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Sunday, April 25, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
From My Journal: Haiti
From My Journal
A Journey to Dajabon
9. April. 2010
(c) AFG Creative Productions Group
Yesterday, we went to Dajabon, the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Before I arrived, I imagined it like something from the cinemas. During our arrival, there were many young children running on the side of our bus asking for food and money. It was very reminiscent of all the poor people I have seen in my life. I did not give them any food because I was a bit worried about myself not having enough money to buy lunch later that day (a choice I later regretted). I asked myself, ‘Am I like many other people in the world, viewing the children as bums and not as humans who are need of aid?’ That question still sticks with me.
We started walking in the direction of the market of the free trade zone where Haitians and Dominicans barter. When we turned the corner, I definitely saw something that was only previously viewed in films and I felt something in my heart. Streets and streets full of Haitians, food, clothes and other articles. There were Dominicans throughout the market but my focus was on the Haitians. When we began walking towards the other side of the border, I was suddenly trapped. There was screaming and sweat. My mind went completely white as I witnessed the pain around me. I was frozen and could not move my body. There was screaming and sweat. There were people who were fighting with others. Although I do not speak Creole or French, I have the feeling that it was over food.
As I regained consciousness, I continued walking to the other side into Haiti. There were many people transporting foods on carts and gigantic buggies. When an enormous cart with flour fell over, my heart dropped. There were more fights and arguments. I did not know what to do. If I walked over to help, would they think I was trying to rob them in the end or as an American, would they think I was helping out of pity? I did not know what to do. My mind started going blank again. So I began to do something that I am very good at, I began taking photographs with hopes of documenting and showing the world what I had seen.
Every single one of my peers had similar sentiments that day. We realized that we do not have much to worry about because our lives will never be as hard as others in the world. I cannot imagine what the border was like with the aftermath of the earthquake. Without a doubt, there was more fighting, more tears, more blood and death. I cannot say that what I experienced yesterday will change my life forever, but without a doubt, my experiences here will help me. It was an incredible experience and it is my pleasure to share it with you.
A Journey to Dajabon
9. April. 2010
(c) AFG Creative Productions Group
Yesterday, we went to Dajabon, the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Before I arrived, I imagined it like something from the cinemas. During our arrival, there were many young children running on the side of our bus asking for food and money. It was very reminiscent of all the poor people I have seen in my life. I did not give them any food because I was a bit worried about myself not having enough money to buy lunch later that day (a choice I later regretted). I asked myself, ‘Am I like many other people in the world, viewing the children as bums and not as humans who are need of aid?’ That question still sticks with me.
We started walking in the direction of the market of the free trade zone where Haitians and Dominicans barter. When we turned the corner, I definitely saw something that was only previously viewed in films and I felt something in my heart. Streets and streets full of Haitians, food, clothes and other articles. There were Dominicans throughout the market but my focus was on the Haitians. When we began walking towards the other side of the border, I was suddenly trapped. There was screaming and sweat. My mind went completely white as I witnessed the pain around me. I was frozen and could not move my body. There was screaming and sweat. There were people who were fighting with others. Although I do not speak Creole or French, I have the feeling that it was over food.
As I regained consciousness, I continued walking to the other side into Haiti. There were many people transporting foods on carts and gigantic buggies. When an enormous cart with flour fell over, my heart dropped. There were more fights and arguments. I did not know what to do. If I walked over to help, would they think I was trying to rob them in the end or as an American, would they think I was helping out of pity? I did not know what to do. My mind started going blank again. So I began to do something that I am very good at, I began taking photographs with hopes of documenting and showing the world what I had seen.
Every single one of my peers had similar sentiments that day. We realized that we do not have much to worry about because our lives will never be as hard as others in the world. I cannot imagine what the border was like with the aftermath of the earthquake. Without a doubt, there was more fighting, more tears, more blood and death. I cannot say that what I experienced yesterday will change my life forever, but without a doubt, my experiences here will help me. It was an incredible experience and it is my pleasure to share it with you.
