Reaction on the First Two Chapters of A Small Place (Part II)

The author of A Small Place depicts a hardship that she faced along with her fellow Antiguans. She recounts her point of view first on the tourist who come to visit and Antigua and then about her own journey as a kid. One may say, well she is Antiguan but she only lived there until she was 16 years-old and ask can she really act like and expert on Antigua? To those people, I say yes indeed.

 She starts off calling out every one of those tourists who is not really welcome in Antigua because of what the mean to the Antiguans, tourists. They are not welcome because too the Antiguans they represent exactly what they want to be. The want to be able to travel and run away from where they came from at least for a week or so. Tourists are the mere reminder of how stuck an Antiguan could be. Those tourists can see the sad differences between where the come from and where they have just arrived but only care for their vacation.

Following that she gives the reader some insight on what it was like to live under the English rule and grow up in those specific circumstances. She talks about the presence of racism in different aspects of her life, like the teacher and the doctor. She confronts the fact that the English came and took everything as if it was theirs to take without even asking. She also emphasizes on how the Antiguans were expected to act and live like the English but were never to become anything close to an English person. Kincaid highlights how the English murdered, robbed, all around hurt the Antiguans. This will never be made right because the wrong that was done was so wrong.

At first glance a reader may think that she is not at all clear on her identity but, she is a lot clearer on it that many are. She is Antiguan despite having left at 16 and she is fighting for her voice to be hear.

Reaction on the First Two Chapters of A Small Place (Part I)

I ran into someone I admire and she had a little moment of sheer happiness when she saw me holding A Small Place I my hand. I had heard my professor talk about the book briefly and tell the class that it was a very enjoyable piece of literature, but it wasn’t until I witnessed that reaction that I was intrigued. I read the first two chapters of A Small Place and loved them I have a great love for authors who truly challenge you as a reader and Jamaica Kincaid is one other those authors.

She works with various aspects of Antigua and the issues that surrounded it during the time they were under the control of the English. On the other hand, she also works with those things that still haunt the people of Antigua. I was very happy to find such a similar outlook on being dominated by another country from someone who lived in an island not far from Puerto Rico. It is not the same to read these things out of a history book (that was controlled in terms of what you are being told history was like) than to read it as a personal story of someone who lived through it. We are constantly watched and being told what “the truth” about important past events. I know now a lot of things about my country that I did not learn out of a history book simply because specific people don’t want you to know what really happen. Many important figures in history are cut out of it and the books that depict it.

Jamaica Kincaid uses captures you from the very first sentence and makes you want to keep reading. You end up feeling the way she did and imagining yourself in her shoes. She makes the outsider either join her for what she stands for or feel guilty about things that probably, in a way aren’t related to them a lot. That is the power of a writer, to actually make you feel something and stir that up inside so that when you are finished you gain a new perspective and are not the same.

I stand by Jamaica Kincaid in her anger and frustration. I think she is right to feel the way she does. She had every reason to write A Small Place and for her voice to finally be heard. How are we supposed to understand history if we aren’t open to what those who lived through it have to say? I for one really loved how beautifully Jamaica Kincaid told her story.

My take on Identity

I am not your average Puerto Rican; I do not fit the expected mold. So it does not come as a surprise when people constantly ask me whether I'm from the United States or am an American. My identity as a Puerto Rican is distorted. "Home is where the heart is" I've heard this saying over and over. It was not until I truly began to reflect on my life and ideals that I realized what this meant.  To me home is my loved ones and good quality time with them. There’s nothing more important to me than my family. And we are all virtually Puerto Ricans.

Peter Roberts discussed the idea of home but I feel that home is whenever I am with my family. I do not have the strongest ties to a specific place in Puerto Rico having moved around so much since I was a little girl. Because of this, I do not feel so attached to the island like some people are. I am very sure that I will leave Puerto Rico to finish my degrees. I want to be a psychiatrist. I want to help people. I'm sure I can do that here and I want to but sometimes I'm not sure I can reach my full potential as a professional.

The author of Identity also says “Language is in part a universal human factor and in part a factor of place: human language manifests itself primarily in speech as distinct languages, each of which is geographically determined.” I agree with him and feel that unlike many Puerto Ricans, I feel more open and relatable with the rest of the world because I am fully bilingual in Spanish and English. In addition to this, I started learning French in high school and have a new found interesting in learning Dutch. I could get along with many other cultures knowing a few languages and being open-minded. Roberts also works with the idea of sameness, I found what he had to say about that very interesting. It is true that sense of sight is what we use to separate some from others and that people determine sameness based on where they are born. Despite this, we are much more alike in terms of identity than sameness. We can relate to others very well regardless of where they come from, etc. This can be linked to the question to Diversity-Universality which psychology tries to answer.

At the end of the day, I am Puerto Rican and always will be, that will not change. But at times I feel as if I'm not as Puerto Rican as I should be. I do not feel connected to the country as others do. I must say though, Puerto Rico offers plenty of things to be proud of. Identity is curious thing to me due to this. I cannot pin myself down to a specific place. 

