tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75939858354995339372011-07-07T18:10:31.433-07:00On living in the States under the effects of Puerto Rican-nessJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.comBlogger811100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-74992507110298727372010-03-03T18:23:00.001-08:002010-03-03T18:58:11.151-08:00

Dave and I have been watching coverage of the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. One of the topics that usually comes up during disaster coverage is whether or not there will be looting or violence. What's looting when you don't have a house, food, or much of anything? Rampant disorder is one thing, but looking at images of people milling around the entrance of a grocery store, or walking

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-23706760453907307102010-02-17T18:46:00.000-08:002010-02-17T19:40:33.229-08:00

Ever since...ever, I've had a strong predilection for bread and sweets. I've also leaned heavily towards gaining weight easily, so that has not worked in my favor. I can look at a slice of cake and gain five pounds, but if I look at a treadmill I just get tired.About a couple of years ago I decided that I needed a new hobby. I came up with baking. Of course, of all the things I could have picked

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-60488801791507788432010-01-28T18:43:00.000-08:002010-01-28T19:07:55.836-08:00

So it's been over a year since I wrote, here, huh?I've had a muse-killing year. Details aside, I've kind of been like a deer stuck in the headlights for exactly the last 12 months. Just last week marked on year since our car got totaled after 2 aholes got into an accident right on front of our house and crashed into our poor, unassuming, paid-off car. It's been mostly all downhill from there.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-70064489680450343482008-12-15T21:19:00.001-08:002008-12-15T21:44:23.934-08:00

Snowy days are cool, in that we don't live in a place that gets a lot of snow each year, so it's kind of exciting when the white stuff starts falling.  The bad thing is that it has to get pretty cold in order for this to happen: Yesterday we got ACTION WINTER STORM OH-EIGHT (or something like that, according to the local news). Lots of snow, and lots of wind swirling the snow around. Dave and I

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-49227495292110052852008-12-10T21:39:00.000-08:002008-12-10T22:32:58.327-08:00

If you venture out into the outside world every day, in any capacity, you inevitably come into contact with people. These people, depending on their mood, or the time of day, or where they are, or even what the idiosyncracies of the city itself are, will interact with each other in various ways. Since I mostly find myself out in the world during morning and afternoon rush hours, most of the

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-59022867587547477492008-10-25T16:50:00.000-07:002008-10-25T17:35:56.524-07:00

I learned English as a child, it's my second language. When I was four, my mother enrolled me as a pre-kindergartener in an English-speaking school. I arrived the first day, and after the usual period of adjustment in such situations (children crying, shell-shocked-looking parents, consoling teachers), we all sat in our tiny little chairs and heard our teacher introduce herself and let us know

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-87799760094433342622008-08-12T15:41:00.001-07:002008-08-12T15:47:54.147-07:00

I have been meaning to get back to writing in Spanish. My first forays into creative writing were in Spanish, and I'd like to be able to get back to that. So I started a new blog en español. No theme, really, just a place to be able to hone my writing in that language and get some feedback from whomever wants to give it. I have an idea for a story I want to tell, and hopefully publish one day,

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-11795622064348154622008-08-07T19:45:00.000-07:002008-08-07T19:49:09.200-07:00

A coworker whom I chat with sometimes in our breakroom asked me this the other day. I told her, and she said, "Oh, I had to ask, because I couldn't place your accent."It's very rare that someone hears an accent when I speak, so I mentioned that usually some people hear it, and others don't. She said, "Oh, I can definitely hear it."A few days later, in talking to another coworker, I detected a

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-27038995676025892842008-07-24T18:35:00.000-07:002008-07-24T20:42:58.901-07:00

These are apropos of nothing. I was just bored during the 17 flights I had to take to make my way from South Carolina to Oregon, and got to thinking. (I know, shhh.)These are not meant to be definitive or anything, it's just what I like. And by "I like", I mean what I like right now. It's impossible to commit to hard-and-fast favorites, but one of the criteria I used when thinking up these Top 3'

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-85317932541192672762008-07-11T10:58:00.001-07:002008-08-07T19:49:37.578-07:00

