Esperanza Dickson Blogger

ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE: HOPE WITH THE FIRST LIGHT OF DAY

2010-09-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

(Click Image For Information On This Painting)

Orpheus walks full of hope towards daylight, expecting his beloved Eurydice to follow him all the way out of the underwold. He has been granted an extraordinary and unique opportunity: to have the breath of life restored to his wife. Hades, king of the land of the dead, softened to Orpheus request, marking Greek history as the only time this ever happened with this fearsome god. Even Cerberus, the horrifying hound of the gates of Hades, succumbed to the sad songs Orpheus played. Hades and his wife Persephone conceded Orpheus a chance for getting back Eurydice, alive. She would walk behind him, all the way to daylight, but he could not turn back to look at her, or would lose her for ever.

Read more about this topic at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clytia

Coson Beach

2010-08-28T20:48:00.001-07:00

Coson Beach
Originally uploaded by esperanzadickson

A long, long line of coconut trees, and white foam in beautiful Coson beach, Samana, Dominican Republic.

Apollo And Clytia Greek Myth

2010-08-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

(Click Image For Information On This Painting)

Apollo climbs the sky in his chariot of fire, and ignores Clytia, who betrayed his beloved Leucothea, in order to gain back his favors. She suffers silently and finally turns into a sunflower, that will always turn its' face to the Sun.

Read more about this topic at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clytia

Daphne And Apollo: Surprise, Surprise!

2010-08-08T20:06:00.000-07:00

(Click Image For Information On This Painting)

Knowing how popular he was among women - and some men, too... (see "Male Lovers", at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo ); it was better for heart breaker Apollo to spread the rumor that a leaden arrow hardened Daphne's. It would stand badly against his reputation as a seducer if people began to think that the beautiful nymph Daphne simply didn't like his glorious handsomeness. And Apollo wasn't the kind to take feminine rejections smoothly, apparently. So, one good day he decided that Daphne would have to give in, even if by sheer physical force.

The god chased Daphne around the forest, first playfully, then, seriously, breaking in a heavy sweat. What a moment it must have been for Apollo, to find out how badly the girl despised him, that to stay away, she ran furiously for all she was worth! And, even worse for his overfed ego, Daphne was a very fast runner, and he couldn't catch her. Only a divine favor would allow him to close the distance between them, as he was no match for this lightning-fast opponent!

Just at that moment - his good luck working miracles, no doubt - Cupid decided to give him the aid he required. But as his footsteps ate the space separating him from his sweet goal, right when he could feel the heat of her body on his finger tips, and the brush of her hair against his face, he received an almost heart stopping surprise. Beautiful Daphne turned instantly into a laurel tree! His desperate hands sought the dreamed softness of her skin, but found instead hard bark. He buried his face in her lustrous mane, with the last of hopes, but found only the rustle of leaves, and tiny branches that scratched his cheeks and lips.

So determined was Daphne to avoid him (or not just him, but all her suitors, as the Greek story likes to generalize, to Apollo's relieve...), that she preferred to transform herself completely. She considered her gorgeous form to be responsible for her troubles. She asked her father Peneus for help, and received it in the shape of a huge laurel tree. Now she would be forever rooted to the ground, opposite to the freedom of movement she was so used to have around the woods, which allowed her to be the great runner and hunter she was well known for.

I wonder if she had any idea of what her father had in mind, when she asked him for help. Either her father couldn't think straight in such short notice, or his responses to favor requests used to be this radical. Or maybe he simply just had a terrible dislike for Apollo and his ill reputation with women, now planning mischief with his dear daughter's purity.

Apparently, Apollo's ability to continue his love life as if nothing ever happened continued unimpaired. To me, it wasn't so. I think Daphne marked him deeply, after all... Irreversibly. His declaring as sacred the green leaves now replacing her hair, isn't one to be taken lightly. Instead of remembering with reverence her braveness in each Olympic event with laurel leaves as a special symbol, I think he grieved her loss quietly, in every of those magnificent occasions. He was the brave one, suffering silently for the only love he was so obsessed about, and couldn't have, ever.

You can read more about this topic at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphne

Atalanta And Hippomenes: Saving More Than Pride

2010-08-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

(Click Image For Information On This Painting)

Greek mythology tells the story of huntress Atalanta in many versions. From all, we can take note of what an incredible young woman this was, fighting and hunting fiercely like a bear. She had no equal…as no wish to attach herself sentimentally to anyone.

Of course, suitors almost rained from the Greek sky for such a remarkable lady, well endowed with a tantalizing beauty, to boost! But, as most Greek myths go, a bit more than mild cruelty added up to the story. Atalanta’s father decides, apparently agreeing to the young woman’s wishes (wicked wishes, to be more precise…), to allow all her suitors come forward for marriage proposals. These would be “processed” for considering in an uncommon way: the pretender would have to win Atalanta’s hand in a race, instead of begging for it on one knee. The race would be against Atalanta herself, winning a death sentence instantly, had the suitor the bad luck of being outrun by her.

Father and daughter, united in the purpose of repelling pretenders in this unconventional way, had great success. Atalanta could run faster than a deer, and faster than any other person. Curiously, while Atalanta’s suitors disappeared for ever in this fatal fashion, new ones never stopped from volunteering and giving it a try, yes, a deadly one.

Hippomenes was one of these self-confident young men. He had his good amount of glorious reputation, too, if not as magnificent as that of Atalanta's. But what he lacked in speed, he over brimmed in wit. The day of the race he showed up sure of his good luck, which to everyone's amazement worked to the best wonders. Finally someone won against thunder fast Atalanta!

His trick? He made some plans ahead. He asked Aphrodite for a favor, which she answered in the form of a few golden apples. Apparently, the goddess knew what a greedy little thing this Atalanta was. Even Hippomenes was surprised when the young beauty stopped dead in the middle of the race, to retrieve each of the fallen apples that he let go intermittently.

Right at this point is where I wonder what really went on there. I think it might not have gone exactly as it appeared to the naked eye. Avarice on behalf of Atalanta, a beautiful and successful woman, who was a god's daughter? She, who could have anything she wanted, as her history of never ending pretenders faithfully stated? Hum...maybe not...

