Chapter Next: CITY YEAR MIAMI

Family and friends!! I am relocating to Miami, Florida. I am serving as a Corps Member in City Year- a program that dedicates itself to decreasing high school drop-out rates. City Year Corps members serve full-time in schools for 10 months working to improve student attendance, behavior and course performance in English and math. That’s right I will fight the status quo!!

 I am soooooooo excited to work with young students motivating them and helping them any way I can. My passions are social justice, equality and education. This program is a dream come true!!

Cityyear.org

I remember when I was a college student I was constantly thinking about ways to get more involved in my community, having conversations with my peers about making an IMPACT, A CHANGE! During the school year with school responsibilities, extracurriculars and other activities, the time available to get involved was limited. My energy had to be centered in staying on task with my classes. Being an Oxy student ain’t easy for the work load is heavy. Nonetheless I always found time to coordinate, organize or attend events in those areas.

Now that I am out of school and in the real world, it’s hard to maintain the rush and urgency to make a difference because I am not continuously triggered by the things I read in my socio classes. For money I served as a math tutor, and most recently as an English teacher for adults learning English as a second language. I am so proud of my work however I crave for more organized work.

City Year will provide the opportunity to meet with other young people whose interests include serving, social justice and education. I am excited to start working within the Miami communities and share ideas with my co-workers. In my mind we will start a revolution and inspire these youngsters to aspire for more. I can’t wait to mentor and tutor these students and get involved with the families.

I chose Miami because well for many reasons. If you remember reading my post on my way to DR the first time>http://aguanile-sazon.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html

 I was soo excited to be in Miami. Growing up I would always hear about Miami because of Univision the Spanish broadcasting system. I love Spanish music I am proud of my Mexican background and I love learning about new cultures. I decided Miami because I wanted to immerse myself in a different environment than the one I am used to. In order to fully enrich my experience and grow as a human being I need to get out of my comfort zone, and that’s what I will do.

As I said I will be serving 10 months in Miami and if I like it then I stay! Lol

I won’t forget my roots and where I came from. South Central "Like a mama you birth me, Souh Central you nursed me. Schooled me with hard knocks, better than Berkeley"! I rep CALI! But I don’t  need to be selfish I gotta see the world baby! J

To my family and friends: I hope to make you proud! But most of all I want to inspire you to follow your dreams and not hold back. I will miss u all! <3

 

when I think Miami I think Conga, Rumba, Fiesta, Guaguanchon! WEPA!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4FzG7Y0RCU

 

Una Vaina Ratata ete concielto de Ivy Queen

Wow!! Ivy Queen dont play! and neither do her fans!
(before you start reading you gotta start jamming with this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_SWebTLSN8)

Llego la Diva a Huntington Park, CA a reventar la disco. La Boom is one of the most ratchet clubs in the hood. I loooove coming here. lol

I used to party there with my Tiple G's on Thursday Nights cuando era una colegiala.

She looked absolutely radiant. Traia el pelo enrollado y con una trensa (clineja) bien nice. Unas botas super altas, un bustie con feathers y una vaina en el cuello.

I gotta say that Ivy Queen never lets her soldiers down. La Bandolera was passionate on the mic and on the dance floor. She was connected to her location, to where and who she was performing for.

The Diva greeted her fans with a "what's up West Side, Where you At?" I was like klk Ivy dimelo! Eso me guta que ella lo mantiene lo ma real. She was like "where my fellas at?"

At some point in her performmance she would dance to the routince along with her dancers. uno de los papis que baila con La Queena es su marido. Git it Ivy Queen. Se feliz woman!

I loves that she brings her soldiers out! This is what she refers to her back up dancers as well as her fans. The interaction el coqueteo, la chuleria entre Ivy and the soldiers is entertaining and makes a great show! I love watching them perform!

