#Puerto Rican expats | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

tricktster · 5 years ago

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Honestly, I cannot say enough about my german study abroad program, in no small part because the people i met through it were the wildest bunch i have ever met. We had:

Me, a cursed American stumbling through increasingly unlikely and unfortunate situations, including:

getting arrested and hauled off in a cop car for the serious crime of not transcribing the five digit number printed on the back of my bus ticket onto the front of my bus ticket

slipping on dog poop on a crowded street while running late for class (leading a number of tourists to run over and photograph me in my undignified heap on the cobblestones) only to suffer one final indignity when i had to leave my poop shoe out in the hall outside the classroom, and subsequently discovered after class that it had been (correctly) identified as garbage by the custodian, and had been disposed of

spending the entire month of November with essentially no money after a bank error caused me to be cut off from my US checking account, thereby forcing me to figure out how to survive by my wits alone in a series of schemes, cons, and 1€ sausages

burning my thumb so badly on an oven in an attempt to make the world’s worst stuffing for the world’s saddest expat thanksgiving that my friends all had an intervention where they gave me a single black glove to wear because it was grossing them all out.

Enough about me. There were also my closest friends:

L , a horrendously wealthy New Englander who would drop lines in her stories like “so we were all smoking opium in my parents library,” and, “so every time my room gets too dirty, i just move to the next one down until the whole wing is filthy.” In spite of everything I’ve just said, she was also a genuinely good and incredibly fearless person who would throw fists without hesitation if she thought anyone was insulting her friends. She had a weird sexual relationship with her obscenely wealthy family friend in Frankfurt, which the rest of us suspected maybe been part of a business deal that their parents arranged at birth. It was better than Game of Thrones, honestly.

Y, a four foot tall Puerto Rican that I met when we were both walking down the street kind of near each other and some wild impulse called me to say to her, without so much as an introduction, “Yeah, you walk pretty cool, but if you wanna walk REAL cool, you gotta do it like thissssss,” while kinda lunging around. Just as inexplicably, she chose to continue talking to me, and several months later the two of us ended up making a harrowing 2:00 am escape from the private bar of a frat house that we had suddenly noticed had an awful lot of Nazi memorabilia on the walls for a frat located in a country that had criminalized the display of Nazi symbols. “Why are you leaving?” The frat-nazis complained as we bolted. “You will come back tomorrow afternoon for the barbecue, ja?” “Ahahhahaha nein fucking way, motherfucker,” Y muttered under her breath as we smiled and nodded politely all the way out the private garden, through the enormous iron gates, and out into the night. Once we were in the clear, we stared at each other, shaken, until Y broke the silence. “Welp. Those guys were Nazis. That actually just happened. I can’t.... man, I dunno, i’m still processing, let’s just go get some fucking falafel.”

We did.

S, the Australian, who one time invited me over to her apartment, opened the fridge, grabbed a plate of cheese, shoved it under my nose while going “HERE SMELL THIS!” and while i lurched away, gagging, cheerfully added “IT’S REALLY FOUL, RIGHT? ONE OF THE WOST THINGS I’VE EVER SMELLED!!” She was also absolutely obsessed with High School Musical, and was very disappointed every time the Americans shattered one of her illusions about the US public school system.

K, the girl from New Zealand, who had broken up with her serious boyfriend shortly before leaving for Germany, causing her to mourn his loss every time she got drunk by describing his penis with increasingly strange metaphors, such as “like a big wax candle but part of it’s gone,” and “like one leg off a spider.”

So, i had a pretty solid crew of five big weirdos. But there were, naturally, more people than the five of us in our program. For example:

R, from Minnesota, who dressed like she was about 72 and glared at anyone who was laughing too loudly near her because “i just don’t think jokes are funny.” More importantly, she would post facebook videos of herself reciting, entirely sincerely and in a steady monotone, the worst fucking poems that I have ever heard. She posted them under a pen name that was along the same lines as “the lyrical falcon.” She was in a feud with not one but two poetry clubs at her christian college, and while she never admitted this, all evidence suggested that it was because they both kicked her out. She was the Tommy Wisseau of poems. They were so bad they looped back around to good. Also, one time on the train she told me that she liked to think that she was a very good kisser because she played the french horn so she had strong mouth muscles. when i finally recovered from the mortal blow that she just delivered my soul, I asked her if she blew into people when she kissed them, and she got so insulted that she blocked me from her facebook poetry page. let me back in, R. please, if you’re reading this, let me back in.

They’re good poems, R.

Zoolander, from Pennsylvania, who was so, so handsome, but so, so, so dumb. One time he told me about this dream he had, and it was just an entire episode of Dexter’s lab. No changes or anything, he just... dreamed that he was watching that episode, and then the whole thing played in his head until it was done. He said it was the best dream he’d ever had. I once watched him pick up the same coin off the street four times because he couldn’t figure out that his pocket had a hole in it. When he noticed me, he said excitedly “Somebody left money everywhere!”

Juan, who constantly confused all the kids from Spain who went up to talk to him in their native tongue, only to discover that he was a very sarcastic man from Liverpool who didn’t speak a word of Spanish and was sick of everyone trying to bond with him. He only liked the Americans, because that’s where the tv show Family Guy was from, and only the Americans liked him, because we tend to like surly british assholes for basically no reason. At the end of the program while we were all saying our goodbyes, he came up to me, looking really upset. “I can’t believe it,” He said, uncharacteristically serious. “I can’t believe it’s all over and i’ll never...” He looked like he was about to cry.

“Oh, dude, we can keep in touch on facebook or something?” I fumbled. He blinked.

“What? No, no, ugh, it’s just the last day of the program and I’ve LOST MY FOOKIN SCARF!” he roared.

God, I know this is weird, but I still really miss that guy.

The Croatian: There was a dude from Croatia in my apartment building who outright refused to tell me his name, because, “It’s an embarrassing word in English. You’d laugh.” I badgered him for five months, until finally, his defenses down, after many earnest promises that no matter what his name was, I would not laugh, he relented.

“My name is Tin.” He said sheepishly.

His name was fucking Tin.

Beardy, Beardo, Redbeard, and Weirdbeard: four drastically different young men from all across our beautiful planet who had one thing in common: thinking that they’d try out a beard while they were abroad. We always admired them from a distance, and compared their beards’ various unique and bad properties, until one day Beardy (who was australian and had developed a sort of flesh colored goatee) walked up to S, his countryman, in a club. “DO YOU WANT TO DANCE?” he yelled, trying to get her attention, but she was in a dance-off with K, and didn’t notice, so he tapped her shoulder. She whirled around, startled, and upon recognizing him, said without thinking, “OH, HI BEARDY!”

The song faded out.

Beardy stared at S.

��...Did you just call me ‘Beardy?’” he asked quietly. S looked like a deer in the headlights. She glanced towards me, hoping for an out, but I, dear reader, was laughing too hard to be of any use.

“You did,” he went on, “you called me ‘Beardy!’ Why!?”

“Cuz of your beard, probably. That’s a better name for you than Josh.” Zoolander interjected from out of nowhere, strolling out of the club, a beautiful woman on each arm.

“My name isn’t Josh...” Beardy tried to call after him.

“Who’s name isn’t Josh? Oh! Beardy!” A drunk K could be heard deducing from the back of the room.

He shaved it a week later, but the damage was done. He was Beardy for the rest of the semester.

When I look back on that period of my life now, I can’t help but reflect - with the clarity one only gets from experience - that my time in Germany was not as weird as I thought it was at the time. I lacked the perspective to see that it was all, actually, absolutely bonkers batshit nuts. It was some sitcom shit.

All in all, I highly recommend it.

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reading-writing-revolution · 5 years ago

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This is long but an important insight..m.

Yu Li - Posted originally

February 8 at 8:09 AM ·

Thanks for speak out! Mario Cavolo

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加油中国！When the United States 2009 H1N1 swine flu emerged, an international emergency, a declared global pandemic, it eventually infected 60 million and initially killed a minimum of 18,449 cases that year. But the final story of the H1N1 global pandemic was far worse than that, with close to 300,000 deaths, according to the final tallies in 2012 reported by the CDC, as you will read below.