Maybe it was convenience she thought of. Hippomenes was another story of success in himself. No other man could equal Hippomenes' sharp skills, making of this young man the best match for this extraordinary girl, her continuously growing pride probably coming to a dignified stop, finally. And if she outraced this one, too, she would stay lonely forever, her wicked father at her side, helping her plan who knows what other product of dementia for the future. So she bent obediently to pick up each of the shiny fruits.

Or maybe it was pity she felt for Hippomenes, her feminine intuition telling her that such pricy treats were not obtained so easily. Such things usually had a divine origin. Knowing how capricious Greek gods could be, such favors had generally a high price to pay in return. Being aware of what this pretender was risking for obtaining her hand in marriage, and feeling charitable towards the best of her fellows in sports, probably she thought it was time to renounce to the crown accrediting her as the fastest runner in the universe.

Or maybe it was love at first sight, which is the possibility I like best to consider (...sighs!). Hippomenes was very handsome, with the attractiveness his tough daily life molded his muscular body with. One good look at this young man convinced Atalanta that it was worth it. And not just being nice to look at, this man was the best hunter and runner she ever had known, even if a notch below her skills. So, maybe then she suggested the apples plan to a more than willing Hippomenes.

And probably it was her idea that he would get a few more (as in my oil painting), just for precaution. The formidable Aphrodite provided him with just three...In any case, Atalanta would need to have considerable "distraction", for the sake of appearances, with everybody knowing how fast she could run. After a long and hair rising history of fatal rejections for all her suitors, it wouldn't look good if Atalanta let Hippomenes win easily. The apples fitted perfectly to her machinations!

But Hippomenes probably had one more reason to accede smoothly to Atalanta's idea. Attracted to her as he was, maybe he felt it his duty to protect her reputation and dignity, thinking he wouldn't like her feelings bruised by her first lost race. What if he truly could outrun her after all, even without those darn apples? Death would appeal to him like a sweet treat, in place of the monstrous rage he might unleash from Atalanta, had he the indelicacy of letting himself win, shamelessly, in this comfortable fashion.

From the different versions of ending for this story, a popular one tells about how the newly weds celebrated their union, just after the race was won by Hippomenes. Ja, see? If it was not a plan between the two lovers, how could both of them end up happily celebrating? Common sense makes it more plausible that Hippomenes would celebrate, while Atalanta hid her humiliation and discomfort behind a dead serious face, in the best of scenarios. What would really be expected in this case, as Greek mythology usually went, is an outraged Atalanta, asking for some god's help, in order to take some creative revenge against Hippomenes.

In the following part of the story, according to one of the many versions, an angry Aphrodite brought death upon Hippomenes, apparently because he forgot his debt to her, in the bliss of celebrations. In this direction of the story, I think that the real reason for the goddess' anger was another. Secretly discovering that she was the fool in the middle of the lover's genial plans, must have triggered the goddess worst humor.

Another version of ending for this story states that Aphrodite, or Zeus, turned both newly weds into lions, because of their lack of proper honoring the goddess, or their irreverence in one of Zeus' temples. Apparently they were engulfed in a cloud of lust, that drove them to make love right there in the temple. They were punished accordingly, changed to the forms of wild beasts that Greeks thought couldn't mate together.

But I like to stay with the version of ending that tells about the fortuitous escape to safeness of both lovers, away from Aphrodite's fury.

Birds Love Story In Dog Food Plate.MOV

2010-07-25T13:59:00.000-07:00

Sabana de La Mar: Green Freshness in Samana Bay

2010-07-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

Dominican Republic has a lot of great places to visit, if you choose to have your vacation in a country located in the tropical island of Hispaniola. But here I will tell you about one place I visited not long ago, one that is very interesting and less included in most touring expeditions: Sabana de La Mar (translation: "savannah of the sea"). First, let's get there...

Sabana de La Mar is located on the East side of the Dominican Republic, opposite to Samana, on the coast of Samana Bay. You can get there by bus or car; an all-terrain vehicle is ideal. You could also come by boat from Samana, crossing the Samana Bay. Either if you are coming from La Romana (East) or Santo Domingo (South-West), you'll need to get to San Pedro de Macoris, where the road towards Sabana de La Mar starts.

For my visit I took, along with my family and friends, a vacation of four days and three nights. We left Santo Domingo around 3:00 p.m. After half an hour of blue-green sea by our right side, we spotted for a moment our Main International Airport at Punta Caucedo. Right before it, we could see the turquoise waters over our Submarine National Park La Caleta. We continued to see more sea to our right, some beaches, and then we arrived to San Pedro de Macoris.

The road we chose took us behind San Pedro city, over Higuamo river through the new bridge, with a brief view of the factories nearby. Then, we started the long road towards Hato Mayor, surrounded side by side with huge sugar cane fields. Deep green vegetation was splashed wildly with more green, changing from one tone to another. The climate and geography took turns varying the colors according to a not so dry prairie vegetation, then dry, not so dry again, and then abruptly humid.

Crossing the picturesque city of Hato Mayor, we left with the promise of returning to a small cafeteria, famous for typical delicious desserts. A cloud of brown dust floating over the road marked our passing. Following the leading vehicle, occupied by the only ones in the party who knew the way to our destination, we turned corners, twisted, and went up or down the narrow streets out of Hato Mayor city. We had a hard time catching up with our leading friends, since they seemed not to care much about a slow progress on a road that turned rougher with every passing minute. My children didn't mind a bit the resulting jostling of the vehicle, their delighted shrieks testifying their enjoyment.

At one moment, we stopped for the second time(and could finally catch up with our guiding party!). One of the smallest people in the group had too much soda or juice to drink, again... With no restaurants of stores nearby, we followed the advise of one of the friendly and helpful farmers of the place, and took the wild surrounding vegetation as shield for private relieve. The first time we had stopped next to a huge plantation of exotic palm trees. We took a moment to admire how ferns and vines grew easily on the tops of the leafless trunks of the old trees. Butterflies and grass hoppers passed by, busy in their activities.