There's something kind of cool about spotting a PR bumpersticker on a car. The further away you are from PR, the more my neck cranes to look at the car. Why am I looking? What does it matter who is inside? I don't know, but I look anyway.This weekend I saw one of these on a car here in Portland:I've seen similar ones around town a few times. A few months ago I saw one up by Fort Lewis , in

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-47444551832920805522008-07-02T08:28:00.000-07:002008-07-02T10:19:37.625-07:00

My friend at Zoo, Askew posted a list of popular books created by the National Endowment for the Arts; they estimate most adults have read 6 of the 100 books. Without having gone through it beforehand, I'm posting the list and bolding the ones I've read. Then, if I really have read six or less, I'll lie be honest about my results and resolve to get to readin'.1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen2

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-24083403566259901262008-06-26T08:54:00.001-07:002008-12-12T22:57:21.901-08:00

Cockaigne.I learned this word through my daily Doctor Dictionary email. At some point I appear to have told dictionary.com that I'd like to be sent random words and its definitions. And, I mean, not to brag (really, no, don't make me brag, it's so off-putting), but most of the time I already know these words. Every once in a while, however, along comes a Cockaigne to bring me down a notch or two,

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-71901057596258162922008-06-25T12:18:00.000-07:002008-06-25T13:16:24.373-07:00

Dave and I have a Nintendo Wii which I love very very much. Last month we got WiiFit, a game that is meant to get people off the couch and playing exercise-related games. The Wii allows you to make your own avatar, called a Mii. You get to use it as your character on a lot of Wii games, including WiiFit.So when I fire up the game, it wants to analyze my age, weight, BMI, etc. I stand on the board

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-16436052121464012472008-06-21T19:28:00.001-07:002008-12-12T22:57:22.048-08:00

One of my birthday gifts from Dave this year was a book called The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Díaz. It's about a Dominican boy living in New Jersey. Oscar is fat and nerdy, much to the dismay and bafflement of his family and peers. He is obsessed with girls, but doesn't have the rap that other Dominican boys have. Instead of learning to dance merengue, he's immersed in

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-34901190701449707122008-05-22T12:43:00.000-07:002008-12-12T22:57:24.376-08:00

So another year, another season, another chance for the PR Islanders and the Portland Timbers to converge on PGE Park.After my one and only attempt to sit in the Timbers supporters' section during a PR-Portland match, this year I decided to meet up with some friends and sit in the stadium's beer garden. Good choice all around, except they decided to put some shelters for the players right in

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-56755084120881464942008-05-21T16:20:00.000-07:002008-05-21T16:32:56.882-07:00

One of my coworkers was calling a health insurance company in order to let them know that one of their subscribers was admitted urgently to the hospital. Her cubicle is on the other side of mine, so I can hear her every conversation. Mainly because she talks very...very...loudly.When she was asked for the diagnosis, she says this:"Abcess of the buttlock."I immediately stopped what I was doing. I

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-51141226153179819462008-03-29T16:35:00.000-07:002008-03-29T17:16:03.445-07:00

I have a rule that I live by when it comes to giving my opinion about PR's status: I don't live there, so I don't discuss my opinion on the subject. Only people who make their lives there should be weighing in on this. This is why when it is suggested that Puerto Ricans in the US should be allowed to vote in any plebiscites about status, I'm always opposed. If you have made your permanent

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-72676869016899460312008-03-28T22:42:00.000-07:002008-03-28T23:45:23.928-07:00

It's been a while since I last wrote anything in here. The urge to write hasn't gone away, but my mind has frozen up as to what to write about. I've been working, I've been coming home, and I've been going to work again. More often than not, I work late, because things are hectic and they're only getting hectic...er?I decided to take a couple of days off this week, because things are only going

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-59081026255821084352008-02-14T12:25:00.001-08:002008-02-14T12:44:46.504-08:00

I've been tagged by my friend Candace. The rules are:1) Link to the person who tagged you.2) Post the rules.3) Share six non-important things / habits / quirks about yourself.4) Tag at least three people.5) Make sure the people you tagged KNOW you tagged them by commenting what you did.So here are my 6 random quirks/habits/things:1- I geek out over the Dark and Middle Ages. It's a pretty nerdy

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-22949406643317482692008-01-24T13:59:00.000-08:002008-01-24T14:20:51.303-08:00