Which is why I am scratching my head at how bizarrely negative forces are attacking China and Chinese people as it engages a remarkably aggressive front addressing this Corona virus outbreak which started in Wuhan, central China. I am forced to ask and answer a few questions.

During 2009 H1N1 outbreak, I don't recall xenophobic anti-America attacks across the globe, do you? In fact, do you recall it took six months for the U.S. to declare a national emergency? Did any government from the onset in April 2009 through the end in April 2010, including the month of June, when H1N1 was declared an international emergency global pandemic, then send out a notice to its citizens that they should leave the United States? Close their borders to American travelers? Nope, not a peep.

Like I said, something's not right, folks. I am reading hateful vicious attacks on the Chinese government for their supposed intentional conspiracy to intentionally under report the number of infections, yet that is exactly and always the case with such flu outbreaks no matter what country and the CDC reports illustrate that crystal clear. The U.S. H1N1 swine flu numbers were vastly underestimated and updated three years later, because dear friends, that is the nature of such viral outbreaks which don't care which country they started in. There is never enough man power, there are never enough test kits, there is never enough medicine or medical supplies. China is not trying to hide these hardships, they are well known, they are being reported on the news daily in China. There are always people who die, thousands of them whom we'll never know if they actually died because of a particular virus. Those are the facts, not any problem unique to China's healthcare system or government.

Its not a conspiracy, its just tragedy.

According to the June 27, 2012 research report followup three years later, it gets much more disturbing when you learn about the CDC's final estimate of the H1N1 virus global death toll. You and I find at this at this article at the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy website, the CDC's 18,449 total deaths number was "...regarded as WELL BELOW THE TRUE TOTAL, mainly because many people who die of flu-related causes are not tested for the disease." So during the 2009 outbreak, was anyone accusing the American medical and government authorities of hiding the numbers? Were Americans with hidden cameras strolling into the Mayo Clinic to PROVE how many people were really dying? The absurdity of these vicious attacks are that whether or not a person specifically does have the Corona virus or some other viral bug presenting as pneumonia, the treatment is the same supportive treatment anyway.

Something's not right here folks. The world should be applauding China's unprecedented, broad, aggressive response. (WHO officials and many other government and healthcare officials across the globe are.) I am on the ground here in China READ IT HERE watching with my own eyes and it is quite incredible by any measure, not to mention an enormous economic sacrifice.

Instead of looking at the will of an entire system of government acting faster than any other government on the planet could, we are one month later, still busy bashing a few local government officials in Wuhan who should have told us a couple weeks sooner. And yes, that is true those local officials screwed up. And by the way, those officials are in deep trouble for it. Just like the recent Puerto Rican politicians who are in trouble when we learned they didn't distribute hurricane emergency supplies that were sent to them to help during last year's terrible hurricane. A disgrace. Individual people screw up all the time and hopefully justice gets served later, but that's not an indictment of an entire country's government. Secondly, on this point, every provincial government has sent out a notice to its government officials pretty much saying that if they are stupid enough to do the same, they will face the wrath of harsh punishment. I don't doubt it for a moment. Lets contrast to what countless western politicians have gotten away with and remain in office to remind all of us that human error, stupidity and greed is not unique to any particular skin color or race or country. "What about..." reactions don't help.

And here's the mic drop for you: "The CDC researchers estimate that the H1N1 2009 pandemic virus caused 201,200 respiratory deaths and another 83,300 deaths from cardiovascular disease associated with H1N1 infections." Total: 284,000 deaths. Shocking, isn't it?

Was there a travel ban for any length of time to and from the United States?

Did China, Germany, Japan or any other country close their border to American travelers?

Today I noticed in the updates that following the United States Department of State policy suggesting U.S. citizens leave China, the United Kingdom embassy just released the same recommendation to subjects of the kingdom.

In 2009, did UK subjects in America get a notice from their kingdom to leave America? No.

Did the world suggest we isolate from America? Close the U.S. borders!? No.

Did Americans get xenophobically attacked and targeted by anti-American sentiments like the Chinese are experiencing now? Um, no.

Fascinating and disturbing to say the least. If you're an expat currently in China, unless you're in Wuhan, fact is that you're most likely safer and more peaceful and more stable by simply staying put than by leaving right now. You couldn't be safer than in this country, where almost everyone is staying home and dutifully isolating themselves with awareness. Not to mention that the Chinese government's decision to safeguard the society, the families, the people, is coming at a devastating economic cost in the hundreds of billions.

I have a friend in Mesa, Arizona. He told me earlier that the big popular China City buffet, a huge busy place, has no customers. Does that make any sense at all?

Let's test our ability to reason, to be rational:

If you were in Miami and you heard that there was a virus outbreak that started in Milan, in central Italy, would you cancel your dinner reservation at the Italian restaurant that night in South Beach? No. Would you buy a pizza next week at Joey's Pizzeria in Delray Beach?

If you were in Singapore and you heard there was a virus outbreak in Dallas, Texas in the central United States, would you stop going to your favorite local Texas southern BBQ restaurant with the owner from Houston, in Singapore?

Would you avoid olive-skinned dark-haired Italian-looking people on the street in Chicago? Would you avoid big guys wearing cowboy hats, cuz they're obviously from Texas in Singapore cuz there's a virus in Dallas and they might have just gotten off the plane? There's a strange senseless bullying extremism and activism in today's society and you should do your best to avoid it and not be a part of it. It is fomented by a small group of extremist activists while definitely not supported by your average mainstream person who is simply exhausted by their outrage-inducing antics.

Finally, here are some straight up, sensible accurate descriptions of this Corona virus which started in Wuhan, China. Its not called the China virus and neither was H1N1 called the America virus. Whether two weeks or two months from now, this flu season type virus will have passed and the joy of Spring will have arrived. Just like every flu season. However, don't misunderstand me. The extra caution and the remarkable response by the Chinese governments and people together to quell the spread of this virus was warranted because, yes it is correct that this corona virus is nastier than the usual annual flu bug, as was H1N1 in 2009. As of now, what we can confidently note the following regarding this Corona virus:

This Corona virus is highly contagious, it spreads quite easily. It binds to lung tissue and so in particular, likes to cause pneumonia, that's what infection of lung tissue is. That's more severe than a respiratory infection which is only in your throat or bronchial tubes.

The Corona virus currently has a 2% death rate. That's a lot higher, around 20x higher, than a more typical annual flu virus with a death rate of 0.1%. However, a 2% death rate is still much lower by comparison to the SARS virus which had a 9% death rate or the MERS virus with a really nasty 37% death rate.

The Corona virus is causing severe symptoms in 10-15% of cases. 80% to 90% of deaths from this virus are happening in elderly patients, mostly with other existing health problems, not younger people. That characteristic by the way, is in contrast to the America 2009 H1N1 swine flu virus which in fact had a higher death rate amongst younger people including children rather than those over 60 years old.

China identified and shared the Corona virus genome in record times, in only days and of course, immediately shared it with all international health and disease organizations. Medical researchers are already discovering that certain existing anti-viral medications seem to be effective against this Corona virus.

Its impossible not to marvel at China's broad and aggressive domestic response directed by the provincial level governments to restrict movement, restrict transportation, restrict business for a period of time combined with the voluntary dutiful cooperation of its 1.3 billion citizens who are in the majority quietly staying at home these weeks to let the virus pass; this model response is already being hailed by the international community as a remarkable unprecedented response setting a new standard in understanding what is possible for future outbreaks in whatever country they may occur. Is it inconvenient and costly. You bet.

Like I said, something's not right with the way humanity is responding to what's happening here. I haven't put my finger on it because well, its certainly complex and the world is upside down in many other ways that I also can't for the life of me understand or explain without ending up writing a very thick book.

