Hi all,
I hope you have enjoyed your summer. Now, the days are getting a lot cooler in preparation for autumn. I have never seen a transition from summer to fall so brisk as here in Columbia.
But, anyway, what brings me to update this blog now all of a sudden is that I was bored and decided to google my name and see what came up. Guess what? The first link was a link to the UB Admissions Page highlighting my study abroad adventures! I have included the link in the Sitios de Interés section on the upper right quadrant of this blog for those who are interested in reading about it.
I also received my UB diploma a few weeks ago in the mail. It is framed and hung up now at my mom´s house, haha. Hopefully, in the next two years, a University of Central Florida Master´s in Non-Profit Management can be added to the wall as well.
I´ll be writing soon about my adventures with City Year. Till next time!
Sam
City Year Disclaimer
Presentación
domingo 11 de septiembre de 2011
9/11
Buenas tardes todos,
Los EEUU estan recordando 9/11 hoy. Si no hayan tenido por lo menos un minuto de silencio para honrar a las víctimas de aquél horrendo día, por favor tomen el tiempo ahora.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Gracias.
Los EEUU estan recordando 9/11 hoy. Si no hayan tenido por lo menos un minuto de silencio para honrar a las víctimas de aquél horrendo día, por favor tomen el tiempo ahora.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Gracias.
viernes 24 de junio de 2011
Interesting Articles
So I found 2 articles I thought you all might be interested in:
South Carolina Lawmakers Pass Anti-Illegal Immigrant Bill via Latin American Herald Tribune
South Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature has approved a bill that would require police officers to check the immigration status of people they stop for another reason and force companies to ensure their employees are authorized to work in the United States.
SB 20, inspired by Arizona’s controversial SB 1070 law, will now go to the desk of GOP Gov. Nikki Haley, who has said she plans to sign it.
The state’s House of Representatives on Tuesday approved changes made last week by the Senate, which extended debate on the bill after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states have the right to compel employers to use the federal E-Verify system to determine whether jobseekers can legally work in the country.
Firms that defy the law could have their business license temporarily suspended or even revoked.
SB 20 requires police to review the immigration status of any person arrested or stopped for another reason and makes it a felony to make and sell fake photo IDs for undocumented immigrants.
The bill also makes it a misdemeanor for any adult – whether a foreigner or U.S. citizen – not to carry a form of official identification such as a driver’s license or immigration document while traveling within the state.
A wide swath of South Carolina’s economy, including the agriculture, construction, hotel, services and food sectors, depends in large part on immigrant labor, and farmers already have complained that – even with the bill still pending the governor’s signature – they are having trouble finding workers.
Data from the 2010 Census show that South Carolina’s Hispanic community increased by 147.7 percent over the past decade to 235,893, representing 5.1 percent of the state’s total population.
Yet, a study by the Pew Hispanic Center revealed that the number of undocumented immigrants in South Carolina fell 21.4 percent, from 70,000 to 55,000, since 2008. EFE
Data from the 2010 Census show that South Carolina’s Hispanic community increased by 147.7 percent over the past decade to 235,893, representing 5.1 percent of the state’s total population.
Yet, a study by the Pew Hispanic Center revealed that the number of undocumented immigrants in South Carolina fell 21.4 percent, from 70,000 to 55,000, since 2008. EFE
Feds Won't Deport Immigrants in Civil Rights Cases via Fox News Latino
The agency already allowed crime victims and witnesses to crimes to remain in the country.
"To avoid deterring individuals from reporting crimes and from pursuing actions to protect their civil rights, ICE officers, special agents and attorneys are reminded to exercise all appropriate discretion on a case-by-case basis when making detention and enforcement decisions in the cases of victims of crimes, witnesses to crime and individuals pursuing legitimate civil rights complaints," the memo states.
The policy could help hundreds and eventually thousands of immigrants, including immigrants facing wage and other issues on the job, Wishnie said. Immigrants are concentrated in low wage jobs and often face abuses, but in the past might not bother to pursue such claims, believing they would be deported before the cases were resolved, he said.
"When there is a civil rights complaint, one of the best ways to get rid of it was to deport the complainer," Williams said. "I don't know that anybody set out to get rid of a case that way but it winds up being a great way to get rid of cases."
