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Bookstores In Puerto Rico

What bookstore in Puerto Rico? After Borders closed the biggest Mall in Puerto Rico does not have a bookstore. This is kind of a big deal in the island because this mall is literally the center of consumer spending and social activity. I've heard people complain about how their children want books for Christmas and they don't know where to buy them aside from the internet. This is ridiculous! How do we not know where to buy books?

Although Borders closed, there are smaller local bookstores around the island one of the most known being Libereria Tertulia in Rio Piedras. However, not many people know about them. I believe small bookstores should advertise themselves more in order for people to realize where they are and that they exist for that matter.

Also, although this is good for local economy I believe there is still need of a big bookstore with the cafe and all that jazz. So I plead to Barnes and Nobles to open in Puerto Rico. These big bookstores especially if located in Plaza Las Americas make people sit down and read. If not Barnes and Noble than a local, bigger bookstore should open.

With our high crime rates and low education standards, it is impertinent for books to be accessible to everyone.

Comment on what other measures could help the lack of bookstores in Puerto Rico.

Christmas Markets

One of the most beautiful things I saw in Europe was the wonderful Christmas Markets. Going to them gave me back the feeling of being a 7 year old in Disney World. Everywhere I went I couldn't stop smiling and thinking about how the end of my study abroad experience ended so magically.

I went to markets in Cologne, Brussels, and of course Leuven.

Cologne

Cologne is the mecca of Christmas Markets. The City actually has 7 of them which are all walking distance from each other. Out of the seven I was able to go to four.

Top things to do:

- Drink Glühwein, a warm wine with cinnamon and other spices. They serve it all around Europe but in Cologne you get a cool cup with it. Each Market has its own cup so you could try to collect all 7 or pick your favorite. 

- Buy an ornament! You cannot leave Cologne without buying one of their beautiful Christmas ornaments. They make great gifts for the family.

- Eat sausage or a sausage in a bun. You're in Germany, it's only right.

- Don't forget to visit the Cathedral. It was the only thing that survived the Allies bombs.

Brussels:

The Brussels Christmas Market is your typical market with ornaments, food etc. except it has one of the most magical shows I have ever seen. I use to think that the Grande Place was more beautiful during the night but the Grande Place during Christmas at night is awe inspiring. They have the most beautiful light show... I have never seen anything like it. It's truly moving.

Things to do:

- Stand in the middle of the Grande Place and look up. It's as simple as that.

- Well, you're in Belgium, have a beer. I recommend the Delirium Noel or any other Winter season beer.

Leuven

Well of course, I loved the Leuven market because after all this was my home for three months. Leuven Market might be smaller than Brussels and Cologne but it has a community feel and coziness to it.

Things to do:

- Go to the Santa Claus' house and get a picture with Santa! It's completely free :) 

- Find the man that sells the weird animal like key chains and look at them. He has whales, owls, cyclopes and many more.

- Stay in the Market till late and watch how it goes from family-friendly to a huge college party. Gotta love Leuven.

Just another day in Parliament...

Last Thursday was my last day working in the European Parliament. Leaving is simply bittersweet. For one thing, I can't wait to go home for Christmas and see all my family and friends. Yet, I have learned so much this semester and my last day of works signifies that the end of my semester abroad is here.

The reason I came to Belgium was for the internship. I wanted to see what European politics were like and get a different perspective of issues. The fancy building filled with big dreams did not let me down. The European Parliament is the only elected branch within the EU. Each Member of Parliament (MEP) serves for 5 years. MEPs represent the people of the European Union and strive to fight for their countries' best interest.

Who I worked for, Livia Jaroka, is very special because she is the only Roma (gypsy) MEP in Parliament. Her drive and strive for equality for this minority (which is the biggest in Europe) is amazing. Right now the National governments of the European Union have to draft a Roma Integration Strategy which is meant to improve their education, health, employment and housing issues.

All of this was possible because of her efforts. She breaks the stereotypes of Roma by showing that with the right education they can be as successful as any European. She actually breaks many other stereotypes, such as being a member of the largest conservative party and fighting for minority rights. However, it is Livia's modesty that makes her so amazing. She has achieved so much within the European Union, yet, still thinks she has not done enough.