Last night, Dave and I were looking at some music videos on Youtube. A few years ago we had a tier of channels on our cable tv that included MTV en Español, and we used to watch that station often. The videos we were looking up last night were ones we used to see a lot on MTV.Back then, Julio Iglesias released a cover of an old Carlos Vives song, La gota fría. Dave developed an instant dislike

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-86939966307066685192008-01-15T12:41:00.000-08:002008-01-15T13:26:32.333-08:00

The Hispanic demographic in the US has been taken into consideration more and more by the media. In part because of our growing numbers, in part because of the ongoing chatter about immigration.Now that the media is paying attention to the "Hispanic vote", I again find myself wondering, "What is the Hispanic anything?" In other words, are Hispanics a heterogeneous bunch, who all think the same

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-77004002313640598792008-01-09T19:02:00.000-08:002008-12-12T22:57:24.933-08:00

For a few months now I've been going to the gym for all of my exercise needs. I was going after work, which was, truly, a bummer. Some people convinced me that I should try going in the mornings. I reluctantly agreed to try it. This meant that I would need to shower and get ready for work at the gym.Before I continue, I need to draw some initial comparisons between Portland women and PR women. In

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-11458046994109519092008-01-06T12:46:00.000-08:002008-01-06T14:03:27.911-08:00

Or rather, sumsum! The author of the cookbook I used says that these were popular with Syrian Jews in Paris -- they'd have some with their coffee during the Sabbath. Let's explore Sabbath snacks through the eyes of Syrian Jews in Paris!Ingredients:2 packages of dry yeast (make sure they are not expired)1/2 teaspoon of granulated sugar1 cup warm water (anything that feels hot will kill the yeast)1

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-61132421127580190812008-01-06T11:39:00.001-08:002008-01-09T18:58:46.992-08:00

To some of you, making cookies from scratch may not be a big deal. Why is she even posting about this, you might say? Because I'm new at this and I'm excited about it, damnit. If I become a world-famous baker, you will be able to see my very first attempt and say "Look, I knew her back when making cookies was amazing to her." So, you're welcome.Let's get started! Here are my ingredients: 2 cups

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-71025824600856384782008-01-06T11:13:00.000-08:002008-01-06T11:29:01.733-08:00

I admit that Three Kings' Day is not a holiday I observe now that I am in the Iu Es Ei. Mainly because I have no children, and leaving a box of grass under my bed is no longer guaranteed to net me a cassette tape and box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates. Also, I have no family in the country to make me a lechón. Such is life.But I do want to celebrate it, even if on a small scale, when we have kids.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-19552656638985765112008-01-06T09:28:00.000-08:002008-01-06T14:04:18.613-08:00

These past few winter weeks in Portland have been the same one after another: gray and rainy. It hasn't stopped, and won't stop for the foreseeable future. A break in the monotony came on Christmas Day, when it snowed. Aww! Where's Bing Crosby when you need him? But it was barely cold enough for snow, so it didn't stick.For the past few days I've been thinking that I might want to try my hand at

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-85461783799870808712007-12-26T12:20:00.000-08:002008-12-12T22:57:25.230-08:00

My family in PR has grown over the years to such a size that buying Christmas gifts for everyone is cost-prohibitive. The kids and my grandparents all get gifts, but the rest of the adults go the Secret Santa route.I was the only one in the family not in PR for the holidays, but I participated anyway. I drew my cousin Melissa, and sent her a nifty Portland hoodie. My aunt Annie's husband, Tony,

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-88025860816517388732007-12-24T15:05:00.001-08:002007-12-24T15:06:08.109-08:00

Pardon me if I change stuff around here periodically. Sometimes it's hard to know whether or not a layout is a good fit until I live with it for a while. So if things change around here, bear with me!

