Fall 2019 // ISSUE 1

LOGOS C I T R U S

C O L L E G E

C U L T U R E

Girl On Fire Rhianna D’angelo is a self taught fire and LED hoop performer...Find out more about her journey.

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Diary of a freshman What its like being a freshman entering college.

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FALL 2019 ISSUE 1

The tea on miss tea Tea house opens second location Page 5

+ Much More...

CONTENTS CULTURE

5 The Tea on Miss Tea 13 Brews Crews

19 Photography As Art

23 A Day At The Cemetery 33 Study Date

FEATURE

07 The Modern Alchemist 25 The Girl On Fire

35 Your Not So Average Joe 43 Bound

OPINION

15 Agree To Dis-Degree

21 Diary Of A Freshman

TRAVEL 29 Pura Vida Land

47 Once Upon A Trip To Mexico

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LOGOS | FALL 2019

letter from the editor

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FALL 2019 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Liandra Thibodeaux MANAGING EDITOR Giselle Vargas STAFF WRITERS

Hello everyone!

My name is Liandra Thibodeaux and this is my first time as Editor-in-Chief of Logos Magazine. I started off here at Logos in the Fall of 2018, as photo editor, as I am a photography major, and found that I was really passionate about what goes into developing our publication. Everything that is published in the magazine is all student-made.

Without the students that make up our staff and the diversity of their backgrounds, there would be no magazine.

In the beginning of this semester, we struggled with a small team, working diligently to gain more members and were lucky enough for a few great students to join our ranks. Although we don’t have as large of a staff as our sister publication, Clarion, everyone here has proved to be steadfast and dedicated in their writing, photography, artistry, creativity and designing.

In Fall of 2018, under the leadership of Xela Quintana, I was able to get my first taste of writing. Though this was not my strong point, I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by a group in which guided me in the right direction.

be the best that I can be and for giving me the push that I needed in order to continue to grow.

I want to give a big thanks to all of the staff members for being such hard workers and although most are new, all of them have really shined through the obstacles that have come their way and have made my experience as Editor-in-chief an amazing one.

Adriana Perez Montenegro John-Mark Rodriguez Lisa Onganesyan Maili Higashiyama Mariah Smith Victor (Vicman) Thome CONTRIBUTORS Daniela Navarro Daniel Escamilla Felise Alaichamy Jaequeline Torres

I also want to take a moment to thank all of those that have helped contribute to this beautiful magazine. They have all done a great job and thier contributions have helped make the magazine even more special.

Finally, I want to thank my advisors Amber Durfield and Patrick Schmiedt for providing me with much needed guidance as I adjusted through my transition from photo editor to Editor-in-Chief.

Without all of the hard working individuals that have had a hand in the creation of this issue this magazine would not have been possile. L

ADVISER Amber Durfield Logos is produced by communications students and is distributed once a semester. Views expressed herein do not represent those of the adviser, faculty, administration, Associated Students of Citrus College or the Citrus College Board of Trustees. © 2019 Logos Magazine.

All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.

In Spring 2019, under the leadership of Charity Wang, I was able to strengthen my skills as a photo editor, not only for Logos but also the Clarion. I am grateful to both of these women for always encouraging me to

contact: Telephone 626.914.8586

Liandra Thibodeaux Editor-in-Chief Liath.cc@gmail.com

Logos Magazine 1000 W. Foothill Blvd VA236 Glendora, CA 91741 Printed By Primo Graphics Inc. 1648 Flower St, Glendale, CA 91201

Cover Image Rhianna D’Angelo by Liandra Thibodeaux

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MEET THE STAFF

Giselle Vargas Giselle Vargas has been with Logos for three semesters. She is currently the managing editor of Logos. She has grown as a person and a journalist since she joined the program and Logos has become a very important part of her life. Vargas is a journalism and communication major. She has always been excited to share her stories with the Citrus community. Vargas plans to transfer to a four-year university to pursue her dreams of becoming a storyteller. Vargas has dreamt of becoming a journalist since she was a child and that dream became a reality when she joined Logos. A little bit of Vargas’s life on campus: she was a former runner from the Citrus Cross Country team and has been an officer for L.U.S.A as well as a staff writer for the Clarion. She recently joined ASCC as the commissioner of Public Relations.