Aside from my MEP, I also learned from being in the EU in a time of economic crisis and political upheaval. I got to read news about the Euro and sit in meetings where politicians would talk about it.

Everyday at Parliament was something new. When you walked through its halls you would hear and see people from different countries. With 23 official languages there was a chance you never understood what anyone was talking about.

Now my days at Parliament are over. Yet, I'm not sad. I feel fortunate to have had this opportunity and I believe there are so many others to come.

I directed and helped edit this video

I thought this video was lost but it's not. Yay! It's about growing up in the projects while being gay.

The Second Cold War

I'm torn apart about the United States opening a Military Base in Australia. It is mostly described as a strategic move against China. Mainly because China's military movement lacks transparency. Therefore, it makes sense that the U.S. allies, such as, Australia would want more protection.

However, the Chinese government have found this move to be very threatening and a part of me believes it is. It makes me wonder if there is something going on in China that we are not aware about. A part of me thinks it's a smart move because we are more protected, but then a part of me thinks it can cause a lot of hostility similar to the Cold War. There is military tension in the world right now and you can cut it with a knife.

Then again, the military is suppose to protect us not necessarily by fighting. While abroad I realized how little I knew about the military. My roommate here is a Marine recruit and has taught me a lot of how it all works. We need to realize that not all deployed soldiers are killing and fighting. A lot of them are helping and educating.

I'm not going to lie, I do think this is a very aggressive decision by President Obama. Lately he has been addressing the East-Asia issue often. I'm curious about what is really going on and also a little bit scared. I hope that our government and China's government can use diplomacy and peaceful ways of resolving issues before resorting to impulsive military actions. I did not live to see the Cold War and would not want to experience the second one.

Luxembourg

Let's go to Luxembourg!

Why?

I think this might have been my reaction if someone asked me this last year. But once in Belgium it only made sense that I went to the richest (by percent) country in the European Union. From the Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), Luxembourg is the least talked about in the US. Yet this small country has so much to offer. It's fortress walls date back to the 1st century. It's views are absolutely breathtaking and it's bus system is ridiculously efficient.

I am very glad I went to Luxembourg and would advice anyone to go if they are travelling through Europe and want a relaxed place to stay. Also, the Pizza Hut is awesome. Don't ask me how we ended up there but I had a Brie and Honey pizza. Literally one of the most delicious things I ever tasted.

Finally, one of the most interesting things we saw here was the grave of General Patton. Luxembourg has a huge American memorial for WWII soldiers. General Patton is the street I live in back home so I have always been familiar with his achievements (probably one of the first things I googled as a kid). General Patton wasn't killed in the war but he asked to be buried with his soldiers when he died.

Paris

I have made it very clear to all my friends and family that I had a wonderful time in Paris last weekend and that I love it. The question is, why? Why do I like it so much? I think Paris revives that romantic side of me that I so often try to avoid or push aside. When I say romantic, I do not mean the damsel in distress waiting for her prince romantic (kissing frogs was never my thing). I mean the inevitable acknowledgement that life is beautiful.

As we walked the Latin Quarter, where we stayed, the afternoon sun lit the streets full of cafés and boulangeries. The first place we went to was Notre Dame, which for our surprise was having Mass at the same time. The choir sang as we paced around the colorful and detailed stained glass.

Then we headed to the Louvre, which is free after 6:00 on Fridays. The huge glass pyramid looked beautiful as the sun set. Yet the beauty outside of the Louvre is only a preview of all the wonders inside. I still need 3 more days in the Louvre tho. There is basically a masterpiece in every corner!

After dinner, we didn't go out. Instead, we walked around La Seine and called it an early night. There was a lot to see the next day.

On Saturday, our group divided between those who wanted to take a bus tour and those who would walk and take the metro. Personally, I have no particular problem with bus tours but it

was not how I wanted to spend my day in Paris. I wanted to walk and soak up what Paris had to offer in a more genuine way which didn't scream I'm a tourist! I wanted to practice my french asking for directions or while buying some coffee and a pastry.

