Ameera: La Rabiosa

Hello hello my friends! How is everyone? I am quite fantastic! These past few weeks have been quite active for me. From holiday dinners and quality time with friends in Central and Southern California, life has been good! A day before Christmas, at a dinner in Santa Monica, I was introduced to some friends of friends and I spoke about my philanthropic endeavors and interests. Turns out, they are establishing a new non-profit organization centered on providing educational and career opportunities to youth in Central and Southern California. I mentioned my business background and was asked to volunteer my services and become their head business analyst. I will share more about this when we have set up our website and other extras. I also had the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic. It was not my first time visiting, as that was back in 2012. I even have a post from that trip This time my focus was around Punta Cana...and not the glamorous side. I was there to discover the day-to-day lives of Dominicans and Haitians who live and work there. Not to mention, I was able to indulge in the beauty of nature and also get a nice skin glow from the spicy Dominican sun.

Smile, life is good!

The Dominicans call me an “honorary Dominican” because I have a special place for that country in my heart. I love the way they speak Spanish, their boldness, and their love of baseball--as great as or even greater than mine. Back in 2012, I made many friends there I and have kept in touch with them. They all spoil me like a princess and I hope that I inspire them as much as they have inspired me. On my previous trip, I also met a 4 year old Haitian immigrant boy on the beach, while he was scouting for work as a shoe-shiner. As you may recall, Haiti had been plagued with that massive earthquake in 2010 and ever since then, many had sought refuge in the Dominican Republic. I bonded with Sebastian and I wanted to adopt him, but I could not. Since then, I've kept in touch with him and I sponsor him. On this visit, I brought him a brand new Rawlings baseball glove and a few baseballs. He loves baseball more than me! Of course he’s in the right place to develop major league aspirations and talent. I encourage his passion, but I let him know that he could be anything his heart and mind desire. He could become a president, an actor, a chef--anything that makes him smile. 

El Hoyo Azul

Like in Dubai, I caused another stir at the beach. I always resemble someone famous, or maybe I am famous? Hahaha let’s stick with the first one. Or perhaps it was my super cute red bathing suit, inspired by the 1950’s with a modern twist? Locals and tourists stopped to chat and take pictures with me. I had many dinner invitations from families and I accepted a few; I cannot refuse an opportunity to make friends and to gain a new perspective on life. I also earned the nickname, La Rabiosa, which is an endearing term to define a female go-getter, who is sassy and always has something back to say. Many people would probably get uneasy with cat-calls or other comments, but not me. I can dish as much as I can take. The Dominicans would say something like, Oye mami! Tu tas bonita, ven conmigo! "Hey babe, you're pretty, won't you come with me?" And I'd be quick to smirk and say, Oye tigre, no te me pongas rabioso, porque ya tu sabe! "Hey Tiger, don't get outta line with me, you already know the consequences!" They didn't want to mess with me, I'm too spicy!  

I was also able to spend time on a cocoa and coffee plantation, that was also an orphanage. It was located more inland of Punta Cana and where true Dominicans live. On the truck ride to this place, the land became more jungle like and we'd drive past little villages--that resembled ones in Mexico. I could have sworn I was in Mexico many times...perhaps that is the 3rd world country look?  I learned how to harvest and care for the cocoa and coffee plants and I learned how to manage many excited toddlers. I had so much fun and I must have lost a few pounds after just one day of all that work! I have always aspired to one day own and manage my own small fair trade coffee company and to bring sustainable and delicious coffee to the world. This helped motivate me even more and I look forward to that day later on in life when I will be able to do so.

My Dominican home @ the orphanage

When I wasn’t working or volunteering, I had time to myself to hit the beach and also discover the wonders of the world, one of them being El Hoyo Azul, “The Blue Lagoon”. I lost my breath at its sight and when I got in, all the worries of the world faded away. You have to stop and wonder why the world allows us to savor so much of its natural beauty, when we humans don’t always care for our earth. It goes to show, how unconditionally the world loves us. 

My friends, all of our lives are beautiful and challenging. Perhaps many of us are forget that we hold the power to shape our destiny or maybe we are discouraged by hardships, whether they be financial, physical, emotional, and so on. I want you to know that, if you believe, you will achieve! Many people say, “Oh JJ, you’re just naturally so optimistic, I wasn’t born that way”. I was not born this way either. I didn’t have parents growing up, I lacked many things that other kids did. And when I finally had parents, I suffered through emotional and physical abuse…and yet I learned how to love life. As an adult, I still have my head in the clouds, but I know where I am going in life and what I want to achieve. If you don’t yet know, don’t be discouraged, I think that I’m an old soul and I’ve had much time to think. I promise to help you find your path and together we will make the world ours and better every step of the way. And remember, always stay sane and humble my habibis.