Adriana Perez Montenegro Adriana Perez Montenegro is a freshman student and a visual arts major at Citrus College. This is her first time as a writer for Logos Magazine and being part of the staff has been a whole new experience for her. On her free time, when she’s not doing school work, she loves to spend her time doing different things. She loves drawing, creating other arts and crafts like knitting or origami, watch series, play video games, or read comics like Mangas and WEBTOONS. Also, whether it be while working or on the go, she loves listening to music any chance she gets and what she listens to is determined by her mood. She has yet to decide on a career, but what she does know is that she’s very passionate about creating things like drawings, paintings and more.

John-Mark Rodriguez John-Mark Rodriguez joined Logos Magazine on the hunt for something out of his comfort zone. Hailing from Hanford, California, he found himself wanting to go back to school to find himself. Logos Magazine has helped him find a new love for writing. He aspires to learn and grow within the community and Logos has helped him jump in feet first. Sparking a new creative outlet, Rodriguez plans to continue with the skills to help further along with his Business Administration degree.

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Lisa Oganesyan Lisa Oganesyan is a Psychology Major and a first-time staff writer for Logos Magazine. She is a passionate advocate for the fight against the stigmas and stereotypes against mental health. Upon graduation from Citrus College she plans to transfer to a four year. Eventually Oganesyan plans to become a clinical psychologist and aims to combine psychology and Buddhism in order to help those suffering through mental health issues. During her free time, she is often found volunteering for her children’s high school marching band. She enjoys learning new languages and is currently learning Mondrian and ASL at Citrus.

Maili Higashiyama Maili Higashiyama is a full-time college student majoring in Communications with a focus in Public Relations and Fundraising Management. She started college at 17 and quickly dropped out when she realized how much work was involved. After a 20 year hiatus from higher education, Higashiyama returned to college after an epiphany on skid row where she volunteers regularly, in the homeless community. Both of Higashiyama’s parents are Citrus College alumni, one semester her mom and two sisters were all on campus. Higashiyama is also a mom of two children who continually push her to move forward and keep up with them in this ever-changing world, standing beside her she credits her husband who has made all of this possible, without him she would not be able to dedicate as much time and effort into her future.

Mariah Smith Mariah Smith is a Business major and this is her first time as a staff writer for Logos Magazine. She plans to transfer from Citrus College into a four year university.

Smith is trying to expand her creativity and form a career that will lead her to her dream job. She wants to work in a field of advertising/media for entertainment.

Smith feels that art has had an important impact in her life, and Logos is allowing her to learn more about the work process in developing a final product. Her favorite movie growing up was “The Devil Wears Prada” and now she wants to live out her own movie-like experience of working with other professional creators.

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culture

The Tea on Miss Tea TEXT BY: LISA OGANESYAN PHOTOS BY: FELISE ALAICHAMY

A sampling of drinks and snacks from Miss Tea Covina on November 4, 2019 in Covina, Calif. Front row, from left: popcorn chicken, fried dumplings and fried tofu. Back row, from left: green tea smoothie with boba, lavender lemonade, house milk tea with boba, passionfruit slush with rainbow jellies and smurf yakult.

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culture

Nestled in the heart of Downtown Covina is a sweet

little boba and tea shop. Miss Tea, a small family owned business that first opened its doors in 2014 in the city of Baldwin Park, has opened a second location.

Located only four miles south of Citrus College, citizens from the community grew to love this little establishment. Their delicious treasures have been spread through word of mouth between classmates and family members alike.

“Miss Tea is different from other tea shops because it is welcoming to people of all ages and backgrounds. Just like our diverse staff, we try our best to appeal to all. If you look at our Baldwin Park location, it is as cute and edgy as the Covina location,” said Paola Hernandez, Miss Tea manager.

They offer refreshing drinks along with a relaxing atmosphere. The shop is embodied with warm wood, ample seating, free WiFi, anime on the screen, Asian music in the background and stickers. Yes, stickers! Miss Tea serves a variety of boba, iced lemonades, teas as well as tasty snacks.

