Tropical Life Darlene Pena Puente I am from where my parents make sancocho in 90° weather. Where on Semana Santa my family makes the rare and anticipated habichuela con dulce. I am from where you never get no peace. It’s Saturday morning, 9:00 AM, boom bachata blasting, my mom screaming her lungs out to Anthony Santos. I am from people screaming outside, running to your barrel window and gate doors to see what’s going on. Peep the vecinas sticking their whole heads out the windows, sipping coffee, and son eating pan con queso. I am from where you’ll never starve because your neighbors are like your second family. Although the vecinas are always in your business, they’ll always come over con un plato de arroz. I am from grandparents, raising seven children in a little ranchito, poor but humble. I am from where a te amo is nothing compared to all the sacrifices she does for her kids.
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