Blog Assignment #6 Responding to a piece of literary Journalism

DRIVEN: THE STORY OF A DEAF CHAUFFEUR IN NYC

Full Story: http://www.narrative.ly/stories/the-uber-silent-chauffeur/

The writing called DRIVEN: THE STORY OF A DEAF CHAUFFEUR IN NYC is a profile about Yuriy Grinman, a deaf Uber and Lyft driver, Ukrainian immigrant who came to the US in 1993. He used to work as a dental technician, but being in a lab surrounded by four walls everyday made him tired, as a cab driver he got the opportunity to be out there and feel free, he likes the freedom that he feels in NYC, even though he cannot hear the world that surrounds him. Grinman was born deaf he benefited from the new technologies in the sense that he obtained the opportunity to improve his life, income, find new job opportunities but also a wife that met through Skype. He never thought he would do this kind of job, “The technology makes it easy. I like that.” He says.

This profile is very interesting to me for many reasons; it gives a different perspective about technology that is changing the life of those who were unable to do things that now are transforming their lives in such a positive way. In addition, there are many articles and stories out there that claim that new technologies are making us dumb, which it may be true. However, what it’s unique about this profile is that it gives the perspective of those who did benefited from the new technologies. The writer stays out of the story, the writer mixed the profile with factual information at the end which it complemented the profile with a lot of credibility on his writing. I just love it!

Another aspect that I find very particular about this profile is the sources that the writer used, he made citations from Uber and Lyft Spokesperson, also he compared how without the new technologies it would have been impossible for deaf people to find this kind of job, the reading states that old school dispatcher radio pick-up requests and street pick-ups would have been impossible for deaf people.

“I couldn’t live without technology,” he stresses. “[As] a deaf person, I’d be frustrated. I’d be worried. With technology, I feel my life is equivalent to a hearing person’s.”

Yuriy Grinman.

Blog assignment #5. Interview for a personal Profile.

The person that I wanted to interview is my cousin. His name is Ed. He has an extraordinary career as a hair stylish in the west coast. His life changed after his ex husband passed away few years ago. Due to his depression he became and alcoholic and his whole life just went down the hill.  He quit his job, lost his 2 houses, and everything he build during his long-term marriage.  He went to rehab for few months and today his life is taking a new path.  My interviewer has a great sense of humor that I would love to explore and present it on my interview for a personal profile, he is also very into fashion and art. In addition he used to work with well known celebrities.  

The focus that I want in my interview is the struggle of someone’s husband or wife after one of them passed away. That is something that is not always presented in an interview.

These are few questions that I already have for him. I would add more as time approaches and also I plan my interview.

1.     Who is Ed today?

2.     I know you were with your husband for 22 years. What was the hardest part after the death of your husband?

3.     When did you realize that it was time to get help about you drinking problem?

4.     Of working with celebrities. Who do you miss the most and why?

5.     You moved from the west to the east coast how was that transition?  

Blog assignment #4 Responding to a personal Memoir

A fight with my own fears. 

I decided to write about Toure because I believe is a very experimental piece that brings up an interesting topic that allows discussion about race. The story was told in 3^rd person even though he is still the first person. Also, he didn’t use “I” when referring to himself but using his own name Toure. I found that very unique.

This Memoir about Toure is about his own life going to the gym to box, he never got to win because he was not the best at it. However he fought his own fears with society and his racial fear. In this piece he make remarks about explaining what it feels to be a different person. I think this piece is very important because what its really saying is that minorities and middle class groups have to work twice as hard to be socially accepted by the majority. Toure felt the guilt of been middle class and African American. That’s the fear that many of us feel at some point of our lives, when I was started going to school I felt different in many occasions, probably due my Hispanic background and the fear of being foreign in a new country. After a couple of years that was a fear that I got rid of, I didn’t go to the gym to fight my fears but school, Toure found his own way to fight his fears.

When Toure states in his writing saying that "no one can hurt me as badly as I can” that was very meaning because expresses his spirit as boxer and as a person.

The only thing that I didn’t like from this story is that Toure punish himself really bad. That’s not always good. In addition I believe African Americans have that fear of being different, yes, they may are, but that is not the reason to punish yourself for an aspect that they cannot change. As humans beings we have to fights for things that we can change.

Blog assignment #3 Writing on a photograph

                                                                          Cash only. 

                    

There is nothing more fascinating to me than looking at old pictures. It takes me back to memories, experiences, people, places, moments, joy and happiness.  It let us realized how much we have changed.

My picture illustrates the price evolution of the best city in the world. Money wise it is an aspect that is always is constant evolution. My photo gave us an idea of how our city has changed in terms of living costs.  I was attracted by 98 cents a gallon. WHAT? Yes that was the price per gallon of gas in 1950s.  It made me feel that the photographer wanted to capture the cost of living in New York City, also housing.

As 2015 a gallon of gas in the city is about $4 dollars. Wow New York how expensive you became.  Space wise and location is an aspect of the old New York that remains unchanged.  As today we still have small gas stations in most of the city’s neighborhoods, Surrounded by wine store and restaurants, two of the most popular and strongest business in New York City, food and beverages.  Which is fascinating about New York that we can enjoy food in so many different restaurants that let us enjoy and explore international cuisine from many countries.

Also, I was amazed by the ad behind the gas station in my picture that offers “Rooms for 50 dollars” I wonder if it was a hotel or motel room. Local and tourists would be amazed to find a place to stay for $50 a night, it would not probably happen. I really like this picture because it tells a lot about the old New York City in addition my picture shows the relationship between living costs and people. Thought old pictures we see the essence of a city that remains unchanged. 

There is always HOPE.

There is always HOPE.

This essay by Demetria Martinez, is very descriptive at the beginning and it gives us a sense of place very detailed about how hot and dry the desert is, also how the neighborhood in the border U.S-Mexico feels, it made me feel like I been there. By saying that "The Arizona sun is melting like a part of butter on the mountain." The author gives such a unique description about how the desert feels like.

"….. I hope that very soon we can be together forever" this last sentence of the reading "The things they carried" made my eyes watery. I believe this sentence is very strong because it has an ambiguity, due the fact that is unclear where they will be ‘together forever’, if is in America or in heaven in case things go wrong.

They things they carried illustrate the horrific situation that people go through when trying to get into the U.S Illegally. The metaphor that I see with this reading is that the things they carried, more than pictures, letter, pain killers, airplane tickets is the hope to Come to America to make their dreams come true. Another aspect that is described in the reading that I found very significant is the immigrant’s hope to be part of this mazing nation, the land of freedom and opportunities. The author support my point of view while says that, "I think of the hope that guides such men, women, and children north. Only hope" They don't certainly know what distance they can walk, or how far the north can be, what keeps them coming to the border is the hope that lives in their hearts.