Adieu from a Columbian

mountainannie

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Dec 11, 2003
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Sharing from a Colombian friend who worked along the border for the last four years and writes a blog here..A ti, Dominicana. La pluma alquimista

A ti, Dominicana.
18 06 2010

A ti, mujer morena de proporciones colosales que con una sonrisa coqueta atrapa y doblega, a tus calles peque?as donde flamboyanes y almendros me saludan con olor a fruta cortada, mango, lechosa, mel?n o guineo, mesi ampil mesie. A ti, colmado colmad?n, abundancia de m?sica, romo y caderas, sonido bestial, amargue y bolero, salsa y mambeo, cerveza por litros, vellonera y monedas de cinco. A ti, hombre del motor, concho o delivery, el que resuelve, el que no tiene ley, esquiva los huecos de la calle, los golpes de la vida, que nunca tiene tiempo, que nunca tiene cambio. A ti, con los mo?os buenos, con los mo?os malos, indio, prieta, moreno y rubia oscura. A ti, porque la cosa no est? f?cil, la calle est? dura y ya no crees que es pa lante que vas. No se apure Don, mas pa lante vive gente, tal vez en cuatro a?os la funda no venga con habichuela sino con dignidad. A ti, platano majao, sanchocheando, moro de guandules y caf? cortao, a ti, porque en estas tierras, hasta morir se hace so?ando. A tus sonidos de tambora, golpes de palo y gaga, golpes de baguada en teja de zinc, golpe de pelota en la alta de la novena. A ti, frontera olvidada, de Trujillo v?ctima y victimizada, a tus campesinos de manos duras, corazones amplios y mirada profunda, a las tardes de cosecha, a sus sue?os, su humildad, su dolor de patria. A ti mar Caribe, decorado con cana y arena blanca. A ti, chivo liniero, caf? org?nico, pesca con balsas y cordel grueso. A ti, por tu hospitalidad, tu solidaridad, al plato de v?veres pasado por la vecina. A ustedes, por no desfallecer ante la adversidad, por no estar nunca lo suficientemente tristes para no poder cantar, no poder bailar, no poder re?r, no poder dejar de vivir. A la zona fronteriza por ser la mejor escuela que cualquier alumno pueda desear, y a sus habitantes por sus muestras de humanidad, de amor al otro, de simpleza y divinidad. A ti, espa?ol caribe?o, poi ense?aime cada d?a, a hablal con tigueraje, sin miedo a equivocaime y harciendolo con confianza. A tu buen tiempo y tu buen provecho, tu siempre, tu frecome y barbarazo. A tus galletas que no se comen sino se dan, a tu descate, a tu higuero y tus cuadros del conde, que se lavan con agua y jab?n. A ti Dominicana, por ense?arme a ser Caribe, por hacerme hombre, por salvarme. A ti, solo puedo decirte, Gracias.
 

Chip

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Jul 25, 2007
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It appears he was impressed by the Dominican people. It's funny that he was only in the south as it appears he picked up the whole gamut of Dominican accents.
 

Redscot

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Without a doubt one of my favorite reads in a good while. Really captured the essence.

Applause.
 
C

cuncun

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I am a Dominican living in NY and not a Dominican York, as my mother would say. I have been following a lot of your threads thru the years but this is the first one that kind of touched/moved me. This guy really captured all I have been tought by my parents and what I have learned and experienced each and everytime I go back home. I will not be surprised if this is turned into a bachata o merengue tipico. Reading this makes me realize how much I miss my country, my people, music. maidito
 

mountainannie

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Dec 11, 2003
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Yes, he was very impressed with your people. He came here as a volnteer for the OAS just after school then went back to work in a bank, since he had trained in economics. But he was so touched by what he had seen here that he gave up his more lucrative careeer and came back to work for Our Border | Nuestra Frontera | Fwonty? Nou

He served up and down the border on both sides.. Haiti and the DR and often went to PauP.

He will be going to The Fletcher School at Tufts in Boston for his Masters...

And then.. I am certain... back to serve his home country.

knowing him has been a great blessing to me