Walking in to Miss Tea is like walking into a friends’ home where you can relax and enjoy your friends company even when you are on a budget. Their buy one get one free boba, lemonades, and teas makes for an affordable spot. These are everyday prices and not just a “Happy Hour” deal.“We try our best to make the drinks delicious and affordable because everyone should be able to enjoy boba,” said Hernandez. When they first opened I really enjoyed the fact that with the buy one get one free items you can also get a free sticker. This girl really loves stickers. I was saddened to discover that is no longer the case, and now the free sticker is offered to those paying with cash.

My favorite lemonade is the lavender tea lemonade.

It has a subtle taste of lavender along with the refreshing taste of lemony goodness. It’s not heavy with sweeteners and is a light beverage compared to the heavier milk tea drinks. The lavender flower is not overpowering and offers a soft flowery touch that dances around the tongue. Another favorite is the peachy lychee tea. It is a green tea with a light flavor of peach and lychee. It is not sweet and is an easy to drink, refreshing tea. Not much ice is put in the drink, but if you desire more ice

just say so. They will oblige.

The yummy snacks are fried tofu, chicken bites, and fried dumplings. My favorite is the fried tofu. The tofu is cut up into bitesize morsels seasoned with mild or heavy spice and then perfectly fried. The snacks are served in a medium sized cup with a toothpick to pick up each bite. This snack is a perfect lightweight treat to have with boba or tea. I can easily go through a whole cup by myself.

The chicken bites are also a good eat. These tasty morsels are meaty, juicy and can be seasoned with soft or heavy spice.

Watch out, eating too much of the heavy spice will make your mouth feel as if is is on fire.

The fried dumplings are a great treat and are fried crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Every bite reminds you of dim sum at you favorite Chinese restaurant. The drinks along with the snacks and ambiance gives way to a positive and productive meeting place as well as a great relaxing venue.

On a hot day the shop offers a place to cool down.

Each visitor is greeted by the cashier who is eager to serve.

Sometimes they get busy and orders get backed up, but that only shows the popularity of the place and the fact that staff makes everything fresh. Each drink and snack is made to order, so it is worth the wait.

There is also a selfie wall filled with cutouts from magazines.

So, don’t forget to take that selfie with your drink.

Miss Tea offers a frequent visitors card that you get stamped with each purchase. After 10 purchases the filled card will get you one free drink.

The owners at Miss Tea are open to new drink suggestions, so feel free to contact them through their representative on Instagram. “Our staff and customers are a huge part in the drinks we create, we listen to people’s ideas and try our best to fulfill them,” said Hernandez. Their purpose is to serve the community because it is the community that helped them grow.

No need to worry about parking as there is plenty of free parking behind the building. If you are unable to get to the shop they also offer Doordash, a food delivery service app much like Uber eats. L

A Bit More Information: Staff favorites: Oolong Tea with Sea Salt Cheese Foam, Black Sugar Fresh Milk with Pudding and Boba, Jasmine Green Milk Tea with Pudding and Boba, Coconut Almond Smoothie, Honey Lemon Black Tea. 225 N Citrus Ave. Covina CA 91723.

Hours: 11 A.M. - 8 P.M. 7 days a week IG: @misstea_boba FALL 2019 | LOGOS | 6

Profile

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Profile

TEXT BY: MAILI HIGASHIYAMA PHOTO BY: LIANDRA THIBODEAUX

Daniel Schmidt poses for photo on October 29, 2019 at Old Stump Brewry in Pomona, Calif. where he works part-time. Schmidt is also an art teacher at Citrus college.

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Profile Daniel Schmidt works on a piece of art at his home studio in La Verne, Calif.

Schmidt uses the reaction caused by mixing various chemicals in many of his art projects.

Upon first glance, Daniel Schmidt, 33, a new adjunct art professor at Citrus College, seems to blend into the student body. His long blond hair, multiple facial piercings, tattoos and laid back style further remove him from what one would consider a professor. Schmidt teaches Intro to Art Beginning Drawing which will have its second term in Winter 2020.