The third stop was required, again, by our leading company. This time, a ripe fruit from a cacao tree, from the hundreds along the road, was too irresistible for one of our guiding friends. She got out of the truck almost tip-toeing, and subtracted with great secrecy the beautiful price. I suppose the excitement of the possibility of being caught at it just added to the original lure. The indifferent faces of the people living nearby, clearly knowing what was going on, told me such possibility was just in my friend's imagination. But to her benefit, we all wisely refrained from informing her so.

The road continued, each step tougher than the last, wild as the involving green surroundings. Tall walls of greenery, covering our view of the sky sometimes with magnificent roofs of vines and branches, suggested magical possibilities in our minds. Then, we got to Sabana de La Mar.

Being this a fishermen town, great amounts of small stores selling fresh fish and sea food are very common. The abundant coconut trees that grow dense with each step towards the shore wouldn't let us forget the place we just had got to, anyway. Turning right, we headed to our final destination: a two story house sitting on a cliff looking over a virgin beach, from where all Samana Bay can be admired. We got there close to 7:00 p.m. After a long stretch of gorgeous coconut trees flanking our left side from Sabana de La Mar main town, imagine how it feels to come face to face with a breathtaking view of the sea from the top of a cliff. Add to that a fabulous sunset...

A party of twelve, including three kids and a small dog, we spent our vacation in the following fashion:

Waking up to a magnificent view of Samana Bay, sprinkled with small fishermen boats. These were out since very early, in their every day duty, watchful to protect their lucky catch from the cheeky pelicans and gulls. This feathered and unwanted company always kept escorting their boats with unashamed indifference, beady eyes and fast beaks at the ready.

During the day we took a bath in the beach below, surrounded by very tall coconut trees, and testified by a huge almond tree throwing cool shadow over a big old log. We sat there to rest, wet out toes in the foam of the incoming waves, and savour the delightful view of the Bay. Sometimes hundreds of tiny scallops would be washed ashore, held onto small branches and logs. Their bodies resembled white butterfly wings bordered in orange.

The nights were spent under the pool gazebo, after refreshing and splashing away our afternoons in the pool, of course. We took turns giving company and support to our friend in charge of preparing dinner, his specialty being barbeque. Eating finger-licking good food (minus a couple of steaks and sausages, thunderfast stolen by a gang of innocent looking cats from the neighborhood), we continued to sit and talk until late.

The fireflies dancing around added more light to the very starry nights of Sabana de La Mar. We watched the curious activities of other flying insects, such as beetles, which vehemently insisted on committing suicide in the pool, attracted by the bright lights in its inner walls. Don't worry, the children always united their efforts in successful rescuing missions that lasted the whole time we spent under the gazebo.

If for dinner we had terrific barbeques, for lunch our BBQ chef's fiance prepared delicious dishes. The first day it was a huge "sancocho". The next, a "paella" bursting with seafood. The official vacation-closing specialty was a Spanish "fabada". Breakfasts were another of her specialties, save some trouble we had one morning with two giant Spanish "tortillas" and a lack of a proper heating place to cook them (finding that out just after emptying the "tortilla" contents into the two huge "paella" pans we had, which were the only available containers appropriate for the task)... That is another story, but at least I can tell you that only the third "tortilla" (specially prepared for a very picky friend) made it with dignity to the table. This was the only one that could fit in a normal pan and on the stove top, thus, being thoroughly cooked with success.

The guardian in charge of keeping watch of the house when not in use, stayed around to give us a hand. A short, sturdy looking person wearing a hat, and a "machete" through his belt at all times, this man proved to be a great company. He knew perfectly the whole place and had no trouble sharing his knowledge with us, along with the town gossip. His picturesque speech and ideas made our conversations more interesting. He brought us piles of coconuts, their water and pulp sweet and irresistible. We drank and ate them under the gazebo, keeping an eye out for the visiting humpback whales that had made Samana Bay so famous around the world. Our friend the daytime chef, and owner of the house, told us to our mouth-gaping amazement that from the balcony around the pool and gazebo, these creatures where often spotted in the nearby waters without trouble. We didn't see any in our stay, but with the spectacular view, we thought that this might probably be true. We could see all the way to the other side of the Bay from where we were.

We planned a visit to the small fishermen village nearby, which gives its name to the surrounding area that includes the property where we were staying. La Cañita sounded very interesting, being a place where we could rent a boat and enjoy the Bay further. We didn't have the time to go, regretfully. Trying to convince the children to leave the beach or the pool for some time was a very tiresome business, so we quit at the first opportunity. We could not go to the village, but the villagers came to us. Or at least, some curious people visited us the last day, coming to say "Hi". Some children were included in the visiting party, and friendly as they were, ended in minutes running up and down the patio, playing with our children, happily catching bugs with them.

On our way back, we honored our promise for sweets in Hato Mayor city. We stopped at "La Bolita" cafeteria & restaurant. We could see how famous this spot is, because of the desserts they bring from El Seybo, a province to the East. El Seybo is well known in the whole country for the terrific pastes made with sweet milk or guava. They offer other fabulous desserts.

I didn't know about those other desserts. These were brought in large containers, and served directly in disposable plastic cups for eating right there, or jars, for taking home. We could sit there and eat spoonfuls of very sweet and soft pastes of coconut with milk, sweet potato, or plain milk. There were other flavors, but I remember only these... Umm!! They also offer little bread-cookies, which will crumble richly in your mouth and make you forget about everything else, as you probably won't be able to stop from eating them for a long time.

With our stomachs and hearts full, we continued our return, only to be surprised as we were about to reach San Pedro de Macoris. On a narrow road with just one lane for going, another one for coming, and sugar cane fields on both sides, what could we do with a very long line of cars in front? Yes, just wait. The reason for this sudden and unexpected dense traffic showed itself minutes later.

Amazed, we had the pleasure to enjoy in "first row" an authentic, real Guloya dance with "palos" and "atabales". People passing by couldn't avoid to move at least a bit with the primitive rhythms of their music. This is a common celebration during Holy week, which was the time we chose for our trip to Sabana de La Mar. The elections for Congress were just around the corner, in next May. It wasn't strange at all, then, to see those who accurately chose the moment for this parade to promote their candidates, obtaining lots of cheers, sweat and frenzy for free.

