Balance Of The Fruits

Hello my friends! I have decided to resume writing because this world and (you) people have inspired me immensely and I want to express my gratitude by sharing my stories and thoughts. Not to mention, the atmosphere of the universe conjured up something special in my soul these days, as I began writing again in Santorini, Greece. 

I did say that I would be back to share the fruits of my dreams and efforts. Although, they aren’t necessarily the fruits I meant in the last post, such as having a law degree to fight for civil rights or being on my local school board…these will come one day; Yet, I must share with you the fruits before me now and how the universe is teaching me the right balance of them and of my soul. 

I’ve broken this post down into sections of some highlights, as much has happened since November 2018 and much is also going on at the present moment. You will notice that a common theme of mine this year has been perseverance, for “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul,'' as William Henley once wrote. Please read at your leisure and the sections as you choose; I hope we may engage in conversation about any topics and above all, I hope to make you smile!

CALIFORNIA- November 12, 2019

Today is my 27th year on Earth and I am the luckiest person alive! I have been happily overwhelmed with the kindness of my friends and family; Perhaps, because this excitement has been building up since my birthday celebrations began on the 1st day of November! All of the lunches, dinners, flowers and phone calls have been so lovely.

I won’t keep you here too long; I wanted to let you know that I cherish your companionship, kindness and support. Thank you for understanding my humor, awkwardness and for celebrating the triumphs of life with me. Growing up, I never would have imagined that my greatest assets and blessings in life would have been my friends and family...thank you for allowing me to experience true bliss, which I now strive to share with the world.

With some friends in Chinatown, San Francisco

GREECE- September 2019

My admiration for the Greeks began in childhood, when I read about the heroes and gods, which made me believe that anything was truly possible—at least in our minds. This fondness grew as I got older because I began to enjoy their cuisine and delicious Greek yogurt on my own, as my Lila (maternal grandma) wasn’t splurging on extra ingredients at the local markets to make other foods besides Mexican food.

The trip consisted of a few days in Athens, Mykonos and Santorini. I know, too few places, yet just enough to give me some flavor and to ignite the desire to return. Athens was a hustle and bustle for me—with a great mix of history, food and people. My favorite thing was visiting the Central Market to experience the fresh foods that make Greece so wonderful. Having seen the efforts that go into seasonal and fresh food here taught me a new appreciation of food’s nourishment, which I hope to share with my fellow Americans (I’ve briefly mentioned in the past, that I would like to provide better access to fresh and local foods for schools in the United States, which I’ll expand more later).

The flight to Mykonos was short and sweet. Although, I was not ready for the mesmerizing scenery I was about to enjoy nor the resemblance that this island had to Baja California! I chose to stay “on the other side of Mykonos”, in Houlakia because it is away from the party beaches and ideal for relaxation/ self-reflection. It was also so lovely to have stayed at Baba Houlakia, a hotel that added to my Nirvana and the owner, Stefanos and I often chatted about “balance”. He noted that solo travelers tend to have this balance of emotions and awareness, which has been a major topic for myself in 2019. I strive to be kind to others and to myself, as I want to be the best version of myself for the world. Yet I also must acknowledge my individual suffering and that of humanity. I know...perhaps it’s all of the avocados and acai bowls that I eat which are going to my head! One night, I went for a walk and because the sky was so clear and the stars so wonderful; I layed on the floor and smiled to the sky. The moon was only a crescent, yet so golden and tender. It always amuses me that the stars and the moon follow you, wherever you may be on Earth. If you ever miss someone, just look at the sky and make a wish. :) 

Baba Houlakia terrace

My view from Oia, Santorini, Greece

Santorini was more beautiful in person than in photos! There was a moment where I stood overlooking the villas and into the ocean in Oia and thanked the universe for the chance. Who would have guessed that the kid from the barrio would end up here?! I could not get over the architure nor the islands volcanic history. Would it be too cliche to say it was my favorite place? The people were just as kind and friendly as other parts of Greece, yet I was able to connect with the locals on a deeper level. I went on various tours and my favorite was one to a cherry tomato farm, where I learned how to cook a fresh meal with strangers from all over the world. By the time dinner and the wine was over, I had new life long friends!

