the dark girl's rhyme

Considering what has been going on in my life lately, if I could meet one person right now I would choose someone fun and lighthearted to hang out with: Anthony Bourdain. Since I was very young I always loved cooking shows, I used to watch them during my school vacations in the morning after the usual cartoons. The craftsmanship, patience and creativity cooking requires astonishes me, I find it almost magical, and I’m so useless at cooking myself I deeply admire people with that talent. But at the time I had no idea that the restaurant business is so stressful, to the point that a lot of people who don’t get their chef degree choose to kill themselves. It requires great discipline and sacrifice to own and manage a restaurant. That’s why Bourdain’s life interested me so much: he seems like a maverick, who after a life living on the wild side settled down to open his own bistro. Years later he abandoned it to pursue traveling around the world with a food show. He has a very nonchalant attitude towards life, living for the present moment without concern for what will happen next. In his interactions with people in foreign places he is always humble and polite; I’ll never forget when a family who lives in the North Pole offered him a raw seal’s eye, a delicacy reserved for guests of honor. He was so grateful (and brave enough to eat that). With him I’d have my favorite thing to share with people: endless and interesting conversation. He could talk to me about all the places he’s been while taking me to great restaurants; he could even convince me to try market or street food I’m normally reluctant to eat. I’m sure he would be a great inspiration to pursue my own goals: he’s not afraid to venture in unknown territories, he has written from traveling books to suspense novels. What more could I ask for?

While it is true that the current airport that my city has presents a lot of flaws and issues, I would be very cautious in supporting the construction of a new airport without the necessary studies and considerations that can guarantee it will make a positive impact in the town as a whole. Our current airport is too close to residential districts, having terrible consequences in terms of noise, danger for the neighbors (it’s important to notice that large scale accidents have occurred in that area in the last 3 years), and the airport itself is cornered without any room for an eventual, and one can almost say needed, expansion. If we can remember its origins, the airport used to be in a deserted area, with no other structures around, but the spontaneous city growth product of little or no city planning at all resulted in an airport dangerously surrounding the people it was designed to service. This mistake has to be avoided at all costs if a new one is to be built. First, prudence is required in the selection of a new location. Authorities have to ask themselves if that new place is appropriate in terms of the growth the city has had in the past, and could have in the future. Will natural or protected areas be affected? Will there be room for the expansion of this airport and how can residential construction be avoided in neighboring zones? The actual design should also be a concern: this new airport should be functional but at the same time it should give an image of the most important airport of the whole country. Otherwise it will be a letdown and will not fulfill its potential. In conclusion, an airport has to be one of the many elements of an urban development plan, and not an isolated infrastructure just for the sake of it.

“Seamos honestos: fantaseas con los vestidos de novia pero no con la boda así que yo debería ser tu premio de consolación. Estoy segura que esta noche me usarías frente al espejo imaginándote en el auditorio como Julia se imaginaba en su recepción en “The Wedding Singer”. Claro que digo “soy arquitecta”. Soy arquitecta y me encanta el diseño (lujoso). Soy un vestido de movimiento: me voy a ver genial al aire libre y la verdad es que mejor andar demasiado elegante en los eventos que desaliñado; lo último da la impresión de poco éxito.”

“Nada demuestra que uno ha estudiado una carrera relativa al arte y al diseño como una prenda básica de la moda. Si Mies van der Rohe hubiera diseñado un vestido para Nemi ese sería yo. Tengo una gran ventaja: voy a poder ser usado en oficina: cualquiera aprobaría un proyecto conmigo de intermediario. Además, apuesto a que nunca imaginaste que podía ser tan cómodo y al mismo tiempo realzar tan bien los efectos de esas matadas de spinning. Y no corro el riesgo de accidentes à la Marilyn Monroe con el viento.”

“He aquí por qué debiste haber hecho ejercicio cuando todavía podía resultar en centímetros adicionales de altura. Los maniquís miden 1.80m, por eso me veo bien en ellos. Y te ves gorda y no lo estás. Me gradué de arquitectura y no aprendí nada de proporción.”

“Me gradué de arquitectura a los 30 años. Soy muy largo para vos o sos muy baja para mí. Y lo siento, pero necesitás más boobs para rellenar esto. Creo que esa flor es resultado del derrame de tintas de color más que un efecto intencionado.”

“Qué bien te quedaría si tuvieras 30 años más. ¿Qué parezco algo que Blair Waldorf usaría? Tal vez con algún tipo de mallas fosforescentes y zapatos muy altos. No había pensado en eso… ¿Si Blair estudiaría arquitectura? Ah… ni modo.”