But I do know this: It needs to stop. This vicious, political, xenophobic racist attacks and smearing of all things China needs to stop. Its really not helping anyone in the political corridors of Washington nor is it doing anything to help the man on the street who is just concerned with taking care of his family.

My family is originally from the Basilicata region of Italy, the little hillside Italian towns of Potenza and also, Grottola, which is just outside of Matera. They left their home country and moved to America where I was born, in Yonkers, New York. America became their home and it was my home until I left, too. Now over two decades ago, I left the United States, the country I was born in, the country that has plenty to admire and plenty to improve. But I left and I came to China and now China is my home. If you had asked me thirty years ago if this was my life plan on planet earth, I would have said you were nuts or a really bad fortune teller. But that's how it has turned out. I am truly blessed with my lovely Chinese wife and our family living here in Shenyang in China's northeast. You get my meaning? I am a mature adult like many with the powers of observation. I can easily see that whether we are talking about China or the United States or any other country, their societies and their governments have good points and bad points.

The xenophobia needs to stop now. Whether in a couple of weeks or months later, this nasty flu type Corona virus will begin declining and the joy of Spring will arrive. Between now and then if you don't have anything good, anything supportive to say about China or Chinese people, how about you just keep your mouth shut.

Mario Cavolo, Shenyang.

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newstfionline · 7 years ago

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U.S. companies see opportunity in exodus from storm-ravaged Puerto Rico

By Chico Harlan, Washington Post, January 1, 2018

HURON, S.D.--The airport terminal doors slid open and out came 22 people from Puerto Rico, walking a few weeks ago into the whipping South Dakota wind, not quite ready for what was ahead. One person still wore shorts. Another zipped up a hoodie. The group climbed into three waiting vans.

“You guys good?” asked one of the drivers who would be taking them to their new home. “Does anybody speak English?”

“No,” one person said, and the driver let the van go silent before turning up some country music.

Through the windows, there were miles of emptiness, and Gretchen Velez, 21, looked at the others in the van and was quiet. She’d started the day on an island that was desperately short on electricity and clean water and jobs because of Hurricane Maria. Now, 10 hours later, she was in South Dakota--a place she knew almost nothing about, other than what a job recruiter had told her, that he had a position for her at a turkey processing plant in a rural town nearly 3,000 miles away.

Velez had never left Puerto Rico, but after years of economic crisis and then a natural disaster, almost everybody she knew was wondering whether they had any choice but to go. By some counts, nearly 2,000 Puerto Ricans were leaving every day, and in that exodus, some mainland U.S. companies were starting to see an opportunity of their own--a new answer in their ever-evolving struggle to find workers who would perform lower-rung American jobs. “Off to my new life,” Velez had told her mother that morning, but now she was wondering: What am I doing here? Is this the right thing?

Another way to ask it: How does someone arrive at such a place in the U.S. workforce? When Velez and the others arrived in Huron after a two-hour ride from the airport, it was after midnight, and on the horizon were the lights of a turkey plant called Dakota Provisions. The temperature had dipped into the 30s, and earlier in the day, fierce wind gusts had carried thousands of white turkey feathers from the plant, scattering them for several miles, onto farmland and road medians, and onto the grounds of a motel where the vans now pulled up. The Puerto Ricans unloaded their luggage, and a Spanish-speaking human-resources employee from the turkey plant passed out keys and showed them to their rooms.

The employee guided Velez and her brother Carlos, along with a friend who had also come, to a room on the second floor. They stepped inside and looked around. The lights worked. So did the TV. Warm water came out of the bathroom faucet.

“Everything okay?” the employee asked, and when Velez said “Yes,” he said, “Have a good night.”

Velez pushed her suitcases into the corner and then tried to make the room feel like home, walking over to the thermostat and turning the heat to high.

Ten weeks earlier, Velez had been a college student with a part-time job and no plans to leave Puerto Rico. But then the hurricane hit, bringing with it 30 inches of rain and 120 mph winds, and when it was over she had knee-high water in her house and no idea what to do. She had lost her job; the building where she’d worked was flooded. Her college classes were canceled. The train she used to commute wasn’t running. As the weeks passed, Velez saw only deeper evidence of a place falling apart: long lines for bottled water; empty grocery shelves; waits at Kmart where residents could charge electronics. To catch phone service, Velez walked toward a cell tower until she had enough of a connection to see the goodbye notes friends were posting on Facebook as they left the island. And then, one day, a different kind of message popped up, posted by her cousin, about an opportunity in South Dakota at a turkey plant where he worked. “Take advantage!” he wrote.

The turkey plant had opened 12 years earlier and since then had grown into one of the largest employers in South Dakota, with more than a thousand workers. It had also transformed the character of Huron: The starting-level jobs--breast-pullers, carcass-loaders, bird-hangers--rarely attracted anyone from the local workforce, so instead the plant filled with people from all over the world. Soon, a town that had been 97 percent white had four Asian grocery stores and a school district where half the students were learning English as a second language, and at the center of it was a plant in constant need of workers--people who would be ready every morning as trucks dropped off 19,000 live turkeys that would be killed, deboned, sectioned and sliced, and wrapped for restaurants and grocery stores.

For a year, the company had tried recruiting in Puerto Rico, where the economy over a decade had already contracted 10 percent. But then came the hurricane, and in the turkey plant’s HR office, one of the recruiting managers, Oscar Luque, saw news footage of what looked to him like a “Third World country.” He asked Puerto Ricans already at the plant to spread the word that he was coming. He flew to the island with 48 drug-test kits, somehow found a vacant hotel room in San Juan, and waited to see who would show up.

Over the next week, with workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency still directing traffic, 80 people came from across the island to meet with him. Luque told them about the work--that it was repetitive, physical, “not always pretty.” He told them about the wages--$10.00 per hour, jumping soon after to $12 or $13. He said the company would fly them to South Dakota and slowly deduct the flight costs out of their paychecks. He described the jobs available.

“A good opportunity,” Luque called it, and he offered the job to welders and bartenders and security guards, and then to Velez, who said she would come, and then sold her iPod and a video game console to gather spending cash for the trip.

The morning after she arrived in South Dakota, she opened the motel room curtains and looked outside. Just beyond the parking lot was a baseball field, a restaurant called The Plains and a 28-foot-tall statue of a pheasant, the region’s favorite hunting target. She put on three layers, walked outside and video-chatted with her boyfriend back in Puerto Rico, holding up her phone to show him the view.

“Is that a duck?” he asked when Velez walked up to the bird.

“I don’t think so,” she said, and when they talked again the next day she told him that Huron was very cold and quiet, that it was flat, that it had nice houses and also a Salvation Army, where she’d picked up a red winter coat, one that she planned to wear during her shifts inside the plant.

As her first day of work approached, she had so many questions about how life inside the plant would feel. How would the turkeys look? Would she see blood? Could she handle the cold? During two days of orientation--mostly instructions on safety and health--she didn’t once see the work area. It was only on the eve of her first shift, while she was being fitted for rubber boots, that a veteran Puerto Rican employee walked out of the work area and into the break room. He was tall, with a neck tattoo and skinny sideburns, and quickly drew a crowd around him.

“First two weeks, you’ll hurt,” he said. “But you’re coming from Puerto Rico. Put your heart into it. This is your life.”

The next morning, there was a fresh layer of snow on the ground. At the plant, 19,900 turkeys arrived in trucks and 22 workers clocked in for the first time.

“I’m a little nervous,” her brother said.

“I’m okay,” Velez said.

She’d been assigned to the deboning room, one of about 185 workers standing shoulder to shoulder. She buttoned a white smock over her red jacket, pulled on her rubber boots and walked through two swinging doors, entering a narrow, frigid hallway that led to her work area. In the hallway, she stopped by a booth that provided her the rest of her equipment, and she pulled it on layer by layer--a vinyl apron, a hairnet, protection for her ears and eyes, a pair of cotton gloves, and over that a pair of rubber gloves, and on her right hand a mesh steel glove for protection against cuts.