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-32412385679062771312007-12-24T14:20:00.000-08:002008-12-12T22:57:25.660-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, Dave and I went to a Christmas tree farm to get a tree:Dave chopped one down for us: And we ended up with this:The trees at this farm were all beautiful and healthy. It was fun to see kids running around, trying to find the perfect tree. It was probably fun to see me getting lost, trying to remember where I saw that one tree that I liked. If anyone gets the chance to go to

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-55294131639957481872007-12-04T14:22:00.000-08:002007-12-04T14:48:08.593-08:00

The Philadelphia Phillie's Triple A baseball team, the IronPigs has a mascot -- a "large, furry pig". A contest was held to choose a name for the mascot, and PorkChop won. But there's controversy! It appears that in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, Puerto Ricans were once nicknamed Pork Chop.I can see why, honestly. Personally, I love me a good chuleta, and I know I'm not the only one. However,

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-22829127518637134962007-12-04T12:38:00.001-08:002008-12-12T22:57:25.792-08:00

Thanksgiving just came and went, and now it's officially The Holiday Season. Preparing for holidays, and looking for ways to incorporate the traditions of your own country with those of your new one, can be interesting. My mom and sister came to visit for Thanksgiving, and while most of the spread was your standard Turkey Day fare (not to say it wasn't absolutely delicious -- I love a traditional

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-84648561512228010832007-11-13T13:38:00.000-08:002008-12-12T22:57:25.919-08:00

I had bistec encebollado last night for dinner, a classic from my PR-food repertoire. The word bistec, I assume, is a Spanishization (that's a word now) of "beefsteak". I wanted to see if beefsteak and cube steak are the same thing, so I Googled "cube steak" in order to find a picture. I found this:Is it just me, or is that bistec in the shape of PR?

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-60574170955848486752007-11-03T17:52:00.001-07:002008-12-12T22:57:26.087-08:00

Time to fall back! Tomorrow at 2am, we set our clocks one hour back, thereby ensuring that it will still be pitch-black when our alarm clocks awaken us in the morning. Huzzah!I admit that the time-change makes me a little sad, in a silly kind of way. The rest of the year, the time difference between PR and the West Coast is three hours. Now it's four. It's almost as though the distance between

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-26379387559941485732007-11-01T19:20:00.000-07:002007-11-01T20:21:55.401-07:00

Over the last few weeks, I've been watching a situation play out here in Portland that is a shining example that the immigration issue in this country is a many-splendored thing. It's not just about who is here illegally, or who's taking a job from who. It's also about how those who are here to stay impact their new communities.A few weeks ago, a push was made to re-name Interstate Avenue,

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-20056887935199086342007-10-28T16:21:00.000-07:002007-10-28T16:28:09.051-07:00

A local park with lots of autumn goodness:Defacing public property:

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-50985599208540296592007-10-26T23:06:00.001-07:002007-10-26T23:08:01.386-07:00

I added a glossary of words in Spanish, because sometimes it's awkward to work the meaning in to the post. It's not complete yet, I don't think, so if I missed one, avísenme.That's my sneaky way of making you look.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-15750642295124914032007-10-26T22:34:00.000-07:002007-10-26T23:11:28.177-07:00

Earlier this week I went out to lunch with a coworker. As we took our seats, I noticed that the girl in the booth behind ours was speaking in Spanish. I immediately picked out the accent: the girl had to be from PR. Sure enough, a few seconds later she mentioned having been there recently.I thought to myself, "When she hangs up, I'm going to talk to her." I figured that I'd like it if someone

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-80719490835546636572007-10-20T18:16:00.001-07:002007-10-20T18:16:51.656-07:00

They don't make them like this anymore.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-48341726305278340672007-10-20T18:14:00.001-07:002007-10-20T18:14:11.302-07:00

Catchy jingle, and, looking back, a very sweet commercial. Especially fun to sing in a sarcastic way when something went wrong at your school.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-80500426510694307762007-10-20T18:09:00.001-07:002007-10-20T18:09:49.606-07:00

Intro to the single best cartoon on PR TV in the 80's. Even if it was Japanese.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-78948145786761273772007-10-20T18:07:00.001-07:002007-10-20T18:07:08.979-07:00

This one's a longer one, it's a segment of Super Sabados, that variety show that seemed to last 15 hours and was on almost every TV on Saturday nights.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-63283183386306115452007-10-20T17:31:00.000-07:002007-10-20T18:17:19.464-07:00

In the past couple of months I've noticed that people have started adding some old Puerto Rican commercials to YouTube. I've also found clips of old TV shows that I used to watch as a kid. I'm posting some here so you can walk down memory lane too.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-48039809606753188272007-10-19T22:20:00.000-07:002007-10-19T23:04:56.084-07:00