We may go back to Sabana de La Mar in the nearby future, to honor a promise made to our children at departure. If not for this reason, we will go anyway, to retrieve my sunglasses. Forgotten and probably hidden among hundreds of pebbles, sticks and almond leaves, they may be around still, I think... even if a bit battered by the fierce weather of this beautiful virgin beach.

Abstract Painting: Postwar Minds, Historical Positions In 1960's & 1970's

2010-07-15T06:15:00.000-07:00

Galleries In Vienna now Exhibiting striking abstract paintings, showing the art development in the postwar period. Later, how artists' perception changed in time, showing the historical positions through the 1960's and 1970's. Learn more about this Exhibition at http://artnews.org/gallery.php?i=667&exi=22234&Painting_Proc
ess_and_Expansion

Matisse: A Bit More About; Exhibition Now In New York Galleries

2010-07-15T05:58:00.000-07:00

A very interesting Exhibition of Henri Matisse's very enigmatic works is now in New York Galleries, until next October 11. Matisse's works primarily from the period 1913-1917. More information available at this page:

http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/35206/moma-throws-a-dignified-homecoming-party-for-matisse/

Guloyas Dancing

2010-07-08T05:37:00.000-07:00

Linda, King Of The Guloyas in Dominican Republic

2010-07-07T06:23:00.000-07:00

"Linda" is Donald Ulester Juana Henderson, known by all as the King of the National Carnival Parade 2006, in Dominican Republic. He was identified as the head of a cultural celebration recognized by the UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Guloyas from San Pedro de Macoris.

The Guloyas, or Buloyas, are descendants of black cocolos who immigrated to San Pedro de Macoris (in the South East of the Dominican Republic, just West to La Romana). They came from the british islands of the Caribbean. Juan Luis Guerra, a famous Dominican singer and song writer, honors the Guloyas in the musical video of his song "A Pedir Su Mano". In their activities, the Guloyas dance with folkloric music which is heavily African accented with particular rythms, drums and flutes. The Guloyas costumes are very original, decorated with peacock feathers, capes covered with stones, mirrors and great handfuls of colors.

If you ever decide to visit Dominican Republic for your vacations, which I highly recommend (beautiful beaches, weather always between spring and summer, interesting historical places...), the visit to Teofilus Chiverton's house is something to consider in your agenda. Teofilus was the founder of the Guloyas, and his very picturesque house, painted by Dominican artists, awaits in San Pedro de Macoris. This house is also part of Dominican Cultural Heritage.

Naif Art in Haiti Affected By Earthquake, Too

2010-01-28T06:16:00.000-08:00

The following is a translation from my friend Glenda Galán's blog post "Arte Entre Escombros", about the unfortunate current moment in Naif Art, in Haiti. You can see Glenda Galan's Blog Posts at http://glendagalan.blogspot.com/

(Approximate translation of "Arte Entre Escombros", a blog post in spanish by Glenda Galán, http://glendagalan.blogspot.com/)

"Art Among Debris"

It filled me with great sorrow to read in these days that the best from Haiti's cultural heritage was lost in the earthquake of January 12. The best world's collection in Naif Art exists no more.

Only around 400 oils have been rescued from the 15,000 that were part of Museum Nader of Naif Art. In addition, nothing is known about the luck of several Haitian artists and their artwork which they kept in their studios.

The only survivor was a minimal part of the artwork from great national artists, such as Héctor Hyfolite, Philomé Obin, Valcin, Benoit and Wilson Bignud. But the legacy from other important creators has been buried for ever. In Haiti, the Art lies, too, among debris.

* Naif painting is a synthesis of French Art and the Popular style born in XIX in Haiti, and evolutioned from its African origin. In XX, this style is outlined as characteristically Haitian, standing out in native and national themes, with local customs scenes and very bright colors.

See original post in spanish by Glenda Galan, at http://glendagalan.blogspot.com/

Haiti: Borrow My Dominican Eyes For a Moment

2010-01-18T08:15:00.000-08:00

I live in Santo Domingo, capital city of the Dominican Republic, country that shares the Hispaniola island with Haiti. Santo Domingo is about 278 km from Malpasse, a small Haitian town touching the Dominican border, just west of our Enriquillo Lake (distance I measured with my classmates during one of my university field trips, 1990). Last Tuesday, January 12, while everybody was going through their regular afternoon business, nature decided to play a naughty trick to the poorest country in America. An earthquake, 7.0 in richter scale, shook Haiti. Of course, damage beyond the imaginable was expected to happen. Haitian citizens add up this terrible burden to their usual painful daily struggle to feed themselves, food already an unreachable luxury for many.

Official reports inform of high death tolls, with huge margins ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 of fatal victims. Unfortunately, we know that this is a hopeful scenario... the real one has a painfully higher death toll. The extreme poverty of a country forgotten by many, now is exposed naked, for all to see what could have been avoided or at least lessened, but was neglected until this awful moment. Years of political and economical crisis in Haiti comes to pile up additional difficulties, for ways of channeling humanitarian aid and reconstruction. While the world now expresses profound sorrow and condolences for Haiti, all are willing to make amends and extend more than a helping hand. The trouble for the help to reach the affected is huge, and is what needs most of the attention right now. The ways around are all but easy.

Seventy two hours away from the catastrophe, people at Puerto Principe, the capital city of Haiti, were complaining about the lack of international help available for them. "Cannot be seen, eaten, or drank, it is just heard of", they say. "The radio says many things, but we see nothing. There are lots of trucks and people, but we have no water or food", says one of the hundreds of affected Haitians. (Source: front page of Diario Libre news, Jan 16, 2010; www.diariolibre.com).

You want to know about what is being done for helping Haiti? Just surf the internet for a second. All mayor sites, stores and many others with a web presence are united in the efforts of giving support to Haiti. No worries about touching people's hearts. The huge, immense and worrying problem is how to deliver all collected aid to the affected Haitians. Important government buildings were destroyed, among the many others that were reduced to a giant pile of debris. The airport at Puerto Principe is overwhelmed by aircrafts already. Due to the big difficulties for handing over help, Dominican Republic is acting as a center for international help on its way to Haiti. The United Nations Organization (U.N.) established an airspace bridge between Dominican Republic and Puerto Principe, using as operations base the Dominican airport Joaquin Balaguer, at El Higuero in North Santo Domingo. Maria Montez Dominican airport at Barahona (closer to Haiti) is receiving aircrafts with aid for Haiti, in the face of the current inability of Haiti's airport to receive aircrafts.