We were going on our way to the Catacombs, when all of the sudden my friend Andrea, suggested we stopped by The Pantheon. It wasn't really on our plans to go but we went inside and it was only 5 euro for students. Why not? I think Voltaire is buried here. So we went in the first floor. The Pantheon was ordered by King Louis XV as a Catholic Church but was taken over by civilians during the French Revolution and is now a Secularized Temple (sounds like a paradox to me). The ground floor has beautiful Neo-Classic sculptures and artwork. Then when you go downstairs, the mood completely changes. It is very modest and simple. Here I saw the tombs of Voltaire, Rousseau, Zola, Marie and Pierre Curie, Monet etc. It truly is the epitome of a secularized temple.

After an hour line wait, we got to the Catacombs.

I'm not going to lie they are kind of creepy. Seeing bones of dead people is not exactly my ideal Saturday morning. Yet, it makes you think of how ephemeral life is. There are about 6 Million people buried in the Catacombs I visited. Those are a lot of stories, laughs, tears... that are now merely stacked. Freaky, huh? It is when you face death straight in the eye that you realize the need to live your life.

Then we hopped on the metro to the Museum of Orsay, which was closed because of a protest. Typical Paris. But as my mom always says, you need a reason to come back. So we walked through the Champs-Élysées all the way to L'Arch de Triomphe. By this time we were hungry and all me and my roommate Alyson wanted was an onion soup. We looked and looked but couldn't find any restaurants on our way from the Arc to La Tour Eiffel. We found something different, maybe even better- a take away place full of baguettes, salads, sandwiches and so on. A picnic under the Eiffel Tower definitely beats an onion soup.

And so we sat on benches and ate under The Eiffel Tower until the night conquered the skies, and the Eiffel Tower began to sparkle back.

That night we went out because it was Steve's birthday. Good night, I'd say.

The next morning we went to Sacre Coeur before it was time to leave. We didn't really have time to go inside. We just marbled at its beauty and saw the view of Paris from the hill it's on. As we were walking downstairs back to the metro station a man was playing La Vie en Rose on the harp . That would happen.

Everyone who truly knows me, knows I'm a romantic. After I graduated high school and went to college I thought I lost that about me though. I couldn't write poems like I use to. I couldn't express myself the same way. I thought it was part of growing up and not having the fresh emotions you do when you are a teenager. Yet, I go to Paris and I get some of it back. That inspiration, that love of love, that love of life.

politika

Never in my life have I ever talked so much about politics. In Leuven I work for a supranational organization, I am surrounded by 18 other PoliSci/IR majors and take all politics related classes. Normally, I would be disgusted at the thought that I talk politics at the dinner table almost every night. We even talk politics at the bars! You'd think that's crossing the line, right? But our politic talks are not debates of close-minded ideals. We all listen to each other, see what we have to say, and think of ways to ameliorate the issues. (I can't tell you how many times we have solved the economic crisis)

At the end we always end up frustrated at the current government and the generation running it. I guess this is typical young adult thought but we do believe our age group will make a difference. See, the baby boomers grew up in a time of prosperity, where their parents tried to alienate them from the past troubles. We are growing up in a time of economic deficit, therefore, if we ever want any benefits we need to figure out how to improve the situation.

I realize that socially we are like the Baby Boomers. We are a liberal generation that is seeing a lot of social changes. Yet, economically we need to think in the lines of reconstruction periods. The question is then, who is going to be the next FDR?

some words for Steve

It looked so new. So small. So convenient.

In 2001 the way we heard music was changed for ever. The Ipod had a sense of modernity that no

other mp3 out there had. It was more than an mp3, I mean, you could have 1,000 songs in one cool looking devise.

I remember getting my first IPod, I was about 13 years old and was soo excited to finally have my own white box of music. The first song I listed to was U2's Vertigo, which was the song for the advertising campaign at the moment. I danced alone in my house, rocking out to U2. Classic moment in my life. I still have that first IPod (looks retro now).

I can't say I was completely surprised to hear Steve Jobs died, but I was kind of sad. As a music fan I am most fond of the IPod because it changed the music industry. Steve Jobs revolutionized the way we see technology today.

"He helped change computers from geeky hobbyist's obsession to a necessity of modern life at work and home, and in process he upended not just personal technology but the cellphone and music industries." I read this in an article titled, Steve Jobs told us what we wanted before we knew. (If you're interested about Steve Jobs I recommend it btw) It makes sense to me. Every product he came up with was completely unexpected and an immediate hit. After all, who doesn't want an IPhone?