Tenia muchas ganas de conocer y saludar a Ivy Queen pero no se pudo. Me queria tomar una foto con la Bandolera pero no la encontre. El que si se dejo fue uno de los Soldiers ;) y

Hasta me tome una foto con el. haha

 

La diva tambien bailo some bachatica y canto una cancion de el Rey Don Omar

Any who me la pase super bien. Fridays are not usually full on party nights for me anymore because I teach an early Sat. class. It was however, well worth my desvelada....I partied so hard con la diva that I couldn't move Saturday let alone salir a hangear. haha. Amaneci bien adolorida del brazo derecho porque me la pase colgada de una barra para verla por encima de la gente hahaha parecia changita!
Asi que tuve una vista bien bacana toda la noche.

Ivy Queen nunca desepciona
Good Luck to la Diva on the rest of her Musa Tour

 Don't forget to follow her on Twitter @IvyQueenDiva y tambien en su cuenta de Instagram...Check out her website IvyQueenDiva.com

Ivy Queen_ La Diva La Bandolera

Before you start reading I need you to start jamming to her music desde ya... for real though..... click below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_SWebTLSN8

Now listen right hurrr


Tonight I plan to enjoy a good night of some authentic Puerto Rican reggaeton. Thats right, me planeo ir de vaga con la Diva, la potra, la caballota, la cocorota, la bandolera....

I mean this bitch is LA Reina del genre. ya lo sabe....

 

My favorite album is the one with this cover on it

 

I started listening to Ivy Queen when she launched the Flashback album with her early hits. Since then each song que la Queen ha sacado ha sido un total exito en la radio y en las discotecas.

 

Recien, I have been following Ivy through her Twitter account @ivyqueendiva where she retweets a lot of her fans and replies to their questions.  Tambien viendo lo que la diva wants to share with her fans and panas through her Instagram IvyQueenDiva

Just found out that Ivy Queen and I both have been part of the Vagina Monologues cast. Nice.

Thats real.

 

*Slash I have been Retweeted by Ivy Queen twice! now !! one was with this post today!!

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Isz2V0HxDw

 

thats another good dose of real Bandolera reggaeton

 

Love this mujer! Persistente! Poderosa! Independiente! Humilde! and who likes to Empower women! Ivy Queen also believes that a man who dries up your tears and makes you cry only of happiness deserves to be treated like a King. Something which I agree on :D mas na

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=DFv-AxgGmcc&feature=endscreen

 

I just found out she dated DJ Urba! DAM!  I hear him on other real legit reggaeton songs with Wisin Y Yandel and Don Omar

 

 

List of songs: "Somos rapperos pero no delicuentes", "Yo Quiero Bailar Yo quiero saber", "Cuentale", "Dime", "La Vida es Asi" pues son muchas... todas las canciones de esta mujer estan pa bailar toda la noche with your hands up against the wall and shit. haha

 



 

 

this i took when i got the ticket this morning

 

 

Aight. *now let's get sexy for tonight*

 

 

-Aguanile

 

 

1

"To Selena, With Love" By Chris Perez

I just finished reading “To Selena with Love” written by her husband Chris Perez.  

Such an emotional read. I am a Selena fan since I was about 8 years old. Eventhough she passed away 17 years ago, every year I remember her death and every time I think about the great artist she was becoming.

The book gave me an insight to who Selena was outside of the stage, as a daughter and of course as a wife. Chris did a really good job describing how their love developed in spite of her father's disapproval and their lives together once married.

 

It seems as if Selena suffered a lot due to her father’s pressures of focusing solely on her music versus venturing into the fashion world like Selena wanted. Selena was also very smart and knew how to get what she wanted from Chris, for she managed to convince him to get anything she pleased. For example, she was an animal lover and in total they had five dogs and a boa.

It wasn’t until the last couple of chapters that Chris talks about Yolanda Saldivar. He describes her as a cancer in the Quintanilla family. From reading Chris’ side of the story and seeing all the interviews that Yolanda has provided for the Latin America media, it’s obvious Yolanda had a serious obsession with Selena and seeked to control her every movement. Once the Quintanilla family perceived this and they found out that Yolanda was stealing from Selena, Yolanda became a different person. Chris also says how investigators found out that Yolanda had bought a revolver in the beginning of March and taken shooting classes, which means she intended on using this arm against Selena way before she actually killed her on March 31.

