Labels

In the chaos
We seek neatness and order

We create borders and categories

Everything has a place or a label

So we are able to be organized

Not realizing those who are victimized

By being itemized into the big picture.

If a pen made it into a box of pencils,

It wouldn't be the end of the world,

But what if it were a girl?

Does she lose her identity 

Because society can't see her as an individual?

Where dual roles hardly exist

And people can't resist

The urge to criticize, idolize, and disguise all the wrong things

Brown skin is Mexican

Almond eyes are Chinese

Unable to seize control over perception of people's misconceptions.

"So it's a tiny mistake," they say.

A mistake that erases the traces of what makes people who they are.

Leaving scars on the souls unseen.

Sometimes the way people think becomes the reality

Instead of bitter

Let's go for better

Educate

Create the dialogue

Get out of the fog

The world is more complex than you think.

Hey Everyone,

       The poem above was inspired by a conversation posed in one of the auxiliar facebook groups I'm a part of., in where some people thought it was okay to use as "just a descriptor" the word chino for Asian. It bugged me, and therefore I went to work to express it with pen and paper (and now laptop and internet).

      I'll be the first to say that I am not perfect. I don't always say the right thing. I laugh at times at things other people may not find funny, but I guess it's not being perfect which makes us human. I also categorize things because it makes it easier to talk about, but just because a poodle is a dog, doesn't make all dogs poodles. 

        I've dealt with this many times with so many people assuming that if you speak Spanish you must be Mexican. I've gotten all sorts of responses like: "Ugh, it's all the same," "Isn't El Salvador, like in Mexico?" "Well I'm usually right, when I call someone Mexican." or even worse yet with an attitude "Do you speak English?"

   The problem with labeling people as certain (and sometimes exclusively) things, then we lose the various dimensions that make up our world, and de-value aspects of people.

Tell me what you think. Let the discussion begin!

~@CathyArely

FaceSpace+tweetINSpot

Hey Hey all, 

So I'm sure you've all noticed the interesting title I gave this post (and if you didn't you're looking RIGHT NOW lol). The inspiration for this post came from a few conversations that I've had with some friends about keeping up a variety of social networking sites  (Facebook, MySpace (ok people don't really go on Myspace anymore, but if you're like my you haven't deleted it for the pictures/information that is on there), Google+, Twitter, LinkedIN, Blogspot (or any other similar to/supplemental to a blog site).

This discussion first came up when I was telling my friend I was considering getting a Twitter (mainly because I like hashtags #dontjudgeme, and because for professional and otherwise it seems like a lot of people are on there.) My dilemma being (and main point of this post) is that it's hard keeping up with multiple sites at once. I remember when fb first came out I was posting the same status to both, uploading pictures to both because I didn't want people to be missing out on what i had to say because they either refused to give into facebook, or deleted their myspace to get a facebook. Eventually the double posting faded as MySpace did. I guess I kinda figure if you're going to have a site open you might as well be updating it, the whole "if you're gonna do something, do it right" mentality. It's this line of thinking that has led me to not give into my slight temptation to get in on the tweet scene, and just commit the "horrible" crime of placing hashtags in my status anyway #addicted :P

But even though I have not given into twitter, there is still the pending question of Google+ (as illustrated in the comic above. And I think this video really describes it best. On the one hand everything with facebook is familiar (until they decide to do their latest update....), and you're pretty well set up (Thousands of photos and friends). Google+ isn't really fun right now because of the minimal people on there (which was also the case when fb was new and MySpace was the shizz).

Another interesting point that the video makes is that of starting over. It's kind of like what I'm doing in going to Spain, and what I got to do when I went off to college. You get to reinvent yourself. Instead of having to go through every picture/status/group/friend to censor, you just nip it in bud at the beginning and create the settings you want, and up.

We all have our own motives and means that we use (and abuse- see picture below lol) social media, but as it was mentioned in a previous post, It's a great tool to have while connected with the world, your circles. So go on and check your email, your facebook notifications, your blog comments, your twitter, your LinkedIn recommendations, your google reader, and all that jazz.

How many social networking sites do you all use? Have you succumbed to Google+ yet?

Well there's my two-cents. Thanks for reading <3

~Cathy

Butterflies

Today is the day that I have been anticipating for a long time... I received my visa in the mail. There it is, stuck to a page on my passport ready for me to take to Europe and embark on this adventure that awaits me. The only thing is, things didn't really happen the way I've imagined them going down. 

All I've thought about is ripping open that envelope and pulling out my visa, the official approval for me to go to Spain. Today I got that envelope, and all I could feel were the butterflies in my tummy bouncing around telling me "Cathy this is really happening, you're going to Spain. Leaving for a 10 month minimum with the possibility of not returning for up to 3 years or ever (okay maybe that was an exaggeration...lol)."

