While deciding what to eat yesterday, I thought I would go off on a whim and combine a few ingredients. What resulted was a salmon/plantain spinach salad. I made some “fried” plantains with what I am guessing is the English equivalent ofPam, Fry Light. I put some mayonnaise in the salmon to moisten it a bit, sautéed a 1/5 of a bell pepper and added some spinach. It was extremely delicious. What I loved most was the sweet flavor of the plantains mixed in with the fishiness of the salmon. Reminded me of the mango avocado sushi rolls I like to get at the Japanese restaurant by my college. I am really taking a liking to the whole experimenting with flavors and such.

I thought I would start to include the lifestyle reform I took up after entering college. Basically, upon entering college I was not very happy with my weight or eating habits so I vowed to change my lifestyle (rather than take up a “diet”). I shied away from writing about it because the amount of slack I got from my friends was extremely discouraging. You can say encouraging words are not exactly their forté. They would give me side glances when I said I was going to the gym, laughed at me whenever I wrote down what I was eating or told me something about loving my curves and did not understand that I what I was really trying to do is respect my body by eating right and working out. But it has become a big part of my life, so I will write about it! Especially since I am going to once and for all try my hand at cooking. ^_^

Yesterday, was market day. Markets always make me happy. Fresh fruits and veggies, and breads, and cheeses! The Dominican in me was happy to find these bad boys:

Yummy yummy!

Plantains!! Cannot wait to cook them! Rather than just frying them, I plan on experimenting. I might try and see what it is like to bake them this weekend. Super exciting! In addition I bought some tasty tasty tomatoes, bananas, a pepper, a potato, SCRUMPTIOUS apples (I generally just eat golden delicious apples but Braeburn apples come in a super close second!) and a bag of avocados!

At home I always have an urge for avocado, especially when I am making a salad. No need to worry about those urges now! I have put them in everything from my spinach salad, to my rice and chicken dinner. They are especially delicious in salmon sandwiches! Oh the joy of fresh food.

They say:

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!”

So, what happens when you have no juicer?

Basically… life.

Even though I hate to go through the whole

“This is how I am living my life” thing I thought I would keep anyone who reads my blog

(Is anybody out there?) updated on my semester.

This weekend I headed off to Bath!

It was lovely! Especially being that all last week it rained in Egham (my first experience of true English weather) and yet in Bath it was bright and sunny all day. It was quite interesting being in Bath because it had the feel of London, and yet it had the feel of the countryside as well. Reminded me a lot of Italy’s Siena. Really calm and lively all at once.

So, I went on Saturday with a group of 4 other American girls who are also studying abroad here for the semester. We took the train in: first to Reading and then transferred to go into Bath Spa. The trip was about 2 hours. First on our list was the Bath Abbey. I have to say that I am absolutely enthralled by old century churches. The detailing on the ceiling was phenomenal, the window panes were gorgeous and there was such detailing to the pews. I can just imagine what it must have felt like when it was finally complete!

Afterward, we headed to the Roman Baths! I would have loved to experience the Roman Baths in its hey day (granted, I would not be here now but it is always a give and take right?). For one it is huge, and you can tell that they really thought it through. They had saunas, a small circular pool with freezing water for people who wanted to quickly cool off after exercising, and of course the Great Bath. It is a great concept.

The Roman Baths offers a “Savers” ticket, so we were able to check out both The Roman Baths and The Fashion Museum for £12.50. One thing I really love is studying fashion, and seeing the different trends so I found the museum quite entertaining. Especially since one of the items in “Dress of the Year” was the Green Versace dress Jennifer Lopez wore to the 2000 Grammy Awards. That dress is scandalous….

We walked to the Royal Crescent, but did not go in because we were not allowed to take pictures (what kind of blasphemy is that anyway?). The great thing is walking around Bath is not that difficult since it is a pretty easy place to navigate. We found the Royal Theatre, and the absolutely stunning Pulteney Bridge.

Right by the Pulteney Bridge, there is this cute little inexpensive cafe called “Riverside Cafe” which gives you a great view of the water and this gorgeous park that is across the water.

All in all, I say if you ever visit England and are thinking of doing a day trip definitely visit Bath.

You will find some great little cafes tucked into all these different side streets, there are great places to shop, and some really interesting tourist attractions. If you are an artist sit down by the bridge, take in the view and write, draw, photograph, whatever it is. Or if you simply enjoy fresh air, take a walk through the city.

You will not regret it.

Side note: Have something you would like to have me talk about? A place I should visit? Need some college advice? Then drop me an e-mail at dhiraldo227@gmail and I will do my best to cover it!