“All right, let’s go,” a supervisor said, and he led her down the hallway and into a room with high ceilings, bright lights, silver metal surfaces and a temperature set at 36 to 38 degrees.

This was her first time inside the plant. Her eyes darted. To her right, she saw plucked and headless turkeys arriving into the room on a chute, where workers picked them up and hooked them by their feet to a conveyor belt. She saw the turkeys then move into deeper recesses of the room, where people with knives hacked and disassembled them, separating drumsticks and wings, scapulas and wishbones. Finally, plump pieces of breast meat arrived on conveyors at a table of 16 workers, who used knives and meat hooks to trim a piece every four or five seconds.

Everywhere she looked, she saw people from somewhere else. Only a handful seemed to be local. The people hanging the birds were from Burma. Some of the people trimming the breasts were from Puerto Rico. Deeper in the factory, cutting skin, removing organs, there were people from Cuba and Guatemala and Vietnam. More than a dozen were from Chuuk, an island chain in Micronesia.

A supervisor, from Haiti, led Velez to her station, on what was called the wing line. “Thank you!” Velez said, shouting to him over the noise, and then another worker, from Puerto Rico, pulled Velez aside and showed her the motion she would make hundreds of times for the rest of the day: picking up a turkey wing from a trough in front of her. Setting it on a white cutting surface. Using a knife, shaped like a small ice-cream scooper, to pull the wing meat away from the bone and then dropping it onto a conveyor belt.

“Try it,” the other worker said, and Velez settled in.

On her first attempt, she fumbled with the knife and missed half the meat. Her second attempt was better, and same with her third. But on her fourth, she dragged the knife into the bone and got stuck. Her fifth, she fought to yank away the skin. The wings were massive and slippery, she thought; she couldn’t figure out how best to hold them. She was a lefty, using a knife designed for righties.

She was on the line with five other workers, and no matter how fast they cut, they couldn’t keep up. Every few minutes, somebody came by with a shovel and dumped more wings into the trough. The trough was never empty, and there was no time to look elsewhere. Velez kept her head down, eyes on the knife and the cutting space and the wings, grabbing and cutting, grabbing and cutting. She handled a wing every 20 seconds, and then every 18. Flecks of turkey fat flew onto her apron and got matted into her steel glove.

Then, the cold set in. Somehow, she would later say, it seemed to build and build, sinking into her feet and hands, and impossible to shake away. The meat was cold. The knife was cold. Even the ground felt cold, and after hours of cutting, Velez walked gingerly into the break room. “It hurts a little,” she told a more experienced worker, who said, “Oh, yeah, it does.”

She returned to the line. The wings kept coming. She trimmed a wing in 25 seconds, then 22 seconds, then 29. The muscles in her hands kept tightening, and between cuts she bent back her fingers on the table. She adjusted her gloves. She sharpened her knife. She sharpened her knife again.

With 15 minutes to go, she found a last wind. She shook her hands and picked up the wings as quickly as she could--13 seconds, 15 seconds--until another worker looked at the clock and said the day was almost over. Velez cut the meat from one more wing and dropped it onto the belt.

Other workers guided her out of the deboning room, into a cleanup area where she washed bits of turkey flesh and skin from her boots, her rubber gloves, her apron. She said she was exhausted. She said the muscles in her lower legs hurt from standing. She said the muscles in her hand hurt from cutting. She tried to make a fist and couldn’t. “I’m just so tired,” she said.

She walked slowly toward the turkey plant’s exit and, while waiting for the other workers to filter out, sat in a chair and dropped her head on a table. Her first day as a worker in South Dakota was over. The next morning, her alarm would ring at 5 a.m.

“I need to get some sleep,” she said, but for now, all she wanted to do was get a ride back to the motel. She wanted to get back to Puerto Rico eventually, but here, for her, was opportunity--the chance to stand under a hot shower for as long as it took to take away the chill of the day.

#Puerto Rico #Puerto Rican expats #South Dakota #Dakota Provisions #turkey factory

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dekabesdomino · 2 years ago

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There are a large number of Dominoes games available on the internet. These games are from different categories, and you can enjoy each one of them thoroughly if you choose the right website. Moreover, you will find it easier to play this game because you do not need to search for people to play this game. All you need to do is check out the right website that allows you to play this game with seasoned players. This makes it much easier for you to enjoy your favorite Dominoes games without any trouble. On such websites, you can play six-point games, three dominoes card games, and much more.

Reducing Stress

There are lots of games that are known for increasing stress in the mind of the players. But Dominoes is certainly not one of them. You can easily understand the double six Dominoes rules and can start playing. You will notice that your stress levels will decrease when you play this game. So, it is surely something that you will enjoy thoroughly. Hence, if you wish to improve your mental health, this game can also be helpful.

About Dekabes Domino:

Dekabes Domino has been offering dominoes games and information such as dominoes game rules on their website. This game is dedicated to Haitian expats. You can enjoy playing this game if you adore the Haitian taste. You will surely enjoy every second that you spend playing it thoroughly. So, check out the website today.

To play Dominoes games, visit https://dekabesdomino.com/

Original Source: https://bityl.co/FZLZ

#Puerto Rican dominoes rules

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zeldahime · 2 years ago

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The thought of moving to Puerto Rico briefly crossed my mind so I googled to see the process, and holy crap the articles on the internet about it are 😬😬😬

Do they not realize that Puerto Rico being in the United States means Puerto Ricans are Americans??? And Americans living there are not expats??? And that “you don’t have to learn Spanish! Many of the locals are happy to communicate with you in English, especially in (list of tourist resort towns)” is terrible advice to give???? Like, you’re contemplating moving to their neighborhood, at least try to follow their social norms.

(Conclusion for my actual question is: exactly the same as moving to another state, but a U-Haul won’t work because it’s an island. So like moving to Hawaii, or the Florida Keys, or Nantucket.)

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braveaioli · 6 years ago

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So I’m a new expat to a country, and this year is the first year I haven’t spent Thanksgiving with my family. My friend invited me to her family’s, who are longtime expats, which was just full of amazing food (cornbread! Puerto Rican rice! Empanadas! An actual turkey! MAC AND CHEESE!). They played Christmas movies and we all ate and drank and it was lovely.

Halfway through the night, we started watching Thor: Ragnarok (the best party movie) and when Tessa Thompson came on, everyone started talking about how she’s Janelle Monae’s girlfriend. Except one person says, “oh I don’t think they’re actually dating. I think Janelle is just saying she’s gay cause it’s cool to be gay now.” And someone said, “isn’t she bi?” And the first person responded, “who isn’t these days?” I started to get uncomfortable, because, well, I’m bi. Should I say something?

Then they start debating bi versus pan. They defined pan as any gender, inclusive of trans people, focus on the person; bi as two genders, nothing more. Not to start That Discourse™️ on my timeline but I define bi as attraction to two more genders, and certainly inclusive of trans people. I know there’s a wider discourse on it but look—I’m bi, I’m defining how it means for me in context of how many bi people also define it for themselves.

Anyway I felt awkward. My heart started racing for some reason. Should I say something? I didn’t want to out myself. I didn’t even want to say anything at all. One kid, a 15 year old, said “wait no that’s bisexual—bisexual phobia” but no one listened to her and moved on. I’m so proud of her for standing up to these adults, and I wish I’d jumped in too so they’d listen to her. Finally someone said, “why are we even talking about this?” And they moved on.

Overall it was a lovely night, and it was so nice to feel a slice of home with good food and funny people. They were honestly wonderful people in general. But—casual homophobia. It strikes again. I feel the need to defend myself by saying I’m not offended. But I still feel the need to type this out. So clearly it impacted me in some way. Blah.