But it still stands, I didn't run around screaming YAAAY! As I thought I would when this day came, instead I sort of find myself semi-retreating from the whole idea. Of course this doesn't mean I'm not going to go, it just means that I feel all of this is coming a little quicker than I anticipated. Don't get me wrong I know this is the opportunity of a life time, and many are jealous/proud that I am able to do so, but part of me at the moment is going " WAIT! WAIT! I really have to go? But I still need to find a place to live, and figure out a commute to work, and figure out how I'm gonna survive til my first paycheck" All things that will resolve themselves once I'm in Madrid, but alas I've always said telling me not to worry is like throwing a pebble at brick wall and expecting it to collapse. lol

If all goes as I want it to, and I get the flight that I want, I'll only have 3 more weeks with my loved ones, and I guess I haven't sufficiently prepared for that goodbye. That time is going to fly by like the blink of an eye and in a few more entries I'll be talking about my flight was and the feeling of landing in Europe. I guess it'll all stay surreal til then...

I know at least some of the other auxilares are feeling slightly the same way as our start date is inching near. Facebook has been a great way to connect us all and share our experiences. It was even the motivation for my to up and "pimp" my blog lol. 

I'm still excited to go on this adventure, just gotta deal with a few butterflies <3

Hasta Luegito,

~Cat

Pay it Forward

An old man once said, "There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living"

       This is the quote that serves as the motivation for this post. This was a quote I stumbled upon when I was browsing through my friend's blog. You see I am a big fan of quotes that are inspiring or motivating or just strike out some kind of meaning and/or emotion. I liked this quote in particular, because it's a good reminder not to sweat the small stuff and see the good things that life has to offer. So like I often do I post these things as a status on my facebook to share with my 1500+ friends. I share things because I figure, if  this (insert quote/link/photo..etc. here) made me smile, laugh, ponder, or reminisce then chances are one them will too.

     What I didn't count on is so many people reading and relating to this particular post. As I said before I share and post a lot of things I find interesting and they often get lost in translation in the traffic that makes up the facebook community, but this particular quote got more "likes" than even my status' regarding my diploma, or Spain acceptance. Now I know this probably has to do with this post doing more with humanity than my pride in my accomplishments lol. 

    So beyond the extraordinary amount of "like" notifications I was receiving on my page, came the extraordinary comment that reminded me why posting such things are for good. The comment went like this

"Wow I can't believe this right now.. im having a horrible day based on everything this message says and I thank u for posting it because u didn't know it but this has turned my day around for the better. I have to live by this. im so down, I cried when I read it."

     How powerful is it that something that I posted merely from my own interest and entertainment can I turn around and effect someone else miles and miles away from me, whom I haven't spoken with in years, and yet this simple action, had a great reaction. I felt really happy to hear this from her because it makes me think that I'm doing something right, no matter how insignificant. It actually kinda felt like one of those moments on tv when the teenager is like "blah blah blah...I don't matter" and some kind of supernatural action allows them to see how different the world is without them, and shows them their significance in life. Lol I know now the world would be different without me! haha just kidding ;)

     I guess that just another example to prove how social networking and today's age where everyone is watching what you say and do, allowing us to be connected in ways that we don't even realize.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to leave your thoughts, your favorite inspirational quote (you never know who's day it'll brighten). Comments are always appreciated <3

Much Love
Until Next Time
~Cat

50 Day Song Challenge- COMPLETE! :)

Hey Hey everyone!

So today I finished the 50 Day song challenge that I had started on facebook. If you don't know what that is, pretty much it's a list of prompts that you find a song for, once a day, for 50 days. So I thought it would be cool to share it with you all in one place my blog. So here it goes:

Day 01- Your Favorite Song
India Arie- Video
Feel good song, keepin' it real :)

Day 02- Your Least Favorite Song
Web Star- Chicken Noodle Soup
It's songs like this that make me really believe that I can get a record deal someday.

Day 03- A Song That Makes You Happy
Avenue Q- Schadenfreude
I know it's kind of messed up but you gotta love it :-P

Day 04- A Song That Makes You Sad
Don Omar- Muñecas de Porcelana

Day 05- A Song That Reminds You of Someone
AJ Rafael- She was mine
Love has no distance, baby no...

Day 06- A Song That Reminds you of Somewhere
Guru Josh Project- Infinity 2008
Jammin' at el 8 de Blanco in Puerto Rico!!

Day 07- A Song That Reminds You of a Certain Event
Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better
Improv Final 2011- Jon and Mary Claire did great <3

Day 08- A Song You Know All The Words To
Will Smith- Just The Two of Us
...Just like me we can see, gonna be tall, makes me laugh cause you got your dad's ears and all...

