Dominica: A Peace Corps Awakening

The Below is a guest post from a good friend of mine, Brian Longin, who is currently  a Peace Corps Volunteer in the small island nation of Dominica…. The island of Dominica is rich in many ways. Fresh water is ubiquitous and you can find creeks and streams winding through almost every village. Many locals tend their own gardens which yield sweet potatoes, citrus, plantains, and avocados, as well as seasonings like bay leaf, cinnamon and nutmeg. Citizens of Dominica are also proud to celebrate their vibrant Creole heritage. Today, Dominican children are still raised speaking the patois language, learning…

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Wynwood and Art Walk

Once a predominantly working class Puerto Rican neighborhood of Miami (and still largely is), Wynwood is full-speed ahead in the gentrification process with the infiltration of many artists, musicians, entrepreneurs and, of course, everyone’s favorite conforming non-conformist, the Hipster.  This area of Miami is just north of downtown and just south of the Design District. What’s extra cool about the neighborhood is the prevalence of old textile warehouses, perfect for an art gallery, music venue, restaurant, or boutique…and that’s what’s moving in. With windowless two story cement facades basically comprising the landscape, artists have giving the area a face lift, painting…

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Medellín, Colombia…Not Your Average Disney Vacation

For my last spring break, I decided to go on another little sojourn. No, no, no, not to Nassau for a crappy all-inclusive buffet and unlimited bottom shelf rum. Not on a cruise where I would have lost more money than I had playing drunken roulette (been there, done that). I wanted to go somewhere a little more exotic, a little more real. This destination has always fascinated and awed me… I speak of a country named Colombia.

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