Small Place

In the first two chapters the narrator illustrates the reader how the former feels about her life, she stated how she resents the way it developed throughout the years. She clearly lived with indignation towards The English, they colonized her homeland, her small island, and left it to ruins.

She confessed about how a person like her sometimes holds retribution. She detested the day Antigua became a colony and succumbed to a whole new culture and way of life. She despised The Barclay Bank, the Mill Reef Club, and basically every institution that the foreigners from Europe, North America or any other rich country could afford to buy in her homeland.

However, even though the English belittled the Antiguans, the latter didn’t hesitate to celebrate the former's holidays. Some Antiguans didn’t even know that the holiday they celebrated was dedicated to the Queen’s birthday, nevertheless they went ahead and celebrated anyways. This sets a clear example of how power and influence played a major role in the outcome of the relationship between The English and The Antiguans. Antiguans invariably recognized that they were victims of an ill-mannered behavior the colonizers assumed towards them.

She resents her destiny, she wishes Antigua had never met the colonizers. She feels The English think Antiguans can’t run things. And she also recognizes that the English culture is an advanced one. English gave Antiguans  a God to worship. In England there are powerful people with monetary wealth and with knowledge; people that know that capitalism is a powerful weapon to have in your favor.

She states how being a tourist and going to Antigua for a few days is definitely very different from being a resident in thus land. When you’re a tourist you get to face their reality for only a few days, you're not permanently subordinated to the adversities such a poor island encounters daily. There even isn’t a capacitated medical personnel to cure the illnesses that the population may encounter.

Ultimately she strongly resents how a foreigner comes to her homeland to make her feel foreign, inferior and worthless. She felt abused by those ill-mannered people that took things that were not theirs, and she was specially struck by the erratic behavior they assumed.

‘Have you ever wondered why is it that all we seem to have learned from you is how to corrupt our societies and how to be tyrants?’

– Jamaica Kinkaid

Identity

“Home is variable and may be place of birth, place of residence or may be defined by the popular notion 'where the heart is'.” - Peter Roberts

My grandfather was a Spanish man who moved to Puerto Rico when he was a young fellow; he married my Puerto Rican grandmother and created a family here. Almost religiously at least once a year we fly to Spain to be with our family, thus we’ve always managed to conserve both cultures. Sometimes among us we speak in Spanish accent, we eat Spanish food as well as well as Puerto Rican food; it’s fair to say that we’ve managed to form a hybrid between both cultures.

Nevertheless, my heart is in Puerto Rico, I’ve lived here my whole life, and even though it needs a bit of amendment I love this land, it has forged me to become what I am today. It may be true that we have a noticeable criminality rate, some somewhat lousy politicians and administrators in our government, that we’re the only colony in the modern day, and that we have a huge cultural influence (especially through superstores) from the United States of America; but I believe in our capacity and potential to bring about good and prosperous results.

As a tourist I’d be delighted to be here, to enjoy from our sunny beaches, to marvel over our delicious food. This is a beautiful island, it has warm-hearted citizens and a friendly atmosphere, but as any civilized place on earth not everything is a utopia. Nevertheless, we have good libraries, good hospitals, good entertainment; you come visit us, and if you’re up for it you’ll have a great time.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, some might visit Puerto Rico and love it, while oppositely others might visit and absolutely hate it. You’ll never know if you never try. Personally, even though it gets pretty hot almost always, if you’re willing to be a positive influence I’d suggest anyone to come in as a tourist or as a permanent resident, either way, you’ll find the love in life, ‘cause life’s better the Puerto Rican way. :)

Dead Poets Society

The movie: Dead Poet Society, has really stricken ailment and beautifulness upon my life. The cast wonderfully depicted a marvelous interpretation of a well-structured, powerful message. Robin Williams, who played the role of “Mr. Keating”, “Oh captain, my captain”, really outdid himself.

It was Mr. Keating who inspired and bettered the life of his students amidst his teachings through an english literature course in Welton Academy. He inspired his students to love poetry and to recognize that proper communication is crucial when dealing with yourself and with others.

