Places I've been & places I wanna go!

I've thankfully been able to travel across the pond at least once in my life. It was probably the best trip of my life. Here's where I went:

• London, England - Beautiful. Lots of culture and funny people. Almost got beat up by an old dude who thought I was in the American army.


• Paris, France - I didn't like it at first (because of the language barrier), but it grew on me. After learning some French in college, I have an inkling to go back! Dude in front of the Cathedrale de Notre Dame got mad at me because I was from Texas and I "had too much oil."


• Madrid, España - I actually didn't care for it much. Maybe another trip?


• Sevilla, España (where I spent most of my time, see where I lived below) - My residencia! So much history and beautiful architecture and people!


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• Lisboa, Portugal - Where they loved to speak English to me (since they do not like anything to do with the Spanish language).


• Barcelona, España - A different part of Spain, but nevertheless cool. Really chic. One word: Gaudí.

But, that was 3 years ago.

Help me decide on where I want to go next! I'm thinking South America (more specifically, Colombia and Venezuela).

Leave a comment!

My road-trip mix tape

A 200-mile trip will become shorter today thanks to art. I'm off to Dallas!

Soul Rebel by Bob Marley

Diferente by Gotan Project

Kinder by David Garza

America: A new day, a new generation

Nowhere else on earth will you find what has started today. Superlative. I know. But, a right one indeed.

Today means something special to America, not just because of the context of Barack Obama's racial background, but because of his philosophy rooted in the 21st century.

I even heard from a news reporter that the millennium didn't begin until today.

This is important to my generation for the following reasons:

1. Yes. We are multicultural, and we have a leader to show for that. Often times, we like to segment ourselves by our ethnic background (especially in marketing). However, this goes without saying that most Americans have many friends from different backgrounds. And, this becomes part of us as well. I don't even think Latino covers entirely who I am today.
2. Technology. Wow. President Barack Obama ushered in his presidency from the bottom-up and continues to do that today with the launch of a new WhiteHouse.gov website, an @TheWhiteHouse twitter account, and launching a Inauguration 2009 tumblr today!
3. Acceptance. One of my favorite quotes from him is that we are a stronger America bound together more by our simlarities than our differences. And, however cliché this sounds, it holds true. It has actually made me change my attitude when intereacting with others that I don't necessarily agree with.

I'll leave you with the benediction given today by Rev. Joseph Lowery, aged 87, and leader in the Civil Rights movement.

Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- (laughter) -- when yellow will be mellow -- (laughter) -- when the red man can get ahead, man -- (laughter) -- and when white will embrace what is right.

Amen.

Change is in the aire

No kidding. Change is truly in the air.

Much to what everyone is blogging (which I'm about to pick up again here, trust me), I've been enlightened by my fellow peers and citizens of the world to carry on what began not only as a vote for an ideal that I believed in, but a refreshed state of mind and being.

I don't even have to say a name. It's in the air.

You can see it everywhere. In people's eyes. In their spirit.

Not only will this hopefully carry over into the public service realm, but this will spill into our own personal lives and everything else that we touch (be it business, marketing, politics, music, art, etc.).

Yes. Change is in the air. Finally.

Stay tuned and you'll see how it translates into this blog and my life.