Birthday

I'm finally legal! I had a great birthday, apart from the presentation part. I couldn't have asked to spend it with better people. It was a nice transition into adulthood as I reminisce my childhood days. I'm a bit saddened to remember that things aren't going to be so easy anymore. It would be nice to be 7 again and to be able to play on the swings, the see-saw, the slides, and not think about all the worries of the world. But heck, I'm 18! Although there are a slim range of things an 18 year-old can do (at least in Michigan), I'm still stoked that I'm 18! Everyone says after this you're going to want to start wishing you were younger, but I say on with life! I can't wait to be 21!

2nd Post: A Changing Opinion

For the longest time, I was completely opposed to making English the official language. I thought it was destroying the individuality of each culture through their native tongues. I felt it was like forcing immigrants at Ellis Island to "Americanize" their names. While a part of me still thinks this way, another part of me is seeing it through different eyes. As I read more on the topic at hand, the misconceptions that I had are slowly fading away. Passing the legislature to make English the official language of Michigan will affect all cultures, for better or for worse. As I research, I find that it's goal isn't to destroy ones roots, but to help them strive in this English-speaking culture. While I'm still researching, I'm learning more about this legislature that I never knew. I've found many reliable sources through ProQuest, but I still have a lot more to learn.

My Early Birthday Present

Well, I was at work and then my manager came up to me and said I was going home early (5 instead of 7) because I had come in earlier both days that weekend. I was stoked and didn't think much about it. I had planned to go shopping for a birthday outfit but as soon as I get out of work my sister said she was getting coffee at starbucks. So I walk there to meet her and we're waiting in line and I get a text from her and I was about to ask her why she was texting me and I read it and it says "We're going to see Snow Patrol at 6:30 tonight!"

I looked up at her and hugged her and said, "oh my god you're joking!" But she sure wasn't since she took out the tickets. So I ran back into Pac Sun real quick to tell everybody and my manager already knew which is why she let me out early. I have loved Snow Patrol since my Freshman year in High School but I have never gone to see them in concert because the first time they were here since I had heard of them I was a bit too young to venture into Detroit alone and the other times I believe I had to work and I was out of the country.

Seeing Silversun Pickups, OKGO, and Snow Patrol in concert was really a great bithday present. Unfortunately, I didn't think Snow Patrol was what I had expected. Especially following OKGO, they didn't reach up to my standards as far as their performance goes. OKGO, on the other hand, were really good and great performers. Damian definately had the whole place laughing with his humorful stories. He also joked about Wrestlemania and Kid Bopz. I definately think all four of them were truly charismatic on stage.

Damian also suggested watching their new video on YouTube (since they are notoriously known for Here it Goes Again--check it out on the side). I really couldn't have asked for a better birthday (except for having a private performance with Jack and his guitar). One can only wish...

Living la Vida Latina

A Latin community can thrive anywhere and anyway. The language, the culture, and the heritage is passed on from generation to generation, constantly holding on to their roots. The Latin-American culture lives on in everyone's vida through the language, the religion, the music, and most especially, the dance.

Deep within el Barrio, or the hood; el Gringo wouldn't last long here.

Graffiti, as in every low-class areas, thrive through 'artists' (i.e.: rebels, gang members, etc.). Like with every culture, the Latin-American one has a large population of graffiti artists.



Supermercados (Supermarkets) and Carnicerias (Butchers) are common in Spanish communities. When I entered, everyone was speaking in Spanish and the majority of the products were from Mexico. I was entranced with the language for a while that I forgot that I was still in the United States.

Religión is a very important part to the Spanish community. Mostly everyone are Catolicos (Catholics) and often are included in religious practices including: bautizos (baptisms), comuniones (communions), and quincieneras (where a young woman celebrates her 15th birthday).

"Our Lady of Guadalupe Middle School": Guadalupe, or La Virgen de Guadalupe, is an important Mexican icon. She is constantly praised and and prayed to.

La Juventud, or the youth, is another important factor to Spanish families. Being a machismo culture, fathers would prefer to have sons rather than hembras, or a brute way of saying females.