In addition, the Dominican main international airport Las Americas, plus Gregorio Luperon airport at Puerto Plata, are working without pause, receiving humanitarian aid, doctors, firefighters, canine teams, and people for logistic support. As of Saturday January 16, around 300 flights from Dominican Republic with humanitarian aid had taken place. Even the embassies are moving their citizens from Haiti to their original countries, through Dominican international airport Las Americas, due to the difficult situation in Haiti. No doubt the other Dominican airports not mentioned here,are currently working together for this cause, too.

At the Dominican Republic, supermarkets, stores of all kinds, TV chains, the Church, hospitals, and a long list of other entities, all have stepped forward to offer relief after this terrible tragedy. Dominican hospitals, normally overflowing with great amounts of Haitian citizens (Haitian births top the list of regular medical assistance at Dominican hospitals), now are beyond their peak of capacity. Nonetheless, the Dominican Government, in the person of the Dominican State Secretary of Health, is pushing above the limits to work against the clock and assist as much as possible. The constant incoming of Haitian victims just grows with every passing minute, and even borrowed properties nearby have had to be used for accomodating all.

The Haitian President, Rene Preval, pondered on the heavy solidarity extended by the Dominican Republic, and thanked the Dominican President Leonel Fernandez, the Dominican Government and all Dominicans for the great assistance to Haiti. "President Leonel Fernandez has been the first one to come, and came with a great amount of help. Besides the important humanitarian cooperation, Fernandez promised to help us in what is now one of our priorities, which is restablishing telecommunications, electrical power and communication by land. Thanks to the efforts from the Dominican Government, we have started to restablish these services", said Preval. (Source: Diario Libre news, Monday January 18, 2010).

While relief for Haiti is nicely being raised, the channels for distributing it are difficult. Dominican heavy machinery and personnel to go along, for lifting and removing debris, reached the affected place since the first moment. In the beginning, it was to help find survivors, now, to remove bodies... It wasn't without efforts that these machines and personnel got to their working sites. Now, for trucks with food and supplies it is a complete different story. Jimaní, a Dominican city close to the border with Haiti, is being used as an important center for distributing help to Haitians. But while personnel for clasifying items for aid is requested urgently, the needs of those Haitians affected will not wait.

Sacking and chaos have turned into great challenges for rescuers and volunteers. Despair has started to own the citizens of Puerto Principe, many of which have not tasted a bite of food since last Tuesday January 12. (Source: Diario Libre news, January 18) Scenes full of violence, specially related with food sacking, start to spread in Puerto Principe. There are stricking photos to testity for this situation (front page of Diario Libre news, January 18; someone raising a hand with a knife, eyes apparently fixed in the back of another person walking unsuspecting). The distribution of food to over 600,000 affected is facing great difficulties for security reasons, said rescuers from U.N.

Meanwhile, the United States Army has opted for throwing food packages from helicopters suspended in the air above Puerto Principe. Violence during distribution has reached such alarming levels, that the food and water coming from Dominican Republic through the hands of volunteers, must be delivered in caravans escorted by military vehicules. With a government practically dislocated at Haiti, the situation turns harder, said Father Anthony Brice. Father Brice also explained that the sackings have affected small supermarkets and food stores, more than the international aid.

On the other hand, there is the terrible health issue to attend to. Vallerie Jolland, from U.N., informed that between 3 to 5 millions of Haitians were affected by the earthquake. She also said that one of the U.N. priorities is to avoid epidemic spreads. Bodies of the dead are piled on the street, under the buildings debris, and the risk for epidemic diseases is clear.

World's eyes focus mainly on Puerto Principe, but other places were severely damaged. Leogane, at South Haiti, was destroyed in more than 90%, as per U.N. reports. As if this tragedy was not enough to fill with dread the Haitians' minds, eathquake replicas have continued to shake the already and badly shaken poor country, making everyone remain scared to death, literally. No wonder a great exodus to other parts of the country has taken place amont the Haitians since last Tuesday January 12.

Un Final Feliz Para La Magia de Santa: Cómo?

2009-12-14T18:17:00.000-08:00

Qué podemos hacer? Sí, hay algo que podemos hacer...

Nadie puede negar los momentos maravillosos que fueron esos, cuando éramos pequeños y llenos de ilusiones de Santa Claus, sus renos, trineo y bolsa gigante de regalos... Es una tradición tan feliz, que ahora estamos llevando la magia de Santa a nuestros niños. Fantástico!

Pero qué tal si los momentos mágicos están llegando a su final para nuestros niños? La mayoría de las veces, ellos lo descubrirán de sus compañeros de clase, primos... a una edad más temprana de la que esperábamos o que deseábamos. Dependiendo sobre cómo este saber sea aprendido, algunos niños lo toman bien o no. Algunas veces se ponen un poquito o muy tristes cuando lo saben.

Una amiga, que es sicóloga con larga experiencia con niños, me dijo que aunque nuestros niños generalmente se enteran en el momento o la forma distintos a como esperábamos; hay algo que podemos hacer. Podemos ayudar a evitar frustraciones en nuestros niños, si seguimos estos sencillos pasos: junto a los regalos de Santa, siempre poner regalos de parte de papá y mamá; estos regalos deben ser más atractivos, preferiblemente. El real truco está en que se agreguen cada vez más regalos de papá y mamá cada año, mientras que Santa traiga cada vez regalos más pequeños. Tenemos que asegurarnos en especial de que los regalos más esperados por nuestros hijos vengan de mamá y papá. A pesar de lo mucho que deseamos que nuestros bebés crezcan con la magia de Santa por un tiempo razonable, es posible que no ocurra como deseamos. Pero algo sí es casi seguro: cuando el "momento inevitable" de la verdad llegue, es muy, muy probable que a nuestros niños no les importe. La mejor parte: papá y mamá recibirán doble crédito!

