Reflection to "A Small Place"

Jamaica Kincaid, as a person who was born on a tropical island such as Antigua, uses well her ability of writing naturally and fluently to express her ideas over the island she grew at. For this, she takes the position of a tourist who visits the island to vacation, in order to describe Antigua from an outside and inside perspective. Kincaid primarily, argues the consequences British rule brought to the island. Thereof she blames colonialism for the actual and impoverished status of the island. As she expresses, Antiguans learned corruption, bad governing, and uncultured habits form English people. In her opinion, “living as monkeys” was much better than living under British rule. Antiguans were good people with good habits, so much, that they seemed more cultured than the English living among them. Kincaid also expresses that Antiguans have a special reverence for English culture, which is somehow of an irony since they were the ones who colonized them to the point that there was racism, slave trade and oppressive rule.

As a reader, I enjoyed the contents of this book, because in a way I can relate to Kincaid and her experiences. Puerto Rico is also a small island but is not independent; it is still a territory of a strong nation like the United States. Living here, I’ve noticed the people’s mentality of an oppressed country, exactly our current status. Therefore, there are variations in Puerto Rico’s identity, and society ideologies are in constant change. Some are trying to protect our island’s culture and traditions so they continue defining who we are. While others, are not. This has been occurring for many years now, and I believe we need to unite as a country and work with what we have, the many resources including our people and our island’s beauty, before we lose them too! As for me, I keep enjoying Puerto Rico’s amazing culture, even as a tourist, every now and then.

About "A Small Place" by Kincaid

The book “A Small Place” commences describing the island of Antigua as a tourist would see it. By writing the story through this perspective, it is more interesting knowing the fact that its author, Jamaica Kincaid, is actually Antiguan, which she mentions in the first section. She has the ability to see her island from the outside as a tourist, but being part of the inside. Kincaid narrates the experiences and possible thoughts the reader might have if they were tourists visiting Antigua. She describes all the beauty the island offers, which are clear water beaches, friendly sun and delicious local foods, and the feelings these provoke in a tourist. Kincaid also talks about some harsh situations the locals live through, but always disguising it by the good time the tourist is experiencing since it’s supposed to be vacations, a time to relax and enjoy nature’s beauty.

As the narrative continues, while the tourist is “in” a taxi, Kincaid being Antiguan presents an insight of these features that reflect the island’s poorness. There is a hospital which Antiguans don’t even consider a good one, and those who are better financially travel to another country to get attended. The school and the library are also in poor conditions, especially the library which awaits repair since an earthquake in 1974. When the tourist finally arrives at the hotel, there is an image of the tourist enjoying the island’s beauty and wondering where everything in the island began and ended. Suddenly, Kincaid comes up with the idea of the tourist visualizing himself or herself as a tourist, the ugliness it represented. Finding pleasure in a place where natives found it full of boredom, and being envied by them for having such an ability of leaving your home and enjoying somewhere else.

 In the second part of the book Kincaid expresses the love for her island especially the old times where she grew up. She remembers it was a whole different island when Great Britain had possession of the island. There was racism due to that there was a time of slave trade, which was later outlawed. Kincaid recalls some buildings, such as the Barclay’s Bank and the Mill Reef Club, which were certainly founded and administrated by English, wealthy people. Every now and then, she repeated that they, Antiguans felt more superior among English, since they were so much better behaved than the uncivilized English. Kincaid tries to justify the island’s current situation by the oppression they experienced in the past as victims of colonialism.

Puerto Rico, My Homeland

      The term identity encompasses a variety of meanings according to a person’s way of thinking given that we’ve all had different experiences in our life. As the writer Peter Roberts expresses in the introduction of “The Roots of Caribbean Identity: Language, Race and Ecology”, home refers to a psychological factor of attachment, and it may be the place of one’s birth, place of residence or 'where the heart is'. Of the book’s introduction, I liked what I thought that was extremely truthful, is that the knowledge of identities and the distinguishing of cultural aspects is gained through the communication with natives.

As for me, Puerto Rico the country where I was born and grew up with my family is the place that I identify myself with; the place I refer to as my home. Even though my roots are African, Spanish and Taíno, and my country has been governed by Americans for many years, I identify myself as being Puerto Rican, which is exactly that, a unique mixture of all our roots.

          Puerto Rico is a small island that has many beautiful features not only to offer people who come to visit, but also to make it a great place to live at! I’ve had the opportunity to live in both rural and urban areas of the island. As to climate, since Puerto Rico is a small tropical island, no matter if you find yourself in the south or north, it will be more or less the same, which I love. In the rural area the environment is fresh, calm, and involves more familiar unity. People share with one another more closely between neighbors and friends. While life in the urban area, or the city, has more going on. For example in the capital city, San Juan, since it has more things you can do and attractions to visit, the key is to do as much as you can to enjoy of Puerto Rico’s beauty!  

          Like very place in this world, not everything in the island is as beautiful as its landscapes. For example, crime, which mainly involves robbery, and for being a small island, it is considered high. I believe the education offered is really good, considering that there are many opportunities, financially and educationally, to become professionals. The economy of the island is a poor one, though. I also think that our island have the enough resources to be in good or better conditions, but we Puerto Ricans need to work our land and with ourselves so we create a change and become a stronger nation. Through history, politics have had a negative influence on us, on the present, and on the success of the island. Therefore, I believe politicians, governors, leaders of different political parties should unite for the improvement of our island.