EUREKA- July 2019

The 4th grade is when most California schools teach you about the Gold Rush and I recall a guest visitor coming in to teach us all about it. She had a giant map of California made up on the classroom floor and a shiny pointing stick, which she used to point and shout out, “Eureka”!  Since that moment, it was a dream of mine to visit this place called, “Eureka” and to discover more of my beautiful home. This trip finally began to take form when I spoke about it with someone whom was eager to take the trip with me…not just to Eureka, but to the moon and to the depths of our souls. Hahaha okay, I am exaggerating here! But we made plans to learn and discover new things together. Although I was let down by this individual, I knew I had to persevere and keep on track with my desires from life and from the world; I had to muster the courage and the love for myself to make this happen, even if the destination was now associated with something somber. 

I stayed in a vintage home with a room fit for a victorian princess! It even felt haunted at times, but I tried not to pay too much attention because I was swimming in excitement--I was finally meeting the noble redwood trees! Seeing trees of this size was breathtaking and I felt quite at peace with the world. What did we do to deserve such beauty?

Discovering the charming downtown area was also pleasant, yet I noticed it also suffered from “small town” problems; These are a high percentage of drug use and homelessness. It really got me thinking about the genesis of these issues and about the human response to them as well...why is it easier to look away? Do we not realize we have failed them as a society, that we should help take care of our citizens, for the sake of our nation? What are your thoughts for solutions? 

My new friend, a fallen, but not forgotten redwood tree

PORTO- June 2019

My visit to Porto, Portugal was a last minute addition to a work trip that took me to London, UK. I had heard good things about this place, yet I never made it a point to add it to my list. However, I was on that side of the world and figured I could educate myself on those “conquistadors” and practice my Portuguese. I was ready for new things, yet so unprepared for the enchantment! The architecture was divine, as if the gods had come down to design the buildings and parks themselves! I stayed close to the center in an antique building, with a balcony overlooking a small plaza. It was perfect for a morning cup of coffee and to glance at the world before a night of sweet dreams, with my hair down (of course).

I made my way into the towns and restaurants of many sorts: simple, famous, decent and expensive. I was yearning to try it all and I finally had my first taste of port wine. Apparently, the best port you can get is a tawny and I now order these at restaurants to impress my friends, hahaha. I did have a few humbling experiences, most notably at a popular bakery, when the lady asked me to speak in English because my Portuguese was too slow. Yet overall, I felt as wonderful in Porto, as I have in parts of France and Italy, and for a fraction of the cost! The euro went far here and I was able to indulge in souvenir shopping. I recall ordering a glass of champagne in a restaurant, because the price seemed normal for a glass...yet it was for the whole bottle! I had fun attempting to finish it, yet gave up and opted to share with the table next to mine. What part of the world needs a drunk Jeanette anyways? Just ask Dubai! 

A portrait of me by a local Portuguese artist, Carmena

My balcony in Porto, Portugal

CUBA- January 2019

A few months ago, I promised that you would find me in Cuba and so, I headed there to welcome 2019. It was supposed to be this movie of my life coming “full circle” in some ways. I was going to meet with old friends and even the Cuban artist that captured my mind--the one that if we felt like it, we’d escape and be together until the end of time; Not for the sake of love, but for the sake of hope and understanding each other’s dreams.

Upon my arrival in Havana, I hurried off to find him on the same street we had met before. He didn’t own a cell phone and we had promised each other that I would look for him there, if I were ever to return because he would never stop painting in the area. All these emotions were running through me and I was beginning to believe in destiny! I walked back and forth like a mad woman, seeing all these other artists and not him. It couldn’t hurt to ask someone if they knew Alberto because I wasn’t expecting much at this point. I asked a man and he said that Alberto just left and would be around the following day.

After a great night with my host family, I went to look for him again the following morning. But he wasn’t there! I knew I only had that night to see him, as I was heading to the southern part of the island the next day. Yet that night would be difficult, because it was also New Year’s eve and there were many celebrations happening. I managed to carve out sometime after dinner and before midnight to have a look, because if you truly want something, you try to make it happen!

