Days of Importance outside of the US

Today as many know in the United States is a day of many things. For some it is a day of sadness, for others a day of soul searching and thoughtful dialogue. I still remember coming out of Literature class during my sophomore year at WSSU and looking at the TV in amazement. I remember the words of Dr. Shaw (Political Science Professor at WSSU) discussing how he hoped that people would not rush into hateful deeds because of what has just happened. I remember trying to call people to make sure that they were alright.

It’s so strange how things take on a different meaning once one lives in another country during days of importance in the US. Fourth of July was nothing spectacular for me, I didn’t leave my site, and ended watching Independence Day (ironic, I know) in Spanish with one of my host brothers. 9/11 though, is a different story. It is one where people know what happened, but don’t necessarily understand why it happened. This leads to speculation of all sorts, and of course people at my site are no strangers to making their own up. Some believe me to be a spy here for some malevolent government agency, as to which I tell them that I am just a volunteer, and then ask as to what reason I would have to be one in Costa Rica. The question has come up from children and adults alike as to my thoughts on what happened, and also the “Pastor” who wanted to burn the Quran.

I tell them that it is a sad day, and a day that I will never forget. I tell them also that there are bad people in every place in the world just like there are good people. I let them know that instead of hating that I try to understand. I don’t speculate on things that I know nothing about, especially when it comes to US policy. I just tell them that I have friends from all walks of life, all religions, and all races; and that they all represent the United States. I encourage them to get to know someone outside of their regular pattern in life and try to understand them. They have been really understanding of me in the regard of this day, though I have not asked for much. I do think that, even though there are parties and rodeos going on tonight, it’s going to be a quiet evening for me. I strive to be more like the God that I serve, though often times falling like 1000 miles short.

I think I will leave on a quote from “My Type” from the album TI vs. TIP-“Life ain’t always and dream and horrible sh*t happens”. Today is truly the remembrance of a horrible day in global history, but with the darkness comes the light, and hopefully one day people can sit down and try to discuss such events with people of other cultures so that such events don’t

Negro/Moreno, what am I here again???

Spanish culture is cool. It’s the only place you can get away with calling a woman “Little fat” (Gordita) to her face and she actually answers and is alright with it. With that being said I have had some really interesting conversations with the people in my community. In Costa Rica there is a very large Afro-Caribbean population and most of it is concentrated in Limon. I haven’t been yet, well, the province of Limon I have, (does Guapiles count?) but to actual Limon Limon, naw not yet. In talking to a teacher yesterday I brought up a conversation that I had with a Tico earlier in the week when he asked me about my nationality in the States. I have never shied away from these conversations for a few reasons that I will discuss a little later on in the blog.

Well the tall and short of the conversation was that I was Moreno and that one of my parents had to have been white. I told him that here I am Moreno, I have no problem with that, but in the States I am considered Negro. A look of shock came on his face. I didn’t get into the details of the past generations with him, but it was definitely something that hung around in my mind. There is one other black person in my community and she is considered Negro because her skin is darker than everyone else. She also can understand why I consider myself to be black. It’s funny what the difference between North and South makes, During my first PCV visit (big shout to Sykes out in Fila Guinea) my first night there we were going to the Pulperia and a little girl looks at me and then runs inside yelling, “Mommy, Mommy, el Negro, el Negro!!!” Needless to say that I was surprised to the point of laughing about it, but it was so funny that here, in my site, people will actually deny the fact that I am black and somewhat encourage me to not associate myself with my race.

In having this conversation with the teacher yesterday he put me on to something called the “Code of the Village”. Where anything that is outside of the village is, at first not even understood, nor do people even try to understand what this new thing is. Then, as people start to feel comfortable, they start to open up to the new thing, not saying that the new thing is part of the community, but just that people are starting to talk to it. The new thing goes through experiences and becomes human to the people in the village. That does not mean that the new thing has fully integrated into the community, it just means that people look at the new thing as human just like them and that the new thing is there for the community. It feels more as a novelty than an actual job sometimes, but I am sure that will change in the coming months.

Now remember the first part, anything outside of the village will not be understood, and this goes for people in other provinces, such as people from Limon. I don’t know many Afro-Caribbean people here yet, but the ones that I do know are some of the hardest working people that I know. They are also some of the nicest people that I have ever met, but while people don’t want to understand, they also want to create images and generalizations of these groups to make them feel better about themselves. This goes for Nicaraguans, Panamanians, and other cultures, that the village may not know anything about.

