The Community Made Of Us - Trailers

          Its been a little over 5 months since I began this blog and this journey to find, "The Community: Made of Us" and I can honestly say I have learned quite a lot. Meeting people from all walks of life and all over the United States, there is never a dull moment during my travels. Whether it was taking a shot with a live fish in it, to hiking to the highest point in L.A. there was always room to take my next trip further.

          Even with that being said, I have been working on a short film documenting the past few months of my life's travels and I must say it has taken me longer to put this together than I have expected. Nevertheless, every time I take a look at my "work in progress" I can't help to remember why I started this journey and where I though it would take me. Unsure of what lay ahead of me in the next few months, or where I would be in the next few years.

          Not everything in this world is a sign, nor does everything have a purpose, sometimes, things just...are. What we make of it is a manifestation of what we want, and what we want is a product of our own minds. This kind of mindset keeps me focused on what I plan to do with my life, although I don't know the details just yet, I know where I want to go. Just like any other Floridian in a summer rainstorm, you may not see the lines, but you can still see the road.

          So, to commemorate my soon to be finished, "work in progress" I made the 3rd and final trailer for my project. I also included the links to my first two trailers if you wanted to check them out! Be sure to leave comments on the videos! (Be sure to put them in HD!)

Link to Trailer 3

Link to Trailer 2

Link to Trailer 1

Looking Back Thus Far...

My face at the beginning of "The Community Made of Us"

          So, after quitting my job, selling most of my belongings, and traveling the U.S. for  a month and a half. I have finally made it back to my family in Orlando. Driving over nine thousand miles, eating anything from raw sweet potatoes to amazing home cooked meals, and even sleeping in the freezing cold to having an apartment to myself a block from the beach, I have no words to sum up such an experience, what I felt, who I met, and how in the heck I made those long hour drives without going crazy (haha). This project I call," The Community Made of Us" is not just about me and my journey, but rather the people that I met along the way. 

My mother and I riding the sun rail for the first time in Orlando, FL

Hanging with my new friend Isaiah on Highway 1 on California's coast

Hanging out with the spanish fruit gang in Charleston, SC

The tiny sober dinosaur from L.A.

          From the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean and every lake in between I found myself in a different situation ever time. Looking back at the beginning of this trip, I remember thinking what people would think when I told them what I've done. What would I do after I finish the trip? Will "The Community Made of Us" really become something greater? Would this idea of community even catch on? And yet I never thought I would receive the support that I have thus far. People that I never expected to hear from have told me how inspired they've become, how the look at ideas like this and appreciate what they mean. Still, I couldn't help but to feel odd when I arrived back home in Orlando.  After such an amazing trip, I was back to reality, and responsibility, but that wasn't the issue. 

Hanging out with Ru, Ivan, and Bar in Savannah after I just met them earlier in Savannah, GA

Marley's Collie live at Tanquray's in Downtown Orlando, FL

Hanging with my friend Kelly on International Drive in Orlando, FL

Having a little seat in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

          I arrived home to with a feeling of sadness and anxiety. First off is how I can get back to my normal routine and to the security that I once held so high on my life's pedestal? After about a week of aimlessly wandering and emotionally playing a tug of war inside, I reminded myself of the reason I made this journey in the first place. To create the connections with people that I would have otherwise never have done before. To help make a difference in others lives and show them that our desires and what we can achieve is as possible as they can imagine it. That when you are unhappy at what your doing, make the plan to get yourself on the right path, and execute it. After I realized this, I soon felt the sadness within me, turn into my passion, and thus creating an emotional alchemy within myself.

 Hanging with my best friend Valentina, and her little sister Jenny in Charlotte, NC

Cool girl Emily and I making faces in Albuquerque, NM

Frisbee golfing at the park with some new friends in L.A.

Conner the Bear at the bar with Shawna dancing on the side in Nashville, TN

          So, now I find myself creating a basis for myself in order to continue this story of community. I can't help but to feel as though the memories I made can't be out done, but like I said before, this is only the beginning, and there's a whole world out there to see. So to give you a little taste of my experiences and some of the situations I found myself in with strangers, that became my friends, that later became part of this greater community, here are some of my favorite photos from along my trip. There is still much to tell, and as I settle in to make my next big leap, I am busy, editing my first film project, planning for my next adventure, and looking for the best moment to take that leap of faith once more. Thank you again and hope to see you around, wherever you are...