Mr. Keating was a profoundly intelligent, wise and a well versed man who meant well and sincerely knew how to better the lives of the people who surrounded him. A clear example of his sagacity resides in how he stimulated Todd Anderson to flourish. He knew that Todd just needed a bit of faith thrust upon him. At the end when Mr. Keating was collecting his personals, Todd was the first to stand on top of the desk and claim: "Oh captain, my captain." It reminded me of the lesson Mr. Keating instilled in his students: "I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way."

Mr. Keating also impacted Neil's life. While in his office, Mr. Keating participated in a conversation with Neil the same day the latter’s father didn’t permit him to act in the play; it really blew me away. It was illuminating to hear how Mr. Keating’s advice was so powerful. He verbalized and demonstrated that he loved to teach and that it was a joy to live a life where he lived doing what he loved. He postulated how Neil had to tell the truth about his feelings. It all ended in a lamentable situation, but one gets to appreciate how Neil faced his father and tells him the truth about his own passion towards acting.

Thankfully, Neil and Todd weren't the only students transformed to a state of uniqueness and realness. Knox also demonstrated great courage. There’s a scene where Mr. Keating assigned the class to write an original poem and read it in front of the class. In this dynamic the movie’s audience could clearly perceive how Knox was already in love with Chris Noel. Again, he inspired a student to follow what the latter loves, to Carpe Diem, to seize the day. Knox even went to Chris’s school with a few flowers in his hands and a poem he read to her in front of a few students of her pedagogical institution. Nonetheless, later on he went with her to the acting play Neil participated in. Knox learned to communicate his ideas effectively; he acted with boldness and courage. He made a few presumptuous decisions, but he really seized the day, and it was Mr. Keating who greatly inspired Knox to harmonize his life with what he loves.

I’ve reasserted a few beneficent and stimulating ideas while enjoying the movie: “There’s a time for daring and there's a time for caution, and a wise man understands which is called for.” “You must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all.” "Most men lead lives of quiet desperation." Don't be resigned to that. Break out!.”

It established the importance of emanating uniqueness and originality: “Now, we all have a great need for acceptance, but you must trust that your beliefs are unique, your own, even though others may think them odd or unpopular, even though the herd may go, [imitating a goat] "that's baaaaad." Robert Frost said, "Two roads diverged in the woods and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

All of the previously mentioned quotes are from Mr. Keating. This illustrates how he had an unmatched homeostasis in his spiritual life, and how he had the skill to exteriorize his wonderfulness and share it with the world.

DPS is truly a magnificent piece of art. It makes one notice that where there’s love there’s happiness, and that it’s all about having a great time living your life. It’s all about inciting in others the fervent yearn to make life extraordinary. Carpe Diem, live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.

The Script I Play In My Family

Ever since I was an infant my family shared this amazing view of the individual I was bound to become. They enrolled me in numerous productive activities that enabled me to live a healthy and prosper life. They led me to believe that my life had an inspiring meaning, that everything that crossed my path was destined for betterment.

I was born to play the script of a man who lived a graceful life, a life were constant improvement was not only possible, but also palpable. As I learned to focus, it became clear that irremediably of the present situation, I control the outcome of my own decisions and actions. This meant that my happiness and well being receded not among other’s decisions, but upon mine. 

I have an older sister and a younger one, and every single one of us holds a special place in our hearts. We’re inevitably irreplaceable, and if I had to choose all over again I wouldn’t change a thing.

My parents enrolled me in piano, guitar, violin and singing lessons. I’ve participated in salsa dancing, in soccer, tennis, swimming, basketball as well. All my life I’ve studied in great pedagogical institutions. My family taught me how to cook a variety of styles and meals, I’ve been taught to have insurmountable faith and to strive amidst the struggle and adversities.

I’m the mediator; I’m kind of the psychologist in my family. I’m sort of the one who’s always looking for peace, who doesn’t agree with altercation and the one who’s always willing to learn new things.

I’m eternally thankful for the script that my family instilled in me, and for that I can’t help but to quench my thirst for betterment. They established such high expectations upon my possible achievements that I can’t help but to improve and upgrade my habits. The only thing I would have changed throughout the years is lifting even higher the already high expectations we have upon myself. Maybe then I wouldn’t have wasted some of my valuable time; maybe then I’d be closer to become the mentally strong and disciplined individual I am bound to become.