47th Annual Literary Contest Awards Ceremony

On Wednesday April 9th we had the opportunity to attend the 47th Annual Literary Contest Award Ceremony. The ceremony was held in Amphitheater 4 in DMN. The ceremony started off with a presentation by our professor Dr. Cynthia Pittmann titled: "Writing Practice". In this presentation she gave us an idea about how morning writing is a very great tool. Some examples used during her presentation were that writing in the morning helps you remember your dreams, discover hidden motivations, helps you know what's bothering you, helps you be more proactive about solving problems, etc. She ended her presentation by stating that it is important to use paper and a pen and to "Enjoy the ever enriching conversations with yourselves". The UPR Tuna also presented various pieces. Before the award ceremony began Dr. Elsa Luciano read and discussed her essay "Read first then write". In her discussion, Luciano was able to express the importance of reading and how reading helps us be better writers. 
After Luciano's presentation the award ceremony began. There were 9 judges and about 78 entries this year. The first prize for poetry was for Javier Acevedo Arus with his poem "Sanitation". He also won third prize for his essay "Believing in Bi". First prize for the essay was Yadmila Matos Serrano with her essay "Winning the War". Lastly, first prize for the short story was our classmate Claudia Cruz Rivera with her story titled "Made with Love". All three of the contest winners read their pieces to the audience. They we all excellent and very unique. Overall I do believe that it was a great experience. I also would like to congratulate all the winners for their effort and courage. 

Journal Reflection

As we began our external and internal journey, we were assigned a journal where we shared our own thoughts, with ourselves. It was exercises that not only let us jot down our daily ideas and plans but also helped us get looser and have more confidence in our English writing. We would write down the first things that came to our minds in ten minutes. The class was given six rules from Natalie Goldberg’s “Writing down the bones”. The rules were the following:

1.  Keep your hand moving

2.  Don’t cross out

3.  Don’t worry about spelling, punctuation, grammar.

4.  Lose control

5.  Don’t think. Don’t get logical.

6.  Go for the jugular.

By following these six simple rules we were able to start our internal journey in our literature course. Nevertheless, it was kind of awkward and slight difficult at the beginning because we were not used to writing everyday for ten minutes.

I believe the most difficult task while writing the journals was not to get logical. Sometimes we students want to think about what we are going to write before actually writing the ideas down. On the other hand, the last rule, go for the jugular also was difficult. Maintaining one idea throughout the ten minutes without getting logical and thinking too much about the topic would make me break rule number one, which told us to keep our hand moving and never stop writing. I would throughout ten minutes try to expose what all my thoughts and the activities I had throughout the day or week.

Our daily compasses, which were three times a week, uncovered our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual thoughts without going in to much detail. As well as the journals, these compasses were a good way of having a true insight to how we were feeling day by day. It felt like therapy between the pen and I.

Throughout time, the journals and compasses were evolving more and more. I would include more details and would write big, sloppy and in different directions as well as writing more thoughts and ideas.

One important insight and example of my internal journey would certainly be the entry where I talk about my experience with my first interview to grad school. I was nervous the day before and right after finishing my interview, I wrote an entry explaining the relief of going through it. I do believe that the journal was a great tool to expose how I felt in such an important part of my life.

Overall, I do believe that the journals and compasses helped me get over things, come up with new ideas, jot down my happiness and sorrows, and let me develop my internal journey preparing it to what there is to come in the future. Right now I am at a great place in my academic career. I am looking forward to my graduation and beginning graduate school in one of the schools that I applied to. It will be a long journey to travel but the greatest way to go through it is by expressing of my internal journey though my pen. 

The Rum Diary Reflection

This movie not only portrays an American tourist in Puerto Rico but also someone who comes to live on the island and gets to know the culture through his eyes. The Rum Diary takes place in San Juan, Puerto Rico in the 1960's. Paul Kemp is a journalist who looks forward to publishing his own book. With various failed attempts he decides to take a job at a local newspaper in Puerto Rico. Being a New Yorker, he is completely unfamiliar with the culture and what this island has to offer. In some way we could catalog Paul as a tourist. He is new to this island yet he doesn't show much interest at first in getting to know Puerto Rico. On his first taxi ride the driver asks him "Primera vez en Puerto Rico" he immediately answers "I don't know Spanish" and without hesitation tells the taxi driver to keep the change. It's clear how Kemp had no interest in having conversations or surrounding himself with the locals. In the opening scene his boss, editor of the San Juan star, Edward Lotterman, compares Puerto Rico with England. He tells Kemp that “It’s a schizoid society, Kemp. They got two languages, two flags, two loyalties, two anthems. We bring stuff they never had; they either hate it or want more of it. It’s a reluctant part of America. It’s like England with tropical fruit.” This is how Americans that live in Puerto Rico view the island. They believe that Puerto Ricans are opportunist in such a way. Later on Lotterman asks Kemp “Been to Puerto Rico before?” Kemp answers no as he is unaware of the conditions of Puerto Rico and its culture.

