Books, History, Food, Politics, and Life

Books, History, Food, Politics, and Life
Things through a different light...

Sunday, October 25, 2009

The Plus and Minus of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a beautiful country. I have never seen a place so lush, green, and naturally beautiful in my life...not up close at least. I can say I have stood thousands of feet in the air atop a mountain peak in the Puerto Rican Rain Forest and gasped at the view of the distant shoreline with brilliant blue waters and creamy soft sands. I have waded in the freshest of mountain streams as I watched clean water fall from rocky edges into a clear pool of clean water. I have sat under an ancient tree and leaned against its moist bark while looking around at the multitude of plant life that covers the forest floor...
While in Puerto Rico, I also was able to immerse myself into the rich history of the country. I stood atop centuries old fortifications and looked down at the rocky shoreline of Old San Juan. I have walked the winding and dark tunnels that extend under the walls of an ancient fortress just to come out into a beautiful courtyard of marble and stone. I stood on the battlements of the same structure and witnessed the largest fire in Puerto Rican history burn only miles away, catching a few smart shots as I marveled at the massive amount of smoke going into the atmosphere and the flames that lept into the skyline of San Juan like something out of some odd movie, and nothing real.
In Puerto Rico I have sat amongst locals and had the pleasure of eating some of the most amazing food I've ever had...with fresh spices and passed down recipes. I've lounged in a cafe for a light dinner of the best bean soup I've ever tasted and begged for more when I cleaned my bowl, all the while sipping on the best espresso I've ever had the honor of tasting. Each eatery, each roadside stand, each server and cook have their own stories and the food as well as the people tell the story in each native dish as you, the patron, savor it.
Ive also seen a darker side...where some will take advantage of those who dont know any better for God knows' what reasonis...
Ive never seen a gun up close and personal until now, and I could have been fine without that knowledge.

but even with the negative...Puerto Rico was beautiful, but I dont like its newer urban center in San Juan...give me castles, coasts, and rain forests anyday.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Stressed

I know I don't really post much on this blog, I guess it is because I have facebook and twitter and a score of other outlets to let everyone know how I feel, but I think those get too cluttered at times and I have too many friends. I don't live confrontation at all. I freeze up, I get upset, it is just hard for me to deal with people when they are being aggressive and I don't know why...especially when I can be quite aggressive myself.
Tonight I spoke up for something that was bothering me and not only did I get smacked down for it, but I felt like I was left hanging. I really had my feelings hurt and it was painful. I vocalized a problem of multiple people, but because my vocalization was not what people wanted to hear...everything just resorted to stressful banter that had nothing to do with the issue at hand and all to do with flared tempers.
I think the most upsetting part of the whole ordeal was feeling alone. I had one of my closest friends "on my side" and yet they said nothing and it hurt my feelings a lot.
I dont know how i feel about that, besides slightly abandoned.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Too many blogs

I may start using this blog more just because everyone and their mother doesn't know it is here...
Facebook has become overcrowded and sadly I feel like I cannot vent as well when everyone I know is reading.
I had a really bad nightmare last night, its the second time I have had it...and I guess it stems from a fear of someone breaking in the house, I dont know but it kept me up until 4 AM. I have a cold and I am pretty sore due to the cold and perhaps the weather change. I don't know but I haven't been as sore as of late and today all of that is just compounding.

I made an 87 on my Japanese history exam,which is not what I wanted to see. I wanted to see an A and I did not get one, which made me sad.
There is a poetry contest at MSC this year, I am going to enter.