Williams said there are not a lot of cases because immigrants are reluctant to file civil rights complaints.
But Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington D.C.-based think tank that supports tighter immigration controls, said the policy would encourage more claims as a way to prevent deportations. He questioned how officials would determine what is a legitimate complaint.
Krikorian said the Obama administration was not enthusiastic about enforcing immigration laws and was trying to ensure its civil rights allies that it was on their side.
But Gillian Christensen, an ICE spokeswoman, said the agency was prioritizing limited resources by focusing on criminal who are threats to public safety. More than half the immigrants deported last year were convicted criminals, a 70 percent increase in removal of criminal immigrants from the previous administration, she said.
South Carolina Lawmakers Pass Anti-Illegal Immigrant Bill via Latin American Herald Tribune
South Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature has approved a bill that would require police officers to check the immigration status of people they stop for another reason and force companies to ensure their employees are authorized to work in the United States.
SB 20, inspired by Arizona’s controversial SB 1070 law, will now go to the desk of GOP Gov. Nikki Haley, who has said she plans to sign it.
The state’s House of Representatives on Tuesday approved changes made last week by the Senate, which extended debate on the bill after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states have the right to compel employers to use the federal E-Verify system to determine whether jobseekers can legally work in the country.
Firms that defy the law could have their business license temporarily suspended or even revoked.
SB 20 requires police to review the immigration status of any person arrested or stopped for another reason and makes it a felony to make and sell fake photo IDs for undocumented immigrants.
The bill also makes it a misdemeanor for any adult – whether a foreigner or U.S. citizen – not to carry a form of official identification such as a driver’s license or immigration document while traveling within the state.
A wide swath of South Carolina’s economy, including the agriculture, construction, hotel, services and food sectors, depends in large part on immigrant labor, and farmers already have complained that – even with the bill still pending the governor’s signature – they are having trouble finding workers.
Data from the 2010 Census show that South Carolina’s Hispanic community increased by 147.7 percent over the past decade to 235,893, representing 5.1 percent of the state’s total population.
Yet, a study by the Pew Hispanic Center revealed that the number of undocumented immigrants in South Carolina fell 21.4 percent, from 70,000 to 55,000, since 2008. EFE
Data from the 2010 Census show that South Carolina’s Hispanic community increased by 147.7 percent over the past decade to 235,893, representing 5.1 percent of the state’s total population.
Yet, a study by the Pew Hispanic Center revealed that the number of undocumented immigrants in South Carolina fell 21.4 percent, from 70,000 to 55,000, since 2008. EFE
Feds Won't Deport Immigrants in Civil Rights Cases via Fox News Latino
The agency already allowed crime victims and witnesses to crimes to remain in the country.
"To avoid deterring individuals from reporting crimes and from pursuing actions to protect their civil rights, ICE officers, special agents and attorneys are reminded to exercise all appropriate discretion on a case-by-case basis when making detention and enforcement decisions in the cases of victims of crimes, witnesses to crime and individuals pursuing legitimate civil rights complaints," the memo states.
The policy could help hundreds and eventually thousands of immigrants, including immigrants facing wage and other issues on the job, Wishnie said. Immigrants are concentrated in low wage jobs and often face abuses, but in the past might not bother to pursue such claims, believing they would be deported before the cases were resolved, he said.
"When there is a civil rights complaint, one of the best ways to get rid of it was to deport the complainer," Williams said. "I don't know that anybody set out to get rid of a case that way but it winds up being a great way to get rid of cases."
Williams said there are not a lot of cases because immigrants are reluctant to file civil rights complaints.
But Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington D.C.-based think tank that supports tighter immigration controls, said the policy would encourage more claims as a way to prevent deportations. He questioned how officials would determine what is a legitimate complaint.
Krikorian said the Obama administration was not enthusiastic about enforcing immigration laws and was trying to ensure its civil rights allies that it was on their side.
But Gillian Christensen, an ICE spokeswoman, said the agency was prioritizing limited resources by focusing on criminal who are threats to public safety. More than half the immigrants deported last year were convicted criminals, a 70 percent increase in removal of criminal immigrants from the previous administration, she said.