When other visitors were interviewed they also had many misconceptions of what Puerto Rico is actually like. In an interview, one couple was asked about their experience in Puerto Rico. They were asked "Been to Puerto Rico before?" they quickly answered "No". They were also asked "What would you say you like most about Puerto Rico?" "The bowling alleys and the casinos", "Have you seen most of the island?" "We don't leave the hotel, it isn't safe". With the statements of this couple it is obvious the way tourists perceive Puerto Rico and believe that it is beautiful yet it does not have many things to offer except beautiful beaches and nice hotels.

During his stay, Kemp began to observe and closely analyze what really was going on in Puerto Rico. This is when he becomes a traveler and begins to internalize the situation of the island. He was well aware of many things such as poverty and bad conditions outside of San Juan's wealthier living quarters. Kemp was told to write in the San Juan Star an article called “10 things that I love about Puerto Rico”. He must not write about the cruel conditions that are seen on the island because it is bad for tourism and that was the point of the article, to promote more tourism on the island. This is when Paul Kemp believes he is not being honest and wants to find out more about the island and closely observes every detail.

It is at the end of his stay in Puerto Rico where he realizes and writes on his type writer his real discoveries in Puerto Rico and he writes “I finally understood the connection between children scavenging for food and shiny brass plates on the front doors of banks”. He uses this quote to emphasize the living conditions on the island and how they tourists are very naïve when they visit the island. 

Day Two: Student Research and Writing Conference

I attended the second day of the research and writing conference. Not only were the panels good but there was also an intermediate performance that captured my attention. I attended the conference from 10am to 2:20pm. I was able to see approximately four conferences. They all had very good topics and insights. The first panel about Interdisciplinary Topics was very interesting. The first essay that was read was about the experience that this student had with her first year in general studies and how it has helped her decide what she would like to pursue as a career in the future. The next essay was about the science of shopping and how she connected Paco Underhill's "The Science of Shopping" with her experiences in Kmart of Vega Baja and Walmart of Manatí on Black Friday. 

The intermediate performance was held by the Tuna Bardos of the University. It was a very great performance. They danced and made us laugh very much, and they also presented themselves as students as one of the English professors. 

The panel of 1pm was about "Immigration and Puerto Rico Today". This panel was discussed by two students, Emely Matos and Carolina Calderon, that are immigrants. They are both immigrants from the Dominican Republic. They shared their experiences about how they were able to adapt to a new place. They used examples from Jorge Duany's essay about Puerto Rico and the immigration and their personal experiences. Both girls also gave suggestions about how locals should accept immigrants. It very brave for these two girls to share all the details about a topic that may be very sensitive in a way. 
In conclusion, I can say that both days of the conference were not only interesting but they helped me understand many topics and themes that may capture my attention. All of the essays and works that the students exposed were very interesting and well organized. My respects to the students that were able to share the works in such a way and their ability to answer any question that they were asked. 

Day One: Student Research and Writing Conference

The first day of the conference was very good overall. I attended two panels. The first one was the panel that members from our class participated in. The title of the panel was: "Interrogating the Journey". Laura was the first to present our other classmates and to introduce the theme of the presentation. She expressed herself very well and her essay " A Puerto Rican Identity" was very great. She connected her experience with the Jamaica Kincaid's and Peter Roberts description of identity. The next speaker was Karla. Her essay "Helping and Comunication" explained the fact that there is a very thin line between helping and cheating and how this dynamic hurts the chances for being successful. Sahara used Cooper and Roberts to defend her essay about Identity. Her closing sentence was very simple yet strong, "I never questioned my identity. I know I'm Puerto Rican." Lorna read her essay where she explained all the characteristics that defined our identity and how we are responsible of protecting it even though Puerto Rico has many problems and issues including bad government administration. To conclude the panel, Sylvette read her essay about the connection between tourists and the communication model. She reflects on her experience in Condado. One example that she used was the short interaction with the tourist due to the tight schedule. She compared it to one of Kincaid's essays in "A Small Place". Overall I could say that the members of our course, A Journey in Literature, did a very splendid job in demonstrating the issues that we as Puerto Ricans have when it comes to developing our identity and how it can be very difficult due to the many issues the island has. 

The next panel that I had the chance to attend was "Mini Sagas: My Creative Process". In this panel five students not only read their mini sagas but they sort of acted them. Before the panel I wasn't really familiar to what mini sagas were, but I was completely amazed at how short and interesting they were. The mini saga that I liked the most was Expectations by Ashley Dalmau. She gave many details at first making you think that she was talking about any object but at the end she explained how difficult it is to find a husband in our present time. I found it very creative and unique. The students later explained that mini sagas look easy but may be complex. They first need to find a topic or theme and then begin to write. 
Both panels captured my complete attention. I was able to connect them to my everyday experiences and my interdisciplinary studies. 

 

A Day as a Tourist

On Sunday March 16, 2014, I went to the "Día Nacional de la Zalsa". This is an national festival of salsa music. This is where all the salsa lovers unite and listen to the artists that are invited. Some of the artists that were invited to this year's event were: El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Domingo Quiñones, Eddie Santiago and Oscar de León.