At times he’s been mislabeled as hyper-masculine, which is a sociological term for the over magnification of conventional male behavior such as aggression, sexuality and physical strength. His coworker and friend, Nicole Quesada said, “Daniel is an interesting guy. When you first meet him he doesn’t come off as outwardly friendly per say. I guess you can also base first impressions on the situation in which you came across him. I met him at work. Despite the fact that sometimes he might come off “cocky” he’s actually super humble.”

Interactions with Schmidt prove likewise. It takes a bit for him to open up, but once he does more of his personality shines through. Upon getting to know him, he gives the impression that he is knowledgeable, thoughtful, honest and funny. “Like I said the dude has layers! You may think one thing about him, but boy, most of the time you are so wrong. He’s quite wonderful,” said Quesada. This is why the saying “never judge a book by its cover” should always have precedence when meeting new people.

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profile

In the nine years of knowing Schmidt, Quesada said “He cares deeply for those who care about him. I know he’s loyal because heck, he’s had the same friends for as long as I’ve known him. That says a lot.”

Many artists will tell say there is a delicate balance between their love and hate of art. Schmidt said that art was the only thing that made “true sense. Everything else was kind of confusing and what’s the point of that?” He tried to fight the gravitational pull of his creative side. Instead of going immediately go to college after completing high school, like many of us he felt lost, confused, and lacked guidance in what he should be doing.

Opting to take time to explore his options he started his college career at Citrus at 21. Schimdt said that it was at Citrus where he received his best education. He later transferred to Cal State Fullerton, earned his Bachelor’s in Fine Art then went on to pursue and obtain his Master’s in Fine Art at Cal State San Bernardino. He is a product of the public education system the entire way. Dyane Duffy, an art professor at Citrus said “I had Daniel as a student in beginning and intermediate painting, back in 2008.

He was a quiet student to most, talkative to some, and always impressive with his creativity. I am always prideful for the Visual Arts division when a student graduates with a BA or BFA, and thrilled beyond when a student graduates with an MA or MFA, and wants to teach! It was exciting to get a message from Daniel that he was interested in teaching! I am pleased to have him as a colleague!”

Like many Californians, Schmidt works two jobs to maintain his lifestyle. When he isn’t teaching at Citrus College, he is working at Old Stump, where he supplements his income in the tasting room, interacting, pouring and educating guests on offerings. He’s not new to the bar scene, as he worked as a bartender to pay his way through college.

Schmidt is the youngest of three boys. He always felt that he was the outcast of the bunch never fitting into the ultra Christian mold of his family. His appearance, his love for art, and his nonconformity to his parent’s expectations clearly set him apart. Due to his rigid upbringing Schmidt has taken a different approach rooting himself more in spirituality. “I believe in the soul most importantly. I like the way Native Americans handled existence, one with nature, sexuality is not binary, use only what you need and so on.”

Upon deciding to pursue his master’s degree, he made a hard decision to move back into his parents’ home. His living/ work space is separate from the family home and a reflection of his personality. The space is bright, airy and unusually clean, especially for an artist. His artwork adorns the walls, the pops of color liven the space. The living room has lush plants scattered throughout. His two dogs Clementine and Yoti are allowed to freely roam in and out.

Schmidt works on piece of art on October 29, 2019 at his home studio in La Verne, Calif. Schmidt makes sure to wear gloves in order to protect his hands from the chemicals he works with.

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profile

Schmidt does not have a schedule for when he sets out to produce his art, but usually between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. he finds that he is most productive. He likes to listen to podcasts while working, The Dollop being his favorite, but does not limit himself to one genre. This carries over into his real life.

He has a multitude of interests beyond just creating artwork.

Schmidt has also ventured in photography and music. He has a drum set and guitars set up amongst his art materials.

Schimidt stretches his own canvases, which in essence is part of the art itself. It is also more economical than purchasing pre-stretched ones and allows him to control the amount of space he chooses for each piece. Most of his paintings are on round canvases, as they provide a sense of fluidity.

The roundness is organic, allowing the piece to continue past the edge leaving it boundless. He states “rectangular canvases can cut the piece off suddenly, not allowing you to imagine what might be happening off frame.”