Puertorricans According to Me versus According to Outsiders

I had conducted some research on what perception of outsiders could be in relation to the place I call home. To my surprise, there were a lot of positive things to say. To be honest, I often feel as if what people mostly do when it comes to Puerto Rico is whine. They talk about everything and anything that is wrong with the island, whether they are outsiders or not. I recalled the time we appeared on the national news in the U.S. mainland because of our economy problems, specifically about our debt. But apparently outsiders tend to appreciate the place I call home, sometimes with having even visiting Puerto Rico.

I was able to read the article that was provided to me and it really opened my eyes. For a second, I forgot the author was referring to Puerto Rico the entire time This person really took the time o get to know the island not just spend time at her resort. Emphasizing of course on the natural beauties that the island has to offer like the beach and the “coquis”, but also learning about the history of Puerto Rico. She was able to gain knowledge that most people, even the residents aren’t aware of. One of the things that awakened her thirst for wanting to know about my home was Pablo, her cab driver. He spoke to her about the problems Puerto Ricans face living here every day. In my opinion, Pablo was a very good representation of what most people who live here feel. He spoke about issues like young people being lazy and Puerto Rico being a state rather than a territory. One of the misconceptions explained by Pablo was that Puerto Ricans are ungrateful according to someone from Spain. I do not agree with this at all. Puerto Ricans hold on to a lot of things that keep them from progressing. I will give someone who does not agree with me that.

When I reflect a little about the impression the author of the article took with her about Puerto Rico I think it was quite complete and accurate. Some of the misconceptions about Puerto Rico include it only being a good enough place to be in for a visit but not to live in. It’s hard to judge and be correct being an outsider but I think it is harder to judge Puerto Rico with an unbiased opinion being so attached to it.

Thoughts on Mr.Keating from The Dead Poets' Society Movie

Mr. Keating's external journey took place at the school where he taught English and it ended once he was accused of Neil's death. Mr. Keating was a very effective teacher, he encouraged his students to think for themselves and not conform in life. His professional ethical standards were not equal to those of the school; they did not meet Welton's four pillars, “tradition, honor, discipline, and excellence". But come to think of it, I think that was best. He was unorthodox in the best way. He wanted to awaken curiosity I'm his students and teach them what poetry really was.

His teaching methods were very different to those of the other teachers. Unlike most teachers he did not believe that all he had to do was prepare them for college, he was focused on preparing them for life. He was devoted to his students like no other teacher in the school was.  Mr. Keating was also a sort of parental figure that the boys needed; their parents in most cases did not pay enough attention to them. Mr. Keating, in contrast of their parents was there for them and supported them. He helped the boys develop ties similar to those of between a parent and a son among each other. For example, Neil was there for Todd while he dealt with his shyness and nervousness.

Their teacher influenced them especially when he exposed them to the idea of "Carpe Diem". He urged them to seize the day. Knox was one of those boys who were impacted greatly by this, taking a chance and pursuing the girl of his dreams. Despite having such a wonderful teacher, the students were not in the best environment. The only case in which they were truly stimulated was when they were in the classroom.

The students were affected by their teacher just as much as the teacher was. Mr. Keating went through a lot of things with these boys. The school blamed Mr. Keating for Neil's death but that was not the case. There was a certain loyalty that held them together, despite having to sign a paper saying otherwise. Mr. Keating opened the door to a whole new world for Neil, which he realized he loved, and that was acting.

This all started when Mr. Keating told them about The Dead Poets' Society and boys began going to go to the woods at night with the purpose of reading poetry and bonding. The entire journey that Mr. Keating had, both internal and external was completely intertwined to that of the boys. His internal journey had many twists and turns. Mr. Keating suffered along with these boys.  

The Tip of the Iceberg on What makes Me Who I am

I was raised in an environment where I was encouraged to create and wonder. When I was little I discovered a love for painting, Mozart, and reading. I was one of those happy, permanently smiling kids and still am.  Then at 8 years old, I went from living in San Juan with my parents and little brother to living in Guayama with my mother and brother because my parents got divorced. No, I don’t let that define me or who I am. I cannot say that it didn’t affect me but I can say that it made me strong and independent. Once I graduated from high school I moved into my father’s apartment where I currently live while I complete my bachelor’s degree.

 Last May I had one of the best experiences of my life. I volunteered at a 4 day camp called “Campamento Sin Paredes”. This camp is a little different because the volunteer is paired up with a person who is handicapped and becomes their hands and feet. I love helping people, it’s something that I am extremely passionate about but being at that camp helped me just as much as it helped the girl that I was paired up with, Alexandra. I left that camp with a whole new perspective on life. I left realizing that a lot of the things I’d tend to  stress over aren’t worth it and that  I must  be  grateful for everything  I have, like legs and feet that work. I grew as a person during those 4 days more than I could in 6 months. I now have new found heroes in my life that I proudly call my extended family. That is one of the greatest things that make me who I am today.

Unfortunately, when I look around I sometimes see that society wants me to be something I’m not. People put too much energy into the wrong issues. Thankfully it’s not always nor is it by most of the people close to me but I’m at times encouraged to be sexist, homophobic, and just downright judgmental. So, I often find it sort of shocking when realize how blind people are and want to be about these topics. I want to make a difference when it comes to that and break the mold. I cannot just sit quiet and look pretty. I like to speak up.

I like to think that my story is colorful and beautiful because its mine. I am an artist, a bookworm, a risk taker, a feminist, a pacifist, an optimist, and an old soul. I’m 18 years old and I can say I love who I am.