#personal #I don’t know why I’m posting this #queer

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jerezanas · 8 years ago

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puerto rico’s subreddit is half people talking about oscar and half really fokin annoying gringos bein like “hi :))) we’re looking for a house in puerto rico!!! we speak no spanish whatsoever, would like a great view of the ocean plus a place with absolute zero chance of ever having to interact with any spics!!! and also fantastic internet connection is a must. #ExpatLife”

#in case u couldnt tell #i hate american expats and their terrible attitude towards locals #(obvi this is not about puerto ricans returning to puerto rico)#(this is about rich americans thinking that the entire country is here to serve them)

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easyfoodnetwork · 4 years ago

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Everything You Need to Know About Costa Rican Food

A dish from manos en la masa in San José, Costa Rica | Courtesy of Hulu

Abundant farmland, seas, and jungles, plus a stunning mix of cultural influences, have made Costa Rica a Latin American food destination

Costa Rica is one of the few countries on earth where someone can spend an entire week and leave without having any real sense of the local cuisine. The closest many travelers ever get is trying zapote and guanábana at the hotel breakfast bar, secluded inside a resort town, surrounded by expats. What they miss out on is one of Latin America’s most underappreciated cuisines.

This is a country where anything and everything grows. You can walk down the busiest streets in San José and pick pitaya and wild tomatoes right from the sidewalk. Beyond the cattle ranches and coffee plantations, small farmers grow vegetables like chayote, arracacha, and purple corn that are often sold through the country’s vast network of ferías, the weekly regional farmers markets held in every corner of the country. There are minty drinks from mucilaginous, chia-like seeds of a plant called chan, and syrups made from the carob-like pods of a tree called carao. There are addictive bar snacks made from beans and chicharrón, plus seafood from two coasts. Corn is ubiquitous, used to make tortillas, tamales, and cookies.

Costa Rica was one of the first countries to allow American travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and restaurants remain open at reduced capacity. While the safety of international travel is still not clear, for future trips, plan to step outside of the expat bubble, away from the multinational hotel chains and toward any small-town restaurant or market — you’ll see the world of Costa Rican cuisine begin to open up. Here, then, is a comprehensive guide to navigating all the ins and outs of eating in Costa Rica.

Courtesy of Hulu

An indigenous woman from the Amburi Koswak tribe plates a traditional Costa Rican spread

Understanding the Influences

“We are a beautiful mix of cultures,” says chef Pablo Bonilla, whose restaurants Sikwa and Francisca reinterpret Indigenous and pre-1950s recipes, respectively. “From Spain came the Catalans, Andalusians, Galicians. Africans came from Guinea, Ghana, and later via Jamaica. Plus, Indigenous descendants of the Mayas in the north and Chibchas in the south.”

Prior to colonization by the Spanish, Costa Rica fell in between the more dominant cultural groups from the north and south, and the country’s present-day Indigenous communities reflect this overlap. In Guanacaste and the Nicoya peninsula, communities of Chorotega, the southernmost descendants of the Maya, still grow and process corn much in the same way they have for thousands of years. Many of their traditional foods, such as tortillas and pancake-like chorreadas, were adapted by the wider population, while the use of porridges and drinks made from maíz pujagua, or purple corn, are more isolated. In the mountainous Talamanca region in the south, communities of Bribri and Boruca people live off the land, safeguarding many ancestral ingredients, while also growing cacao for wider consumption.

Like in the rest of the region, colonization swept across the land like a hurricane, wiping out much of Costa Rica’s native foodways while introducing European livestock and agriculture. The Spanish cut down forests to raise cattle and pigs and planted wheat and rice. Many national recipes, such as olla de carne and countless sweets, are of Spanish origins, having been adapted to involve regional ingredients.

While some Afro-Costa Ricans are descended from enslaved Africans who were forcibly brought to the region during the colonial period, a far greater number are descendants of the English-speaking Jamaican migrants who came in the 19th century and settled on the Caribbean coast. Here, coconut milk is a staple ingredient, used in seafood stews like rondon or to cook rice and beans, as are root vegetables like cassava and yams.

While it hasn’t always been for the best, the United States has also left its mark on Costa Rican cuisine. A surge of Americans have migrated to the country in recent decades, more than 70,000 by some estimates, and many have gone on to open restaurants and start small culinary projects, with mixed success. However, American influence has a much lengthier history tied to monocultures (banana, pineapples, coffee), which have had drastic effects on the country’s food system as well as the environment.

Shutterstock

A classic casado de res served on banana leaf

The Dishes to Know

Gallo pinto (rice and beans)

Claimed by both Costa Rica and Nicaragua, gallo pinto is the regional variation of rice and beans, which is usually seasoned with bell peppers, cilantro, and onions. The name, which translates to “spotted rooster,” refers to the spots of beans that stand out against the white rice, though sometimes it’s just referred to more casually as pinto. For breakfast, it might be served with a fried egg, while for lunch and dinner it’s a side to meat or fish.

There are subtle regional variations. For instance, black beans are the norm, though in Guanacaste, on the Pacific coast closer to Nicaragua, red beans are more typical. The condiment Salsa Lizano, a light brown sauce similar to Worcestershire that’s found on most Costa Rican tables, is stirred into the pot in San José and around the Valle Central. On the Caribbean coast, it might be cooked with coconut milk and chiles.

Chifrijo (fried pork with red beans}

Nearly every cantina in Costa Rica serves this bar snack, which is believed to have been first prepared in the late ’70s at the still-functioning Cordero’s Bar in the town of Tibás outside San José. Its name is the combination of its two signature ingredients: fried pork (chicharrón) and beans (frijoles). It’s sometimes served with a base of rice or toppings like avocados and tomatoes, but the original preparation is eaten more like a bowl of nachos, with tortilla chips and chilera (spicy pickled vegetables) on the side.

Rondón (seafood and coconut stew)

Whatever fish and vegetables a cook has “run down” to by the end of the week get thrown in a pot with coconut milk, herbs, and spices for this typical dish of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. The thick stew is found in many parts of the Caribbean and was brought to Central America by Jamaican laborers in the latter half of the 19th century. In Afro-Costa Rican communities like Cahuita or Puerto Limón, rondón might include red snapper, clams, mussels, conch, or sea snails, plus green plantains, cassava, and chiles with a side of coconut rice and breadfruit.

Casado (combo plate)

Translating to “married man,” the casado is Costa Rica’s typical lunch plate. There’s no set recipe, but rather a general mix of simply prepared vegetables with a protein. It might be grilled fish, stewed beef, a pork chop, or fried chicken served with white rice, beans, and coleslaw or some sort of salad of iceberg lettuce and tomatoes. Everyone makes it a little differently, though: They might add fried plantains, slices of avocado, tortillas, or a fried egg, depending on the region and the season.

Olla de carne (beef and vegetable stew)

Olla de carne is eaten every weekend in many Costa Rican homes, often for family gatherings as the long cooking time and amount of vegetables added make it difficult to make in small portions. Beef, usually short ribs and various off cuts, is simmered for four to eight hours with a handful of vegetables that may include yuca, potatoes, chayote, carrots, corn, or plantains. It’s then served with rice and beans on the side, of course.

Getty Images / Sergio Amiti

A bowl of seafood ceviche

Picadillos (vegetable hash)

There’s no truer reflection of Costa Rica’s agricultural bounty than these homey hashes, simple mixes of chopped vegetables sauteed in fat with onions, stock, herbs and other seasonings. The name of the dish always states the primary vegetable being used, such as picadillo de zapallo (squash), vainitas (green beans), chayote, arracache (arracacha), papa (potato), and even fruits like papaya. It’s served over white rice, sometimes with a protein like ground beef or chorizo, or on corn tortillas to make gallos — Costa Rica’s version of the taco — a picadillo becomes a full meal.

Chorreadas (corn pancakes)

These sweet or savory pancakes, made from ground, fresh white or yellow corn, are a staple in Costa Rican kitchens and sodas (small, simple, often family-run establishments) for breakfast. The most typical versions, where the corn is ground by hand, can be traced to pre-Columbian times, though today it’s more likely to be blended in a food processor and thickened with flour and eggs. When sweet (and they are rarely overly sweet), they might be drizzled with honey or syrup. When savory, a dollop of sour cream-like natilla is usually served on top.