Less than two years ago, Schmidt himself was a student, which required him to constantly produce work. Philosophy professor, Rudy Saldana of Citrus College made a lasting impression on him. Scmidt said “His philosophy of religion class changed my life. I took that class at a very important existential time in my life and it really cleared things up and calmed me down.” Grateful and wanting to give back the community college world, Scmidt, chose to return to as a professor.

There is often a stigma attached to youthful people taking on positions of high regard such as teaching. Students tend to feel more at ease with older teachers, identifying them as parental figures, scholars and more experienced. When asked how students respond to him as a professor, he said he is perplexed by the lack of communication from them. Schmidt said that one would have to try and fail at his class as in the requirements are simple: show up and make something. “As a younger professor, I feel like I can stay connected with how rapidly changing the world is,” stated Schmidt

Upon graduating with his MDFA, he kept with this momentum and has not stopped fabricating distinctive pieces.

Recently he was an artist featured at the Citrus College Art Gallery, in a faculty show called Under The Influence. His painting “I’m Doing Good, How Are You?” The lightness and humor of the painting is in direct contrast to his sculpture.

His drapery sculpture called, I Have All The Answers, is hauntingly eerie. A It seems to take on a human likeness but is only a shell the inside hollow and foreboding. The sculpture invokes an internal reflection. Are we as humans only shells unaware of our existence? The flow from the use of muslin fabric meeting with hardness of concrete creates a juxtaposition, by putting two opposite elements next to each other. Taking cues from the overall state of society, Schmidt has incorporated this into his art which he considers to be a reflection of his own anxiety of life and the socio-political norms of today.

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Schmidt does not create his art specially for others appreciation, but his body of work speaks to many. While painting is his chosen medium, his sculptures, which can be considered neo-brutalism, often steal the show. The term neo-brutalism does not refer to being forcefully hostile but simply “raw concrete” in French. He has dabbled with various mediums, exploring with chemical patinas, which is the blue-green color that happens with oxidation and age. “When I make sculptures, I use primarily steel, concrete and fabrics. Sometimes l will finish the sculpture by painting it or applying a chemical patina. When making two dimensional works I use various pigments, acrylics, chemical patinas, resin, paper, and concrete.” Some of his work can even be regarded as modern alchemy. His creations vary from piece to piece, some can be considered a series while others are stand alone works.

His favorite artist is Christian Rex van Minnion, an American contemporary artist, who mixes pop surrealism and Dutch Golden Age. Schmidt stated that he is “best painter that has ever lived, will have ever lived.” He said that he could stare at his paintings for hours at a time always finding something new. Even when speaking of the artist, Schmidt has a look of awe when describing his works. There is something beautiful and creepy about van Minnion’s body of work. Some are brightly colorful and cartoonish mixed with traditional oil paintings while others are monotone still life florals.

He has a commissioned piece in a Pomana apartment complex. While these pieces are not his preferred way of showcasing his talents, he has done a few.

Not all of his works of art have such deep meaning behind them. Some pieces are just creations or just his way of expressing how he was feeling in the moment and others are just because they look nice. Schmidt is an artist always restless and feeding the need to create. L

profile

Daniel Schmidt plays his guitar next to his dog Clamentine on October 15, 2019 at his home studio in La Verne, Calif. Schmidt plays a variety of intruments as creating music is one of his many hobbies.

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culture

Old Stump

2896 Metropolitan Place Pomona, CA 91767

Claremont Craft Ales, Ironbark Ciderworks, Citrus Grove Distillery

This trifecta of brewery, cider house and distillery is tucked neatly in the foothills. This assortment of businesses covers all the bases and are all located in the same lot. Unfortunately, all they cannot all be enjoyed at a single establishment at the same time, but they are all within a short walking distance from each other and reparking is unnecessary.

Old Stump is a local favorite that has steadily grown a following in its four years of life.

The ambiance of Old Stump is familiar and welcoming, whether you pop in for their Monday Night Trivia, Wednesday/Thursday nights which offers three beers for $12 Happy Hour, or their very lively and most often crowded Friday through Sunday live entertainment, patrons are always in for a treat.