          This and many other features are the ones that characterize Puerto Rico, the reason why I identify with it and I am glad to call it my homeland. Its language, art, history, food and its people are all unique; including its variety of landscapes like blue-beaches, tropical rainforest, farmland, and green mountains. 

Embrace to Poetry!

After my experience of watching Dead Poets Society and expressing my thoughts about the film, I would like to share one of the many poems I have written along my lifetime. Since, in occasions, I prefer to express my feelings not only through dance, but also through poetry. I hope you enjoy it!

Today, she is an owl,

with big eyes as if with glasses.

She glares into the forest,

watching the woodpeckers work.

Wonders if tomorrow she will become a red rose,

In a garden full of diversity,

Being touched by the rain, standing still,

And tries not to be blown away by the wind.

Dead Poets Society Film

The film Dead Poets Society is based on the life of students, specifically six students, each with very different and unique personalities and a teacher, Mr. Keating, whom with his distinct way of thinking inspires freedom and individuality. This film presents a variety of themes that overcome a person at their young adult stage of life. These include: confusion, decisions, love, independence, and in some cases depression. This entry will focus on two of the characters' journeys, internal and external, throughout the film.

Neil Perry, a student of the Walton preparatory, is very dedicated to studies and has A in all classes being the school one of the most challenging. There’s a conflict though, which is that his father is very strict; for he, wants the best for his son but forcing him to have a career as a doctor. As the semester commences and they take class with Mr. Keating, he discovers a passion that was already hidden within him, which is that of acting. By this, he lets the audience know his internal journey of finding out what he wants in life and who he is or wants to become. As a result of this realization, he audiences for a Shakespeare play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream; which his father is totally in rejection of. We can also appreciate his external journey by the way he interacts with his classmates. Neil is the one who reinitiates the Dead Poets Society, showing himself as a leader. He, also with his occurrences and acting, makes his friends laugh, in order to put their mood up. Unfortunately his internal journey has a dreadful end and that is when one night, after talking with his parents about his passion for acting, and seeing that they won’t accept it, he commits suicide.

Another character that caught my attention throughout the movie was Todd Anderson, the "new boy" in school. At the beginning he was insecure, and a righteous boy, strict with himself, which is good because it made him a good student but when it came to showing who he really was and all his talents within him, he failed to do so. In one scene he was writing a poem, as an assignment from Mr. Keating’s class, and as Neil took it from his hand and began reciting it out loud, jokingly, it actually sounded really good. But the next day when he had to recite it in front of the class, he said he didn’t have it done. Mr. Keating forced him, in a funny manner, to recite something random out of his mind, and this resulted in a perfectly, well recited poem. This scene shows a part of his journey in which he discovers his natural ability to create poetry. As part of his external and internal journey, Todd commences to stand up for what he thinks it’s right not for what others think it is. For example, in one class that Mr. Keating orders everyone to walk, he doesn’t, and he says he has the right not to walk, acing the activity by showing individuality.        

Story of My Life

          My name is Airined. I'm currently studying biology in the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras and live in San Juan. In this stage of my life I have many goals in my mind to fulfill. I would like and I am striving to continue with the career of medicine. In a future, I would also love to travel to different countries, and be closer to many of the cultures that are part of the world. 

Between studies, dancing, modeling, presentations, extracurricular activities, and family reunions I realize that I have been surrounded by great people that have helped me live experiences, experiences that help me give my best in everything I become part of. These, made me become who I am and with God’s help I hope to continue growing as a person, meeting people and living experiences to have success in life; I count with your friendship.

I went to school in Guamani Private School from first grade to twelve grade, where I had a great education and I had the opportunity of learning in a full-english school. There, I also met really good friends, with whom I shared moments that I will never forget. 

        As to complete my discipline, my parents took me to Mannequin Models Studio, a well-formed modeling agency. There I had the opportunity, since my five years of age, of participating in pasarellas where I had to leave all my fears and shyness behind to perform in public. At the same time, I gained an excelent lesson of etiquette reinforced with principles and values for humanity. 

Even though I was a very shy girl, I could develop my skills that would complete my growth and acquire knowledge as a person. One of these was my passion for ballet. Since I was four years old, I became part of Isadora's Dance Studio. A great dance academy, where I met its director, whom helped me a lot in developing my skills and passion for this beautiful art. In this academy I not only learned ballet, but also discipline and virtues that helped me create my personality. At Isadora's I found a great family with whom I lived big emotions that will always be part of my heart.

I was born on December 28 in the city of Guayama, P.R. I was raised by my parents and with my sister. My childhood took place in a very happy environment. My parents and grandmothers took well care of me; from them I received the first lessons that would shape my behavior and all the love of the world, of what I keep my most grateful memories sharing with my family and playing with my cousins. At my four years of age, I began my pre-kinder preparation in Caribe Sunrise. They were the most fun years of my childhood.