A Moment in London, England.

Me standing outside Winsor Parish Church near Winsor Castle. 

           Studying Abroad has really opened my eyes to what I, and everyone else, can actually do with an open opportunity. I decided to study abroad in London, England because I always told myself that I would visit a country, however I didn’t expect to visit another country so soon. I took a writing course and received an A in that class. I saw so many sights and made new family members. We are all alike in many ways possible, and we are different in so many ways as well. One thing is for sure we all came together and instantly connected. This video is the story of how I got to London, and what I did there. It is recorded with an GoPro Hero 3 and is my first video recording and editing piece. Click the link to see the video on YouTube! Enjoy!

It's Bath Time!

The City of Bath was founded upon natural hot springs that are said to have healing powers given to them by the Gods. By drinking the water and/or even simply drinking from the hot springs, it was said to make you live longer and look younger (I drank two glasses of this water, so we’ll see how well I age).

 The Roman Baths were constructed around 70 AD as a socializing area for queens and kings around the area. 1, 170, 000 liters of hot spring waters rise, run down and fill the bath site every single day.

There are many heated pools squared around the main Roman Bath and this main hot spring is not for drinking. Since this pool is unsanitized, unfiltered, and untreated, it’s safe to say that drinking this water is not for drinking, unless you enjoy the taste of bird droppings.

The City of Bath is a hot spot for tourists to come visit the market shops, enjoy natural ice cream and the Bath Abbey is just to the left of the Roman Baths. The Bath Abbey was the final vision of Oliver King, who had the dream of angels ascending and descending into heaven. The architecture is Victorian Gothic style. The Bath Abbey was the last medieval church built in England.

The City of Bath is filled with hills and so many beautiful buildings with stunning architecture that easily attracts tourists. The day we went to the City of Bath was a moderately hot and sunny day, perfect for us South Texans but not for the locals. Ice cream shops were packed all the way outside of the door. I guess you can say it was perfect day for a Bath.

Welcome to London, England.

From anxiously waiting for my passport to come in to fundraising for my study abroad trip to London, England, I can say that the process to study abroad was anything but calming. I realized at some point between taking tests and raising money for London that I was broke now and I’ll be even more broke afterwards. I’m a man whose financially unstable and probably will be for the next few years, but I also realized that life can’t be perfect without it’s imperfections. I decided to study abroad because I knew my life had to be more exciting than working out everyday and paying bills. The main reason though for this trip is to become a better writer and to further my education. It’s the third or fourth day (still feeling the jet lag from the time difference) being in London and we’ve done so much. With all the sights and all the amazing people I’ve met, I didn’t know I could feel this way, so blessed. These new friends are silly, crazy, and abnormal, my kind of people. And to think that we all sat next to each other months before traveling not knowing each others name or purpose for studying abroad. And now, well, that’s for me to know and for you to read about. Welcome to London, England.

America at UTPA.

I’m not sure if it’s the Hispanic in me explaining why I’m so in love with America Ferrera, or maybe because she dared to portray a character that most women would not want to in the movie, “Real Women Have Curves.” Whatever it may be, the students at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas received the opportunity to exchange a few words with America Ferrera, but most importantly,  to listen to a few words of advice.

            On April, 13, 2015 America Ferrera, 30, American actress and producer, came to speak to the students and faculty on just how important it is to be yourself. Ferrera also spoke of the Dreamers and the DREAM Act.

            “I’m proud to be friends with many Dreamers…I’ve protested with them, I’ve spoken out on their behalf dozens of times because I believe what they’re trying to accomplish is both incredibly brave and sensible.” The Dreamers got their name from the DREAM Act, a bill that helps the youth that were brought to this country illegally or with no documentation.

            America also stressed the fact that many issues dealing with immigration laws and the Dream Act are the way they are because many Latinos don’t vote. Voting is the power we have as young adults to change the future, but votes from Latinos aren’t showing up at the poll.

            America Ferrera has starred in many types of film and TV shows such as, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”, “Ugly Betty”, “How To Train Your Dragon”, and “Cesar Chavez”. Her first movie was “Real Women Have Curves,” a story about a young Latina living in East Los Angeles and the hardships of coming of age for a woman.

            “To be honest…I hated myself at the time…I was poor and brown. I was overweight, unconnected, and uneducated. All these people saw these things as evidence that I would never fulfill my dreams of becoming an actress,” Ferrera said. The 30-year-old actress compared her real life to Ana Garcia, the protagonist character in the film.

