So maybe she's exactly the kind of girl to be winning this competition, but it got me to thinking: I was born and raised here in Miami, I've lived here my entire life with the exception of six months when I lived in Orlando, in which all of my roommates and probably about half of the people I knew in Orlando actually called me "Miami," a nickname I grew to love an embrace during my time in Orlando. Even though there were all kinds of reasons why my roommates bestowed upon me this noble name, I'd like to think it's because none of my roommates had ever been to Miami and really had no idea what its really like except for maybe what they've heard from Pitbull or seen from movies or CSI: Miami, which for the record is actually filmed in LA (if you're interested in semi-accurate representations of Miami in film or TV I recommend The Birdcage and Burn Notice, respectively, although obviously there aren't that many explosions going on in Miami, but most of that show is actually filmed here).
For them, Miami was this strange place that they really didn't know what to make of, and I happen to be a somewhat strange girl. Miami is also known to be predominantly Hispanic, specifically Cuban, and alas, both my parents are Cuban. Miami is a "melting pot" and in comparison to what they ate (funyuns and ramen) I ate all kinds of strange foods. And when they first met me, I'm pretty sure they were all convinced I was a lesbian, and Miami is known to have a sizable homosexual community. I was also never home when we all first started living together, so obviously I was up to all kinds of crazy shenanigans. So clearly I was the embodiment of all things Miami to a group of people that had absolutely no idea what Miami is.
But really, I am so not a typical Miami girl.
- I don't go clubbing, to be perfectly honest I can probably count how many clubs I've been to on one hand.
- I don't "party" or get sloshed, that's just not my style, not to say I don't drink. I do drink. I just know how to drink.
- I'm not what you would call "petite," I struggle with my weight.
- I like getting dirty, and I'm being serious, like actual dirt, soil, earth.
- I love food, I love to make food, I love to eat food.
- I work with animals, I've been peed on by monkeys.
- I'm a nerd. I'm a school nerd and a sci-fi nerd. I love Doctor Who, Star Trek, Star Wars, all comic book movies, the works.
- I hardly ever go to the beach.
I'm sure the list goes on and on, but I think you get the picture. Miami's a "big city", and I mean that as much geographically as it is so often meant figuratively, and even though I live in a suburb of Miami, I still live in Miami. It's always driven me so crazy how Miami is depicted to the rest of the world. You know what it is that when one of my roommates from Orlando came for a visit her boyfriend back home googled where I lived to see how many shootings there had been in the area because he was worried about her safety? Really? I know there are all kinds of crazies but honestly, there were more in Central Florida than in South Florida.
It's always difficult to find one's niche, but it in this city, that's one thing to the outside world, and something completely different to it's inhabitants, how do you find that niche? I love Miami. This is my town, this is my home, and in a way it is Me, but I know I won't stay here forever. So I guess finding a niche in this town isn't really all that important, but when you hear about things like the "search for the ultimate Miami girl" it really makes you wonder about what you bring to the table.
So there you have it, my quandary for today. There's a lot that I hope to explore in this blog, but with this question pending, I thought it would be interesting to call it "A Not-so-Ultimate Miami Girl" because at least for now, I've come to terms with the fact that I'm going to be here, in Miami, for a while.
And to those girls I lived with in Orlando, I'll always be Miami