A Happy Ending For Santa's Magic: How?

2009-12-14T17:33:00.000-08:00

What can we do? Yes, there is something we can do...

No one can deny what wonderful moments those were, when we were little and full of illusions for Santa Claus, his reindeer, sleigh and gigantic bag full of presents... It is such a happy tradition, that now we are taking Santa's magic to our children. Wonderful!

But what if the magical moments are getting to the end for our children? Most of the time, they will find out from their classmates, cousins... at an earlier age than we expected or hoped for. Depending on how this knowledge is learned, some children may take it easy or not. Many times they are a bit or very sad when they find out.

I friend, who is a spychologist with long experience with children, told me that although our children's finding out is generally not how or when we are expecting it, there is something we can do. We can help to avoid our children's frustrations, if we follow these simple steps: next to Santa's presents, always include one or many presents from mom and dad; these have to be nicer, preferably. The real trick is to add more presents from mom and dad every year, while Santa will leave smaller presents. We have to specially make sure that the gifts more expected by our children are exactly coming from mom and dad. As much as we like our babies to keep growing with Santa's magic for a reasonable long time, it may not turn out as we wish. But one thing is almost sure: when the "inevitable" moment of the truth comes, it is very, very likely that our children won't care much about it. The best part: mom and dad will get double credits!

Tus Compras Festivas a Tiempo...Deventajas??!!

2009-12-10T07:17:00.001-08:00

Sí, hay una desventaja al comprar a tiempo para las festividades. Bueno, no sé si existen otras desventajas, pero yo encontré una. Já, y apenas hace unos días escribí en mi última entrada, precisamente, sobre por qué se debe comprar a tiempo!

Aquí está la razón: si hiciste tus compras a tiempo -luego de revisar, y requete revisar con todos los regalos correctos y todo-, es altamente inconveniente tropezarse días después con una carta "formal" dirigida a Santa, de parte de tu hijo más pequeño... con un sorprendente 75% de contenido, diferente a lo que tú ya habías ordenado a Santa. Peor, Santa me dijo que mis órdenas llegaron ya! Retornar las cosas compradas sale caro. Por qué está la carta diferente en un 75%? La culpa es de los comerciales de TV! Ahora mi hija no para de hablar sobre las otras cosas que vio en la TV.

Qué hice? Esto era una emergencia, así que llamé a algunos de mis familiares más cercanos, y dividí el "problemita" entre ellos. Ellos ya me habían estado preguntando sobre cuáles regalos conseguirles a mis niños. Solo me quedó una sola cosa "huérfana" de la nueva lista, por tanto llamé a Santa de nuevo. A él no le gustó ni un poquito, pero dijo que estaba bien al final.

Compras Navideñas A Tiempo: Una Razón Por La Que Debes Hacerlo

2009-12-10T06:22:00.000-08:00

No más tarde de la tercera semana de Noviembre, y mi lista de compras festivas ya estaba puesta en mi carrito de compras virtual. Luego de una buena investigación detectivesca, primero con mis niños, luego con mis sobrinos, y comparando con los regalos que recibirían de otros familiares, para así no repetirles las mismas cosas, etc... Yo solo despero tranquilamente a que las cosas que ordené "desfilen" a casa durante la primera semana de Diciembre: la segunda semana, a más tardar. Vivo en República Dominicana, y muchas de las cosas que ordeno en Estados Unidos toman tres días más en llegarme, desde mi dirección especial en los Estados Unidos.

No, no soy una modelo perfecta de "compras-a-tiempo-por-hacer". Quisiera serlo, para que este asunto entonces salga natural de mí. Así no necesitaría tener que a la fuerza y completamente tener que enfocarme sin demoras en este quehacer tan dependiente del tiempo. Especialmente, mientras tengo un montón de otras cosas en la mente junto en ese momento. Pero entonces, cómo es que puedo lograr esto? Bueno, la experiencia nos enseña cientos de cosas que pueden pasar. Las malas cosas son las que generalmente nos enseñan con rapidez. OOH!!

De mi experiencia personal, la siguiente es una de las cosas malas que pueden pasar si no haces tus compras festivas a tiempo:

Hace dos años preparé mi listado de compras, y, para mantenerme "fría" con mis familiares políticos (incluyendo a mi suegra...), les ofrecí ordenar por ellos algunos de los regalos navideños de sus listas. Ordené mis cosas justo a medidados de Diciembre, y muchas llegaron a tiempo. Quieres adivinar cuáles cosas no estaban en su camino siquiera, y aparentemente ni cerca de estarlo? Correcto...

Bueno, los días se aproximaban, cada vez más, a la Nochebuena... y a una cena especial en casa de mi suegra, que todos los años se celebra allí. Toda la familia se reúne allí, incluyendo a muchas amistades y los niños. Hasta Santa aparece mágicamente a las 9:30 p.m. (algunos papás lo ayudan en medio de un gran barullo, antes de subir las escaleras, a llenar su gran bolsa con todos los regalos que están escondidos bajo la escalera). Puedes imaginarte ya mi desgracia?

Muy bien, entonces ya puedes ver que al acercarse los días, y que el resto de las cosas ordenadas empezaban a ser enviadas l-e-n-t-a-m-e-n-t-e, yo tenía grandes razones para comerme las uñas hasta los huesos. Los días dejaron de serlo para convertirse en horas restantes...Algunas cosas llegaron, pero eran las menos importantes, por supuesto. La Nochebuena llegó al fin, y yo ya me sabí los nombres de todos los dependientes que trabajaban en la oficina central de la compañía que me trae mis cosas a mi país desde Estados Unidos. Hasta de aquellos en las oficinas de Estados Unidos! Estaban teniendo unas terribles demoras en todos los envíos hacia la República Dominicana.

Era mediodía, y todas las cosas estaban desde el día anterior retenidas en el Departamento de Aduanas, en el aeropuerto. Las tres de la tarde, y ninguna noticia... Las cinco, y la cena a las 8:30 p.m. rayando! Todos los familiares políticos estarían allí... Todos los niños también, esperando por sus regalos... Perversamente, solo las cosas de mis hijos estaban todas completas, hermosamente envueltas en su brillante papel navideño.