My personal favorites include Show Me Your Melons which initially appealed to me due to the cheeky name. After tasting this blonde beer which is sweet not sugary and refreshing with a hint of watermelon, it quickly became my favorite. The Wild Strawberry Gose is tart and sour with a pucker that gets you right in the back of the jaw also it’s fun to say. As these beers are on the lighter side they are perfect for spring and summer.

A good porter and stout are perfect for sweater weather.

Old Stump really delivers, with the deep and savory P-Town Porter and the No Tan Lines Coconut Milk Stout which is a creamy coconut explosion of deliciousness.

Indian Pale Ales are a usual fan favorite when it comes to microbrews. Disarray IPA is very hoppy, a little dry and overall a strong California IPA. The Double Ds IPA is a double IPA and will get right under a seasoned consumer. Old Stump only allows two per guest for this very reason.

With over 20 beers on tap at a time, they offer an array of ways to enjoy their unique creations such as tasting flights which allows you four, four ounce pours for $8, individual four ounce glasses at $2, and regular pours either in a pint or goblet depending on beer style and alcohol content at $6-$8 a glass. Take-home options include 32 ounce optional tall can or glass growler and 64 ounce growler as well as kegs.

Old stump has sparkling water on tap, waters and sodas for sale, as well as snacks. Additionally they have merchandise including stickers, glassware, hats and clothing. As with most breweries this is a family-friendly, and dog-friendly establishment. An assortment of board games are available for rent in exchange for an ID.

Check their website or their Instagram @Oldstumpbrewery for the most up to date calendar, information on events, special releases, more.

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Claremont Craft Ales 1420 North Claremont Blvd. Ste 204C Claremont, CA 91711

Claremont Craft Ales has such an easy laid back vibe is quintessential Southern California. At any given time, this place is usually packed but not only with people, and families but their furry friends too. They have Pub Quiz Trivia Wednesday nights at 7pm and 11:30pm Yoga on tap bring your own mat and $15 gets you an hour of yoga and a pint of beer.

Claremont Craft Ales has about 25 beers on tap ranging from pale ales to hearty stouts, most of their beers are IPA. style, the most popular being Jacaranda. My personal favorite is Sweet Nothings, a delightful pale ale and is my usual go-to when hanging out here on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

This is a great place for large parties, as they have several seating areas indoors and out.

Out of the three venues, this would be the most “family-friendly” with a large outdoor Connect 4 and cornhole along with board games and coloring books. An assortment of snacks and locally crafted beef jerky are available for purchase.

Non-alcoholic options include craft sodas as well sparkling and flat water. They have quite a few take home options, single and tall cans, four packs, kegs, and growlers, guests are allowed to bring their own as long as it adheres to their policy. Check their website or their Instagram @Claremontcraftales for the most up to date calendar, information on events, special releases, more.

culture

TEXT BY: MAILI HIGASHIYAMA PHOTOS BY: LIANDRA THIBODEAUX

“A tipsy taste of the Foothills...”

Ironbark Ciderworks 1420 North Claremont Blvd. Ste 107B Claremont, CA 91711

Inclusivity is the underlying theme of this cider house.

Several walls are adorned with artwork of Russian artist Anna Zhuleva, balanced out with bright pink walls and a large chalkboard calendar. The vibe is very hip and feels more like it belongs in the downtown Los Angeles Arts District. Ironbark Ciderworks is a family run business that came to life when owner Cat Flemming was unable to find a cider that was not loaded with sulfites, gluten and sugar, so she created her own.

Made with all natural ingredients, a dry fermentation process, no added sugars, sulfites or preservatives, the Ironbark offers an impressive array of low calorie, gluten-free ciders.

Natalia Zufferey, who guided me through my cider journey, explained that the base for all of their ciders are Granny Smith apples.

Her wealth of knowledge on the ingredients and cider making process was exemplary. They often experiment by combining new ingredients and altering with fermentation times, which leads to new creations that grace their taps.