I would argue that in reality no one dies completely. You can affect other people's life a lot easier than you think. Our words never die. What we say affects people and they pass it on. In Steve Jobs' case it's definitely more obvious than for most people. If you use MAC, ITunes, IPod, Iphone etc. there is a little bit of Jobs there. A weird thought at times but one that gives ease.

RIP Steve Jobs

making things fancier

Soo in order to get a sense of what people think I added reactions to my posts. I realized after I did them that they were in Spanish and I don't want to change them because I like the little flavor it adds. I will however explain what they mean.

dime más - "tell me more" If you want to know more about something I wrote or want to continue hearing about it click it

me gusta- even if you haven't taken a Spanish class I'm sure you know this means I like it.

que viaje cami - literally means "what a trip cami". This is more for humorist purposes

Well I got some Glee episodes to see (somethings never change) but expect another post soon :)

So, what do you do? Why are you here?

Sometimes simple questions can be the most confusing. When Livia asked me So what do you do? Why are you here? this morning I had a million answers.

Well, I am a student at Saint Joseph's University. My major is English and I minor in International Relations and Communications. I was a news writer for an Online Newspaper (loved it.), I interned in an advertising agency (not for me.), and now I want to see if instead of writing about problems I would like to solve them. The internship seemed like a good opportunity and I really wanted to study abroad.

Those may not have been the exact words, but these are my thoughts when I think of what I do and why I was there.

What I do? What a strange question... I'm doing something all the time. I guess. Why am I here? Why wouldn't I be here.

Livia was also an English major in undergraduate. She started to ask me about my experiences and I was surprised when she addressed me as a journalist. You're a journalist, you might be interested to write about the Roma in Brussels. I never think of myself as a journalist. Yet, I have been writing about social issues after I worked in the Newspaper. Livia made me realize that a journalist, is always a journalist. Wherever and whenever there is something to show the world, he or she can report it. Notice that I use show because it is not only writing about it, but showing what happens with pictures or video.

She also made me feel like I can be more than a journalist. This is what I do now: I see, I research, I write, I study... but I'm just starting to do something, and there are things I can do besides journalism. Can I write about education in Puerto Rico and try to make it better at the same time? It might be hard, but I'll never know if I don't try.

It's almost a month since I've been abroad and I'm surprised of how my perspective has changed. I see myself as a very lucky person. A minimum amount of people go to college, and less get to go abroad. So when I sit in my Comparative Politics class, I wonder how I can make it better back home. I don't really know if I wanna go as much as getting into politics. The liberal in me says maybe some intergovernmental institution can work. Then the realist in me thinks that intergovernmentalism doesn't work and I get confused. There needs to be an answer out there, if not I'll make one.

I don't know what I want to do. I'll probably have a completely new answer tomorrow.

But I know what I do and why I am here Livia.

sad week?

According to Kelly Horning (the director of study abroad at Saint Joseph's) statistic show that on the third week of study abroad you start feeling homesick and kind of sad. Hmmm... guess I'm not part of that statistic. My third week abroad has been anything but sad.

Finally the students at KU Leuven have arrived! Leuven seems like a totally new city. There's a lot more people which means it's louder, livelier and the parties are better.

Besides the city getting more fun, my job went really well this week (I didn't get kicked out

wuhu!). Now I have a badge with my picture that says I work in the European Parliament and can go through security without a problem. I'm not gonna lie, the badge makes me feel important. On Wednesday me and Sean were drinking coffee before our lunch break was over and I just looked around the room and realized how lucky I am. I'm live in an amazing city, I work with the EU and oh, did I mention I'm going to Amsterdam tomorrow?

Sorry Kelly Horning, week three blues did not catch on to us in Leuven.

Oude Markt >> also known as the longest bar in Europe

first day of work

Here goes nothing.

How can I explain my first day of work in the European Parliament? At the beginning it was confusing. Getting through security was wayy more difficult than any of us expected. Then we met our Member of European Parliament's (MEP) assistant, Vera. Right away she told us she was tired so I knew this office probably needed a lot of help.

Stress. That's how I would explain my morning in Parliament. She told us all the stuff we had to do but didn't explain HOW. At least I do the internship with Sean (one of the guys I knew before going abroad). Me and Sean probably looked like deer in headlights as she explained our duties for the next months. Look it all up in the website!, Vera kept repeating.