A las 6 de la tarde, la gente de la oficina de envíos no tenía ninguna noticia con qué ayudarme. Pero lo que realmente me colmó hasta la tapa fue cuando la dulce, buena dependienta con la que había conversado todo el tiempo sobre mi caso desapareció, y otra me dijo simple y secamente que a las 7 de la noche las oficinas cerrarían. Era un lunes, y me dijo que yo tendría que esperar hasta el miércoles para retirar mis cosas. Me iba a morir ahí mismo, pero ella cometió un error: me dijo que el camión del aeropuerto acababa de llegar...

Dejé de ser una madre preocupada y suplicante, y me volví una tenebrosa y horripilante bruja que le dijo a la segunda dependienta no sé qué cosa. Lo que sea que haya sido, logró que mi dependienta original estuviera de nuevo en el teléfono. A ese punto, ya no me importaba nada. Solo me imaginaba el resto de mi vida viviendo en el exilio, para evitar la furia de mis familiares políticos. Eso solo disparó algo más potente en mí. Luego de una conversación que no recuerdo, estaba tomando las llaves del automóvil, lista para atormentar el lugar y propagar caos general en esa oficina. Justo entonces, el teléfono sonó, y la dependienta le dijo a mi esposo (yo ya estaba dentro del auto) que ella permanecería en la oficina hasta después de las 7 p.m., ella y otros dependientes más, solo para abrir, contra todos sus reglamentos, el camión recién llegado... justo para conseguirme mis cosas. Ella también le dijo a mi esposo que sería menos estresante para mí si él fuera a buscarlas, en vez de mí. Je, je... Ella estaba asustada, la pobre mujer! Qué sería lo que le dije?

Bueno, tenía que alistar a los niños, y a mí también, por lo que acepté. Por supuesto, a ella le dije que si por la mínima razón del universo, mi esposo volvía sin mis pedidos, la visitaría a ella junto a toda la oficina central el siguiente miércoles, a primera hora... Fui lo suficientemente cortés al decirle este mensaje, y lo recuerdo porque ya estaba más calmada. Probablemente nuestras conversaciones previas todavía estaban surtiendo efecto, porque todas mis cosas llegaron a casa...

Todo pasó muy bien en la cena de Nochebuena...Nadie descubrió lo que pasó. Si lo descubren ahora, bueno, espero que no me guarden resentimientos... Eso pasó hace dos años, y yo era un poco descuidada con el tiempo para las compras festivas.

Que si le di las gracias a la dependiente por lo que hizo? Sí. La visité el miércoles siguiente, y me identifiqué frente a ella. Luego de presenciar cómo sus ojos se volvían grandes y redondos como platos de postre, le sonreí en la manera más cálida posible, y le dí una inmensa, saludable piña que compré en el supermercado para ella. Era una fruta especial, gigante como nunca las había visto antes, y como sé que algunas compañías son estrictas en sus políticas, yo sabía que no habría problema para poderle entregar este regalo. Ella estaba sorprendida, y feliz. La veo de vez en cuando, al visitar esa oficina. Siempre le agradezco por la ayuda heróica que me proporcionó esa noche.

Luego de pasar por una terrible experiencia como esa, no está tan mal un final así, eh? Pero estuve cerca, Dios mío!

Holiday Shopping On Time...Disadvantages??!!

2009-12-09T18:24:00.000-08:00

Yes, there is a disadvantage to shopping on time for the holidays. Well, I don't know about other disadvantages, but I encountered one. Ja, and only a few days away from my last post, precisely about why you should shop on time!

Here is the reason: if you did your shopping on time -after checking and double checking with everyone the right gifts and everything-, it is highly inconvenient to find some days later a "formal" letter addressed to Santa from your youngest child, with a surprising 75% of the content completely different from what you already ordered to Santa. Worse, Santa told me all my orders arrived already! Returning items is expensive. Why is the letter 75% different? The TV commercials are the guilty ones! Now my child won't stop talking about the other different things watched on TV.

What did I do? This was an emergency, so I called some of my closest relatives, and divided the new burden among them. They were already asking me about what presents to get. Only one item from the list was left "orphaned", so I called Santa again. He didn't like it a bit, but he said OK at the end.

Holiday Shopping On Time: One Reason Why You Should

2009-12-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

No later than the third week of November, and my holiday shopping list is already placed in a shopping e-cart. After a nice detective investigation, first with my kids, then with my nephews, an comparing what other relatives will give all of them to avoid repeating the gifts, etc... I just wait quietly for the ordered items to parade home during the first week of December; the second week, at the latest. I live in Dominican Republic, so my things ordered in the U.S. will take three more days to reach me from my special address in U.S.

No, I am not a perfect model of "on-time-shopping-to-do's". I wish I was, so then this thing will come out naturally to me. I wouldn't need to painfully and completely focus without delay on this time-sensitive matter. Specially while having a lot of other things in mind just at that same moment. But then how can I do that? Well, experience teachs us hundreds of things that can happen. The bad things are the ones which generally teach us quickly. Ugh!!

From my personal experience, the following is one of the bad things that can happen if you don't do your holiday shopping on time:

Two years ago I prepared my shopping list, and, just to keep cool with some in-laws (including my mother-in-law...), I offered to order some of their holliday gifts for them. I ordered my things right in the middle of December, and many items arrived on time. Want to guess which items where not even on their way, and apparently not even close to be? Right...

Well, days got closer, and closer to Christmas Eve... and a special dinner at my mother-in-law that every year takes place there. All the family gathers there, plus many friends and children. Even Santa appears magically at 9:30 p.m. (some daddies will help him like crazy before going up the stairs, to stuff his bag will all the presents we would hide under the landing). Can you picture my disgrace already?

Ok, then you can see that as the days came closer, and the rest of the ordered items started to ship lazily, I had big reasons to bite my nails down to the bones. The days where no longer enough to be called that, and instead became hours... Some items arrived, but the less important ones, of course. Christmas Eve finally came, and I already knew all the names of the clerks at the Main Office of my company for bringing my stuff to my country. I even knew those at the U.S. offices! They had terrible delays in all shipments coming to Dominican Republic.