Day 09- A Song That You Can Dance To
Pitbull- Bon Bon 2010
I didn't realize I used the same song twice, oh well, I'll dance to anything... :)

Day 10- A Song That Makes You Fall Asleep
Michelle Branch- Something to Sleep to
In my mind everything we did was right...<3

Day 11- A Song From Your Favorite Band
Black Eyed Peas- One Tribe
One Love <3

Day 12- A Song From A Band You Hate
Korn- Freak on a Leash
Hate is such a strong word...but this'll do

Day 13- A Song That Is a Guilty Pleasure
2Gether- Calculus
Talk nerdy to me <3 U+ME=US

Day 14- A Song No One Would Expect You To Love
El Potro de Sinaloa- El Vaso Derrama
Don't get me wrong though...a girl can only handle so much banda...

Day 15- A Song That Describes Me
Jordin Sparks- This Is My Now
Cause it is...

Day 16- A Song You Used to Love and Now You Hate
Offspring- Pretty Fly For A White Guy
Lol

Day 17- A Song You Hear On the Radio Often
Bruno Mars- Just The Way You Are
Her eyes, her eyes...

Day 18- A Song You Wish You Heard On the Radio
Defying Gravity
I'm a sucker for showtunes <3

Day 19- A Song From Your Favorite Album
Brandy- Have You Ever?
My First Album too<3

Day 20- A Song You Listen To When You're Angry
Terron Brooks- Down
Why complain about tomorrow when today the sun is shining all around...

Day 21- A Song You Listen To When You're Sad
Carrie Underwood- So Small
Just a grain of sand...

Day 22- A Song You Listen To When You're Happy
Owl City- Fireflies
How can you not smile?

Day 23- A Song You Want to Play At Your Wedding
Gabe Bondoc- Life Love Everything
Now I just have to find someone to get married to...

Day 24- A Song You Want At Your Funeral
Whitney Houston- Count on Me
My anthem...cause you can count on me...

Day 25- A Song That Makes You Laugh
Avenue Q- What Do You Do With A B.A. in English?
Just so many from Ave. Q to choose from :)

Day 26- A Song You Can Play On an Instrument
Pomp and Circumstance- Graduation March
Band Geek <3

Day 27- A Song You Wish You Could Play
Alicia Keys- A Woman's Worth
Or anything Alicia Keys plays...

Day 28- A Song That Makes You Feel Guilty
Ludacris- Runaway Love
I know I am a fortunate one...

Day 29- A Song From Your Childhood
El Bard0
My momma would sing it all the time

Day 30- Your Favorite Song At This Time Last Year
Eminem- Love the Way You Lie

Day 31- A Song You Sing In the Shower
Ave. Q- There's A Fine, Fine Line
Between Love and a Waste of Time

Day 32- A Song that Uplifts You When You're Feeling Blue
India Arie- Beautiful Day
Life is a Journey Not a Destination

Day 33- A Song You Never Get Sick of Hearing
NSYNC- God Must Have Spent
90's kid all the way

Day 34- A Song That Reminds You of A Family Member
Christina Milian- Am to Pm
We made a good routine :)

Day 35- A Song You Find Annoying
Huey- Pop, Lock and Drop it

Day 36- Your Favorite Rap Song
Montell Jordan- This Is How We Do It
Woot Woot

Day 37- Most Listened To Song On Your Music Player
Tommy Torres- Fin de Capitulo
Story of my Life

Day 38- A Song You Would Perform In Front Of People
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
And I did a few times

Day 39- Your Favorite Song from The 80's
Irene Cara- What A Feeling

Day 40- Your Favorite Song from The 90's
Destiny's Child- Say My Name
7th grade talent show :)

Day 41- Your Favorite Song from The 2000's
Natasha Beddingfield- Unwritten

Day 42- A Song You Hate But You Listen To Anyway
Ke$ha- Tik Tok
If You can't beat'em, join'em

Day 43- A Song that Evokes Good Memories
Brad Paisley- Ticks
Jammin' at 3am in Torre Norte

Day 44- A Song that Evokes Bad Memories
All American Rejects- Dirty Little Secret
Oh No I Won't...

Day 45- Favorite Song From A Movie
Aladdin- A Whole New World
The first movie I saw in theaters

Day 46- A Song You Wouldn't Sing at A Karaoke Night
Celine Dion- All By Myself
Lol that is not for the public's eye

Day 47- Best Girl Singer Song
Selena- Dreaming of You
RIP

Day 48- Best Boy Singer Song
Chayanne- Atado a tu Amor
My fave

Day 49- Best Party Song
Pitbull- Bon Bon 2010
See...used twice..oh well... let's party lol

Day 50- Best Duet
James Taylor- You've Got A Friend
For my Bestie Josie

Well there you have it folks 50 days all in one place. Please feel free to click on the song name to go to the youtube video of each song. You can comment on my choices or let me know what yours are for any particular day. I hope you all enjoyed the challenge as much as I did...thanks for following, keep up with me on fb for the last 10 days of the photo challenge. Until next time, comments are always appreciated :)

Much Love,
Cat