Sean's first task was going to a meeting and taking notes for our MEP. My task was to get some mail and familiarize myself with the building and of course, the website. So I figured out where the mail room was, got the mail, went up, took my packed lunch, walked around for a place to eat, found out there was a Polish festival, ate some Polish apples... not bad eh?

When I went to the Media Center Sean walked in with Alyson (my roommate) and Cody (another guy that goes abroad with us). At least I have someone to eat lunch with! So we're going to the place to eat lunch when a security guard near the entrance starts screaming at us in French. I understand a little so I figure out he wants to kick us out! I was trying to tell him that we're interns and we work in Parliament but he wasn't having it. Apparently we need our assistants with us until we get our official badges.

So, yes. I got kicked out of Parliament in my first day of work. That WOULD happen to me.

Vera is gonna kill me Vera is gonna kill me Vera is gonna kill US!

She was so stressed and now she needs to look for her two interns. However, the other assistant, Oscar got us. Oscar was in a better mood or had more patience than Vera. So we went off and had lunch far away from the entrance.

Our last task was going to a Panel that our MEP, Livia Jaroka was speaking in. So finally, before the meeting we met Livia. She's a beautiful woman with a very tranquil presence, although she has been busy all day. She signed papers in order for us to receive our badges and she said that if we wanted to we could leave. Yet, me and Sean wanted to stay. Our MEP was gonna talk in a panel about Women's Rights, why wouldn't we stay? She seemed very pleased about our interest and went in.

So I guess after getting kicked out of Parliament you can only go up. At the end we came back to the office and even Vera seemed more relaxed. I'm not gonna lie, I like that she is being hard on us. We're not gonna be spoon fed all our lives. It only means we have a lot of work ahead of us and I'm sure ready for it.

on cloud 9

I describe being Abroad as sensory experience. Usually people think that travelling is about seeing things. "Did you see the City Hall?" Yes, I saw the amazing Stedhaus of Leuven but I also heard the bells of Saint Peter's ringing. I smelled the fries they cell in the corner. Got my hands messy eating mussels. And of course, tasted some great beer.

All senses are awaken when you are in a new place, and Leuven is definitely no exception. So instead of just seeing, I'm feeling, smelling, and tasting. Through my senses I acquire new experiences and my perspective changes every day.

Those different perspectives and opinions is what I want to communicate through my blog. So if you know me, it might be good to read this in order to see how I'm changing. If you don't know me, it might be interesting to see the mindset of a 20 year old puertorican in Belgium for three months.

Sept. 11

10 years ago my oldest sister couldn't go abroad because of the terrorist attacks on September 11. The world was unsettled, confused and scared of what had happen at New York City. I remember being assembled in our school auditorium as our principal explained what happened.

Terrorist?

Those two tall buildings?

I think I have family members in NYC.

I was just a kid. I didn't really understood what was happening. Even though my oldest sister lived in Philadelphia, I was scared for her. In my mind she was at the country being attacked and I knew a plane crashed near.

All of the sudden my history teacher explained to my classroom that War was being declared. Whenever I traveled I needed to go through tough security that even doubted the integrity of a little girl. Every year I understood more and more of what had happened and the consequences this tragedy had in the United States and the world.

10 years later. I am abroad on the same day the attacks happened. What does this mean? I wouldn’t say we forgot what happened, because the memory of September 11 will follow us for the rest of our lives...

Terrorism is not over. It could happen anywhere at any time. Yet, we cannot live in fear. I understand that after the attacks it was only normal. But, our lives cannot be restricted or even manipulated by terrorist (or anyone else for that matter). If not, they have won.

Let’s be brave today. Let’s live our life to the fullest. Let’s not be scared and be proud that we can learn from tragedies and get even stronger. Let's emulate the heroes from September 11 and pray for the victims and their families.

Overbrook School for the Blind

The next two videos are about the Overbrook School of the Blind. OSB has been educating children with visual impairment since 1832.

The campus is beautiful and its resources are amazing , yet it is the hard-working faculty that makes OSB so successful.

Send Me On My Way To Julia De Burgos

This is my final project for my Documentary Photo-journalism Course.

I went to the Julia De Burgos Elementary School almost every Friday my second semester sophomore year. I photographed the kids in the Providence Center after school program. I also played, helped them do homework, read, or colored with the students.

