El Pueblo Mexicano

So the topic for my photo essay is the Spanish community in Michigan. I'm thinking about making a trip to el Pueblo Mexicano (except I don't know when I'll be able to--during the day, atleast). I want to portray the Spanish culture within the American culture. I know it's a bit shabby in downtown Mexico City, but within the restaurants is where the language is alive. Within the stores and restaurants is the true culture.

Maybe I can even do a night vs. day comparison of the Spanish community. I really want to show the Spanish community through my eyes, I hope I do good. I just don't know how else I could narrow it down...

Adding Life & Color

Looking through the "Detroit Graffiti" pictures, I guess my opinion on graffiti was different. When I thought of graffiti, I thought of people making statements, not just drawing faces or funky letters. This kind of graffiti is the type that I think gives graffiti a bad name! It makes graffiti a taboo, but when you see the colorful graffiti, the beautiful graffiti, I just don't think it's that bad!

These kinds of graffiti makes the world more colorful. I would love to walk down the street and see all this color, alive with thoughts and artists displaying themselves. I do see this as a form of art, but it's not an art most people condone to. Would graffiti be more acceptable if artists would ask permission before marking the walls? Would it still be art if people had to comform to societies rules and laws?

I think the reason this art is also so tempting (to the artists themselves) is because of how rebellious it is to do it! I don't think it's so bad though, I just wish people would take it as more of an art as opposed to being rebellious and marking a wall with spray cans!

Stories on a Wall

Graffiti is basically a story on a wall. You can't help but to look at it because every seperate 'art' expresses different emotions and feelings. I've seen a lot of good graffiti; it's a way to speak out in a community. If people used graffiti the correct way, I don't think it would be so bad. For instance, graffiti speaking out against the war, against global warming, against animal rights, in my opinion, wouldn't be so bad!

Spring is in the Air

I really really adore this weather. It's definately a bit odd being that it's only the beginning of March and it didn't start to get warm until April last year (barely!) but I'm not complaining. It probably has something to do with Global Warming and while we're praising it people don't really realize that this isn't going to be around for much longer. Snow, snow-angels, snow-fights, a White Christmas! It just makes you think.

Nonetheless, it was nice to go outside and get some sunshine & fresh air. It was nice to see the lawn filled with people. It was nice to be able to walk around without a jacket. I definately could use more of these warm days.

Tara's Last Encounter

I had the urge to read the "most popular" article: The final moments of Tara's life. Although it focused more on Stephen Grant, you couldn't help but to feel sorry for Tara. They were very descriptive with the murder and Stephen's thoughts and actions with hiding the body.

I agree with what my classmate said about it being like "battering a dead horse" being that they just continue to repeat stories. I first caught this story after Brothers & Sisters on ABC and although I only got a few facts, I watched the news the next night and it was the same thing. The helicopters circling the house and the constant picture of the Grants' home where the murder took place.

This article is more grueling than the news I got from Local 7 at 11 p.m. and I symphasize for Tara's soul and her family and children. You really have to think how their children are taking it; there's obviously going to be a long-term trauma with the children and my heart goes out to them. Rest in peace Tara Grant.

I wish...

I really wish I could be traveling right now. Not just Chile, I want to go to Thailand, Greece, Ireland, Japan. I feel like I'm getting old and soon my opportunity to travel will be gone. Even though I'm still 17, I'm just so anxious to explore the world. I started traveling when I was six, but I want to go by myself. And really travel, not just stay in one spot. You learn so much by traveling, more than you could just by reading about it in a book. I would rather spend all my money on traveling, but then I'd be a fool. So I'll be smart about it. Which is why I'm getting a degree. I still wish I was traveling though; I get so bored and anxious staying in one spot.

Summer Plans

I'm getting so anxious for May. As my plans are finalizing, Chile is becoming more and more clear to me, I can almost see it! Mostly all of my family lives in Chile (while others live in Brazil, Australia, and Europe) so I'm excited to see them. I haven't seen them in two years. Not only that, I'll be going for three months. I'll experience the nightlife, but it's not what I'm really looking forward to!
My 22 year old aunt is a pre-med student at the University of Santiago. There are a lot of non-profit programs that have college students volunteer to help unfortunate people. They even have students from other countries come to volunteer. Her and I are going to travel to the south and build homes for less-fortunate people. Poverty is huge all around the world; while it's not as problematic as it is in Africa, it still exists and people still have to act. I'm really looking forward to actually building a home for a family, to bring joy to their lives. A lot of people don't think I can do it (given my petite size and lack of strength) but I think the families will motivate me. I can't wait to succeed and make a difference!