Now that my project is finally over I thought I might give everyone insight as to why I did this project in the first place. It has been several months since my gallery and life has been pretty hectic since then. Raising a toddler is very time consuming. Plus I need to keep you guys guessing! Any who! Here is the story of “The People Miami”. And how this project came about. I hope you guys enjoyed this project as much as I did.

I have lived in Miami for many years. I moved to Miami from Maryland when I was eight years of age. Yes! I was NOT born here but I still consider myself a local. Miami is my home. I remember when I first moved here in the year 2000, I hated it so much. My family and I lived in a small apartment in the heart of the town of Kendall. Later, when we moved to a different town, I met different people and then I began to like it here. I met many great friends and Miami began to grow on me. It was then when I started to appreciate this city. After many years, I graduated high school and I started taking steps toward becoming an adult. Things began to change quickly.

I started to get a feel of the life style of an adult here in Miami. I started to realize that it was not easy living here in Miami. The people were rude and not very helpful. There were to many cultures mixed in this city and people clashed because of it. I could never focus on work because of all the fun I was having. I live in a town that moves very quickly. I wanted to slow down. Miami is stereo-typed as a city that is only concerned with partying. No one is concerned with who they hurt or push over along the process. I was beginning to see this first hand. I also began to realize that the price of living and pay did not match up. So I began to struggle with life here. I was stressed out and did not really feel like I was enjoying my city anymore. I began to question if this city was where I wanted to continue living. If I still wanted to call it home.

I made up my mind. I made the decision to move away from Miami and by doing so, I learned a great lesson.

I figured that I wanted to move away from Miami but not out of Florida. I still loved the weather here. So I decided to take a break from Miami and move to Orlando for a year or two to see how I felt. My sister lived in Orlando so I decided to stay with her. I packed up my small apartment and headed North. I wanted to get away from anything that had to do with Miami. I wanted to get to know a different city for a change. While living in Orlando I quickly realized that there is no place like Miami.

Do not get me wrong! Orlando is also another great city. I was living a great life there too. It was just that Orlando was not for me. In Orlando I did not have to pay rent, and life slowed down significantly. I found a great job quickly, I started working and helping my sister out at home. I met new friends and had fun times but I began to notice the difference.

Orlando did not have that vibrancy that Miami has. In Orlando I couldn’t have the same conversations I would have in Miami. I felt as if in Miami people were more approachable in that way, even though the city was known for rude people. I could have so many different interesting conversations. I have learned about different cultures and perspectives all through conversation. Conversations I would have at work, at a cafe, in school, even at a bus stop. People are easier to talk with in Miami. In Orlando I didn’t have that. I felt as if sometimes I would force a simple conversation. I also learned this while I interviewed locals for this project. Our conversations wanted to continue and had great flow.

The food and night life scene are also very different. Not many options. I definitely took that for granted, the food options here! Orlando also had no beaches! Oh how I took that for granted too. Water parks are not the same as the beach. And the art! Orlando has nothing on Miami’s art scene!

All and all I still like the city of Orlando. I visit often. This whole project was not meant to bash the city. If it were not for Orlando I would not have seen the beauty in the city of Miami. That is why I did this project. We often take for granted what is so familiar to us. This crazy, wonderful, lush, vibrant, and diverse city of ours. As I did. It took me to step out of this environment to truly appreciate it.

Steph tells me, “This city is like home. Sometimes you need to leave your home (step out) in order to appreciate coming back.”

That is exactly how I felt.

During the project I also met many people who have never left Miami. Those people are desperate to get out of this city. I can relate to them as well.

Our city is amazing but a break is needed every so often. Going to a different city or experiencing a different culture really helps you appreciate it here a lot more.

Now I can say that I love my city with no doubts. I know now, that I want this to be home. I have realized now that it is important to take time away from your home. It is also important to take care of your home and get involved in your homes community. If you live here and you don’t like it. I encourage you to travel. If there is something you don’t like about your community then get out there and get involved.

All of these changes in my own life inspired me to try and get another perspective of something I was so familiar with. It made me see it in a new light! Now I feel like I live in a new place all while living in the city that I thought I knew so well. All I needed to do was step out of my comfort zone. I needed to take a step back and see the bigger picture, and just go out and explore my own city as if it were new!

Now, If I had a mic and everyone in Miami could hear me say one thing I would say this…

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”

Thank you Miami.