Ceviche

Unlike its Peruvian counterpart, Costa Rican ceviche features fish that’s typically marinated in lime juice for at least an hour in the fridge, rather than just seconds, resulting in a more opaque, less raw-tasting fish. It’s usually made with peeled shrimp or firm white fish like sea bass, though sometimes you’ll find chuchecas (blood clams) and a mixture of finely chopped or minced onions, tomatoes, garlic, and cilantro. And many locals swear by a splash of ketchup or tabasco.

Tamales

In the days before Christmas, a favorite pastime is the tamaleada, when families get together to make the star of Christmas dinner: pork tamales. Costa Rican tamales have been adapted from their Indigenous origins to include introduced ingredients like rice, chicken, beef, and carrots. They are never steamed in a corn husk; rather, they are always made in a banana leaf, and when two of them are tied together, as they are often sold, it’s called a piña.

Beef turnovers (patí)

In snack bars and sodas in Caribbean towns like Puerto Limón and Cahuita, the patí is ever-present. Similar to a Jamaican beef patty, but spiced with the local chile panameño, or ají chombo, it is a means of survival for many Afro-Costa Rican women who once sold them on trains and busy streets from wicker baskets, and continue the tradition from Tupperware containers.

Shutterstock

The Churchill, made with red kola syrup and condensed milk, is Costa Rica’s signature copo.

Peach palm soup (sopa de pejibaye)

Pejibaye, a starchy orange palm fruit, has been widely planted across Costa Rica even prior to colonization. The fruit needs to be boiled for at least an hour to be edible, and then, once peeled and pitted, it can be pureed into a soup with stock, cream, and seasoning.

Shaved ice (copo)

On plazas and beaches throughout Costa Rica, kiosks and roving carts specialize in a local variety of shaved ice called copos or granizados. The cups or cones are topped with everything from milk powder and flavored syrups to fresh fruit and marshmallows. The most emblematic variation is the Churchill, which was named after a man in Puntarenas who looked remarkably like Winston Churchill and always ordered his copo with bright red kola syrup and condensed milk.

Sweetened squash paste (miel de chiverre)

Costa Rica has the typical pan-Latin sweets like flan, tres leches cake, and arroz con leche, but more endemic is this chunky, sweet paste made from chiverre, the fig leaf gourd. This large squash has a sweet, spaghetti-like flesh that gets dried and then cooked with panela, cinnamon, and other spices. The locals’ favorite way to eat it is as the filling of a sweet empanada, though it’s also used to make candy or just eaten with a spoon.

What to Drink

Coffee probably comes to mind when one thinks of drinking in Costa Rica, and there’s a good reason for that. While coffee growing was focused mostly on quantity for more than a century, recent decades have seen a shift toward greater traceability and micro-lots, resulting in more distinct coffees that can be found in new-wave coffee cafes and roasters in San José and the occasional beach town.

In rural and Indigenous parts of the country, you can still find ancient, sweetened drinks like pinolillo and tiste, made from cornmeal or rice and cacao, as well as agua de sapo, a refreshing concoction made from ginger, panela, and lime. There are also chichas, low-proof drinks made from fermented corn or fruits like pejibaye.

In terms of alcohol, the national firewater is the sugarcane-based guaro, which is sometimes mixed with tomato juice, lime juice, and hot sauce for the shot-sized chiliguaro. The general population leans toward mass-market lagers like Imperial and Pilsen, though a growing number of craft breweries around the country, like Treintaycinco, Cervecería Calle Cimarrona, Costa Rica’s Craft Brewing Co., and Domingo 7, are making inroads. Meanwhile, experimental bartenders are breaking new ground by featuring local botanicals and fermented drinks on the drink lists at area hot spots like Bebedero from celebrity bartender Liz Furlong, the clubby Selvática, and hotel bars Celajes and Sentido Norte.

Courtesy of Hulu

Bartender Liz Furlong crafting a drink at Selvática

When to Eat

With foods like rice, beans, and tortillas often eaten at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, meals in Costa Rica can seem repetitive. Breakfast tends to be heavy, with gallo pinto sometimes joined by eggs and fried plantains, while lunch and dinner will swap out the eggs for simple proteins and add a few vegetables. In the afternoon, especially on the weekends, a cup of coffee and a baked good like an empanada or cookie may be added.

During the week, most meals are taken at home, including midday lunch, when many businesses shut down, and might be followed by a siesta. Those on the go might stop by a soda, which are usually open from breakfast until the afternoon, while other restaurants tend to close their kitchens by 10 p.m., if not earlier. For weekend lunches, family gatherings become full-day affairs with tamales and slow-cooked stews like olla de carne, while rural and beach restaurants are at their busiest.

Where to Eat

While gringo-run restaurants with standard international menus full of imported ingredients rule many resort towns, they aren’t where most Ticos opt to eat. Fresh, seasonal produce and locally raised and caught meats and seafood can often be found along the side of the highway. Outside of formal restaurants, there are some other spots for a good meal:

Sodas

Outside of someone’s home, sodas are the place to eat traditional Costa Rican food. These unpretentious, independent restaurants range from simple lunch counters in urban markets to sprawling, family-run restaurants in the countryside. The menus will have a mix of regional favorites, plus low-cost set meals like casados.

Marisquerías

Marisquerías are similar to sodas, but they specialize in seafood. They are mostly found along the coasts, though not necessarily right on the beach. They’ll offer simple dishes like camarónes al ajillo (garlic shrimp), arroz con mariscos (rice with mixed seafood), grilled or fried fish, soups, and ceviches.

Ferias del agricultor

On Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays, every region of Costa Rica holds its weekly feria, a farmer’s market positioned around seasonal fruits and vegetables. There’s often live music and vendors selling ready-to-eat foods like pipas (young coconuts), sliced fruits, gallos, and empanadas.

Roadside fruit stands

On highways and country roads throughout Costa Rica, open-air fruit stands are an easy pit stop. Aside from the mangoes and bananas, keep an eye out for lesser-known fruits like manzana de agua (water apples), guanábana (soursop), carambola (star fruit), mamón Chino (rambutan), mamey, and marañon (cashew fruit).

Courtesy of Hulu

Pablo Bonilla of Sikwa

What’s Next

The restaurant revolution that swept up much of South America and eventually Central American neighbors like Panama and Guatemala arrived late to Costa Rica but is now in full swing, at least around the capital.

After years working in France, chef José González returned home and opened Al Mercat in 2014, and he began exploring the country’s biodiversity through foraged and fermented ingredients. During the pandemic, he moved the restaurant from its original Barrio Escalante to his parent’s ranch on the outskirts of San José. At Sikwa, Pablo Bonilla has been working with Indigenous communities like the Boruca and Bribrí to resurrect ancestral dishes, while Silvestre, set in a beautifully restored 1930s Barrio Amón house, is serving contemporary Costa Rican food through its elaborate tasting menus.

Former Jamie Oliver right-hand man Sebastián La Rocca, who was born in Argentina, has built a mini empire in Escazu with his wood-fired Costa Rican cooking at Botaniko, speakeasy izakaya Rōkka, and ghost kitchens slinging gourmet burgers and choripan. Additionally, at Descarada Tradición, Sofía Campos and Luis Chaves are reviving the tradition of the gallo with housemade tortillas, while at MadFish, Tere Moreno is helping raise the profile of the artisan fishing community of Puntarenas.

This renewed culinary scene is still in its early days, though it’s gradually spreading toward the jungles and beaches, where pop-ups, surf cafes, and creative street-food vendors are showing signs they’re more interested in working with the country’s natural bounty than trying to appeal to the unsustainable demands of tourists.

Courtesy of Hulu

A whole fish with plantains, rice, and beans

Writer and photographer Nicholas Gill is the co-founder of New Worlder.