          Many people came to visit the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan and be part of this great day. It was full of kiosks and different stations to order typical Puerto Rican food. The foods that were served were fried turnovers, rice, fried pork and rice. They also had many alcoholic beverages. Some of the beverages that were from Puerto Rico like Gasolina drinks.

          On the other hand, the stadium was very crowded and many people came from different countries such as Venezuela, Colombia and Panamá. Other people that visited this event were Puerto Ricans that resided in the United States for example people from New York, Orlando, Chicago, etc. It was great to experience this day with people that came from the states.

          I spent the day with my best friends and the aunt and uncle of one of my friends. We listened to the music and shared great laughs. We also interacted with people that were also visiting from the states.

          Overall I experienced and observed many details as if I was a tourists that came to visit from another country. I saw how happy Puerto Ricans really were and how they can make a party out of every moment. Puerto Ricans that reside in the United States also had this type of excitement and attitude when they were visiting this event. It was a great event where you can observe not only how Puerto Ricans enjoy but also those who visit.

I liked the experience overall. I was able to place myself from a different stand point and be able to observe the people and my surroundings as if I were a tourist. The most exciting moment that I could get from this day was the moment they let the Puerto Rican flag show and how all the Puerto Ricans were very emotionally moved my that beautiful gesture. It sure showed the love people share for their homeland. 

A Room with a View Film Reflection

The film, A Room with a View, takes place in Florence, Italy. Lucy Honeychurch, Charlotte Barlett, Eleanor Lavish, Mr. Emerson and his son, George Emerson are all tourists in this movie. All six of these characters are staying at a hotel in Florence. At the beginning of the movie Lucy and Charlotte are sitting at the dining table with the other guests from the hotel. They all share thoughts and talk about the hotel, food and experience. Lucy clearly desires a room with a view. She had told Charlotte before they went to eat. At the dinner table they have a small discussion about their rooms. Mr. Emerson over hears the conversation. He then tells Charlotte that they are welcome to exchange rooms. Mr. Emerson and George’s rooms have a view to Florence and Italy. According to Lucy’s desire for a view from her hotel room shows her admiration for the place that she is visiting. The next day both cousins go out to observe the city. Charlotte is joined by Eleanor Lavish who is a writer. She tells Charlotte “Two lone females in an unknown city, now that’s what I call an adventure”. She is opened minded, very free-spirited and willing to explore Italy. Lucy on the other hand wanders alone throughout Florence. She observes many things and is astonished when she was present at a scene of violence between two men at the public square. The young man was entirely knocked out, full of blood and was taken away, Lucy suddenly fainted and George Emerson was luckily present to help her. She then tells him “Italians are so kind, so lovable, but at the same time so violent.” She is not aware about the violence and the many things that happen day in and day out in Italy. Jamaica Kincaid well explains this characteristic of the tourist in one of her essays in her first essay of “A Small Place”. When Kincaid mentions “Tourist gaze here and there and eat this and that” she describes the tourists as “ugly human beings”. They are not aware of the real situation. They only see the beautiful sceneries and taste the amazing food. 
Later on in the film, as Charlotte, Lucy and Eleanor take a ride, Reverend Eager explains how the residents view the tourists. “We residents sometimes pity you poor tourists not a little. Handed about like parcels of goods from Venice to Florence, from Florence to Rome, living herded together in pensions or hotels quite unconscious of anything that is outside Baedeker, their one anxiety to get ‘done’ or ‘through’ and go on somewhere else. The result is they mix up towns, rivers, palaces in one inextricable whirl.” Mr. Eager’s arrogance well portrays the ignorance of the majority of the tourists who visit Italy. He explains how they are unaware of many details and information about Italy and how they are mixed up and confused during their whole stay. Tourists are there to escape reality and leave behind their daily routines. He later on mocks Americans tourists and how they talk to one another.

Eleanor takes a moment to observe the beauty that Italy has to offer, like any tourist would do. “I have a theory that there is something in the Italian landscape which inclines even the most stolid nature to romance”. She acclaims the beauty that the country has to offer. At the end of the movie while the newlywed couple, Lucy and George have dinner at a hotel in France, a couple of ladies have a small discussion about their rooms. “Don’t you agree that on one’s first visit to France one must have a room with a view?” This takes us back to the beginning of the movie where Lucy exclaims this to her cousin Charlotte. It is very evident that tourists during their visits want to see the beauty day after day and what better way than the moment you wake up.

After viewing this film and comparing it to Kincaid’s essay about tourists, it is likely that she would view British women visiting Italy the same way she views the tourist in Antigua. They are ignorant to what occurs truly in Italy, as well as the tourists in Antigua. They do not know many things about the attractions and how to get around, for example when Charlotte and Eleanor got lost during their stay in Italy.

I do believe tourists are portrayed the way Jamaica Kincaid exposes in her essay and the way Lucy, Charlotte and the others are described in the film. Each tourist has a purpose for their visit. Tourists visit different places to explore and see new things. They will be looked at as strange human beings, as outsiders and very naïve. We are residents who live on a small island which is visited by many people each year. We are more than aware of the situation and can well describe how a tourist is seen to us when they visit Puerto Rico. We see it in literature, films and in our everyday life.