Más Cerca de la Frontera
Más Cerca de la Frontera
Por Alex Echols
Yo soy tú y lo mismo para ti
Pues por qué no tienes respecto y confianza en mí
Lavando tus zapatos con mi bandera
Una bandera con raíces de todo de mi manera
Años y años de la historia y todo
Que empezó el odio que todavía no es claro
Yo soy haitiano y eres dominicano
Pero pienso que tú olvidaste que somos ambos humanos
En el futuro, espero que el problema mejore
Y yo sé es posible con un montón de fe
Años y años de historia pasará
Con ojos abiertos, la vida cambiará
Por Alex Echols
Yo soy tú y lo mismo para ti
Pues por qué no tienes respecto y confianza en mí
Lavando tus zapatos con mi bandera
Una bandera con raíces de todo de mi manera
Años y años de la historia y todo
Que empezó el odio que todavía no es claro
Yo soy haitiano y eres dominicano
Pero pienso que tú olvidaste que somos ambos humanos
En el futuro, espero que el problema mejore
Y yo sé es posible con un montón de fe
Años y años de historia pasará
Con ojos abiertos, la vida cambiará
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Another Day, Another Thanks (DR)
Another chapter is coming to another end
(Some Thoughts)
This semester has been one of the biggest growth experiences for me in a while. Although I have not progressed a lot with AFG Productions Group and One Life Brand, I know I am exactly where I need to be. Progress is being made. I have been working on the website in efforts of taking the next step of branding who I am: Alex Echols - this semester has definitely reassured one thing within: always stay true to yourself. I have several friends (compañeros del semestre) that would love to stay on this beautiful island (Dominican Republic) and lead their lives from here, but I am different. When it is my time to board that plane, of course there will be tears of joy and a slight emptiness in my stomach, but there will be no regrets of leaving. Because I know, in my heart, that it is not the end. I also know that there are several other countries I would love to leave with my footprint, several other cultures I would like to encounter and several, several other things I would love to do before my time is up.
If anyone notices that I am happy about leaving - it is not because 'I can't wait to get off this damn island,' it is because I accept the fact that my time is up here, FOR NOW. (I gotta tell you that this will definitely be a vacationing spot in the future). I have been blessed with the opportunity of traveling for the last school year and I would not trade it for anything. During the next month and half, I will work on the website, I will write proposals to power more of my dreams, I will chill with friends and fraternity brothers that I have not seen for almost a year. I will attempt to connect back with the American culture, chowing down on some Hooters hot wings and hitting up a house party. Haha, so maybe that's not entirely true. Before I will even get the chance to do so, I will be on another plane headed to Hong Kong for the summer. It is simple: life is beautiful. When you truly love life, life loves you back.
Honestly,
So who knows where the hell I will be nine months from now. I am not afraid of tomorrow. This semester + last semester + other schooling + family + friends + other experiences = the perfect amount of equipment to assure that more of my dreams will come true. And they will for you too. When someone tells you to 'be realistic,' what they are REALLY telling you is 'compromise your potential, your ideas and your genius.' Forget that, BREAK RULES AND RECORDS.
To everyone that has made this semester what it is, I would like to say thanks and I love you all deeply. We still have some time to party, to chill and to Brugal it up. So let's live. Spring 2010. All we do is win (shit, maybe rapping is in the radar).
One Life,
AE
P.S. Video will be coming soon. Stay tuned.
(Some Thoughts)
This semester has been one of the biggest growth experiences for me in a while. Although I have not progressed a lot with AFG Productions Group and One Life Brand, I know I am exactly where I need to be. Progress is being made. I have been working on the website in efforts of taking the next step of branding who I am: Alex Echols - this semester has definitely reassured one thing within: always stay true to yourself. I have several friends (compañeros del semestre) that would love to stay on this beautiful island (Dominican Republic) and lead their lives from here, but I am different. When it is my time to board that plane, of course there will be tears of joy and a slight emptiness in my stomach, but there will be no regrets of leaving. Because I know, in my heart, that it is not the end. I also know that there are several other countries I would love to leave with my footprint, several other cultures I would like to encounter and several, several other things I would love to do before my time is up.
If anyone notices that I am happy about leaving - it is not because 'I can't wait to get off this damn island,' it is because I accept the fact that my time is up here, FOR NOW. (I gotta tell you that this will definitely be a vacationing spot in the future). I have been blessed with the opportunity of traveling for the last school year and I would not trade it for anything. During the next month and half, I will work on the website, I will write proposals to power more of my dreams, I will chill with friends and fraternity brothers that I have not seen for almost a year. I will attempt to connect back with the American culture, chowing down on some Hooters hot wings and hitting up a house party. Haha, so maybe that's not entirely true. Before I will even get the chance to do so, I will be on another plane headed to Hong Kong for the summer. It is simple: life is beautiful. When you truly love life, life loves you back.
Honestly,
So who knows where the hell I will be nine months from now. I am not afraid of tomorrow. This semester + last semester + other schooling + family + friends + other experiences = the perfect amount of equipment to assure that more of my dreams will come true. And they will for you too. When someone tells you to 'be realistic,' what they are REALLY telling you is 'compromise your potential, your ideas and your genius.' Forget that, BREAK RULES AND RECORDS.
To everyone that has made this semester what it is, I would like to say thanks and I love you all deeply. We still have some time to party, to chill and to Brugal it up. So let's live. Spring 2010. All we do is win (shit, maybe rapping is in the radar).
One Life,
AE
P.S. Video will be coming soon. Stay tuned.
Monday, April 12, 2010
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