After a few questions about what I normally drink, Zufferey suggested a tasting flight as it would allow for more exploration. She gave me the following suggestions: The Duchess which is steeped with Earl Grey Tea, Hoppelganger, a favorite amongst beer drinkers due to the citra hops, which is the most used hops for brewers due to its pleasing citrus aroma. Passionista is tropical and infused with passion fruit. Zang provides a nice kick from fresh ginger usee, O’Pear is a perry made with pears instead of apples, and is rather tasty. All of these were delicious, crisp and dry. While they were very pleasing, Anais stood out with its bold lime tang. Pro-tip go with a friend and try almost all of them at once by splitting two flights.

They offer an array of open mic nights which include: Vinyl (DJ), poetry, and comedy as well as hosted comedy nights.

The crowd is slightly older and more refined but still family friendly and casual enough for a weekday hangout. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating.

Citrus Grove Distillers 1420 North Claremont Blvd. Ste 111A Claremont, CA 91711

The newest addition in this triple threat is like stepping into a hidden speakeasy minus the darkness and whispers. Citrus Grove Distillers is a member-only club that requires a monthly “Spirit Club” membership of either $40 for a single or $70 for a couple currently. They also have a one-time $20 lifetime memebership that allows you access but not all the perk of the “Spirit Club.”

Citrus Grove offers Taco Tequila Tuesday, $2 tacos and $15 margarita flights. Eco Thursday where they encourage eco-friendly transportation and in exchange $5 eco-membership.

All of their spirits and liquors are in-house distilled and most are available for purchase current bottles available for purchase range from $30-$40.

Drinks are moderately priced for the exceptional quality.

They offer artisanal handcrafted cocktails as well as tasting flights choose four options for $20, personally I’ve tried the house Clareville Bourbon, classic Lavender Gin, specialty Blanco Agave Spirit (tequila) and hands down, my favorite was Old Thyme gin. Guests can also try these individually house liquors are $5, classic $6 and specialty $8 each.

The entertaining and skilled mixologists are always crafting something innovative. Sitting at the bar is never dull as patrons are awarded with a show, there is something quite intoxicating about watching them infuse drinks with smoke.

The menu changes monthly based on the seasons and themes but they are able to make pretty much anything you can think of as long as the ingredients are available. Most of the addins such their liquor soaked cherries, are made in house by the ever charming bar manager Lisa, who also happens to be extraordinary mixologist.

Since this is a members-only club it is 21 and over.

While there is no established dress code, this venue has the most upscale vibe, perfect for a date night or a more intimate small sized gathering. Citrus Grove Distillers offers tours, classes, private events, and more they continually update and change their calendar of events. It is important to always check what they are up next on their website or Instagram @Citrusgrovedistillers L

continue at logosmagazinecc.com >>

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OPINION

o T e e r e g e A r g e D s i D TEXT BY: JOHN-MARK RODRIGUEZ PHOTO BY: LIANDRA THIBODEAUX

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OPINION

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OPINION

High school students are constantly reminded about how important it is to go to college. It’s a story that’s been told since the beginning of our years in high school. How has that affected students of today? What is the difference between current students and students from 20 years ago? What is a degree actually worth if people keep getting forced further into the educational system?

When an associate’s degree seems like the equivalent to a high school diploma nowadays, students have to work twice as hard to get a bachelor’s degree to not be guaranteed a professional position right after finishing their educational path.

Agreed, a college degree doesn’t mean absolutely nothing, however, has lost validity since students attended close to 20 years ago. The main issues are having professional experience and how much a college education costs.

In 1999, The College Board states Citrus Students would pay $352 for in-state tuition, $4,012 for out-of-state tuition, while minimum wage was $5.75 an hour. Simply broken down, it would take roughly 61 hours of minimum wage work to be able to pay for tuition 20 years ago.

Now although the minimum wage has increased to $12 an hour, in-state tuition has also increased to $1,450 a semester, out-of-state being $9,520. The amount of time to pay for a single semester at Citrus College has nearly doubled to roughly 121 hours of work strictly dedicated to tuition. Including inflation rates to compare school tuition today to tuition from 1999, costs have increased 170% according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“ The goal is to work less and get paid more. ”

In today’s terms, in order to have an opportunity to even apply for a professional position at a company is to have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of a year of relevant experience to even make minimum wage. According to LendEDU and Experian, student loan debt averages at $37,468 per graduate in California which doesn’t help that most financial institutions force interest to be paid upon graduation with the initial degree.