Update
Hi all,
So I've graduated from UB and in the process of applying to the University at Central Florida's online Non-Profit Management MNM program. I'm still looking for housing in Columbia, SC where I'll be serving as a City Year member. The more I'm responding to ads, the less it seems that people know about it...oh well, I guess the upcoming team will have to spread the word! haha. I'll try and keep you all updated on what it's like to be a member. See ya!
So I've graduated from UB and in the process of applying to the University at Central Florida's online Non-Profit Management MNM program. I'm still looking for housing in Columbia, SC where I'll be serving as a City Year member. The more I'm responding to ads, the less it seems that people know about it...oh well, I guess the upcoming team will have to spread the word! haha. I'll try and keep you all updated on what it's like to be a member. See ya!
jueves 2 de junio de 2011
Nicaragua
Hola todos,
Ahora les voy a contar sobre mi experiencia en El Sauce, Nicaragua. Al final del programa tuvimos que escribir un Relfection Paper asi que voy a pegar eso aqui. Que lo disfruten!
I came to El Sauce, Nicaragua because I had never been to Central America and I wanted to have a productive winter. I had done an Intersession in Santiago, Chile the winter before and liked it but this time I wanted something different so when I saw that we would be doing service I thought it was perfect. At first I thought that there was a little disorganization and was worried whether this would be worth it but after getting settled in Nicaragua and starting the service project I loved it. I will never forget my time here in El Sauce because of the unity of our group and what we have accomplished here. Thank you for offering this uncommon Intersession study abroad experience—I am at my second to last day and it has been an amazing ride. At first I had chosen to shadow a health professional but after two days decided to change it for the recreation program because it seemed more rewarding. I do not regret this choice and I thank Yaqui and Kellan for allowing me to change it. I did not have any experience with little children so I am grateful that the rest of the group who had tons of experience with little children put up with me taking my first steps in leadership positions like the recreation program demanded of all of us. I never realized that so much planning went into programs like this and now I can appreciate them more (I never went to a camp or afterschool program). I know that my higher level of Spanish helped a little at least and this just reinforces my will to try new experiences and better my Spanish.
Participating in planning for the English class was truly a rewarding experience. I had been an ESL Conversation partner a couple of semesters back and this I feel was a great next step. The students were engaged and excited for learning. When we played games like the mystery or the TV commercial it was especially fun. During the weekdays we woke up early to get ready for the recreation program and after eating lunch we would go back to the office to plan for the next day or plan for the English class so our days were long and tiring. In the beginning I thought it would be a great idea to make it mandatory for the host families to have internet but then I realized that it wasn’t necessary.
New Years and now the time for the Fiesta Patronal was an original Nicaraguan experience. I wish we could have been here for the full deal of the Fiestas Patronales but maybe it’s better this way since El Sauce would become extremely populated. It’s true that it’s very noisy here but after awhile you get used to it and can get back to sleep. The chinamos here mostly have “American” things or cheap stuff made in China or Taiwan but the people here seem to take advantage of that since they are not that common. It was interesting to learn about the history of El Sauce and Nicaragua in general—I am glad a talk and museum tour was included in this Intersession. I was expecting there to be a difference in music here and was disappointed that there wasn’t a Nicaraguan genre or type of music that we heard off the streets but still I suppose it was good people here enjoy international music. The band from the Welcome Dinner was good and I wish they had offered CDs of their work though.
The tours that were organized for our group were great—I enjoyed León and Ocotal but I wished we had stayed in Managua for a couple of days to get to know it as well. My host grandma, Doña Fulvia was very nice—she is a great cook and I know she tried to cook things for me that was strange with her upbringing. Being a vegetarian in Nicaragua didn’t seem that hard with her cooking with soy meat and preparing gallo pinto and plantains. I do wish that it was more varied but I was told that eating the same food in Nicaragua is normal. I also suggest that in the future the option be given to the students if they want to have just 2 meals a day or 1 meal a day at their host family’s home so that they can try the rest of the food in El Sauce without having to skip a meal already included in the program fee or eat more than necessary. It was an interesting experience having to worry about there being no water on some days and definitely uncomfortable with all the gnats, flies and mosquitoes around but thankfully there were fans to blow them away (insect repellant was not enough) and keep us from sweating ourselves to death. Having to use the latrines was an uncomfortable, eye-opening experience—while I had to use them I hated it but now when I have one more day to go, I am grateful I had that experience because it makes me think of others around the world and how lucky I am to have a home to get back to with a more modern bathroom experience ( I did not have to take bucket showers like some of the girls but I feel I would have had this same conclusion had I needed to take those kind of showers). I would definitely recommend this program to others and would love to come back but we’ll see.
