Dinner @ Profe Coles Crib

So last week Friday we went to Profe Cole's house for dinner. It was real beautiful.

So a little background on our beloved profe: He's from Costa Rica; teaches science and environmental focused classes; he was our profe of geography this semester and of plants and man last semester; he is married to a beautiful woman named ALIDA; he has three daughters who live in the U.S.; he is University of Wisconsin - Madison alumni; he loves us; we love him; his bathroom is a nice place for a photo shoot; he has a lovely dog; lives in a beautiful home; works @ Florida State University in Panama; is going to come to a First Wave show one day; cares more about our learning than our grades; is an unforgettable professor and person.

Well, this wonderful man invited us to dinner at his crib. Which, let me be the first (probably not the first) to tell you that this is not normal for all estudiantes...but, it is normal for First Wave.We are the ish, what more can I say. Human beings tend to like the fact that we are real with them and especially each other. The way we interact amongst each other is a particular point of interest. Profes comment on how unique we are because we present ourselves as if we are family; we act as though we are comfortable with each other and though we have known each other for years. Now, the truth is that we are more like family than anything and this is the reason we are so comfortable around each other. We have known each other since the summer before our freshman year at Madison, and some of us have known each other since high school and earlier.

So, dinner at his house was full of smiles, laughs, good food, great bilingual conversation, dog cuddling, photo shoots, and even a UW-MADISON CAKE!!! I would love to cuenta you more but let em instead share with you these fotos.

ENJOY.

MMMMMMmmmmmm...but somebody snitched a piece on the side.

The cake got the thumbs up.

Photo shoot?

aaaaaaaaand SCENE.

Cuddle session with the pup.

They was lovin the poooopppaaaaayyy.

See what I'm saying.

I tried to get in on the fun, but they wasn't havin it.

Tryna dig in.

Group foto falta profe. His wife and daughter on the left hand side up top.

Dom cut the cake into a million pieces. Profe said he would bring her from the U.S. in the future whenever he needs something so geometrically perfect!

PEACE.

BOWLING

Last Saturday folks went bowling. It was Dom, Kelsey, Adam, Philly, Abdiel aka Pollo, Alci aka Lil' Chosen, Ahkil aka friend from FSU, they ran into Ray aka Longdayzjourney Soundz, and met a women named Lily through Philly friend Nemo. BASICALLY they met the whole world and it's sister-in-law. It was a night on the town/ saying peace to Adam type deal. Not everyone could go because they had mad work due the following days but, it was all good because the people who went out had MADS of LOADS of tons of fun. In addition to bowling they kicked it hard at plenty lil spots like New York Bagel Cafe. They ain't even come back til some 3 in the morning.

Well, that's the bottom line. Enjoy the second line in foto form.

PEACE.

DO I LOOK ILLEGAL?

In solidarity with those who are fighting for the rights of US immigrants, workers, and human beings everywhere, on May 1st and everyday, Alida Cardos Whaley and Sofia Snow participated in the international call to take pictures with a sign asking,

"Do I look Illegal?"

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

BARACK OBAMA, Inaugural Address, Jan. 20. 2009

Well, Mr. Prezz… we couldn’t agree more. Especially in a time like this. Facing legislations such as SB1070, SB1097, HB2281 – which are all fancy CIA-sounding-codes for RACISM, CLASSISM, DISCRIMINATION, and downright INJUSTICE, America is yet again forced to look ourselves in the face and ask:

“DO I LOOK ILLEGAL?!?!”

Because if you do, we highly suggest you stop tanning, cut your hair, buy some reading glasses, a new pair of shoes, a briefcase, a coffee mug (only an American brew—none of that Costa Rican free-trade sh*t), an “I swear I got my papers” T-shirt and… y’know… whatever helps you look more “legal.” I MEAN, AT LEAST A CLIP-ON TIE OR SOMETHING!!!!

No, but really…

As we have explained over 50 times today in Spanish, this is ART+ACTIVISM. In response to the bills we’ve listed above, which can be found at [CLICK HERE], we decided to participate in the national call (which we discovered on facebook) to take pictures with a sign reading “Do I Look Illegal?” in order to raise awareness, raise reaction, and raise voices.

Every single picture you’ll see (and many that unfortunately didn’t make it) is a product of a conversation, a “FOREAL?!” face, and a willingness to participate in this movement against Arizona’s poor choice in immigration reform. It is not difficult to see that these bills are not only a step back in immigration for this country, but a HUGE flop back in terms of discrimination, racism, classism, and prejudice in general. We’re moving back in history at this point.

Now that we've taken this first step in spreading awareness, the 2^nd part of our project is sending this documentation out to Governor Jan Brewer, (1700 West Washington, Phoenix, Arizona 85007), to other bloggers, news sources, our friends, family and acquaintances, and to as many thinking minds and beating hearts as possible.

We hope you participate too! Take a picture of yourself, your dog, your neighbor when she’s not looking. Talk to someone on the bus about how ridiculous this is! We pray our sign that took 5-minutes to make, our few clicks of a camera, and our collection of amazing friends, can inspire at least one other person to dedicate a little time to continue educating and fighting for what we all know is right and true. After all, Mr. Prezz said it himself:

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

BARACK OBAMA, speech, Feb. 5, 2008

PEACE out.