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/3kugYnD https://ift.tt/2It7ifs

A dish from manos en la masa in San José, Costa Rica | Courtesy of Hulu

Abundant farmland, seas, and jungles, plus a stunning mix of cultural influences, have made Costa Rica a Latin American food destination

Courtesy of Hulu

An indigenous woman from the Amburi Koswak tribe plates a traditional Costa Rican spread

Understanding the Influences

Shutterstock

A classic casado de res served on banana leaf

The Dishes to Know

Gallo pinto (rice and beans)

Chifrijo (fried pork with red beans}

Rondón (seafood and coconut stew)

Casado (combo plate)

Olla de carne (beef and vegetable stew)

Getty Images / Sergio Amiti

A bowl of seafood ceviche

Picadillos (vegetable hash)

Chorreadas (corn pancakes)

Ceviche

Tamales

Beef turnovers (patí)

Shutterstock

The Churchill, made with red kola syrup and condensed milk, is Costa Rica’s signature copo.

Peach palm soup (sopa de pejibaye)

Shaved ice (copo)

Sweetened squash paste (miel de chiverre)

What to Drink

Courtesy of Hulu

Bartender Liz Furlong crafting a drink at Selvática

When to Eat

Where to Eat

Sodas

Marisquerías

Ferias del agricultor

Roadside fruit stands

Courtesy of Hulu

Pablo Bonilla of Sikwa

What’s Next

Courtesy of Hulu

A whole fish with plantains, rice, and beans

Writer and photographer Nicholas Gill is the co-founder of New Worlder.

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/3kugYnD via Blogger https://ift.tt/38yBVv9

#Blogger #cooking #Eater #food #recipes

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vioncentral-blog · 7 years ago

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White House Fail: DC Chef Serves 1.5 Million Meals To Hungry Puerto Ricans

https://www.vionafrica.cf/white-house-fail-dc-chef-serves-1-5-million-meals-to-hungry-puerto-ricans/

White House Fail: DC Chef Serves 1.5 Million Meals To Hungry Puerto Ricans

After characteristically congratulating himself for what most consider to be his administration's strikingly inadequate response to disaster relief efforts in Puerto Rico, Trump continues to ignore that an estimated 85 percent of the US protectorate is still without power, and wealthy private citizens are stepping up to the plate.

Trump Scores Administration's Response to Puerto Rico a Perfect 10

Now approaching 1.5 million free hot meals served to residents of the island, Washington DC-based celebrity chef José Andrés has put his money where his mouth is, organizing hundreds of volunteers to prepare an estimated 60,000 servings of nutritious stews and sandwiches every day.

Andrés' efforts are far beyond what the American Red Cross has managed to put together.

Elizabeth Penniman, the American Red Cross vice president of communications, asserted that her organization has delivered some 150,000 MREs — also known as "meals ready to eat," a notoriously unpalatable military survival substance — alongside a reported 302,000 undefined "meal boxes," and an estimated 1.4 million pounds of canned goods, rice, beans, crackers, fruit, vegetables and non-perishables.

Official US aid to the beleaguered island territory has prompted many to observe that the Trump administration is floundering in mismanagement, especially after the US president went on a Twitter tirade accusing the local government of incompetence and stating that US emergency services could not stay "indefinitely."

During a visit to the capital city of San Juan last week, Trump defined the depth of his commitment to aiding the island by throwing rolls of paper towels at people attending his speech.

But locals, expats and those with resources are doing the real job of rebuilding the devastated landscape.

Meals prepared by Andrés' team, as well as water and medical supplies, are loaded onto trucks to be taken to remote areas that remain without power or communications.

"We have the food trucks that reach any area that sometimes have difficult access, one house here, one house there," Andrés stated, cited by NPR.org.

Meals are also picked up by those in need, to take them back to their villages. None are turned away.

Puerto Rican native Zelides Enid and two friends, standing in line to get 300 meals to take to their neighborhood, echoed the sentiments of island residents.

"Since the hurricane, we haven't gotten much help in our community, and FEMA still hasn't arrived," Enid said, cited by NPR.org.

After arriving in Puerto Rico just days after the disaster, FEMA gave the Andrés nonprofit, World Central Kitchen, the financial resources to cook some 20,000 meals over a period of one week, but declined to provide additional funding, leading the chef to authorize his organization to fill in the gap.

When asked about what led him to participate in the island's recovery, Andrés paraphrased US author John Steinbeck.

"Steinbeck said very clearly," the chef stated, "Where there is a fight so hungry people may eat, I will be there."

The chef was previously noted for backing out of an agreement to open one of his restaraunts in a Trump-branded property.

#House #hungry #meals #million #puerto #serves #white

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melissagarcia8 · 6 years ago

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The Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica

Updated: 12/20/2018 | December 20th, 2018

Costa Rica is one of the most visited countries in Central America. American tourists have been flocking to the country for years, and it’s become a hot spot for retirees and expats due to its cheap living, great weather, amazing beaches, and friendly locals.

I love Costa Rica. It was the first place that inspired me to travel.

It holds a special place in my heart.

I’ve been back to visit Costa Rica many times since then, falling in love with it over and over again.

But, because it’s not as cheap to visit as its neighbors, many budget travelers skip over Costa Rica.

And, while that’s true (but there are many ways to save money in Costa Rica), in my opinion, the beauty of the destinations below is worth the extra price.

Here are some of my favorite destinations in Costa Rica:

1. Puerto Viejo

Located on the Caribbean coast near Panama, Puerto Viejo is popular with young people and backpackers because of its great beaches, surfing, and party atmosphere. The town is very lively and you’ll find something going on every night. It’s probably the most popular destination on the Caribbean coast. There are also many quiet beach hotels around for those who are looking for some peace and quiet. There is also a jaguar rescue center nearby that rehabilitates all sorts of local wildlife and releases them back into the wild.

READ MORE: How to explore Costa Rica’s beautiful Caribbean coast

2. Cahuita

Cahuita, a tiny town situated right next to a stunning national park with the same name, is about an hour north of Puerto Viejo. Cahuita is a place to relax. There’s one bar in town that gets lively (sometimes it’s half full!), but for the most part, after a day of hiking, animal spotting, swimming, or surfing, most people just sit around and read. The region is known for its Afro-Caribbean influences, which you might notice in the food and local culture as you chill out with some dessert crepes or grilled chicken.

3. Tortuguero

Tortuguero (which means ‘Land of Turtles’) is the Costa Rican version of the Amazon rainforest. It dominates the northern coast, with Tortuguero National Park spanning over 77,000 acres. This massive area is a series of rivers and canals that crisscross the jungle. The biggest draws to this area are the large numbers of turtles (hence the name) that come to nest along the shoreline. The best time to see them nesting is in April and May, but if you’re visiting during the off-season, you’ll still be able to go hiking and participate in canal cruises. However, there’s lots of wildlife to see year-round.

4. Corcovado

Corcovado National Park is on the remote Osa Peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica. Established in 1975, the park covers an area of 424 square kilometers, making it the largest park in the country. Though more popular than it used to be, it’s still a very rugged, quiet, and off-the-beaten-path destination in a country where almost everything is on the beaten path. The peninsula is not easy to get to (which helps keep tourists away), but your efforts will be greatly rewarded with deserted beaches, tons of wildlife, great hiking, camping, and lots of marine life. It’s one of the best places in the country. To me, this is probably one of the best places in the entire country. Try not to miss it!

5. Arenal

Sitting at an elevation of 1,670m, Arenal is one of Costa Rica’s many volcanoes. It still erupts from time to time, and if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see lava flowing down the volcano. (Though, it’s less likely to happen as the volcano has been dormant for the last seven years). Fun fact: I got lost in the jungle around here.

The area has tons of wonderful activities: there’s awesome waterfall (La Fortuna), the national park with great hiking, sunset views over the lake, caving, rafting options, and famous hot springs. With so much to do, it’s no wonder it’s one of the most visited places in the country.

READ MORE: How to visit and explore Arenal

6. Manuel Antonio

A popular beach destination on the Pacific coast, Manuel Antonio’s wide, white-sand beaches and warm blue waters aren’t the only attractions people come for. The nearby national park, which opened in 1972, sees over 150,000 visitors annually and is home to great hiking trails, a number of secluded beaches, and offers up the chance to view three different kinds of native monkeys. It’s become a lot more crowded and developed over the years. It’s definitely not the park I first visited in 2006. That said, you’ll still see a lot of wildlife and the beaches in the area have been kept surprisingly pristine! Admission to the park is $16 USD per person, though kids under 12 enter for free.