Ahora les voy a contar sobre mi experiencia en El Sauce, Nicaragua. Al final del programa tuvimos que escribir un Relfection Paper asi que voy a pegar eso aqui. Que lo disfruten!
I came to El Sauce, Nicaragua because I had never been to Central America and I wanted to have a productive winter. I had done an Intersession in Santiago, Chile the winter before and liked it but this time I wanted something different so when I saw that we would be doing service I thought it was perfect. At first I thought that there was a little disorganization and was worried whether this would be worth it but after getting settled in Nicaragua and starting the service project I loved it. I will never forget my time here in El Sauce because of the unity of our group and what we have accomplished here. Thank you for offering this uncommon Intersession study abroad experience—I am at my second to last day and it has been an amazing ride. At first I had chosen to shadow a health professional but after two days decided to change it for the recreation program because it seemed more rewarding. I do not regret this choice and I thank Yaqui and Kellan for allowing me to change it. I did not have any experience with little children so I am grateful that the rest of the group who had tons of experience with little children put up with me taking my first steps in leadership positions like the recreation program demanded of all of us. I never realized that so much planning went into programs like this and now I can appreciate them more (I never went to a camp or afterschool program). I know that my higher level of Spanish helped a little at least and this just reinforces my will to try new experiences and better my Spanish.
Participating in planning for the English class was truly a rewarding experience. I had been an ESL Conversation partner a couple of semesters back and this I feel was a great next step. The students were engaged and excited for learning. When we played games like the mystery or the TV commercial it was especially fun. During the weekdays we woke up early to get ready for the recreation program and after eating lunch we would go back to the office to plan for the next day or plan for the English class so our days were long and tiring. In the beginning I thought it would be a great idea to make it mandatory for the host families to have internet but then I realized that it wasn’t necessary.
New Years and now the time for the Fiesta Patronal was an original Nicaraguan experience. I wish we could have been here for the full deal of the Fiestas Patronales but maybe it’s better this way since El Sauce would become extremely populated. It’s true that it’s very noisy here but after awhile you get used to it and can get back to sleep. The chinamos here mostly have “American” things or cheap stuff made in China or Taiwan but the people here seem to take advantage of that since they are not that common. It was interesting to learn about the history of El Sauce and Nicaragua in general—I am glad a talk and museum tour was included in this Intersession. I was expecting there to be a difference in music here and was disappointed that there wasn’t a Nicaraguan genre or type of music that we heard off the streets but still I suppose it was good people here enjoy international music. The band from the Welcome Dinner was good and I wish they had offered CDs of their work though.
The tours that were organized for our group were great—I enjoyed León and Ocotal but I wished we had stayed in Managua for a couple of days to get to know it as well. My host grandma, Doña Fulvia was very nice—she is a great cook and I know she tried to cook things for me that was strange with her upbringing. Being a vegetarian in Nicaragua didn’t seem that hard with her cooking with soy meat and preparing gallo pinto and plantains. I do wish that it was more varied but I was told that eating the same food in Nicaragua is normal. I also suggest that in the future the option be given to the students if they want to have just 2 meals a day or 1 meal a day at their host family’s home so that they can try the rest of the food in El Sauce without having to skip a meal already included in the program fee or eat more than necessary. It was an interesting experience having to worry about there being no water on some days and definitely uncomfortable with all the gnats, flies and mosquitoes around but thankfully there were fans to blow them away (insect repellant was not enough) and keep us from sweating ourselves to death. Having to use the latrines was an uncomfortable, eye-opening experience—while I had to use them I hated it but now when I have one more day to go, I am grateful I had that experience because it makes me think of others around the world and how lucky I am to have a home to get back to with a more modern bathroom experience ( I did not have to take bucket showers like some of the girls but I feel I would have had this same conclusion had I needed to take those kind of showers). I would definitely recommend this program to others and would love to come back but we’ll see.
