Greetings! Here's an update on the past few days... on Sunday, I went with my friend who is from Old San Juan and 2 friends from my group to a demonstration against Donald Trump trying to buy up La Perla, "the most beautiful slum in the world." The march was filled with people wearing white shirts for solidarity, dancing to the music playing in the streets, and chanting together about saving La Perla from gentrification. Our friend said that being a part of this demonstration (we marched and wore white in solidarity as well) was something that very few visitors to Puerto Rico have had a chance to experience. After the march, we invited two of our new friends to our hotel to salsa in our room!
Sometimes the Universe allows for interesting experiences to come your way... yesterday morning, I was in the elevator coming back from a morning run on the beach, and a man walked in and introduced himself. We talked in the elevator, and exchanged numbers, especially because the man said he was from LA and had met a couple other UCLA students within the past few days. When he gave me his number, he said his name was Roy Lewis. I immediately had the feeling that he was the NFL player said to be staying at the hotel, so I googled his name... and it was! He plays for the Seahawks, not that I really follow football all that much. I laughed when I entered my room, thinking, "That's pretty cool! First time meeting an NFL player!" Later that day while I was studying by the pool, I saw Roy again. A few hours later, I got a text about wanting to go to dinner! It was unexpected, so my roommate and I went to a taqueria with Roy, and ended up meeting some friends from our group there as well. Roy brought his friend Gustavo, the head of the club that is located inside our hotel (called Brava), which is said to be the most popular club in San Juan. We all were talking and laughing, and Roy said that he was happy to have met us because it reminded him of his carefree college days. He and Gustavo invited us to a club called La Respuesta, which is a funky club with a DJ and an art gallery all around the walls of the club! We all danced until the wee hours of the morning, and both Roy and Gustavo were incredibly respectful, treating us as if they were our older brothers. I felt thankful for their generosity in taking us out but also in taking care of us for the entire night. It was really interesting to talk with Roy a little bit about his childhood and his family. He grew up in South Central LA (around where I now tutor with Project Literacy), and with his money from football he is supporting his 6 siblings and his parents. He was a very down to earth guy, and we had a wonderful time. And Gustavo said that whenever we want to get into our hotel's club, just give him a call... and that he would make drinks 1/2 off for UCLA students!
No comments:
Post a Comment