I sit here at my silly little computer with lightweight Magnesium Alloy casing, 8 hour battery life, built in dvd drive, 4g wimax, just about ready to take on this enormous midterm essay assignment. Still, will all this technology I am fortunate to have, I find that I cannot even begin to write it. I have far too much weighing on my mind...


To begin with, it's beautiful outside. I want nothing more than to slide open the patio door, feel a rush of warm breeze, then pick up my feet and leap outside into the sweltering sunlight. I think I would feel like I'm in the tropics. Yes, I would pretend there are palm trees and coconuts with the tiki straws, and a ridiculously laden tropical fruit assortment. I am imagining that I would dance the salsa and the tango with some dashing gentleman, and dip my feet into the ocean. Haha, I suppose this is my view of Latin America. This is my simply construed, 2 second long synopsis of what it means to be Latin American. This is my deceived opinion which has sourced out of my misinformed years of public education. This is sad.


Instead, what I have begun to learn during my undergraduate studies is that Latin America can not be simply lumped into a narrow synopsis such as the one I constructed above. Latin America is a term to describe a highly complex, varying set of countries. Each one possesses a unique and ever-changing history and future.


So, yes it's beautiful outside, but there is snow in Latin America. There is rain in Latin America. Majority of places do not have beaches. And not all of the men are gentlemanly. More importantly, I have much to learn. I have much to question.