Puerto Vallarta
Sorry guys so much for the wait! My time in Puerto Vallarta con mi madre y abuela fue estupendo. Fuimos a ver bailes, el Malecon, museos, y comimos cocos frescos con lima, sal, chile, y chamoy--delicioso! Desde entonces ha sido adicta a los cocos pero no son tan comunes en los Estados Unidos de esa manera! Un dia fuimos a un tour en la "Jungla" pero realmente no lo recomendaria. Otro dia fuimos en una lancha a ver las ballenas porque eso estaba en temporada--hubieron tantas y sacamos buenas fotos y videos. No como en las otras partes de Mexico, Puerto Vallarta fue sin violencia o mencion del narcotrafico lo cual hizo que mi mama se pusiera calma. Los taxis en Puerto Vallarta son extremadamente caros asi que la mayoria del tiempo caminamos o usamos los camiones locales. No hubo un sitio web de las rutas de estos camiones como en Monterrey pero igual podimos averiguar cuales teniamos que subir.
Cuando vino mi novio, fuimos a un hotel mas cercano al centro. En general fue una buena estadia pero los trabajadores fueron muy sorprendidos de que eramos extranjeros. Nosotros caminamos mucho por la ciudad y fuimos a unos pueblos cercanos a visitar. Mi novio vino cerca a la Navidad asi que cuando nos toco el 25 de diciembre la familia y nosotros nos juntamos para celebrar en un restaurante brasileno cerca del condominio donde se encontraba mi mama y mi abuela. Fue riquisimo aunque yo solamente podia comer las ensaladas. Mi favorito fue de manzana con apio, mmmm.
Luego, mi novio y yo nos despidimos de mi mama y mi abuela el 28 de diciembre porque en aquel dia necesitabamos a viajar--el para los Estados Unidos y yo para Nicaragua donde iba a tener mi ultima sesion de study abroad.
Cuando vino mi novio, fuimos a un hotel mas cercano al centro. En general fue una buena estadia pero los trabajadores fueron muy sorprendidos de que eramos extranjeros. Nosotros caminamos mucho por la ciudad y fuimos a unos pueblos cercanos a visitar. Mi novio vino cerca a la Navidad asi que cuando nos toco el 25 de diciembre la familia y nosotros nos juntamos para celebrar en un restaurante brasileno cerca del condominio donde se encontraba mi mama y mi abuela. Fue riquisimo aunque yo solamente podia comer las ensaladas. Mi favorito fue de manzana con apio, mmmm.
Luego, mi novio y yo nos despidimos de mi mama y mi abuela el 28 de diciembre porque en aquel dia necesitabamos a viajar--el para los Estados Unidos y yo para Nicaragua donde iba a tener mi ultima sesion de study abroad.
martes 21 de diciembre de 2010
Venezuela tightens up Internet
Venezuelan parliament votes to tighten internet rules via BBC
Under the bill, online messages inciting hatred, or political and religious intolerance, are banned.
The new law also prohibits contents which is deemed to disrespect public officials.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says it will help protect citizens against online crimes.
Under the new rules, providers of online contents and internet portals could be fined if images or messages appearing on their sites "disrespect public authorities, incite or promote hatred or create anxiety in the citizenry or alter public order".
President Chavez says the law will shield citizens from messages promoting drug use, prostitution and other crimes.
"We aren't eliminating the internet here, or censoring it," he said during his weekly television and radio broadcast on Sunday.
"What we're doing is protecting ourselves against crimes, against cybercrimes," he added.
The measure was passed just days after parliament voted to give President Chavez special powers to pass laws by decree for 18 months.
Under the bill, online messages inciting hatred, or political and religious intolerance, are banned.
The new law also prohibits contents which is deemed to disrespect public officials.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says it will help protect citizens against online crimes.
Under the new rules, providers of online contents and internet portals could be fined if images or messages appearing on their sites "disrespect public authorities, incite or promote hatred or create anxiety in the citizenry or alter public order".
President Chavez says the law will shield citizens from messages promoting drug use, prostitution and other crimes.
"We aren't eliminating the internet here, or censoring it," he said during his weekly television and radio broadcast on Sunday.
"What we're doing is protecting ourselves against crimes, against cybercrimes," he added.
The measure was passed just days after parliament voted to give President Chavez special powers to pass laws by decree for 18 months.
Suscribirse a:
Entradas (Atom)