            “Those labels that everyone labeled me as were the reason why I was casted as ‘Ana’ and have been able to live my life as an actress. Do not waste your energy trying to change yourself…spend your energy trying to get to know yourself,” proclaimed Ferrera. America Ferrera, being that she’s part of the Hispanic community, has become a role model for many upcoming Hispanic actresses.

           

            Although many issues stated by Ferrera still occur today, the speech she gave will be some of the few words spoken to the students on resolving these issues.

            “Know yourself a little better so you can figure out what your contribution to the world is going to be.”

                                          -America Ferrera 

At Peace.

A few days ago it was the anniversary of my mothers death. It's been years of sadness, anger, questioning and yet no answers. She passed away from cervical cancer and it was very tough, not just for her, but for the whole family.

            I remember it very well actually, even though I felt like I was completely detached from the situation. It was a very hot day, as most days are in late March. There was so much uncertainty going on in my head, but one thing for sure is that I knew what I had to wear to her funeral and I knew I was going to bed that night a different man, a sad man.

            I couldn’t believe the woman that gave birth to me and to my brothers was going away forever. I couldn’t touch her anymore, I couldn’t annoy her anymore (lol I always annoyed her), and I definitely wouldn’t see her in front of me anymore.

            Anyways, this is an article not to make you sad, even though it’s hard to see any good from what I’ve written so far. But just wait. There’s good.

            After my mom passed away, a few days later, my Tia Sandra, called my family up to inform us of something…crazy? Remarkable? Even up to this point I still don’t know how to describe it.

            So my aunt told us on the phone that there was a picture of my mom in the plastic compartment on the very top-shelf in her room where she was being cared in. So we thought, “Okay, let’s go pick up the picture.” But she kept telling us that it was engraved onto the plastic compartment. We were confused, but we hurried to the hospice care facility and we were shocked at what we found.

     There was a picture of my mother on the plastic cubby…engraved. Now, when we saw it we figured, maybe while we were looking at pictures for her funeral video one of the photos may have gotten wet and the link seeped through. But, we didn’t have a picture like this and…this is the part that I can’t believe…it’s was literally burned on to the plastic. We tried to smudge it off but it wouldn’t come off. It’s like someone used a tattoo pen, powered by solar energy, and inked my mom’s smiling face with a lamb face underneath her chin. It all sounds crazy and hard to picture, which is why I have two pictures of my mom side by side. Tell me that doesn’t look like my mom.

            Anyways, when I saw the photo I started to cry, not because she was gone, but because I knew this was sign that she’s in a better place. She was letting us know that everything was fine, how can anything be wrong when she’s smiling like that in the photo?

            It’s hard to see but if you look closely there’s a lamb’s face on the right side of her face. It has a dark nose and it’s facing downward diagonally.

            I read about the, “Lamb of God” and the lamb represents innocence and suffering, which is what my mom was, an innocent sufferer who is now in a better place.

            

Edited by: Jared Cobble

The Hidden War.

            I’ve taken time this weekend to actually finally listen and watch Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” and what a moving inspirational song and video to understand what kind of world we live in. This music video has really inspired me to reflect upon my past and my future. This video shows us what’s happening to my brothers and sisters in Russia with the Anti-Gay law where they’re being abused and beaten for their sexual orientation. 

            I’ve seen some videos online where homosexuals are being taunted and their lives being threatened, wishing and hoping that they were in another place, a better place. It saddens me because I feel that being a homosexual I must do something to help them.

The lyrics,

“Take me to church,

I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies.

I’ll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife.

Offer me that deathless death

Good God, let me give you my life.”

            indicate that at those last few moments of whatever life they have left, these poor souls go back and regret everything they’ve done. They’re sorry and they take it back. They want to be taken to church to remove their sin and they’ll never sin again. They’ll forget who they truly are and be someone completely different in order to survive. The murderers take their lives before even making a scratch on their gentle innocent skin.

            Are we really living in a world where the LGBT community is being massacred all over the world, where my FAMILY is being picked off one by one, just because they love differently? Just because they’re happy with loving the same gender? Just because they have finally realized what feels right and what it actually is to be happy.

            The woman or man we love should not be the reason we get ridiculed, urinated, abused or murdered on camera for. The innocent, right in front of my tired eyes, thinking that this could be the last time he or she will see their family again. The fearful; alone, surrounded by death itself. They’re there and I’m here. I wish I can just physically grab them and pull them here into my arms and never let go.

            I hope this blog entry somehow raises awareness and gets something done about our brothers and sisters in Russia and just in general. We have many innocent lives being taken from this earth for many reasons whether it is race or sexual orientation. We are not at peace, we do not have equality, we are at war and we are not safe.

Link to music video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYSVMgRr6pw

Edited by: Jared Cobble