This started out as a project for a class but it ended up being an amazing experience. Being with the kids was my favorite way to start my weekends.

All the pictures were taken by me. I used IMovie to edit the pictures.

The song is Send Me on My Way by Rusted Roots and I edited it with Audacity.

Enjoy.

Providence Center Slideshow

Girl Culture

Photographer Lauren Greenfield spent 5 years photographing girls in order to depict the reality of Girl Culture. She not only photographs girls of all ages, but also let them tell their stories and what they think of themselves. Through the girls’ anecdotes we learn about their past, life-style, aspirations, and insecurities. They all have a different story, yet they all have been affected by a society that tries to promote an ideal image of what a girl or woman should look like.

In my opinion Greenfield’s portraits are amazing because of their context. Every one of these girls or women showed that they were comfortable opening up to the photographer through pictures and the stories they shared. In terms of form, Greenfield creates great framing and shapes in her pictures. One’s attention always shifts to a specific action or person that is parallel to the story behind the photograph.

Greenfield achieves to expose different aspects of the culture by showing different extremes. In Medina, Minnesota she interviewed two 13 year olds that serve as foils to one another – Lisa and Hannah. Lisa says, “You have to be the same supermodel that everybody else is. Two-pound Gap lover with the same nice haircut, same straight look. You have to walk the same, talk the same…It’s just one big chain of followers”. Lisa explains how every morning when she wakes up she wonders if she is going to get teased because of what she wears or how she looks. Lisa’s portrait is one of my favorite because of the lighting and the framing. The lighting is darker than most pictures and has an orange color to it. I believe that her thoughts and emotions reflect on the dimness of the picture. She almost blends in with the background yet the framing that the wall and pillows in the bed provide makes our attention shift to her.

On the other hand, Hannah is your typical popular girl. Her portrait takes place before the first seventh grade dance. She explains that it took her and her friends three hours to get ready. What I like about Hannah’s portrait is how she stands out among the 3 other girls – the girl on the right is looking at her and her body is the only one turned around. Although she might be the popular Hannah admits, “I’m not exactly sure about the group of friends I’m in right now. Sometimes our friends can be really, really mean. In our group, people get criticized if you don’t look a certain way. If you have a flaw, then you will be criticized whether you like it or not”. It goes to show that the school’s outcast and the “pretty girl” have more in common than they think. It doesn’t matter what clique one might be in, there is always a pressure to look your best at every moment.

The question is, what do the girls with the “perfect body”, the models in the magazines think about this? Interestingly enough Greenfield also photographed Cindy Margolis who according to Guinness Book of World Records she is the most downloaded woman in the internet. Cindy explains that it “kills” her when girls think that they need to look like the women in the magazines and admits that her own pictures are airbrushed. “I know I play into that image out there, but I try to say it is a fantasy. There are probably five people in this whole entire world who actually look like that. I try to say, ‘Beauty is great; take care of yourself. But use your brains to stay in school, and try to further yourself not just on your looks. You have to believe in yourself’”, she states.

We live in a culture that doesn’t promote self-confidence, instead it narrates how one is suppose to look, talk and think. Yet, will this bring happiness? If we do not love ourselves, we will never learn to love anything. I believe that through her project, Greenfield wants everyone (especially girls) to realize that there is more to life than being beautiful. Greenfield says,

Beauty is everywhere. You can’t escape it. It’s on the billboards; it’s on the buses. So many people who live here base their lives on being beautiful. If you want to go out every night and do nothing with your life, then beauty is power. Because that’s what those people want. They suck off your beauty, like vampires. But if you want to do something real with your life and give back to the world and do something intelligent, then I don’t think beauty is power. Uniqueness is power. And creativity is power.

Beauty is ephemeral, yet embracing who one is in order to achieve great things will transcend a life time.

"Don't let the hand you hold, hold you down."

— Julia De Burgos

On A Friday after school, Gloria Rodríguez Soto talks to the mentors of the Providence Center, asks them to get the students in single file lines, and walk to their respective classrooms. The kids of Julia de Burgos Bilingual Elementary School are particularly rowdy on Fridays – they don’t have that much homework and they can start to taste the liberty of the weekend. Once in their classroom some of the kids do homework, others colors and some play.

Miss Alexa!

