America's Most Beloved Illegal Immigrant

Just thought I'd point this out...just saying...

You know you are in Nicaragua when...

Found this on somones blog...thought it was pretty funny, feel free to add your own thoughts.

You know you're in Nicaragua when...

1. You see a random herd of goats walking down the street. Everyday.

2. Two grown men on one bike is not strange.

3. You see a man pushing a wheel barrel of piglets down the street, stop to take a picture and YOU are considered the weirdo.

4. Gringo/Gringa becomes your pet name.

5. A car horn becomes the new way to "just give a shout out".

6. You determine where to hang out based on who has a couch.

7. You regularly eat dinner out of a banana leaf.

8. It feels weird to be clean.

9. You've forgotten what air conditioning feels like.

10. 5'10 is considered abnormally tall.

11. No matter the song, someone is clapping along with it. Most likely off beat.

12. Seeing random drum lines in the street becomes second nature.

13. You hear fireworks at all hours of the day. No one knows why.

14. You wake up to two American songs and one Latina song playing full blast at the same time at the same place.

15. They block off your street for the most intense pick-up soccer game ever.

16. Car safety no longer applies. Especially when you see 7 people in one taxi.

17. You see million of little plastic bags ( that contained water) at a street.

18. Direction are given to you in reference to popular city markers.

19. You start sweating immediately after drying yourself from a shower.

20. Everyone is super friendly! ;-)

Mario Vargas Llosa, Nobel Prize in Literature 2010

It is with great joy today that I post the Nobel Prize for Literature has returned to Latin America after a 20 year drought (Mexican Poet, Octavio Paz won in 1990). Mario Vargas Llosa, a Peruvian, won the grand-daddy of all literature prizes last week (for a great article by one of my favorite professors click on the link). Unfortunately, I have not read a lot of his novels. In fact, the only novel that I began to read was "La Ciudad y Los Perros" (The Time of a Hero), to only stop reading it after my father rented the movie, and of course spoiled the ending.

I have read a lot of his criticism of Latin America though. During my graduate years at the University of Arizona, I read a lot of his articles criticizing the intellectual left of Latin America, such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Noble Prize Winner 1982) for their ideologies of what Latin America should be. It is always interesting to me how intellectuals in Latin America are perceived. For instance, Vargas Llosa is considered very right-wing, but for American standards, I'd say his views would be considered pretty moderate.

I am also glad the Nobel Committee was able to put political views aside and pick a candidate for their work of art. I say this because, as many literature aficionados would tell you, one of the greatest writers of all-time Jorge Luis Borges was denied a Nobel Prize because of his political views (so the rumor says).

Nevertheless, the Nobel Prize returning to Latin America puts an exclamation mark once again on how great writers of the Spanish language are. It is a triumph for everyone who speaks or loves the Spanish language. Congratulations Mario Vargas Llosa on uniting Latin America once again!

PALABRA Literary Magazine publication

I'm so happy today because one of my poems made it to a very well known and respected literary magazine, PALABRA. Although I have known they were going to publish my poem since this summer, the actual magazine is out and available for purchase.

The poem they chose to publish is called: Girls with Ice Cream. It is basically a poem I wrote while I was in Mexico last year, just sitting in one of the many plazas and observing the dynamics of schools girls chatting while creepy strange old men look at them. You'll have to purchase a copy of the magazine to see what I'm talking about.

I must say that I feel pretty proud being among a sharp group of poets in this magazine, two of which I'm friends with, Yago Cura and Suzanne Frischkorn.

Support Latino poets and purchase a copy for yourself...you owe it to the inner poet in you.

Wilbur is my homeboy

Time flies when you are having fun, as the old saying goes. This weekend my wife and I traveled down to Arizona for a very short trip. We arrived in Tucson at about 10:30 am and headed straight for my parents house. It had been since last April since I'd been home, but some things never change, especially home sweet home.

The trip was meant for a pre-celebration to my birthday this coming Friday. As part of my birthday present my brother, Aldo, got everyone tickets to the University of Arizona football game. My family has never really been big on football as U of A basketball has dominated the lime-light in Tucson for the past 20 years, but since our basketball team sinks like yesterdays underwear, our football team will had to do. To make things even better, we are ranked pretty high (or were ranked, until our lost that evening).

The Wildcats did not start off to a good start. I'm no expert on football, but I'd say that our defense lost the game for us. Just as it seemed we were going to get a turnover on downs, the Oregon State Beavers were right back in it. Their QB was pretty damn good. I was really impressed on how well he was connecting throughout the game.

How do you know you're in Tucson? When you hear a Mariachi play during half-time. Mariachis from different schools played during the half-time show. I love hearing Mariachi music, especially when I'm in Tucson. Although it isn't part of my immediate culture, it is part of my Tucsonan culture.

The game was great. The atmosphere was energetic and could be felt even more with our seats that were right next to the Oregon State fans. A lot of smack talking going back and forth. No fist punches, but we did see two pretty blondes talking smack to each other, my wife thought they would really fight. Although we lost the game, it was still so much fun hanging out with the familia and cheering on the home team.

I do have to say that Wildcat fans aren't as crazy as Husker fans, but we'll get there with our football team. Just to put things in perspective, season tickets for the Arizona games only cost $92 dollars, that kind of money might get you a decent seat at a Huskers football stadium. Well at least we don't have to put on corn-hats to show our die-hard loyalty to our team.

ps. How cool is the shirt my brother has of Wilbur the Wildcat!

Boys Town youth gets second chance

Although I never had her in class, I do remember her walking through the hallways. It is always nice to hear that our youth are able to change their lives with a little guidance from the Boys Town staff. Hopefully more stories like this are in the making! Check out her success story/video from the Chicago news here.

Calvin Crest, Mountain Bike Trail

If you are looking for a great mountain bike trail in the Omaha area,CalvinCrest is the place to be. This trail that runs about 4.5 miles, just opened this August and after doing the trail once, it has become my favorite trail. It has a little bit of everything for every rider. There are many dips and sharp turns that require a little more skill, but the pretty smooth ride between the forest is just right for novice riders.

Calvin Crest is located just outside of Fremont, NE (which is about 20 minutes from Omaha) on the edge of the Platte River. There is actually a point on the ride when you are riding right next to the river. It is a little tricky getting there and finding the trailhead, but once you are on the trail, it is very easy to follow.

The coolest part about the trail is the suspension bridge toward the end of the trail. I highly doubt any trail in Omaha has the same feature, but what a rush to ride on a moving bridge with a little creek underneath.

Check out some of the pictures from the ride! See you out there!!