Hello Miami!

Miami: What a familiar world! Two days in, and I’ve already seen so much of L.A. on the streets and its people here that it feels like I’ve been a part of the town for much longer than forty-eight hours! I got into Miami on Sunday morning, and soon went shopping for some platanos fritos. At the store, I totally felt like a local as I made the line amid the commotion of early Sunday afternoon grocery hunting. They still do free bags in Miami, which came in handy when I put my stuff on the conveyor belt and realized that I forgot to bring my grocery bag! But seriously, who remembers that stuff anyway, right?!

On getting into my place for the day (a nice little spot in Little Havana), I threw some oil in the pan, cut up my platanos (which were much softer than the ones out West), and also diced up some strawberries and apples. I threw it all in the grill for a few minutes, and felt pretty darn good when I sprinkled the cooked warmth of the fruits onto my plate. I was taking care of myself, trusting that mama would be pleased if she saw me!

The softness of the fruits just nourished my stomach after nearly four days on nothing but sandwiches on the road, and when it all settled in, I figured I was done, resolving to collapse onto bed to catch up on some sleep. Of course, I couldn’t stay down for long. Though I was tired, there was a whole new city on the other side of the door to see! So I mustered up some spirit, threw on my camera, and zig-zagged it through the door for some more exploring: I was home.

Not long after my little photo run, it was time for the VONA orientation, and that’s when I knew I was in the right place. Everyone introduced themselves, and the crowd was filled with beautiful people from places as far as Brooklyn, New York, and even Canada and India! Needless to say, it was a pleasant surprise, and I got out my cards. Yours truly was ready.

With more soon,