I've been thinking. I know. Anyway, I've been thinking that I like seasons. Also, that I don't like the heat so much.Fall is rolling in right around now, and in Portland that means days of 60 degree temperatures, colorful leaves that only stick around for a couple of weeks before the customary autumn rain dumps them on the ground, and a respite from sweating.This summer was not particularly hot,

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-35034382816851824832007-10-15T21:09:00.000-07:002008-01-06T14:04:18.613-08:00

So this past weekend was pernil weekend.Prep started on Friday, when Dave came home with this hunka burnin' love:20 lbs of bone-in, skin-on pork shoulder. He had to place a special order at Gartners Meats, a fantastic butcher shop here in Portland. They, in turn, got it from Carlton Farms, purveyor of healthy, rosy pigs to good restaurants all over Oregon. Our particular cut was gorgeous -- this

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-52649766631683725192007-10-15T09:41:00.000-07:002007-10-15T11:18:36.739-07:00

Blog Action Day is an event of sorts, where a particular topic is chosen and bloggers are asked to participate by writing about it on one particular day. Today is the environment.There's lots that could be said, I suppose, about the environment, but since I'm no expert on the subject I thought I could participate by talking about some of the ways I've incorporated green living into my daily life.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-79307228337793274932007-10-10T16:57:00.000-07:002007-10-10T17:05:24.204-07:00

There's nothing quite like a tasty, juicy pernil, whic is simply a roasted pork shoulder. Unfortunately, it's hard to find the right cut of meat over in these parts, as pernil is made of bone-in pork shoulder and all I can find is boneless.Dave inquired at a reputable butcher shop, and they are able to order in that cut from their purveyor. By Friday we'll have two bone-in pork shoulders, one of

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-29367179384142793792007-09-28T13:52:00.001-07:002007-09-28T13:58:31.242-07:00

A stack of books in SpanishA six pack of Old Colony UvaTwo six-packs of Medalla Light (thanks, Abuelo! It looks like he reads this blog!)Two bottles of Don Q CristalEight quesitosNote for next time: bring extra duffel bag so I can re-distribute weight in my suitcase and not go over the weight limit.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-41301113425188563362007-09-27T19:52:00.000-07:002007-09-27T19:55:11.688-07:00

While I was writing my last post, I found myself using the terms Hispanic and Latino, which I don't really feel comfortable using in most cases. I use it, however, for lack of a better term for this group of people. Other terms seem awkward, or just as inaccurate. So until I come across something better, I will continue to use Hispanic and Latino, and will use them interchangeably.

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-61698266602431622212007-09-27T15:07:00.001-07:002007-09-27T19:52:20.546-07:00

A few weeks ago I wrote about the ever-pressing issue of what we of Latin American descent are supposed to be calling ourselves (and what we're supposed to be asking others to call us). Are we Hispanics? Are we Latinos? Do we really need a catch-all term?With September 15 - October 15 being Hispanic Heritage Month, there has been more of a dialogue regarding, uh, Latino-ness. How nice to see a

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-14381017431117904212007-09-26T09:34:00.000-07:002007-09-26T10:43:13.808-07:00

A good example of why I live in Portland, thousands of miles away from home as it may be.I like food. A lot. I love it for how it tastes, how it makes you feel when you eat it, how it represents a place. PR is in some ways defined for me by the foods I had easy access to there. Mangoes are silky but sticky, and eating them fresh and whole (not cubed up into some kind of salsa or mixed into a

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-57395587311739709522007-09-25T15:13:00.000-07:002007-09-25T15:20:25.345-07:00

The piece can be found here.I'm very interested in hearing opinions on this from all sides of the status spectrum. Personally, I feel that regardles of your position, this piece comes across as shockingly misinformed. Even for the Washington Times. (Insert cheeky wink here.)One of the statements that jumped out at me the most was this line: The only complaint is that Puerto Rico has only a "

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-91599434518563535342007-09-25T10:15:00.000-07:002007-09-25T10:40:38.161-07:00

