saturday we had our staff 'three kings holiday party'.

it's cool learning about puerto rican traditions.

thankfully i'm trying to eat more salt these days, trying to raise my super low blood pressure. because 'spanish' food was uber salty.

i learned what is a BOMBA! everyone goes around reciting clever couplet rhymes interlaced with the 'bomba!' chorus. i love the drums, shakers and loud celebratory nature of the culture.

i've never felt actually threatened in north philly before. but after parking my car on a side street and seeing a tall man with his hood over his face walking toward me, i started skipping down the block over to the church where the party was being held.
i never realized i'd be skipping during times of fear. i imagine most people just run.

in retrospect, though, maybe i should have just said, "HI!" to promote some neighbourly friendliness.

kudos too all the brave folks who live in the 19133!