I just saw the movie "Love in the Time of Cholera" and enjoyed it a lot. While I felt the director rushed the beginning of the movie to enable the viewers to understand the main points heavily detailed in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "El amor en los tiempos del cólera" book, I felt the second half of the movie more than made up for the problems of the first half. The most amazing thing about film was its portrayal of colors and light. It truly reminded me of life in Florida and my time in Cuba. I wish I lived a century ago ..... oh well. Everyone should go and watch this movie! And even better, read the book.... it is a page turner!


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0484740/

Cuba 2007

This past summer I went to Habana (not Havana!) Cuba. It was amazing for me to go and see where both my parents were born and raised. Of my family, only my mother knows that I went as it is very controversial to go to the island coming from a politically identifying "Cuban-American" family.

I went to Cuba through Cancun, Mexico and spent two weeks on the island. Admittedly, I was not prepared for a lot of things I found in Cuba. Dead dogs strewn and left on the streets, the pestulance, the miserable food and the seeming inability to fully rest comfortably. Yet, I was also surprised at how safe I felt in the streets and how friendly everyone was.

To answer the question that so many people ask me-- "Do Cubans want change or revolution on the island?"-- I have to say I came across mixed reviews. Everyone seemed to agree that changes needed to be made to their society and that better programs needed to be instated. Yet, no one outright said they believed or wanted revolution (except one taxi driver).

Here are some photos from my trip:

My name is Clarisa Mondejar. I have recently "immigrated" to Chapel Hill, NC by way of San Diego/ Tijuana, Chicago, and Miami. Food is my passion, movies and the visual arts make me want to dance, and I study/heart Cuba.

I have decided to start a blog about my life as a PhD student in (and out) of North Carolina. I am not quite sure that this blog will be completely and solely about the "suffering" life of a doctoral student, but I am sure that the subject might come up here and there. hehe.

Anyway, I hope this site will be somewhat enjoyable. The following are some pictures from the past, as well as some posts on recent movies and food that I have eaten..... I love food and film.