Miscellaneous But Not Forgotten

I am using this space to post miscellaneous photos I have yet to share!

Crash Boat Beach

Jo'Nella Meets the Cows

Nature Preservation Mural

Beyoncé in P.R.

Café

Que Bonita Banderas

Training Grind

Since RPL (Residential Peer Leader) training has begun and I am back at Brown, I've been exhausted. Extremely excited and blessed to work with such an amazing, talented, intelligent and beautiful group of individuals but it's tiring! 

It's interesting to go through training a second time as a returning RPL and I look forward to realizing the differences from the MPC (Minority Peer Counselor) training I received last year and the upcoming WPC (Women's Peer Counselor) training. 

Also, I have to say, my regional group may be the funniest and most good-looking region on campus, and not solely because I am a part of it... I look forward to learning new ways to be a better "C" and the experiences that I will have with my peers!

Snorkeling @ Isla Mata La Gata-La Parguera

So, I went snorkeling for the first time!

(It was super fun but breathing through my mouth as opposed to with my nose took some getting used to)

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 La Parguera is located past Cabo Rojo on the southwest coast of Borikén. (Puerto Rico) At La Parguera, we bought pollo, pan and took a tour of the islands that bordered the coast. Our Capitán dropped us off on a small island called "Mata la Gata," or Kill the Cat," in English. The reason this was the name of he island was not disclosed to us but we had a great time nonetheless haha

My failed attempt to snapchat this to people, above.

The beautiful view.

I can't wait to go back. It was a wonderful experience!

Mofongo Thrice

I ate Mofongo several times during my vacation and every time, it was wonderful. The best I have to say however, was at my hotel in the restaurant at the Marriott. 

Second place was a dish I found at a restaurant in Aguadilla Mall comprised of yellow rice (arroz amarillo), macaroni and chicken, and chicken mofongo along with a giant, super fresh and juicy avocado (aguacate).

My last night in Puerto Rico, we met up with extended family for dinner and I ate chicken mofongo again, only this time served in a special container. I would have liked a bit more flavor from this one.

 Eating all of this Mofongo de pollo makes me want to learn how to make it. Stay tuned for my progress/ results/journey-to-Mofongo-success!

Breakfast Bendición

Eggs Benedict and a side of sausage, served with home fries. It was perfectly portioned heaven.

Iwas Jr 2013 in Mayagüez

The past two days I have had the pleasure and privilege of attending IWAS- the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Junior World Championships where male and female athletes around the ages of 16-23, from around the world  compete. Teams from Thailand, Denmark, Germany, Russia, Brasil and more were in attendance, and I have to say, Brasil was killin' it. 

It was wonderful to see these incredible athletes and especially great to see my cousin Jim Westly Cuevas compete. He's been involved with wheelchair sports since he was eight and made it to the Paralympic trials. I can't wait to see him at the Games one day. He didn't place in today's race, but I'm still super proud of him and get entire USA team. 

Photographed below is my cousin (Number 164, Red bike) and two of his friends.

My cousin Isamy, his sister and my aunt and Uncle did a fabulous job managing the athletes.

My only concern with the number of spectators who attended he event. It took place in the Centro Americano Stadium in Mayagüez, a nice venue I would have loved to see filled.

Playa Buye

I started the day with a great workout at the hotel gym which consisted of a mile of cycling, some lifting, stretches, planks and an ab series. 

We also went to Playa Buye, a beautiful family beach, close to the house where my grandfather lived, in Añasco. Mamá became a mermaid, Daddy became obsessed with finding seashells and Jo'Neal channelled Nigel Barker when he became my personal photographer. See photos below:

It was beautiful. 

I ate some delicious empanadas de pollo (chicken) and on the way back, we picked up some quenepas- delicious little fruits which according to google are similar to limes but in reality taste nothing like them... They're a perfect balance of sweet, sour and refreshing with an interesting texture similar to that of a tiny soft mango. The Quenepas are pictured below

Back at the hotel I had the most perfectly portioned plate of Mofongo and Pollo, Mofongo is a platano/plantain based dish and mine had chicken!

It was a wonderful day.