This is not really anything major but I just thought I would spread it:

I wrote an article for my school newspaper on how I believe the English Department should have more

variety in their courses.

You can read it here.

On another note, completely I was walking around Royal Holloway’s campus (I am currently abroad for the semester in England, for those of you who might not have known) and I saw a pamphlet that read:

Stop Smoking, Start Living

And I thought… well, how ironic no?

I mean in the sense that some people smoke because it makes them feel more alive.

They think it gives them an edge or something. Or I donno, the toxins remind them that they are mortal and can be harmed. To some people I think it is like bungee jumping, feeling a rush, and coming out on top at the end.

Of course, there is cancer for some of those people but let us not even get into that.

On the other hand, there are others who think well there is nothing more to live for so what is the point?

Or, they can think that they have their whole lives ahead of them and not care if a few puffs here and there will decrease their life span.

Some people do not care about “starting to live.”

That is what I found so ironic. Although, my idea of irony might be completely off. If so, I am sorry.

But I think what struck me more was the boldness with which this pamphlet assumed

that people who smoke are not living or that they want to start living.

I in no way advocate smoking, but I also do not advocate forcing your judgments onto others.

Does that make sense?

I have been in England, studying at Royal Holloway for the semester, for a week and two days now. Not very long, but still surreal when I think about it. Sometimes, it feels like I am not really in England. It also does not feel as if I am spending a semester away from Vassar, where life is of course moving forward and flourishing without my presence (aah, what narcissism!). Life lessons learned so far:

1. Fending For Myself: I live in a hall, in a mini-flat and share a kitchen with 7 other people. It is quite lonely, seeing as having my own bathroom is fabulous and yet a curse all in itself. There are no friendly bathroom interactions here like in the dorms. I am also required to clean the bathroom, and really I tend to reserve cleaning for when I am utterly painstakingly bored. My hall is also self-catered, meaning I have to cook for myself. Now anyone who knows me knows that aside from making some tofu, pasta, plantains, and tuna I am not much good in the kitchen. My progress so far? I have resorted to sandwiches, salads, pasta, cereal and frozen burgers. Simplest diet ever.

2. Grocery Shopping Cannot Always Be a Hobby: At home, grocery shopping is as simple as walking two blocks to the supermarket. At school, it’s as simple as hopping onto the school shuttle or calling a cab. In Egham, it is taking 30 minutes to walk into town and struggling up a long hill with your bags. Of course, a car makes it easier and while cabs are an option, they’re expensive (and obviously I am broke!).

3. Looking Good Is Like Water Here: Or so it seems. Even the men look good when they are stepping out. I have no idea how they do it, but they look fabulous practically all the time. It makes me feel as if I should hire one of these people to make me look just as fabulous. It seems I cannot quite figure out how to stop looking like Plain Old Jane: tee shirts, boring hoodies and sneakers. Help… anyone?

4. You Do Not Want Free Time Unless Your Schedule Is Extremely Packed Or You Have Something To Fill Your Free Time Up With: Self-explanatory I think. No?

5. Too Much Thinking Can Be Deadly: This results from #4 where if you have too much free time (as I myself have had because I have only 3 classes a week, for about 3 hours each) you have a lot of time to think. See, I am always thinking. Some people can zone out and turn off their thoughts from time to time but my mind is always whirring even if it concerns looking up boots. Can thinking too much exhaust your thoughts? Is it possible to have thought so much that you are no longer left with any thoughts?

6. Questioning Is A Central Part of Life and Growing Up: As I was doing some pleasure reading, particularly Junot Díaz’s Drown I began to think about Dominican Republic and my (often debated) Dominican identity. It was sparked by a line on page 72 that goes “…when Abuelo was around (and awake) he talked to me about the good old days, when a man could still make a living from his finca, when the United States wasn’t something folks planned on.”^[1] When did the United States start becoming an option? It seems the Dominican Republic declines every year. It becomes more and more filled with crimes, less suitable to live in–more of a wasteland. That final thought makes me wonder if it is possible to be proud to come from a place that it is highly impossible to ever experience as a resident. I understand a place can be appreciated as a visitor, but it is completely different when you live there and you have utilized its resources. From the outside, you can love all of its supposed beauty and hear about all of its turmoil but it hits deeper when you have explored that beauty and reveled in that turmoil– it becomes intertwined with who you are, it is what you lived. Can you truly love a place that has not become a part of you?

Sources:
1. Díaz, Junot. “Aguantando.” Drown. New York: Riverhead Trade, 1997. Print.