“Estoy ligeramente inspirado en el vestido que Kristin Cavallari utilizó en el final de la primera parte de la 5ta temporada de “The Hills”.

Nunca dije que la inspiración produjera resultados impecables.”

7) Vestido strapless color magenta de tela brillante con falda semi plisada.

“Me miraría muy bien en una prom de Laguna Beach. “Soy una arquitecta osada y divertida”. Puedo imaginarme en la ceremonia recibiendo un título de educación superior aunque doy la impresión de una bimbo. Sería como un chiste rebuscado. Y tal vez algún amigo se case pronto para volverme a utilizar.”

Without hesitation I can say I’d much rather go to a large (and preferably prestigious) university than a small college when I study my master’s degree. All of my life I’ve been sheltered, first in a small high-school where I graduated with approximately 20 other students, and then in a faculty that not only had just above 1000 people who not necessarily were aware of each other’s existence, but it was located in the top floor of a 4 stories building, isolated from the rest of the university and from students of other careers. It’s important to say that in my major we tended to work in groups, but almost always with the same members and aside from your friends that belonged to your generation you never had to interact with anyone outside of it. Besides, in other aspects of my life I’m very protected from disturbances or novelty: I have a small group of 4 or 5 friends who I hang out with; my nuclear family doesn’t get along very well with other relatives, and I’m sure all of that has had a deep effect on my personality. I can admit to have some degree of intolerance towards what we could call “alternative” lifestyles, such as not having studies or work-related goals, and from my part I’ve always had those kind of aspirations without ever considering other options; it’s not like I had a different kind of role model to follow. This is why I think a big university would be good for me, I would be exposed to people from all over the world, with different cultures I could learn from, thus having a deeper compassion and tolerance with persons who choose different things from the ones I want. In such environments it would be a challenge to stand out from the great students because they would be numerous, but it would be a fun challenge nonetheless. And finally, just going outside of my comfort zone would force me to view my life in a completely different way than I do now. College is supposed to do that.

Working during the years you’re studying can have huge advantages later on life, but at the time it can be very difficult and exhausting. Work takes away not only a great portion of every day, but also of the amount of energy a person has. If you have to study after you get home from your job you will not have the same performance as if you didn’t have other distractions. The only way to endure such work and study load is with great motivation that no a lot of people have nowadays. But at the same time your work experience will certainly improve you CV, and some say that the best way to get a job is having worked before: you gain maturity and therefore are a better employee. If you’re lucky maybe you’ll keep the same job after you graduate and won’t have to experience the horrendous pressure of looking for one.

On the other hand, being supported while you study can seem pretty easy, and let’s face it: it is. You are 100% focused on your classes; you’ll have more time to prepare for tests not only with the material given during the lessons but from outside resources, therefore having better grades. If some free time comes along then so does the opportunity for a healthy and better lifestyle, with time for practicing sports, reading, attending cultural events or just relaxing. And this too will improve you grades. But for me the most important thing is that people who don’t work graduate in less time than their fellow working schoolmates. During my undergraduate studies I was supported by my parents but it’s important to say I had that choice because I was in a public college and I could afford it. But now that I’m looking to get my master’s degree I have to either get a scholarship or get a student job if I want to study outside of my country because it’s more expensive. The truth is I wouldn’t decline paternal financial support if I knew they could provide it, but I have to look for other possibilities.

A great teacher can be described by two major aspects: his academic qualities and his human ones. Academically speaking a great teacher has to be disciplined, and that implies being everyday for class and showing up on time, therefore demonstrating that he’s a reliable person. He has to be coherent and focused with the lessons and not get distracted talking nonsense about other topics: I’ve had teachers who spent 35 of a 50 minutes class blabbering about something that didn’t relate to the course; it was boring and frustrating. That doesn’t mean that he ought to be military-like, unreachable and fear-inspiring; he should be respectful but also amicable so that students can approach him with their doubts and questions. In fact, he has to have a connection with his students that allow them to feel comfortable around him, not becoming a buddy who goes to parties with them, but at least knowing their names and expectations of the class. I think it’s very important that he tries different teaching methods and techniques so his courses are never dull and so he can get as many people as possible to understand him. But it is essential that a good teacher is also a role model for his students, first with the passion for the subjects he teaches. If he is not enthusiastic about his class it will be a burden, just a requisite but never a pleasure to study and learn about. He has to be honest and ethical enough not to test with exercises or questions he didn’t explain or told to review. And finally he has to have inspiring qualities that transcend the academics; he has to be able to motivate his pupils so they become better persons when they see glimpses in him of something they could aspire to grow up to be later in life.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? All college students should be required to take classes outside of their major fields of study?

