"Born Selfish?"

As we approached the month of November I started thinking about our Mexican tradition celebrated this month, and it helped me make a connection on how I'm usually selfish, most of us are. November the 1st is celebrated as "Dia de los muertos" or Day of the dead in Mexico and some other Latin American countries. This day is to honor those who have left us and led the way to heaven.

Altar

I have to say, before my grandma's death two months ago, I thought this holiday was absurd. The only good thing about it was that we got to skip school for a day, but the reason was not something very relevant to me, I just saw it as a holiday. After experiencing someone's death, specially of someone very close to me, I realized that it is a very important day. What they typically do on this holiday is set up an altar for those who have passed way with their favorite foods, clothes and other stuff that they used to like. They set it up with candles and pictures of the deceased and it is a day to remember them and honor them. 

It upsets me to think that I've been selfish all along as I never thought there was a need to celebrate this day and the deceased. I had to have someone close to me pass away to feel for others and to feel the need to celebrate "Dia de los Muertos". I was so ignorant before, but now I see how great it is. It is a way to keep their memories alive, and to show them how much we miss them and love them. Eventhough I probably won't set up an altar or anything like that, I will honor her life and dedicate this day to her, and those important to me that have left earth. With or without the candy, altar or candles we can still honor them.

It is amazing to see how we are sometimes indifferent to important situations until we are in the shoes of others.Why is this? Why do we have to stop being ignorant until misfortune has happened to us? I reflect on this thought almost daily. When will we think of others just because they deserve to be in our thoughts? When will do good to others just because the world needs it, not because we have to? I believe we aren't born selfish, but we sometimes choose to be. From now on, I choose not to be, for my own sake, as well as for the sake of others. I will now sympathize with everyone and try to always put myself in their place.

Typical sugar skull candy

"You asked for it after 2am"

I was riding the elevator of my residence hall, when I noticed a big yellow paper with the words "Sexual Assault Reported by Student". I thought it had to be from another campus, SMU is the safest place. I decided to do some research on assaults and violence, not only on campus, but related to SMU students; I was surprised by how many articles I found.


Whether it was for stealing a purse, or sexually assaulting a students, incidents like these occur somewhat frequently at SMU. I'd like to say I was in shock, but I wasn't. All of these incidents happened after 2am. We all know that there is violence out there, there are crazy people everywhere.  Sexual assaults, stealing, assaulting at gunpoint, these actions are all unacceptable. But I believe though, and disagree with me if you don't, that if they happen after 2am you somehow asked for it. 2am is late at night, when streets are almost empty and the dark is the only witness. I am not saying that the victims of assaults have the fault for what happened, not at all. I am just saying that they didn't take the precautions needed, like never walking to your car alone. It is proven that attackers like to "hunt" for their victims at night. We all know that it is unsafe to walk the streets alone, and to travel by yourself at night.


My point is, if you know you are going to be out late, make sure it is with a group. Don't drive or walk by yourself. Statistics prove that you will end up loosing. Want it or not, attackers are everywhere, even in the places we least expect it (like Highland Park). 

Friend or Foe?- Roomate Relationships

This following article persuaded me to write this blog post.  About a week ago, a teenager named Tyler Clementi committed suicide after finding out that he was taped having homosexual sex with his male partner. What kind of roommate would do that? What would he gain out of it? I somehow thought that maybe Tyler Clementi's roommate was trying to get rid of him because they weren't happy living together. They annoyed each other.


This event caused me to reflect on roommate relationships and how it is implorable that all roommates make an effort to get along with each other. I lived in boarding school for two years, so you could say I have experience in the roommate field. My first year at boarding school I had a "not so good" relationship with my roommate. The reason was that we had the worst schedules ever. I liked to go to bed late and she didn't; I liked quiet for studying, she wanted loud music. We were honestly like water and oil, complete opposites. I truly believe though, that what got us over the point of not talking and finally making up was respect. I respected that she wanted to go to bed earlier, so I would turn off the lights and listen to my ipod if I couldn't sleep. She respected that I wanted quiet, so she would use headphones. It took a while for us to get adjusted to each other, but it was worth it. We are now really good friends. You have to understand that respect is the base for every relationship, especially roommates. If you don't have respect, the relationship will sooner or later fall apart.
Roommate relationship's come with compromises. It takes two to start and solve a problem. Work together to fix it until you know there is nothing left to do. If you do, I guarantee you that you can become the best of friends.