A conversation I had with someone at work this morning.Her: So, how was your vacation?Me: Good, I went back home to Puerto Rico.Her: Oh, good! Did you get to eat a lot of Mexican food?Me: Mexican food?!Her: Yeah, Mexican food!Me: Why Mexican food?Her: Oh, Mexican, or whatever you guys eat down there!Me: You mean, Puerto Rican food, since I was in Puerto Rico?Her: Yeah!I kept asking her why she

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-64203161051206345322007-09-24T15:47:00.000-07:002008-12-12T22:57:26.582-08:00

On Sunday September 23rd, both the Timbers and the Islanders played Atlanta and Seattle, respectively, in the league semifinals. Both teams put up a fierce fight, but ultimately they lost and are out of the running. I was in PR on the day that the Islanders played against Montreal and won, therefore passing from the quarterfinals to the semifinals. I enjoyed seeing the team get press coverage, as

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-26821397970614144102007-09-06T21:31:00.000-07:002007-09-06T22:26:25.239-07:00

The act of saying goodbye, or despedida, has been constantly present in my life. As the child of divorced parents who lived thousands of miles apart, I spent my childhood saying goodbye to one in order to be able to greet the other. I lived with my mother, and when the moment came to get on a plane to see my father, I knew I'd miss her. And I did indeed miss her, but I was also happy to see my

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-1589144956409229202007-09-04T14:20:00.000-07:002007-09-04T14:29:06.655-07:00

In 2004 Dave and I spent a month in Europe, wandering about with too-small duffel bags and very large memory cards in our camera. Two of my pictures from that vacation were chosen for an online travel guide, schmap.com, to accompany blurbs on Barceloneta (a coastal area in Barcelona, not the town in PR!) and the San Siro stadium in Milan. The pictures should appear on the right hand side of the

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-77308303127176812312007-08-29T13:58:00.000-07:002007-08-29T14:29:51.416-07:00

In two weeks, I'm heading to PR for a much needed week of family and relaxation time. Sometimes I'm not exactly sure that American Airlines has delivered me to San Juan, but there are certain telltale signs that I can look for after my arrival (and sometimes even before) to know that, indeed, I made it to my intended destination.If at least one of my fellow passengers is a woman sporting a

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-22245717221082006352007-08-27T14:45:00.000-07:002008-12-12T22:57:27.089-08:00

Should be interesting!

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-14536219903105056242007-08-25T22:47:00.000-07:002007-08-25T23:31:45.254-07:00

Portland has a great soccer team, the Timbers, and I've been attending their matches with my husband, Dave, for a few years now. They're always a lot of fun, especially if you sit in the Timbers army section; they bring it with an assortment of trumpets, drums, banners, and top-of-your-lungs singing. They are a very fun and open group that has grown exponentially over the years and I love sitting

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-10983862325037651032007-08-20T12:40:00.000-07:002008-12-12T22:57:29.183-08:00

In looking through Tom Lehman's pictures of PR in the 40's and 50's, I realized that some of these images were, in a way, familiar. Not because I had seen them in person, but because they are prominent in Puerto Rican art.When country life is portrayed in art, it often has an air of romanticism. Rustic life can seem like it can bring back color to your cheeks, to promote vim and vigor. The

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-68419626662899118822007-08-20T11:15:00.001-07:002007-08-20T11:28:47.050-07:00

Sacred heart, Good Friday procession 1945, CayeyOriginally uploaded by t13hman Tom Lehman is the son of a Mennonite missionary couple who lived in PR in the 1950's. He has amassed an extensive collection of pictures taken by his parents and other missionaries during the time they lived on the island. As his collection became more well-known, others have contributed their own pictures and what has

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-12006619606964548392007-08-09T12:51:00.000-07:002007-08-10T14:46:01.267-07:00

There's a series of podcasts called Quick and Dirty Tips, and I've been listening to one in particular dedicated to grammar. A recent topic touched on idioms, or phrases that, when taken literally, don't make any sense, but their meaning becomes understood through common usage. The example given in the podcast was "He is feeling under the weather". If you were to think of what "under the weather"

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-41931211314941371352007-07-28T18:46:00.000-07:002007-07-28T19:42:17.995-07:00