Miss Brittany!

Miss Amanda!

The students call their high school mentors if they have any doubts in their assignments or want another coloring book.

The Providence Center is an after school program that gives follow-up to the kids of Julia De Burgos Bilingual Elementary School at Kensington, Philadelphia. Gloria Rodriguez Soto has been the director of the program for the past 6 years. According to Gloria the purpose of the program is to provide the appropriate follow-up for the students.

The School District of Philadelphia has too many students and cannot make sure every one of them is doing well. This is where afterschool programs step in and try to lend a hand so less students fall behind. In the case of Julia De Burgos Elementary the students are mainly behind in reading.

The tutoring and care of the children is provided by high school students. The mentors are not only there to help academically, but to set an example of a successful high school student.

Amanda Capra, a home-schooled 17 year old, has worked for the program for two years now. “I like the kids, each of them, are so different but they come together”. Amanda originally joined the program in order to get out of the house and get to know more people.

“We have to learn to work with each other, in order to work with the kids”, says Brittany Kelsh, a sophomore from the Military Academy. Brittany admits that they have to be very patient and repeat themselves constantly. Amanda Velez, who is newer in the program explains, “We try to do the best we can, but you don’t know what these kids go home to”.

94 percent of the school’s students are economically disadvantaged. “Our parents here in this area are struggling”, says Gloria. For her it is important to know what goes on in the students’ home, in order to understand their behavior.

The program has showed great success in the past years. However, it is challenging at times because of lack of support from the school and the parents. Yet, the progress and success of students is the reason that Gloria doesn’t quit. To know that because of this program they will have a greater opportunity to succeed in high school means everything. Gloria admits, “I don’t like my job all the time, but I love my kids”.

check it out

http://playspent.org/

interesting video about education

For El Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) my father gave me a camera. I don't know anything about photography, yet I like taking pictures. These are all in Old San Juan. When I took these pictures I didn't think of how I took them, I only thought why I took them. The answer is on the subtitles.



Adoquines. I always stare at the floor in Old San Juan. You can't help but think all the people that have stepped on it. All the centuries it has endured.



El último acordeón. My friends were in a hurry, but I needed to photograph this man. Audio would've been more appropriate though. It doesn't matter what melody he plays for some reason it evokes sadness maybe even regret.



Cadenas. Certain bonds aren't meant to be broken.



Drummer Boy Picks his Nose. I was taking pictures of the parade and here comes this adorable drummer boy (who wasn't really playing) he was just looking cute. When I noticed he was picking his nose I HAD to take a picture. I laugh every time I see this.



Word Tree. A Christmas Tree made out of words? How clever.




Carmen. The picture is blurry but I like Christmas lights, trees, and Carmen. I told her to stand there and she looked up. *Click* Now that's a good profile picture.


This is random but I'm on a bus from DC to Philly right now and I don't feel like reading Paradise Lost. Sorry John Milton.

Exhibition Review: Martin Fougeron, After Prom

It was 20º outside as me and 3 of my classmates, whom I barely know, walked to 339 Gallery. As I felt the warmth of the Gallery I began to see the pictures of Martine Fougeron’s exhibition After Prom. After Prom is the latest series of Fougeron’s Tête-à-Tête project. The project’s subjects are her sons and their circle of friends.

The photographs display a progression throughout the night: first there is dancing and drinking in the limousine, followed by an “after-party” at the pool and finally resting inside. The limousine pictures captivate your attention because the brightness of the color contrasting the darkness of the limousine combined with the movement of the dancing and expression of pure joy in the teens’ faces. I kind of want to get in the pictures.

The photographs in the pool keep the high-spirit of prom going. Yet for me, the photograph that captured my attention was the one where they are all inside, watching TV and resting. It seems so natural after a night of partying and high energy to just sit down with your friends. You don’t have to necessarily talk because the presence of each other is enough. It reminded me of my friends – nostalgia. I remembered my prom instead of watching TV we were at Denny’s absolutely exhausted, a little drunk and waiting for cheese fries.

The subtle interaction between the friends in the picture also captures my attention. At the bottom left the guy with the glasses places his hand in the girl’s back. At the top right the boy and girl looking at each other make some sort of funny face. For me this photograph represents the simplicity of friendship and the carefree nature of being a teenager.