I am also aware though, that sometimes there are people who are not compatible with each other. Sometimes two people are just not meant to live together.  So if you know that there is no way you can live with your roommate, talk to someone about it. Don't just take the easy way and piss him off until he decides he's had enough of you and leaves. You never know how people will react when they get annoyed. We have Tyler Clementi as an example of a boy that got so sick of his roommate and all the crap he made him go through that he committed suicide.


Here are some helpful tips on how to deal with those little things that bother you about your roommate that will truly make a difference in your relationship. But remember the one and only thing that will help is RESPECT.
1. Set boundaries.
2. Rearrange the room
3. Create a cleaning schedule.
4. Vacate the premises.
5. Let go of the little things.
6. Become a better roommate. 
I hope his was helpful to everyone who needed it, and if you have any comments on how to ease these problems please post a comment!


Thanks!

Viva Mexico?

What I am going to talk about today is a topic which I am directly affected and moved by; the current drug war happening in my country, Mexico.

When I was little my favorite past time was to go out on Sundays with my family, walk in the central city “plaza” and eat my favorite street food “tacos al vapor”. As I grew older, these Sunday activities became a routine along with other activities like going out, and hanging out in different places of Monterrey Mexico; City in which I was raised. 

My grade eleven year of high school, Monterrey was not a place you wanted to live in. Streets were invaded with military men armed with large, intimidating weapons. Mexico, but Nuevo Leon in particular (a northern state in Mexico) was dealing with a drug war. Things started getting ugly, and all of us northern Mexican citizens were living under fear;  We didn't like it. My Sunday routine with my family started to stop happening, clubbing and partying with my friends was not an option, and living a normal life seemed impossible.  I was sent to British Columbia, Canada to a boarding school to finish high school. I can truly say I had the most amazing time and made the most amazing friends, but leaving my life behind was hard. I missed my family, friends and school, but I knew going back was jeopardizing my safety. I hated the fact that I had to leave not by choice but by an unfair situation. I hated reading the news and learning about a new fight, more death, and even worse, more kidnappings.

Mexico is awesome, I mean come on, everything is cheaper, the people are kind and friendly, the beaches are beautiful, the parties are amazing and the food is even better. I have always been really proud of my country and our achievements, until now. The situation has gotten out of control and we are in serious need of help. Over the years, the drug lords have become the new government. It is them who decide what is done, and they are the main authority. The rule with fear, and that is their biggest weapon. Citizens and politicians are scared of them so there is not much that we can do. I believe that the only solution is to get help from other major powers like the US. The U.S could bring an army, fight the drug lords.  It is only with the help of others that the drug war can finally be ended.


 It hurts to know that a place you loved so much has become a war and death zone and it only makes me think “how could this happen?”, “why us?”.

Since when did it become okay to kill innocent people, to take away someone’s freedom until you get their money? The situation disgusts me. It makes me feel helpless as there is nothing we can do to help. Corruption between the government and police forces overpower the goodness in the citizens, and an act of kindness and initiative can get you killed. 

I hope one day this will all come to an end, but for now the question is Viva Mexico! Really? 

Zeitoun

Zeitoun

While I was told that I should write a response to a specific passage in the book “Zeitoun” by Dave Eggers, I couldn’t help to write about the book in general and Abuldharam Zeitoun the character instead. The truth is I really enjoyed the book, and I couldn't bring myself to pick just one passage. 

Zeitoun was not only an incredible, eye opening story for me, but also a learning experience. I learned more about hurricane Katrina by reading Egger’s book than by watching the news and reading the newspapers. Eggers writes and makes us, the readers feel as if we actually know Zeitoun. We hurt with him, celebrate with him and we learn to feel for him through out his story. Raised and born in Syria, Zeitoun became a great man, with great aspirations not only for him, but everyone around him.

Zeitoun endures, and suffers from unfair harsh treatment and abuse. The way he responded to it all, just verifies how great of a man he is, and makes us reflect on what we would do if we were in his shoes, and our reaction would probably be very different. He leaves everything to faith, to his God. He is loyal to his country and his religion, and no matter how unfair the whole situation was, and how terrible the accusations were he never lost his temper and always acted responsibly and respectfully.

Overall, I really just wanted to share my admiration for Zeitoun and the book. It really made me reflect on life and on how I would handle myself on times like those. I learned to fight for what I believe in, help others even though i may need help myself, and mostly I learned to be grateful for everyday and every opportunity that i’m given, and that is why I thought the book was worth it. I’d definitely recommend it to family an friends, and read it a second time myself.