About the Embassy business: What can I say about this. I’ve become a jack of all trades and chip in with anything from cultural affairs to administration. It’s so varied, I have yet to figure out how to add any of this to my resume.

About the Spanish course: Ok, I’ve been going at it for 2 years and I’m in module 11 of 12. At this point, it would be a shame to quit, so I’m going to finish it. Instead of going twice a week, I go everyday – which was supposed to make it go by faster, but it’s starting to feel like I’ll neeevvveeerrrr finish. I will though. And when I’m done, all my posts here will be written in Spanish to prove my fluency

About the First Communion: This is an exciting time for our family. I haven’t been religious for years, but this is a huge rite of passage in the Haitian culture. I’m sad that we’re far from close friends and family because they’re what makes this day even more memorable. However, it’s nice to be able to keep the celebration to a small group of people and I think that will add some intimacy to what can sometimes be overwhelming for the child.

What this means for Balanced Melting Pot: I will keep writing when I have time (I definitely am not at a loss for ideas) and it will continue to be sporadic most likely up until mid June. Even doing a million things a day and not knowing where the time goes, I still miss writing here.

Random fact: my name means bee in Greek

I remember while working in social services in Florida reading a state-issued application that separated Hispanic into “white or white Cuban”. I seriously thought it was a mistake. What differentiated a white Cuban from an Afro Cuban (also their words) when it came to social services. Or better yet, what did the government do with these categories after collecting this information over time. I also disagree with the Census collecting information regarding race because at the end of the day, what does it matter. How could knowing the racial makeup of an area change the way the government will provide services. The only information that should affect that are socio-economic factors like income, family size, etc.

I wonder if we start moving away from a culture of racial labels if that will in turn change how we see each other. Instead of a young, black male, we see a young man. Instead of a Latina judge, she’s a judge. We can simply relinquish labels to filing systems and accessories.

Am I right or am I right?

This time it was spinach and onions. Why did I make it, you ask? Well, uhh, because I felt like it.

This is a big deal for me because once upon a time baking was something really good chefs (like the Barefoot Contessa) did and I wasn’t even going to try. After discovering paté sucrée, I’ve realized that dough isn’t that daunting at all. You eventually learn your dough and know when it needs to be chilled a little longer for better handling. And because I’m quirky, I actually prefer to use this recipe for salty baked yummies instead of the paté brisée – which is just as easy.

And now good people, I bake on a whim. No mental preparation needed.  And it turns out this well. Toot, toot!!!

So, I’ve been a bad blogger this week – it happens. But, I do have a great interview published on the Voices of Haiti website. Check it out, you might learn something new about me…

That’s me thinking it would be cute to take a picture while the snow was falling (cutest.facial.expression.ever). But one wasn’t enough. I wanted several. So, my poor friend humored me…

And about 10 seconds after taking this one, I started to lose feeling in my toes – even though I was wearing two pairs of socks and stockings. Thus, I decided that the snow wasn’t that cute after all.

I’m still glad I took these pictures, though.