We're Home!

Adios Republica Dominicana! 

Maria and I flew into Miami International Airport at around 11:30pm Saturday. We arrived at Maria's house in Immokalee at 2am. Spending Sunday with Maria and her family really helped me with any culture shock that I might have experienced. Maria is a first generation Mexican-American. She lives in a bilingual household, so hearing Spanish made me feel like I was back in the DR. Although I loved Dominican food, I realized that picante (spicy) isn't a flavor found in a lot of the dishes. Maria and I are both lovers of picante, so we were super excited when her mom made delicious and spicy empanadas for us. Throughout the day, I also tried Mexican candies and drinks. I came to realize that Mexican food is totally misrepresented in the United States. Mexican food is full of contrasting flavors; many dishes contain sweet, salty, and spicy all in the same bite! To give you an idea, I had a drink of cherry ice and mango puree topped with pickles and chili powder! As someone who likes to travel by following my taste buds, Mexico is definitely a country I would like to experience. Maria and I even discussed the possibility of making it our next adventure together! I really loved learning about her Mexican culutre and I thank her family for sharing it with me.

Maria and I

And now, I want to share one last thing with everyone. Music and dancing is everywhere in the DR. One of the songs that is really popular in the Dominican Republic right now is Vivir Mi Vida by Marc Anthony which means Live My Life.  I heard it everywhere; in conchos (taxis), tiendas (stores), and discotheques (nightclubs). It reminds me of the DR, the good friends I made, and how the trip and all its experiences changed me. I encourage all to listen and consider this as a way vivir tu vida (to live your life).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMNPv_HXffQ

English Translation

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna dance

[I'm gonna] live my life, la, la, la, la

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna enjoy

live my life, la, la, la, la

Sometimes rain comes

to clean wounds

Sometimes just a drop

can overcome the drought

And why cry, for what?
And why cry, for what?

If it hurts bad, forget it

And why suffer, for what?

If life is like this, you must live it

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna dance

live my life, la, la, la, la

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna enjoy

live my life, la, la, la, la

I'm gonna live in the moment

to understand the fate

I'm gonna listen in silence

to find the way

If it hurts bad, forget it

And why suffer, for what?

If it hurts bad, forget it

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna dance

live my life, la, la, la, la

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna enjoy

live my life, la, la, la, la

My people!

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna dance

Why mourn? Why suffer?

Start dreaming, laughing

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna dance

Feel and dance and enjoy,

you only live once

I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna dance

Live, always keep moving forward

Don't look back

My people, you only live once
I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna dance
live my life, la, la, la, la
I'm gonna laugh, I'm gonna enjoy
live my life, la, la, la, la