Ornella, a Peruvian from NJ, and Kenny, a Peruvian from NJ hanging out at Little Hong Kong in Arlington, TX

Goofing around with Callie in Phoenix, AZ

Somewhere in the Middle of Arkansas lol

Children that I sold some candy with in East L.A., CA

My friend Amanda riding a hog in downtown Asheville, NC

       

         Stay tuned to check out more posts as I continue my adventures, and check out the trailers to the small film I am making below. Use the hashtag #MadeOfUs, repost the video on your pages, and remember, it doesn't take much to be part of The Community, when someone helps you, make sure you pass it on.

The Community: Made of Us (Trailer)
and

The Community: Made of Us (Trailer 2)

Follow and support, "The Community Made of Us" here:

Facebook.com/TheCommunityMadeOfUs

Instagram:@TheCommunityMadeOfUs

Twitter:     @TCMadeOfUs

Arlington, Texas

           Texas, Texas, Texas... oh how large and plentiful you are. I have never been before, and quite frankly I didn't know what to expect. Driving into the city, my first impression was, where does it end? I mean Dallas, Ft. Worth, and Arlington are like one huge city. I mean damn, I know everything is bigger in Texas but it's like they built one big city and gave it 3 different names (haha). Complete with a six flags, street art, a few views worthy of a broken neck, and some delicious food, I'm already thinking of moving there, and I haven't even gotten to my destination yet. Little did I know this feeling would only multiply when I met, who I like to call, the "Texas Welcoming Committee."

Meet Anwar, Ornella, Anna, and Steven

          It all starts with Ornella, a Texan I met on couch surfing on my search for hosts. She caught my attention because she was Peruvian and from New Jersey, just like me. So naturally, I sent her a message and she was happy to take me in. As I pulled up to her place, I was excited to see who I would meet being this was my first time in Texas. I knocked on the door and to my surprise, her roommate Anwar acted like she didn't know anything about my arrival. I was confused and unsure of what to do, until she started laughing and said "come on in!" It was at this point, I knew I was going to have an awesome time. We immediately sat down, and started chatting around a few cups of tea. I met the third roommate, Joe and their friend Anna, which were all about some good jokes. Shortly after, Ornella walks in with her great dane named Marble and greeted me with a huge smile and huge. We talked about life in Texas, the Rodeo, drinks, amongst other adult topics. Shortly after stumbling on the topic of alcohol, we naturally decided we should go out, and that was only the beginning.

Anna and Anwar showing their faces natural state

       They decided to take me to a local watering hole in downtown, and the story unravels from there. We first agreed that it won't be a crazy night (yea, that's never the case). We went on to innocently play some connect 4, then jumbo Jenga (I lost), watched some karaoke, then I get my behind handed to me in foosball by Ornella, oh yea, and sprinkle some beers, shots, and drinks in between. At some point in the night we decided to head to the "Fort Worth Stock Yards," which is basically very old western buildings turned into bars, you know, the way it should be (haha). It was an awesome saloon feeling and we bar hopped to a few places, enjoyed some live music, (shots) and they even showed me how to two step, Texas style.

The took me to the Fort Worth Stock Yard

        Eventually, we get back to the car, decide to cruise a little, and all join in to what I like to think of as a synchronized, heavenly choir as we sang some songs on the radio. Don't believe me? Think of a car full of responsible adults singing out loud after a night of bar hopping, yep, that was us. We eventually get home and enjoy some homemade fresh hummus, veggies, and funny enough, tater tots (who doesn't love some good tots, right?) We all hung for a bit but we slowly dropped like flies. Unfortunately everyone either had class or work the next morning but they offered their kitchen and their home to me and I was able to stay as long as I liked.

        I must say, the whole time we hung out I kept thinking of, "So a Texan, Mexican, Palestinian, and 2 Peruvians walk into a bar" but I couldn't find a way to finish the joke, so I'll finish it as it should be, "and they left as a group of friends." Hanging with this group of people helped me realize the importance of "The Community: Made of Us." They all met each other in different ways, all come from different backgrounds, and found comfort in one another. They took a perfect stranger in, immersed me in their world, and showed me the value of a great laugh. Thanks guys! See you soon!

Great times!

        Next stop will be Rosewell, New Mexico. Check out the trailer to the video I am making below. Use the hashtag #TheCommunityMadeOfUs, repost the video on your pages, and remember, it doesn't take much to be part of The Community, and when someone helps you, make sure you pass it on.

The Community: Made of Us (Trailer)
and

The Community: Made of Us (Trailer 2)

Follow and support The Community here:

Facebook.com/TheCommunityMadeOfUs

Instagram:@TheCommunityMadeOfUs

Twitter:     @TCMadeOfUs

Support by donating: http://www.gofundme.com/TCMadeOfUs