Deja de llorar chiquillaDeja de llorar mi amorAunque partiré muy lejosAlgún día volveré por ti mi amorTe tengo que dejarMi barco zarparáMe duele el corazónMás tengo que partirLa vida fue muy cruelBorrando nuestro ayerContigo fui felizJamás te olvidare.--Deja de llorarI've been hooked on watching The Sopranos on DVD for a few weeks now. Up till then, I'd only seen random episodes of the show, and

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-76399270675997731902007-07-26T16:30:00.000-07:002007-07-27T11:09:42.939-07:00

The following is a list of what I miss about Florida. I lived there for about 18 months, and while I find that in general I'm more of a Portland kinda gal than a Floridian, there are things about it that I miss. These...are those things. (insert Law & Order "bum bum" sound).Hanging out at my dad's place - One of the best things about having spent time in Florida was getting to see more of my dad,

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-54860689073977646382007-07-15T18:46:00.001-07:002007-07-15T19:22:51.652-07:00

After a few years of not listening to his music, I've rediscovered Joan Manuel Serrat. For many years - and probably still - he was at the center of the tug-of-war between Spanish and Catalan in his native Spain. He entered the Eurovision song contest in 1968, wanting to sing a version of a Spanish-language song in Catalan, but the Generalísimo Francisco Franco, then dictator of Spain, forbade it

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-21599144335621082702007-07-13T10:49:00.000-07:002007-07-13T14:02:00.214-07:00

I read this essay by novelist Diana Abu-Jaber, who is the daughter of a Jordanian immigrant and has lived between the US and Jordan. It discusses how cultural ties really do bind, and not always in the positive sense of the word. Whether it be people from outside your community who pigeonhole you based on your background, or members of your community who insist that they can only relate to you

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-48752927303569389752007-07-12T12:28:00.000-07:002007-07-13T14:01:48.186-07:00

The Minutemen, a group of civilians who volunteer to patrol sections of the border between the US and Mexico and build fences to keep illegal immigrants out, claim that one of their aims is to reduce the amout of drugs smuggled into the US across the border. They state that their presence has slowed down drug smuggling "considerably". Today's front page headline on cnn.com is Drug flights surge

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-6630335268749605052007-07-10T14:23:00.000-07:002007-07-13T14:01:28.104-07:00

According to a study conducted by the State of California, by 2050 Latinos are poised to become the largest ethnic group in the state. The rise goes together with an expected increase in the general population of 75% over current numbers. If I ever watch Fox news, it'll be to see if John Gibson issues another plea to "people of European ancestry" to breed more. Hey! I'm of European ancestry! No

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-28390433012444453842007-07-09T12:29:00.000-07:002007-07-13T14:01:15.614-07:00

Sometimes people ask me if I prefer to be called Hispanic or Latina. It's becoming more well-known that people from Spanish-speaking countries (or their descendants) have preferences for one or the other. So they either worry that they will call me something I consider un-PC, or they're simply curious as to what's considered appropriate. I am the first to admit that I am just as confused as your

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-81364423084107265272007-06-25T12:11:00.000-07:002007-07-13T14:01:02.846-07:00

There is a free weekly newspaper in Portland called Willamette Week. In their May 2nd issue, the cover story was called Chop Shop, and it was ostensibly about improper working conditions at Del Monte's North Portland plant. Del Monte workers chop up fruits and vegetables, so they can be sold in supermarkets in pre-cut/pre-sliced portions. The author of the story, Beth Slovic, went undercover for

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-39473960011743521932007-06-12T13:00:00.000-07:002007-07-13T14:00:03.421-07:00

When I was growing up, the word gringo was not used in an antagonistic way, but also not in a friendly one. In PR we use the word to denote someone from the United States, and many times it was to say something like, "That tourist can't dance - must be a gringo", or "Of course he doesn't like morcillas, he's a gringo". While I never detected outright hostility in the way the word was used, the

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-24498252658592624552007-06-07T12:39:00.000-07:002007-07-13T13:59:48.676-07:00

Sometimes people feel uncomfortable when someone near them is speaking in another language. "What if they're talking about me?", they wonder. There are two ways of knowing whether you are a subconsciously self-centered individual - if you meet a gay person and immediately become uncomfortable because you are operating under the assumption that they've automatically got the hots for you, and if

