Personal Narrative: A Day To Live In Puerto Rico

The commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico), known to most Americans as simply Puerto Rico, exists as one of two territories owned by the United States1. Being a territory of the United States, Puerto Ricans possess common citizenship, currency, and defense. However, even though Puerto Ricans are United States citizens they do not pay any kind of federal income taxes. Therefore, they cannot vote in presidential elections. Puerto Rico is under the jurisdiction of the United States customs, and are allowed free movement of people and merchandise with the United States. They have established their own constitution, and have a greater amount of independence than possessions. Although

What do you think of when someone says “Dominican Republic”? Do you think of spas, hotels and beaches? When I think of it I recall dirt roads, poverty and dilapidated shacks. My senior year of high school I went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic with my basketball team with the simple goal in mind to advance our skills as basketball players and to help the people of the Dominican. Little did I know this trip would change my life completely.

Puerto Rico held many of my most cherished childhood memories. The 3 years my family spent there were some of the best years of my life. I remember the day we arrived there and settled into a hotel to live temporarily. I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t understand my favorite cartoons anymore. A man with a daughter my age took me to school during the first week and I couldn’t understand that man either. My parents explained to me that they spoke Spanish and soon enough in school, I was learning the language.

My Hispanic culture is exceedingly unique contrast to other cultures because we have countless of beliefs, holidays, lifestyles, etc. My world of Hispanic culture raised me to become an independent and determined person because being the first generation of a Hispanic family to attend college has my family beyond thrilled for me to put value to our heritage. Putting value in our heritage is a magnificent emotion because people anticipate Hispanics to fail; but, we prove them wrong when we accomplish our goals. The Hispanic culture’s strength is unbelievably astonishing because we are ambitious of our dreams and we don’t cease until we fulfill our wish. Including the Hispanic culture at University of Washington may open people’s mind that we

Last Wednesday on October 12, I was able to go to the talk of Nelson A. Denis about War Against All Puerto Ricans. Being born and raised in Puerto Rico, I already knew what Nelson was talking about, however it was still nice to fresh up on some history that I may have forgotten. It was also, nice to see Nelson A. Denis tell the audience how Puerto Rico got to where is now in a clear and unique way.

Would you say that life has any sense? Or Is there an answer for everything in life? Three years ago I was completely messed up about this. Gustavo Adolfo Parra Chassaigne that’s how my parents called me and I was born in Maracay a little city next to Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. I used to be the first student of all my high school, also one of the first in tennis of my state and everybody said that my family was “perfect”. So, What did happen to me?

Each house-- painted a very vibrant, dazzling color, purple, orange, yellow, green, and pink. I had never seen houses like that in the United States the usual house colors are gray, white, tan, blue, very dull colors. The sight of these vivid houses was just a small glimpse of this beautiful country. As I nervously traveled without my family for the first time the lush terrain of Costa Rica dotted with colorful houses welcomed me.

I am fluent in both Spanish and English, I am also well aware of the Latino-American experience in the United States. I have been raised in the Los Angeles area since the age of seven and thus, I am particularly sensitive to my Latino/Latina (Hispanic) patients, and their unique medical needs. In the most practical terms, I will be able to reach out to my Latino/a patients in their native language, and thereby increasing the accuracy of treatment, reducing error and increasing my patients sense of importance and relevance in their healing process. Chiropractic medicine would provide me with the balance between the holistic approach to the patient care, a complete understanding of the physiology and biomechanics of the body, and a constant observation

As a Hispanic American, I have been exposed to the beauty of my ancestors culture, while living in a country with one of its own. Being the first generation to be born in the United States of America, coming from a family whose roots deeply stem from the Dominican Republic, is an interesting dynamic. While my family is well adjusted to living in the States, they still celebrate as if they were back in their birthplace. They eat, drink, and dance as if they were back home. They speak Spanish to each other despite knowing perfect English. They remind us first generation kids, how privileged we are to be born in the States. As an American, my lifestyle and culture is evidently different than that of my family. I, among my Hispanic American millennial

“If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life thinking it is stupid”- Albert Einstein

Since the moment I opened my rejection letter, I have pondered what may have caused my rejection. Yes, my GPA isn’t perfect and I have withdraws on my transcript, but my story is far more than a couple of numbers. Growing up in a Latino culture we have different social expectations in our lives. In Latino culture, working is far more important than studying. Consequently throughout my childhood, being the oldest child of 3 it was my responsibility to help my mother and father work. I started from the age of 7, helping them anyway I could. Whether it be helping my father clean carpets or helping my mother perform house cleanings. It was Lenelle Moise who said, “The children of immigrants don't get to be children. We lose our innocence watching

I have always considered myself a great student. When I lived in the Dominican Republic I was the best student of my class. I won several math competitions, and the relationship with my teachers was great. I was invincible, or at least that's what I thought until I moved to New York. Moving from the Dominican Republic almost convinced me of something my sister said a few months after I left, “some people are only smart in Spanish.” I asked myself who could possibly be smart in one language and stupid in a different one, but later I found myself being that person.

This question drove me back to high school. I attended a military school back from my home country, Ecuador, we only where surrounded by males. It was not difficult for me to cope, because I was in my comfort zone. However, I moved to New York City 10 years ago and I am still in the process of adaptation. I am still seeking to develop coping skills to adapt to my new environments, work, school, friends. Similar, I wanted to fit in and I seek for people that look, think and come from my same backgrounds. But, I did not give myself the opportunity to look for other friends. I even isolated myself. Once I started to give the chance to other people I got in trouble, because they want to use you, people want to take advantage of you one way or another,

Sarah is not your average girl. She lives with her mother, Mary, who works three jobs to support her two children. Sarah, nor her little brother Benny, has ever met their father. He went to prison when Sarah was just four years old for drugs. Sarah has always hung out with the rougher crowd. Sarah does not really apply herself to school. Her mother is very worried she will not pass with the grades she has, so Mary decides she is going to have Sarah go with her grandmother, Betty, on a mission trip to Haiti. Betty is an active member in her church and always goes on trips with her parish to help people in need.

One of the most interesting and exciting places I have had the pleasure of visiting was the Island of Puerto Rico. Getting on the plane and arriving on the island was the easy part, but learning to navigate the island and getting reliable transportation was a whole other ball game.