked around the table and I realized how incredibly cool it was that I was surrounded by cool, young professionals who came to look for a different situation and found it. It was also cool to hear my Dominican Spanish in a backdrop of Argentinian, Venezuelan, Chilean, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Honduran and Castillian Spanish. It kind of made me regret not speaking Spanish more often than I do.

I thought of the warmth that we as a group share regardless of our ancestry. The kisses we use to say hello, the nicknames, the gestures, the loud laughter -all parts of our different cultures, the things that make us a different ethnic group.

I like it.

[But I will NEVER like rice and beans!!!]

books and books.

A while ago, my friend Bviz recommended the book "The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao." Even though I was still in my financial book reading kick, being the nerd that I am, I ordered it and started reading it upon arrival.

I read 19 pages and I didn't like it.
I went back to Suze Orman and her infinite financial wisdom.

Months later Mr. Junot Diaz wins the Pulitzer for "The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao."

Well, despite the fact that I kinda sorta hoped that sooner or later I would be the first Dominican writer to ever win a Pulitzer (that has always been the Oscar I give thanks for in the shower using a shampoo bottle), I was super proud that I can speak of a contemporary mainstream hero of the land of my forefathers, who is not a baseball player.

I even came home and picked up the book again.

After carrying it around in my bag for like a week, I finally started reading it again. The problem is that- again- I don't like it. And again, I am stuck in page 19 though this time I am trying to read more like a scholar than a regular Jane who just wants to read.

I feel guilty for not liking it. It makes me feel like I have bad taste and I DO NOT HAVE BAD TASTE (except when it comes to men apparently). It also makes me feel like I'm being condescending to someone who deserves my respect. I should boast about this book like I did of Mr. Diaz's feat of winning the prize.

Once I am done here, I am going to go and read some more.
I hope it grows on me...

----

PS- I hope you filed your taxes!

Frustration...

For as long as I've known Dominicans I have been shocked and amazed by the patriotic ways of the vast majority. Sometimes I've looked down on this patriotism because I don't think of a place as much more than a place, but a good portion of the time I wish I could be a little more like that. As I've stated before, my Dominicanness is not something I feel I have ingrained in me but something I am by mere coincidence.

I see people as people and places as places. In my opinion, where you are from means nothing but the kind of person you are is everything and a place can be lovely but where you are is more relevant than where you are from or where you have been.

I was raised to believe that when bad things happen you should always help regardless of where these things are happening. You should be proactive and share yourself as well as everything you have to offer to improve things. I have always tried to live in this way. This time is no exception.

Tropical storm Noel pounded the Dominican Republic a few days ago. It caused an incredible amount of damage and hurt a lot of people. After talking to my family and getting a grasp on the situation that nobody will ever get by watching CNN alone, I decided to raise some money and send it back there. I didn't set out to raise a million dollars, but I figured that if every patriotic Dominican I know gave up their morning coffee for a day we could make someone's life a little bit better.

So this morning sent an email to every Dominican and DR lover I know here in Miami as well as
in other states and I waited for their response.

At first it seemed promising. I managed to raise $200 and get pledges for some stuff within an hour but then it stopped. Nobody will even talk to me- at least not about that...

The irony behind all this is that the people who have made a donation and those who have pledged to help aren't even Dominicans (except for like 2 people). I don't even know if they donated because I asked them or because they actually care...

It's nice to say you feel certain things but sometimes you have to literally put your money where your mouth is. I wasn't asking for $100...I appreciated $1 just the same!

All of the Dominicans I have met here have been part of a privileged bunch. They still have a few days left to join me in my efforts. I hope they will show worthiness of such privileges by helping their compatriots in need.