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-86153159751334971472007-06-05T16:03:00.000-07:002007-07-13T13:59:33.732-07:00

I read a story about a high school graduation in Galesburg, Illinois, where four students were denied their diplomas because there were cheers in the crowd.That sounds really stupid, I know. When I saw the headline, I thought I'd better go read the story because there had to be more to it than that. Indeed, as these students came up to the podium, their families cheered for them. Diplomas almost

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-82476535044556087762007-06-04T16:05:00.000-07:002007-07-13T13:59:15.335-07:00

What I think is getting scary about how immigration discourse is America is that, even when people have a disagreement that has nothing to do with race or ethnicity, it is brought into the mix anyway. I read an article that presents an example: Immigration Debate Stirs AnimosityThe causes of the incident are not clear, but two teenagers threw rocks at the vehicle of 2 Mexican men. They men had

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-74674654953190063942007-06-04T12:56:00.001-07:002007-07-13T13:59:05.036-07:00

The other day I was reading a blog by a food writer I enjoy, Michael Ruhlman. He posted an entry about tarragon being his favorite herb. In the comments section, cilantro entered the discussion. I love cilantro. It's well-known for being widely used in Mexican cooking, but Puerto Rican cuisine uses it as well. (I almost feel weird calling it "cuisine" - it's so down-home that calling it cuisine

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-42461439470586102222007-06-01T12:40:00.000-07:002007-07-13T13:58:52.676-07:00

I was telling someone the other day about a book that I read a few months ago and loved - Jacques Pepin's The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen. Pepin is a French chef who in 1959 emigrated to the US. He was raised by a mother who owned a series of cafés, and he was expected to help in the kitchen. He talks extensively about all the fresh ingredients they were able to easily find, either in

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-87813385534829928702007-05-31T12:03:00.000-07:002007-07-13T13:58:41.519-07:00

I am, by ethnicity, Hispanic (Latina, whatever you want to call it). Technically, I can't say I am Puerto Rican by nationality - we're all considered American citizens. But let's just say, to make it easier, that I'm Puerto Rican by nationality. Racially, however, I'm white. Race in Latin America is a hodge-podge of different influences. In Puerto Rico, you had the Taínos, the native indigenous

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-2069426062388951752007-05-30T13:09:00.000-07:002007-07-13T13:58:14.159-07:00

As any Puerto Rican worth her salt would, I watched the Miss Universe pageant that was held in Mexico City a couple of days ago. Miss Puerto Rico usually makes it through the first elimination round, at least, but this time everyone knew we wouldn't even make it that far. The girl just wasn't that cute or articulate, but another commonly-held opinion among Puerto Ricans was the she "didn't look

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-76733751809094814912007-05-25T10:00:00.001-07:002007-08-03T13:54:48.094-07:00

Watching an episode of The Colbert Report (one of my favorite shows) last night, I caught the segment where he spoke with Pat Buchanan's sister, Bay. She is very adamant that a barrier be built along the US-Mexico border, with two sets of walls and an open, monitored area in the middle, where any trespassers would be easily seen and shot. Well, okay, the shot part is my addition to this scenario,

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-25441490737855285252007-05-24T14:22:00.000-07:002007-07-13T13:55:58.073-07:00

I wanted a taco salad today for lunch, so I went to a Mexican food chain restaurant called Qdoba. How do you pronounce that, anyway? I'm never sure. I just say I'm going to get a taco salad, since that's all I ever get there. I was standing in line, and the way the place works is that it's kind of cafeteria style - you move down the line, telling them what you want. It gets packed and noisy at

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-60899321590417286442007-05-24T13:50:00.001-07:002007-07-13T13:55:39.664-07:00

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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7593985835499533937.post-51991045073454873132007-05-24T12:42:00.000-07:002007-07-13T13:54:45.389-07:00

There is a poem by a Puerto Rican poet named Juan Antonio Corretjer (a poem later made into a song by nueva trova Puerto Rican musician Roy Brown) called Boricua en la luna. Rather unpoetically translated, it means "Puerto Rican on the moon".Puerto Ricans are not especially known for their affinity towards sci-fi, so it's not really a Robert Heinlein-style homage to some boricua who ended up as a

Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02075771718473000535noreply@blogger.com5