A lot has been said about how Selena had an affair with her doctor and that she was planning on escaping with him to Mexico or Brazil. All of these rumors of course stemmed from Yolanda’s interviews from her prison in Texas and most recently from the doctor himself. Whatever the truth is, in my world Selena was a great person and I will always and forever be her fan. I hate that these people are trying to ruin the image of who Selena was to her fans.

I can’t explain what Selena represents to me, the Mexican American dream or the successful career of a woman who rose to fame in a genre usually controlled by men. All I can say is that no matter how old I am and how stupid it seems I will always try to maintain Selena’s memory alive, through her music and her message of “the impossible is always possible”. 

Long Live the Queen of Tex Mex, Selena

 

Meet, Greet, Hug, Kiss and Interview DADDY YANKEE

Today I met one of the most influential reggaeton artist in the genre, DADDY YANKEE!!!!

Yes sir I met, greeted, kissed, hugged and INTERVIEWED Daddy Fucken Yankee!!!!

Friday afternoon I logged into my netflix and as a recommendation the movie “Talento de Barrio” appeared. “Talento de Barrio” is a movie that features Daddy Yankee and talks about an upcoming artist and his life prior to fame. Watching this movie was so interesting because it touched many struggling aspects of living in el “caserio” or the hood in Puerto Rico. I loved and truly enjoyed watching this film. It reminded me of my time in the Caribbean…..

After watching the movie I was head over heels over Daddy Yankee. Not only is he an incredibly talented man, he is handsome and has that bit of hood in him.

Before today I had been a fan of Daddy Yankee but not like # 1 fan. I loved his music, and appreciated the way he looks. But that has changed 360 degrees.

Anyway, after the movie I logged into his Twitter account just to be nosy. There I found out he would be having a meet and greet in Chino, CA the next day!! This was my chance to meet El Cangri!

Saturday morning I woke up determined to meet Daddy Yankee. I asked my little brother if he wanted to come along in this adventure.

After an hour race driving on the 60E we were finally there! We arrived to the venue, skeptical and doubting if this was really happening. In order to receive a VIP Pass and meet DY we had to donate a cellphone or an accesory to Verizon who was sponsoring the event. I gave away the charger to the first phone I ever owned and the protector in order for Chris to have a meet-and-greet. When the lady gave me the pass I asked, “is this it? Am I really going to meet DY today?” she said smiling “yes, that’s it.”

I said, “its not funny, im serious.” I covered my face with my hands and prayed that she was serious.

Chris and I walked around to the different stations they had to entertain us before DY showed up. My Fabulous Quince was the main sponsor of the event, they work to preserve the culture of Quinceaneras within the Latino/a community.

For entertainment they had several contests. Fearless as I am I entered the first one. Contestants were competing to see who could say Verizon the longest. I was the third contestant of five and managed 24 seconds. The last contestant beat me by a second managing 25 seconds. Since the competition was really close we both got a price, a bag signed by Daddy Yankee himself!   HAPPY HAPPY**

For the rest of the time they continued to have competitions, dancers, mariachi and much more. Roxy’s Bridal had a fashion show of very impressive Quinceanera dresses.

Around 2 pm they announced that guests with a green sticker on their badge could head over to the store in order to meet El Cangri. Chris and I were excited because we were finally going to see him!!

We made line for about 20 more min. We were told that we couldn’t take pics on our phones but that a professional photographer was going to be there in order to take a pic for us. When I went inside the store my heart started beating faster. I couldn’t believe I was about to meet the BIG BOSS!!