Recently, Khloe Kardashian’s weight loss was brought to my attention. Apparently, she lost 20 pounds in only 4 weeks. Clinically, it is advised that an individual lose weight at a rate of 1-2 pounds per week which means that in 4 weeks the max she should have lost is 8 pounds. 8. That is pretty-much half of what she lost. She told US Magazine that her weight loss came from doing “just 30 minutes of cardio, mandatory” as well as eating “whatever I want until noon. Then from noon on, I watch what I eat.”

Khloe Kardashian is a prime example of what is wrong with people trying to lose weight. People need to start realizing that losing weight is not easy and quite frankly, nothing worth having is going to come easy. If it is easy, it probably is not real or worthwhile. Many individuals who have tried crash diets have come to see that while it is easy, in the long run it is not effective. Get off the SlimFast and you will gain all that weight back– probably even more than you originally lost. While we may want to look at these “perfect” celebrities and do as they do, we need to take a step back and realize that their being in the public eye will force them to take extreme measures. Instead, we need to try to be our own role models.

It begins with wiping your slate clean. Do not worry about what occurred in the past. All those “failures” let them go. All those “lost” dreams, revive them. Ask yourself what you want to do, and where you want to be 10 years from now. Do not worry about whether or not you will actually be able to do it because if you keep yourself in check for the next 10 years you WILL do it. Do whatever you need to do to keep yourself motivated. Want to lose weight? Put up pictures around your house or pull those skinny jeans from the back of your closet and keep them in view. Want to start your own business? Look up where you need to begin, write up a blueprint and take it step by step. Take it step by step and remember that nothing will occur overnight (nor will occur with pessimism).

US Magazine: Khloe Kardashian: I Lost 20 Pounds!

It has been rather quiet here for quite some time. I love blogging but so far I have not found my niche. If I could just pinpoint it– something fresh, quirky and full of personality– I would be extremely happy. It is not that I am necessarily disappointed with what I have posted so far (by all means, I enjoy reflection) but constantly talking about myself and personal reflections is not what I want my page to be all about.

All I need is just that little spark of inspiration.

When I was little, I was scared of having a bad thought (whether it be a negative opinion about someone or having sex or whatever it may be) because I believed that my dead grandfather and dead stepbrother could hear all of my thoughts. That was not the end of it though. I always felt them, looking right over me and shaking their heads, whenever I acted in a way that I would never want my parents to know. Of course it could have just been my conscience but it does make me wonder. When an individual dies, can they hear our thoughts and see everything we do? Are they by any chance sitting right besides us, shaking their heads when we happen to mess up?

I have been taught to believe that once an individual is dead, they are gone for good but I do not believe that is the case. I believe some people get reincarnated, because they have a certain path to fulfill and experience while those who have already done this become guardians to their loved ones. Even though I did not know him well I think my stepbrother is trying to guide me along, so that I succeed and while that could be good, it also feels like I am disappointing a lot more people.

Or am I just, in all actuality, disappointing myself?

I like shopping at the Gap, Urban Outfitters, Levi’s, and occasionally Abercrombie & Fitch. Call me materialistic but I like items that have brand names and they are usually the items that cost more. I am not rich, far from it actually and even though my parents taught me the value of a dollar I will still spend $300 on a Coach wallet if I like it. Money, as useful as it is, will not make me happy unless I am reaping its benefits. It is the way I have always lived my life. I indulge, and do not allow myself to be restricted when the money is available.

I remember a day, back in high school, when I was casually walking around New York City with my then best friend. We walked into the Gap for a moment because I wanted to buy myself a long sleeved shirt. It was a plain black cotton and I paid $15 for it. Frankly, I did not care. I liked the shirt, wanted the shirt, had the money for the shirt logically I bought the shirt. As we walked out of the store my then best friend turned to me and said “You won’t be able to shop at the Gap when you’re in college. You’ll be a broke college kid. Maybe you should stop spending the way you do.”

I find it funny to think back on that moment because I find that I am still able to shop at the Gap, and actually I spend far more now than I did then. And sure, I am a “broke college kid” but I am a broke college kid that knows when to save and when to spend. I believe her comment came out of her own issues with money and a tinge of jealousy because my parents would give me an allowance despite the hardship. It was like the moment when I told her I wanted to go to Victoria’s Secret to buy a pair of underwear and she responded with “You’re going to pay that much for a pair of underwear?” before turning around and buying multiple bras at the previously mentioned store.

Amazing, the things you come to realize when you think back.