It was noon, and the items where since the day before held at Customs in the airport. Three o'clock, and no news... Five o'clock, and dinner at 8:30 p.m. sharp! All the in-laws would be there... All the children too, waiting for their gifts... Perversely, only my children's stuff where all complete, beautifully wrapped in their Christmas shinning paper.

At 6 o'clock, the carrier didn't have a thing to help me with. But what really blew up my top was when the sweet, nice cleck with whom I had dealt mostly about my issue, disappeared, and another one told me flatly and dryly that at 7 o'clock the offices where going to close. It was a Monday, and she said I will have to wait until wednesday to retrieve my things. I was going to die right there, but she made a mistake: she told me the truck from the airport just arrived.

I stopped being a worried pleading mother, and became a dark, horrifying witch that said to the second clerk I don't remember what. Whatever it was, I had my original clerk back on the phone. At that point, I didn't care anymore for anything. I just pictured the rest of my life living in exile, to avoid the fury of my angry relatives in-law. That just triggered something more powerful in me. After a conversation that I don't remember, I was grabbing the car keys, ready to storm the place and generally break chaos loose in that office. Just then, the phone rang, and the clerk told my husband (I was almost inside the car already) that she would stay in the office past 7 p.m., she and some clerks, just to open, against all their rules, the recently arrived truck... just to get my things for me out. She also told my husband that it would stress me less if he would go, instead of me, to pick up the things. Je je... she was scared, poor woman! What did I tell her?

Well, I had the kids to get ready, plus myself, so I accepted. Of course, I told her that if by the slightest change of the universe, my husband didn't come back with all my things, I would visit her and the whole Main Office next wednesday first thing... I was polite enough when saying that, and I remember because I was more calm. Probably our earlier conversations where still having some effect, because all the items came home...

Everything went well at my in-laws dinner... No one found out. If they do now, well, I hope they are not resentful... It was two years ago, and I was a bit careless with timing for holliday shopping.

Did I thank that clerk for what she did? Yes. I went to her next wednesday, and identified myself to her. After testifying how round and big like saucers her eyes turned, I smiled in the most reassuring way, and gave to her a huge, healthy pinneaple I just bought at the suppermarket for her. It was a special fruit, gigantic as I have never seen before, and since I know how strict some offices politics are, I knew I wouldn't have trouble giving this present to her. She was amazed, and then very happy. I see her from time to time when visiting that office, and I always thank her for the heroic help she gave me that night.

After a terrible going-through experience like that, not so bad for an ending, eh? But it was close, my God!

Art Definition: Unfair Findings

2009-11-20T16:29:00.000-08:00

I was helping one of my children to find a definition of a word for a school homework. I was checking an encyclopedia volume, when I encountered the word "Art". Curious to see the usual cold and even unfair descriptions dictionary-style books give to some things, I put apart that volume (after finding the answer for my child's homework, of course!). When I returned to that book, this is what I found (all the following is translated from spanish):

ART (from latin ars, artis)
1. Virtue and industry for doing something.
2. Act through which men imitates or express the material or invisible, and creates copying or fantasizing.
3. Group of rules for doing something right.
4. Caution, smartness, trick.
5. Fishing gear.
6. Copla, verse of greater art.
7. Verse of lesser art.
8. Stain. Wheel for pulling out water.
9. Logic, physics and metaphysics.

The word "Art" brings to me only an idea close to #2, with a touch of #1. The other meanings "are there", and I know about them, but it is like they were pointing at something else. All right, now I like to mix definition #1 and #2, add a bit of my own, and come out with the following meaning for "Art":

Virtue -that comes in varied degrees, with different edges and sides, very individual for each human being- that promotes or permits us express our unique perception of our surroundings or innner world, using different means for it.

...But the encyclopedia definition says copying is art, too...

It is so easy to think that a "proper" artist must be creative (and innovative too, preferably). Apparently, "copying" is a word that fits effortlessly in the Arts category...

While thinking about this, I remember all the art imitations and copies I have seen. I remember specially copies of paintings (you can guess that as an oil painting artist, I tend to pay more attention to this artistic line over the others). To anyone, it must hurt (a little, enough or a lot) to come across a copy or imitation of his or her artwork, reproduced so effortlessly and shamelessly by another. But, well, they did say in that book that "copying" is Art, too...right?

Forced by this conception and having to start from there, I will TRY to accept that definition, but only under certain conditions. Just then, is when I can put the word imitating "back" around the definition of "Art"."Copying" must be understood to have some levels or degrees for it's proper fit in the definition of Art. If a scale is assigned to represent these levels, it could be as follows:

Level 1 (moderate creativity): The imitator expresses his or her perception of someone else's creation in a unique, very different way. The result is clearly different from the "inspiring" creation, and the imitating author probably admires the original creation, and may even make known the source of his/her artwork.

Level 2 (light creativity): The original creation will peek through many "windows" of the cpy, but not so much as to deny an innovative result. The copying author probably admires the original creation and even likes it. Nonetheless, he or she tries to "improve" the original, to show how it "should" look. Or maybe it is just fear of legal trouble a faithful reproduction might carry along. Commercial purposes generally are involved.

Level 3 (absent creativity): The imitator makes a copy of the original creation. He or she may even let everyone know the source, or at least that his or her creation is a copy. This imitator may admire or not the original author, and is moved generally by commercial purposes.

Level 4 (absolute absence of creativity): The imitator copies exactly the original creation and will even sign it as his/her own. After finding out (accidentally or not), there is no comfort for the very surprised original author, no matter what the imitator's motives where.

Only Level 1 and Level 2 can be considered, then, belonging in the Art category, and only if they don't fail at showing their essential relation to creativity. The other levels are clearly in no way part of any Art definition. Copying "fits" Art directly in proportion with the words "create-innovate". The less you create-innovate from your own perceptions on top of the original creation, the more vague the relation to the Art definition will be. ZERO creation-innovation on top of the original means ZERO relation to Art. Period.

Visit my Art Gallery in my Official Site www.esperanzadickson.com!