Despite my efforts, I didn’t find him and I slowly accepted the fact that he was to live in my mind as a memory. I sat on the stoop of my host family’s house for a few minutes, to gather myself and to be grateful for what was before me (in the form of a poem)... The Cubans have this tradition of throwing out water in buckets or cups, from the windows/balconies and onto the streets as soon as the clock strikes 00:00. This is believed to be throwing out any bad vibes and you bet I threw out my own bucket.

The simple poem I composed on the stoop

Exploring more of the Cuban island was wonderful! The beautiful waters, lands and people made my life so much sweeter. However, the more time I spent with my local friends, the more I felt their struggles. I found out about the Cuban food rationing system, which led me to be angry at myself for being ignorant about this before. The more we traveled over the island, the more I saw empty stores...what was the point of having money, if there was nothing to buy? Even state run restaurants were often out of essential ingredients, such as eggs and bread. I knew it was bad when I was dozing off on the car ride from Cienfuegos to Trinidad, and began dreaming about eating flautas—Mexican fried tacos with all the fixings!
Soon enough, I was back in Havana on January 5th, ready to return home to the U.S. the next day. Do you have a hunch of what I did next? I was just strolling by, when my stubborn self refused to live by what was handed to me…I went up to the local artists and demanded they find Alberto for me, or at least where he had gone. One artist spoke up, out of pity perhaps? He said Alberto had become a father, about 5 months before and also a widower. This would explain why he was not always able to go out and paint as he used to. Before I could process the information and my feelings, he offered to take me to his home and I agreed.

We didn’t go far from the main street, near La Bodeguita Del Medio and the man knocked on a humble door. Alberto then stood before me, with his age finally showing and I opted for a smile instead of tears. He told me about how he got to experience love and his greatest joy was of becoming a father. However, he didn’t think it would come at the expense of his wife’s life, as her body gave out from the complications of childbirth. Cuba—advanced in medicine, but not always communist, as not everyone is attended to in order of fairness. We chatted some more and I had the chance to admire him in his greatest role yet; He so lovingly held his baby and this infused me with motivation to contribute to better the world, for the children of our future! Saying goodbye wasn’t as hard as the first time because now we had more sense of purpose. Before going back to my hotel for the last time, I stopped into the La Bodeguita for a mojito and cigar, as it was only appropriate. I heard a woman say, “You are  ruthless!”. Finally, someone who knew!

This movie of mine was complete; It was one where the universe made the unlikely happen and taught me to persevere. Although I was not whisked away to live the rest of my days out in Cuba, I knew it was to fulfill a greater purpose first.

On the streets of Havana, Cuba

CALIFORNIA- November 2019 (Continued) 

I’ve had a self-entertaining year, expanding on my artificial intelligence studies that I got into last year and expanding on them by getting into online neuroscience courses as well. I have this insatiable desire for knowledge and receive tremendous satisfaction from procuring new information. 

I even went as far to try a few Brazilian Capoeira classes and surfing classes too! I was a bit shy and timid at first, but I knew I was only holding myself back and I am happy I went for it. Yes, you may be pretty awful in the beginning, yet it’s a beautiful thing when you see yourself evolve. I’m currently enrolled in Mandarin courses and it’s proved to be the most challenging class of the year! I almost stopped going twice because I didn’t want to face the awkwardness of the teacher having to explain the basic tones to me again and again, in front of the whole class...but I keep going and have even signed myself up for tutoring. Don’t give up, because you’d be letting yourself down and that’s what matters first and foremost. 

I also had the chance to discover other places than the ones I expanded on—both solo and with family, such as France with my mother, Cabo San Lucas with my cousin and realizing my all-American dream of visiting Savannah, Georgia. I hope to see you back in Brasil next year or perhaps on the lively streets of Beirut? Wherever we have a chance to meet, I know it will be a great honor for me. Until then, I kiss you farewell and hope that you “follow your dreams” because you are part of the Universe and the Universe is a part of you.

One of my favorite places

A note to the world. Rio De Janiero, August 31st, 2018.