I let Chris go first. He was just as shocked to see him! When it was my turn I walked with confidence towards him and smiled forever. I approached him with a que lo que? (what’s up  term very commnly used in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic) he smiled at me and said que lo que back. I leaned in for a hug and a smooch…mmmmm he smelled good too….hell yeah I sniffed him!! Jaja

We were about to take a picture when I told him that I wanted a ratata picture (a picture with style) I showed him what I meant by throwing up my deuces sign and he did the same! OMG!! I was so excited!! Before I left I leaned in for another hug and a second smooch and sniff. Before stepping out of his way I said “Una vaina ratata” and pounded him lol! He was cracking the fuck up!! And just like that I met DADDY fucken YANKEE

http://www.color.com/visit/aX0mYHxyHS716tslRDzYde3MunepuLfTQB2zsJxZ324

this is the link to the video that captures the moment when I met him the first time!!!

He was so surprised about my Caribbean flow (swag) lol!! the last couple of seconds you can capture how Daddy Yankee himself was CHECKING THIS MAMACITA OUT!! SAY WAT!

Haha!! I kept staring at him because I couldn’t believe it!! They kept me moving along and I was stubborn to stay longer in the store!

Daddy Yankee and Chris

YA TU SABE!!

Afterwards Chris and I went back to where we had been waiting for him. They continued to have contests because after meeting all the fans Yankee was promised to come on stage and say hi to us. There was a final contest  and the winners would get to ask El Cangri a question!! A question!!!

I was determined to be a contestant and WIN!! The MC saw me wanting to participate and pulled me up for the constest because “he could tell I was a really big fan”. (YESSS)

The game was musical chairs!! Seven contestants and six chairs. I danced and got low to songs as the losers kept losing. The MC decided that the last 3 standing could ask DY a question! I was still standing and I walked backstage!! (WINNER!!!)

The crowd was pumped because Yankee was on his way. From backstage I was able to see when he exited the Verizon store and was headed to the stage. When he walked in and onto the stage, the crowd went nuts!! I couldn’t believe my brown eyes!

He came up on stage and said hi to his fans. The MC asked a few questions about his upcoming presentations in L.A. and his album. Then the MC announced me as his “big fan”. When I went up on stage Yankee smiled like “this loca again?” hahahaha

I introduced myself said I had Mexican origins but had visited Puerto Rico and had the opportunity to study in the Dominican Republic and that’s where I got my Caribbean flow from. Ya tu sabe I told him. Lol I welcomed him to Chino, CA and asked what was his favorite things about coming to Cali. He said 1. The Ladies! (crowd went wild and I took advatange and hugged and almost kissed him again!) 2. The weather  and the rest I zoned out cuz honestly I was just starring at his fine ass. I swear!!! I couldn’t believe I was standing next to DY interviewing him!!! My turn was up and I took advantage to hug and kiss him one more time!!! Yeahhh Cangri!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5MBMgHxwKA
the best video that I found of this moment is this and interview starts at 5 min and 10 seconds.... Check out my flow!
 

http://www.color.com/visit/uTX8FrtL6g_uZxfN9cuTV6TlHG1iryxW_p70BjdL3f8

este es el video taken by the camera crew where I was interviewing him!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2AeXL5GNo4&feature=youtube_gdata
the second link captures when I went up on stage and DY (the complete version)

Hahaha When I got off stage the people working for the event congratulated me for keeping it togetther and acting so professional eventhough it was obvious I was such a huge fan! Lol

All the contestants asked their questions and DY had to leave!!  But before he took one more picture with his fans and he dipped. It was amazing!!!!!!

Omg! Seeing him be so accessible to his fans and willing to answer questions just made me like him even more! He is really humble and chill. And FINE o SHIT so fine!!

After the show the MC told me he loved my life! Lol because I seemed so happy and full of energy. Me and him ended up dancing on stage to a Daddy Yankee song while the rest of the people stared in envy. I met up with Chris and HAPPILY walked away from the best day of my life! :D

It was an amazing experience!! Daddy Yankee ARMY fo’ life!

DY and Mamacita!!