Just food for thought I guess, but it is funny to try to share a culture with people that is not only American but also African American (Black, Negro, whatever you wanna call it), and not be considered to be the latter of the two. So, I tell people that I am Negro, but I answer to Moreno also… Thanks to Dex Digital and www.mixtapeshow.net episode 117 podcast. Listen to it, definitely something that will make you think, may even change your life…

Changes...And Epiphanies (post in the pocket)

Well I know I said that this was going to be the picture entry, but I don’t feel like taking the time to put pictures up right now, that and the fact that the Escuela as well as most of the town is on vacation, which leaves me on battery power and not external. I was having a conversation with my little sister last night about the whole Lebronolacolypse nonsense that was going on. Maybe this is a sign of my changing when the final for the World Cup is more important than Lebron going to Miami. I’m not knocking anyone who is elated that he is going, just saying that it just doesn’t hold the same importance to me anymore, that’s all.

I’ve had a lot of time to listen to music as of late, but can’t stop listening to track 15 on Paper Trail, and track 18 on T.I. VS T.I.P. I guess I have just reached the point where the cards will fall where they may. No I am not leaving Costa Rica, just taking a step and looking at what used to be important. Maybe because I am on the outside looking in some things have changed. Oh, yeah, can’t forget “Curtain Call” from Little Brother. It’s just that my conversations are starting to change, and certain things just don’t reach me, or maybe I’ve stopped reaching for them. I remember during training I was really trying to find out what was going on during the NCAA championship, granted it was important at the time.

I know Eric is somewhere reading this, shaking his head, and saying, “Damn, it’s starting…”, and Big Kuntry (Kashara!!! What up?!?!) Called it, “That dude status”, but maybe I’ve always been, and will continue to be that dude that just swims against the current. Maybe what I want or think is important just isn’t and I should shut my mouth, turn around and swim with everyone else. Oh well, either way it goes, things are changing like the skies are during the rainy season. Seriously, what are things that you may deem to be just ultra important that if you go a week, or let’s say a month without it wouldn’t seem that important anymore?

I’ll finish this with a thought I had last year during the NCAA tourney (when it was important):

“You know the reason Carolina won? It’s because Michigan State was playing like they were happy to be there, while Carolina was playing like they were supposed to be there…” Now I will expand on said quote, “Just because you have won a championship doesn’t mean you stop with one ring. Keep winning, which means you have to do some things to change the formula for what the game has to offer for each phase of your career, whether it is that you train harder, brush up on fundamentals, switch up your routine or reading materials, or update your vision. Sometimes, players have to recruit to make the team better, but once that star is recruited the player and the team have to work harder to retain that player or star.”

I remember when I wrote this, it was mid July. I was feeling some kind of way that night. It was originally supposed to go out during that time, but looking on it now, my thoughts have changes a little, well a lot. There are things that you do need out here that keep you connected to what is going on at home. Sometimes you do need things that may not be all that relevant to you, but are relevant to those who are at home helping to support what you are doing. I had to realize that just because I am in another country doesn’t mean that I stop liking the Yankees or hating the Braves… That is part of who I am.

This is my favorite time of year for those who know me in the States, and while at In Service Training I had the chance to hang out with friends and watch some preseason American Football. It may not be important to the people here, but it is important to me, and that was my epiphany, so I owe Jessica an apology. She may not have known it but I wasn’t the happiest of campers about the whole Lebacle, and I know she likes the Heat. Am I happy that he’s down there, not really, will it be cool to see another team win the NBA finals other than the Lakers or the Heat, you bet! I stand by my quote earlier, but also realize that this does change the face of the game. Even in Majenga (pick up games) down here, not all of the best players are on the same team because it is a lot more fun for them to try to beat each other, than to try to squash the people who are not that good in one super team.

I know some people are saying, “How can a Yankees fan say something like this when it seems as if your team has ‘bought’ all of their rings?” Let’s get something straight… I think John Kruk said it best after the Series last year “You spend money, you win championships”. That is not to say that Cashman hasn’t gone out of his way to acquire certain players, but let’s look at the core of the club. Jeter, Cano, Riviera, Pettite, and Posada. What do these five men have in common??? They all came out of the Yankees farm system; they are the blue collar men in NY. Look at all of the championship teams of the past 20 years and you will see the farm system presence there anchoring the team and making people around them better; whether it be O’Neil or Broscious. You can even look at the current coach, who is a Yankees product who just came home.

So I will close with this, you can’t buy fine things and put them in a dilapidated house; because they will stick out, you may get robbed, or these things may get lost to another because you can’t hold on to them. First establish the house with things that are original to you and then bring in things to compliment the original pieces.