Viva futbol! Soccer is the most popular sport in Spanish countries but is referred to as futbol, as opposed to soccer.

The nightlife for Latinos brings out music, rhythm, dance.

Baila!

Salsa, merengue, samba, and cumbia are a few of the leading dances that never dies in the Latin community. They all differ in styles but all make a room feel alive with energy and warmth as the warm-blooded people let the rhythm take control of their hands, hips, and feet.

Although the Latin community depicted here was mostly the Mexican culture (with easy access due to Mexicantown in Detroit), every culture differs in it's own ways. What keeps every sub-group tied together is the language (except for vernacular), the religion, the music, the dancing, and the warmth.

1st post: English as Official Language

Whether you consider yourself an English-speaking American or an immigrant who speaks one of the 6,800 languages, the vote to nationally set the official language for the U.S. as English impacted everyone greatly. I remember around this time last year, the topic was first introduced to me when taking a Journalism course in High School. Immediately, it troubled me to think that people would want to make one language superior to another in a country that was built on immigrants who spoke in many languages and were from many countries. Although I lost touch on the topic since the media shone less light on this controversy, according to Senate Votes to Set National Language, the Senate overruled it. From a quick overview of the matter, it really stirred up the Spanish community. Although the national language of the U.S. isn't English, I'm almost sure that Michigan made English as it's State Language.

By setting a national language, I believe that it hinders the progression of this country. Language is crucial for business with the world and by making this country a bilingual country rather than a multilingual one, it just halts the communication movement. With Spanish being the most spoken language and Chinese falling shortly behind, it just doesn't seem smart to favor English. English is a popular language and definately used a lot during business meetings, but by setting it as the national language, it takes away the neccessity to learn more languages. Language is important because with language we grow as a culture, with language we learn of other cultures, with language we communicate. Although, I still have a lot to research (or update myself) on, I feel by writing my paper on this topic, I can open other people's eyes on this controversy, and maybe even open my own eyes to things I don't exactly know.

Apart from all that, I want to see how [or if] the ruling of English as being Michigan's official language affected Michiganians. I want to talk to English speakers, Spanish speakers, Chinese speakers, Arabic speakers, etc., and find out their opinion. I need to learn more about this topic because I think it's very important to know why so many people want to officially make English the national language. There's so much more to this topic and hopefully it is as interesting to me as it is to other people.

Peer-review: Photo Essay

Surprisingly the peer-review went really good. I saw so many good photo essays and so far the progress is great! I was a bit ashamed of mine since it's not going down the path that I envisioned in my head. But I'll try again and see if I capture what I really wanted to capture. A lot of topics were focused around homes, but not two were ever the same. It was good to see what everyone else sees, it was as if we were looking through their eyes. Each and every photo essay shows their personal voice. Thank you for everyone's meaningful comments and suggestions.

Progress on 'El Pueblo Mexicano'

Note: So far, I haven't shot the pictures I have really wanted to portray. I had to work during the day every day this weekend. I didn't go out until night time and even then I wasn't brave enough to venture out into El Pueblo. I did manage to go to a Cuban club in downtown Detroit. There were a lot of Latinos and a bit of what I wanted to show is seen through the pictures, but I have more pictures to shoot. Also, I would like make a note that I am considering editing the pictures, maybe even black & white. But I ask, would it take away the color (or life) of my Latincommunity that I'm trying to portray? Here goes nothing:

Living la Vida

A Spanish community can thrive anywhere and anyway. The language, the culture, and the heritage is passed on from generation to generation, constantly holding on to their roots. The Latin-American culture lives on in everyone's vida through the language, the religion, the music, and most especially, the dance.

Salsa, merengue, samba, and cumbia are a few of the leading dances that never dies in the Latin community. They all differ in styles but all make a room feel alive with energy and warmth as the warm-blooded people let the rhythm take control of their hands, hips, and feet.

This is just a rough-rough draft of what I want to portray. Dance is an important part to a latin community, but there's so much more I have to show. This weekend I am planning on going to El Pueblo Mexico with my Argentian and Chilean friends. Hopefully get behind-the-scene exclusive pictures to make my photo essay alive with the latin community. Any suggestions on what you would like to see?