READ MORE: What to see and do in Manuel Antonio

7. Monteverde

The nation’s premier cloud forest is the home to the elusive quetzal birds. Most people come to Monteverde for a glimpse of this rare bird. The area is one of the largest eco-tourism hubs in the country, and over 250,000 people visit every year. Monteverde, which rests right on the continental divide, experiences high winds and unusual weather patterns. The entire area is very green and wet. Witness it all on a zip-line adventure through the tree canopy or explore some of the sky bridges in the area. Expect to pay around $50 USD per person for zip-lining.

READ MORE: What to see and do in Monteverde

8. Poas Volcano

A great day trip from San José, Poas Volcano is an active stratovolcano with twin calderas filled with sulfur lakes. The lakes are so still, you’ll look at your picture and think you painted the color on. The volcanos last erupted in 2017, and have actually erupted 40 times since 1828! There are some small trails around the area too. Arrive early in the morning to avoid the clouds closing in and ruining the view.

9. Santa Teresa

At the bottom of the Nicoya coast is the hippie backpacker town of Santa Teresa. This “town” is really nothing more than a beach with a road lined with eateries, yoga centers, surf shops, and hostels. Everyone gets up early to hit the waves, so the overall atmosphere in town is pretty relaxed. You won’t find a lot of crazy parties here. Santa Teresa is a good place to lie on the beach, hang out with people, and relax. Because of the “chill” vibe, many people end up staying in Santa Teresa for weeks, and even months, on end.

***

While everything in Costa Rica is a bit touristy and a wee bit crowded, I think the diversity of wildlife, natural beauty, white-sand beaches, amazing sunsets, and warm, clear water make it worth the price. There’s still so many unexplored and unvisted part of the country. Plus, the locals here are super nice and welcoming.

Be sure to visit Costa Rica – and use this list to start your planning!

Pura Vida!

Book Your Trip to Costa Rica: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation To find the best budget accommodation, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the most comprehensive inventory. Some ofm favorite places to stay in Costa Rica:

Arenal Backpackers Resort – This is a luxurious, laid-back hsotel with a pool that’s great for hanging out and meeting people.

Rocking J’s (Puerto Viejo) – The coolest hostel in all the country. This hostel located on the beach is the prime spot to meet other backpackers.

Hostel Vista Serena (Manuel Antonio) – With great ammenities, staff, and a pime location, it’s the best place in the area.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Want More Information on Costa Rica? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Costa Rica for even more planning tips!

The post The Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Traveling News https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/my-favorite-destinations-in-costa-rica/

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virginiaovers · 7 years ago

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8 Floridian Delicacies To Try In The Sunshine State

Florida is a state positioned in the Southeast of the US, but the native food options here can be distinguished very easily from those of its neighbors. Regardless of where you come from, you’re bound to taste the difference once you step into Florida. These are a few of the mouth-watering Floridian delicacies:

TAKEAWAY: The diversity of Floridian culture gets reflected in its rare combination of Bahamian, Haitian, Colombian, Cuban, Panamanian, Puerto Rican, and Jamaican cuisine. All of these dishes combine and deliver that vibrant cultural fusion of Florida, which gets projected in the “Floribbean” cuisine.

1. Dole Whip

Your itinerary in Florida comprises of a Dole Pineapple Whip while you’re on a visit to Disney World. You’re bound to come across few good recipes that are based on this frozen pineapple treat, which has a cult-like fan following all over the internet.

Visiting the Disney Park is a must for those that wish to taste this delicacy in its most authentic version. This refreshing and creamy delight for your taste buds is a certain treat to beat the heat when offered as a float or in a cup.

2. Cuban Sandwiches

Una publicación compartida de Jessica • Travel & Food (@cheatdayeats) el 29 Mar, 2018 a las 10:04 PDT

During your stay in Southern Florida, you’ll come across the Cuban sandwich, the most eminent sandwich for the Floridians. During the early 1900’s the expats from the Cuban countryside brought up a rare combination of this classic sandwich to the state of Florida.

For all the Miami residents and visitors, it still remains a signature dish. Combining Swiss cheese, ham, pickles, and roasted pork is a unique proposition for one and all. You just can’t resist the temptation to press it within your thick Cuban bread and have it for lunch.

3. Citrus

Citrus is amongst the most famous fruits that are a must-try while you’re on a visit to Florida. The list could include a few of the likes of tangelos, grapes, and oranges. Compared to all of the other US states, the state of Florida produces the largest volume of juicy and flavored citrus.

Utilized in creating a wide variety of delicacies, these flavor bites constitute a delicious and healthy eating option. For the Floridians, a morning begins with a glass of fresh Citrus juice, which again gets coupled with seafood at lunch and adds more to the cocktail parties at night.

4. Stone Crabs

Una publicación compartida de George Stone Crab (@georgestonecrab) el 14 Mar, 2017 a las 1:00 PDT

Stone crabs are amongst the most popular Floridian delicacies. Only consumption of their claws is allowed due to the stringent harvesting regulations laid down by the wildlife authorities for preserving their decreasing population.

In order to let them procreate, only a single claw is allowed to be removed out of each crab. Their meat is sweet and delicious, which tastes best when dipped in tangy mustard sauce. Get it served cold to beat the heat on a hot summer afternoon.

5. Grouper and Snapper

Out of all the bottom fishes that have grown popular in this state, you have the Snapper and Grouper. They help you feel as if you’re stranded in some distant tropical island. The Grouper being served within sandwiches teams up well with citrus, and the succulent and sweet properties of the Snapper make it a favorite with the neighboring residents.

If you’re inclined towards satisfying your taste-buds with some healthier and lighter options, then these fishes are the best options.

6. Key Lime Pie

Una publicación compartida de Stacey Little (@southernbite) el 7 Jun, 2018 a las 4:43 PDT

Your visit to Florida never gets completed till you fulfill your dessert time with a fair portion of the much popular Key Lime Pie. The Florida Keys is the place of origination for this sweet and tart pie that comprises of condensed milk, egg yolks, and fresh limes.

Meringue is often used as a topping for an authentic form of the creamy version composed of a yellowish buttery crust. Don’t opt for a greenish crust!

7. Conch

Conch is a great dish that is plentiful in and around the Florida Keys. That’s one reason why you often refer to this region as the “Conch Republic.”

A shellfish like Conch yields an adequate amount of mouth-watering meat below its shells. You may get it tenderized by soaking it in lemon juice and then utilizing it for cooking fritters (by chopping them) and the Ceviche.

8. Fried Gator Bites

Una publicación compartida de @_miss_congeniality el 27 May, 2018 a las 7:58 PDT

Florida Alligator is a certain inclusion in your list of exotic dishes. Meat from near the tail is served to visitors quite frequently, although it might seem a bit strange to some of you. The meat is presented in fritters (smaller bites) after it gets soaked in cornmeal.

Getting the meat fried is a popular way of having it, but you may even choose to get it rubbed with cheesecake or blacken it in some chowder or even get it stewed. You’ll notice a close resemblance of its taste to that of chicken.

This is a fair compilation of all Floridian delicacies that have been identified as crowd pleasers and tested over time. If you still haven’t had the time to check out The Sunshine State, a sublime visit to this American state will make a worthwhile trip. Regardless of whether you’re on a long vacation tour or on a short business trip to The Sunshine State, you can’t think of missing out on any of these delicious bites. You will be able to check out Miami Beach and Disney World while fulfilling your taste buds.

—

About the Author: Ron Johnson has been closely associated with bongyatra, an eminent travel website in India. An avid reader and traveler, Ron has been the backbone of their marketing and development teams. Ron’s blogs have grown popular by furnishing a detailed insight into some of the most attractive tourist hotspots in Asia.

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