I agree with the statement that all college students should take classes outside of their major field of study, mainly because college should be an enriching experience in all senses, not only restricted to the major we’ve chosen. Classes that, at first glance, don’t seem to have much relation to our later profession in life help expand our view and understanding of the world. They make us aware that just like no man is an island, no field of knowledge is isolated from the rest of the sciences or arts that make this world function. Take for example Architecture, a very particular art mixed with engineering principles: it takes most of its design norms from social sciences because what can seem like a cold, hard building or city in reality is made for people, and it has to take into account Sociology, Economy and even Philosophy to create an object that is not only beautiful, functional but that also contributes to the development of society. Sometimes from classes outside of our basis curriculum we acquire discipline that we can later apply to our main courses or in everyday life. An algebra or calculus class may seem like a waste of time for a Medicine major but the truth is that perseverance, discipline and practice are abilities that you acquire when you study Math with the seriousness it requires. No one can say that perseverance is expendable, no matter what they want to become when they finish college. Additional classes can also make it possible to enjoy certain things later on, like art or literature, or to have a hobby; and the truth is that a person with knowledge in just one field of study is incomplete and is missing out on all the things this world has to offer.

I agree to a certain extent that if we fail in some endeavor we should continue trying, in spite of difficulties. If we are successful in something it means we’ve acquired the knowledge and abilities necessaries to continue to the next phase, so failure should motivate us to learn more, study more or try different alternatives to reach our goal. The obstacles in our way will make us appreciate our achievements in a way it wouldn’t be possible if everything was easy in the first place. But there is a fine line between perseverance and stubbornness and there comes a time when we need to question our need for that which we want and try to discern if it is really necessary for our fulfillment or if we are fighting against the Universe for it. Sometimes when we are so focused in something we lose sight of other options that could work as well or even better than the one we previously visualized; there are other times when we don’t realize we are trying to obtain something with the same procedure that has failed before; we all have heard the saying that humans are the only animals that trip over the same stone twice. On the other hand, if our intentions our noble and we really believe in the importance of the destination we’ve envisioned, outside obstacles shouldn’t discourage us, and we have to eliminate inner insecurities and thoughts about not deserving what we want. This is why I insist on the importance of deciding what we want and for what reasons, so we don’t waste time with things not worth our efforts. I think if at first we don’t succeed we should try again with our heart and mind opened to different courses of action or new opportunities that could come our way.

Some international students choose American roommates. Others choose roommates from their own country. Compare the advantages of having an American roommate with the advantages of having a roommate from your country. Which kind of roommate would you prefer? Why?

When studying in a different country it seems students want to look for that which seems familiar and homely so they have something to hang onto in the midst of the unknown. That is why I think so many Hondurans prefer to have people from their own country or other Latins as roommates. It seems a very comfortable situation: they both have similar habits, interests or idiosyncrasies in common since they share similar economic or political situations from their background. There is also the matter of language: if they are living in a country where they have to speak a different language than their native one sometimes they feel intimidated to interact with other people from there. It’s easier to just hang out with someone who will understand them clearly and will not criticize them for making grammatical errors or having a weird accent. But it’s not necessarily good to have a roommate who comes from the same places as you do: it will give an appearance that you’re not interested in going outside of your comfort zone, and therefore others will not make the effort to get to know you. On the other hand, having an American roommate while studying in the USA can have its advantages, first, the foreigner will be forced to practice the language and he will eventually get better at it. If a friendship develops, this roommate could introduce him to new friends, or places in the city. And this will be a perfect opportunity so an American can learn something about the country where this international student is from (chances are he’s not well informed about it). I personally would prefer an roommate from the country I get to study; there’s always a possibility I get an obnoxious person who chooses to discriminate me, but when I’ll leave my country I want to learn as much as I can from everyplace I visit and I will not drag old baggage and nostalgia from my origins as a way to close myself up to new experiences.

Y dicho y hecho, empezó uno de los espectáculos rastreros más patéticos de la historia de la universidad. Comenzó hablando la presidenta de la Asociación de Estudiantes Becarios, que le pidió disculpas al candidato por los sucesos ocurridos a su llegada. Fue la primera mala señal. Luego habló una serie de personas con importantes puestos en la Vicerrectoría de Orientación y Asuntos Estudiantiles y en la facultad de Ciencias Económicas y dieron unos discursos zalameros y deprimentes en los que le daban la bienvenida a su alma máter al ingeniero fulano (que en un video publicitario de su vida en ningún momento se dijo que había estudiado en la UNAH) y lo llamaron promesa de la juventud, esperanza para el futuro y otra serie de apelativos que no escondían sus intenciones. Y justo cuando el representante del Foro Nacional de Convergencia comienza a dar un discurso que sí era coherente y que no lo hacía ver con intereses ocultos empezamos a escuchar disturbios afuera. Eran los revoltosos simpatizantes de Mel. Durante todo el evento estuvieron gritando y poniendo a todo volumen las canciones de campaña de su prócer y símbolo revolucionario y como casi todas las paredes del auditorio tienen ventanas de celosía yo ya imaginaba que iba a ser un desastre cuando empezaran a tirar piedras. Nos salvamos: supongo que no quisieron seguir contribuyendo a su reputación.

