Undergraduate / The Cuban miracle (surprising art/science/literature essay) [6]

What work of art, music, science, mathematics, or literature has surprised, unsettled, or challenged you, and in what way?

Listening to the Cuban trumpet and bongos, as the voice of Cuban singer Celia Cruz echoed the lyrics to her world famous song "Carnaval", reminded me of a gruesome story my grandpa once told me at a young age. As I listened to the essential meaning of the song in spanish, asserting that life was unfair at times but we must live through it, produced a flashback to my adolescence. My memory was shady at times, but I remembered the time my grandpa told me he fled Cuba during the Communist regime, leaving everything behind including his family. He endured a troublesome journey, relocating to Miami with nothing. As the bongos and trumpets continued to play, and as the tears held up in my eyes, I continued to relive the account of my grandpa. He arrived in Miami with the world in front of him but with no money, family or shelter. But as a true Hispanic knows, an opportunity can lead to many open doors. He worked tirelessly from his arrival and wound up at a prestigious job. At the sound of Celia Cruz's voice, I tremble at the onset with memories and flashbacks of my grandpa's gruesome struggle to stay alive on his journey to reach the American dream. I am constantly reminded that life is at times unfair, but we must move past these trying times and learn valuable lessons which can bring good fortune upon each of us.

Writing Feedback / 'Coral Gables, Miami' - My lost palace [3]

Discuss your favorite place to get lost.

Driving through the densely forested suburb of Miami called Coral Gables, in the pitch black of the night, is an average weekend adventure. Street signs are obscure, not having street numbers; however, Coral Gables has street names that sound identical because of the hispanic background. Within Coral Gables is where a great portion of the wealthy class of Miami resides. Houses are monstrous and look identical in size, shape, and color. Golf courses swarm within the suburb, further identifying the already prestigious suburb as wealthy and high class. Driving through Coral Gables on a weekend basis is asking the similar sounding streets to grasp you, twirl you around and throw you out into the black of the night to find your way back home.

Every weekend a friend and I drive into Coral Gables with one goal in mind, to get lost. This task might seem difficult and for amateurs, but in reality it is very easy and exhilarating within the suburb of Coral Gables. As we get lost through the streets, we enjoy the atmosphere and environment, and search for cues to find our way out such as my elementary school or even my tennis facility. Finding these cues is not an easy task because of the similar sounding streets which confuse us and make us feel as if we had completed a circle. Arriving home is not an easy task, and one might question our demeanor of purposely getting lost. I smile, pondering about getting lost again and phasing out their childish remarks because they do not know what they are missing out on.