El discurso del candidato en el que supuestamente iba a presentar su plan de gobierno fue mi primera oportunidad en la vida de ver en acción la maquinaria para convencer a la gente que opera detrás de uno de estos hombres. Desde que llegó, rodeado de un séquito de periodistas y camaradas, empezó a dar la mano al público. Maldije no haber escuchado a mi amigo que quería sentarse atrás, pero me salvé de tener que pasar por su simpatizante. Una de sus asistentes lo seguía a todas partes, entregándole mensajes en post-its, susurrándole cosas en el oído; otra le llevaba vasos con agua; un guardaespaldas estaba en primera fila; habían varios candidatos a diputados por su bancada (y fue muy divertido cuando él mismo no recordó los nombres de todos); había una persona que cada vez que él decía algo se ponía a aplaudir para que el público le siguiera la corriente; en fin, todos estaban en sus puestos y listos para todo. Cuando le tocó su turno el señor se bajó del podio para hablar cerca de nosotros como si estuviera predicando en una iglesia. Y se comportaba como si así fuera, gritando cosas para emocionar a la gente, apelando a preceptos universales, enmarañando propuestas débiles, ilusorias y a veces hasta contradictorias con anécdotas o historias aburridas para hacernos creer que en realidad es muy inteligente y preparado. Después transmitieron un video de un niño de dos años que necesita una operación en los Estados Unidos y pasó gente a recoger dinero para ayudarlo. Y se pasó a la serie de preguntas y respuestas.

Los primeros en preguntar fueron los mismos estudiantes becarios. Uno los reconocía porque el presentador anunciaba sus nombres y eran los únicos bien vestidos de la muchedumbre. Se notaba que sus preguntas estaban ensayadas y eran del tipo: “Si usted llega a ser presidente, ¿adónde va a colocar un nuevo hospital?” “Si usted llega a ser presidente, ¿se compromete a asignarle más fondos a la universidad que sean destinados a los estudiantes con excelencia académica?” Preguntas estándar para un candidato en tiempos normales pero sin ningún criterio para los tiempos en los que vivimos. Lo mejor empezó cuando estudiantes normales empezaron a tomar el micrófono. Una muchacha muy enojada le preguntó si él pensaba que este gobierno está cumpliendo con la Constitución cuando no hay libre circulación, y cuando por Televicentro se recomendó que a los manifestantes que estaban afuera les tiraran agua caliente para dispersarlos. Él respondió evasivamente y ella reiteró su pregunta: “¿Cree usted que se actualmente se está cumpliendo la Constitución? Según ella usted no podía ser candidato.” Y se cumplió mi deseo: sólo quería ver si alguien le recordaba que él no puede apelar a una ley que él mismo se negó a cumplir. Otro muchacho le pidió que de una vez por todas emitiera su opinión con respecto a la crisis y sobre si esto había sido o no un Golpe de Estado. Respondió diciendo que ni él ni nadie tenía que actuar como juez en una situación en la que hay tantos factores a considerar y había que confiar en las instituciones para que se resolviera el conflicto; que él apoyaba incondicionalmente el Acuerdo de San José. Sí dijo que había sido incorrecto sacar a Zelaya del país, pero también agregó que si este realmente quisiera regresar a Honduras hace tiempo lo hubiera hecho. Y por último le preguntaron cuál era su opinión con respecto a los estudiantes de medicina de las universidades privadas que firmaron un acuerdo, declarado ilegal por la Procuraduría General de la República, para que estos hicieran sus prácticas en hospitales del Estado. De nuevo con su “hay que apegarse a las leyes” (que no vale para cuando a él le convenga), y añadiendo que los doctores tienen que ser solidarios con el pueblo y solidarios entre ellos. No permitieron más preguntas y todos salimos disparados: imaginábamos a miles de estudiantes esperándonos con palos allá afuera. Pero para variar eran pocos; pero sólo eran ruidosos, nada más.

Es curioso, pero a mí nadie me gusta: ni el presidente depuesto, ni el nuevo presidente, y mucho menos ninguno de los candidatos a presidente. Todos son sinvergüenzas comprobados, delincuentes de profesión, ¿qué futuro le espera al país con gente así?