Among other topics, the “importance” of a degree has been promoted out of proportion for its significance. Getting a college degree is to help you find a job to work for someone else rather than for yourself. Conforming to today’s norm is going to college and getting that much needed bachelor’s degree. Perhaps it’s because some people feel like they have to get a degree in order to live a comfortable lifestyle and going to college, although potentially putting students in debt, seems like the least risky move in today’s culture.

“ They finished college, they must be so smart! ”

Degrees aren’t the definition of success although it is perceived that way. A common misconception in our generation is that intelligence and education are the same concept. Although education may extend current knowledge of something, it does not get the same amount of respect of having real-life experience.

Another disadvantage is competition in the workforce. A person must know their worth in order to know they don’t have to work for minimum wage for a position at a company, however, there will always be another person ready to settle for less. It can be discouraging to be unemployed immediately after college as debt will accrue.

There is a balance to life in which seemingly can’t be achieved when attending school. If a student and graduate can’t make ends meet even with a degree, then what’s the point? Working for a company that wants to hire people for minimum wage even with a Bachelor’s degree is an insult for students who were told that getting a degree offers more opportunity and better pay. College students and graduates now must work harder for less than what was expected.

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OPINION

“ College gets you a foot-in-the-door. ”

I would be a hypocrite if I completely brushed college off as something that is a waste of time and that no one should ever attend it. But, like everything else in life, things change. The difference in a college degree today is how it’s portrayed as something that one NEEDS in order to be successful in life. It’s believed that college itself wasn’t originally meant for everyone but has now been attempted to make for the masses. The perception of college has remained something glorified by the people that are close to you, however, doesn’t matter to the people that don’t know you. College is good opportunity to expand your knowledge on your passions and interests and also a great way to network. College will always be here which is never a problem, and although it seems like it’s something one needs to have under their belt, it doesn’t mean it’s for everyone.

“ College is the only way to get a good job. ”

Personally, I have been told my whole educational path that college is an absolute must. Everyone “should” go to college to get a good job and provide for their family. Although a college degree is a good path to take, it is NOT the only path. Trade schools and professional certificates are offered within colleges as well as being their own school. There are various local campuses, including Citrus College, that offers professional degrees. L

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OPINION

What started off as a hole in a large box that captured an image while relying on the sun, has moved forward with the advancements in technology, evolving into something amazing.

But when thinking of art, what is the first thing to come to mind? Painting. Drawing. Pottery, maybe. One medium, or a material that is used to create art, that is often left out of the light when thinking of art is photography.

Photography has been around since the early 1800’s and has been used, like many forms of art as a means of expression and a way to connect with people. These properties are part of what makes art so alluring and photography such a diverse art medium.

So why is photography often being left out of the mix?

TEXT & PHOTOS BY: LIANDRA THIBODEAUX

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One possibility is that there are many people that feel that it does not take the same amount of time and effort to create a photograph as is does to create something like a painting.

However, that may not be the case.

With photography, a person not only needs to have an eye for it, but it can also take a tremendous amount of work.

Depending on the type of photograph and camera (Digital vs.

Film), photography takes a ton of patience and time to take a photo and after the initial photo is taken.

Photographers do not just point and shoot a camera.

A photographer waits to capture the perfect moment or pose.

In some cases, there is only one chance to capture a desired image.

The environment is metered by an internal measurement that helps determine whether or not an image will appear too dark or too bright and the white balance (referring to the warmth or coolness of the image) is adjusted in order to capture an image that is as close to the environment in which it was taken as possible.

When deciding to do film photography you must first load your camera with film, which once your photos are done being taken, you will be left with a photo negative.

A negative is an image, in simple terms, that is dark where the subject was light, and light where the subject was dark and reversed when taken into processing.

In the case of color negatives, the colors are also reversed into their complementary colors.

Once the image is captured, it is taken into post work.

Film photography requires a long process to develop an image.

An individual has to act like a chemist, mixing the necessary chemicals, in order to create the right solution (mixture). Once the image negative is made bigger and put through the developing stage, it must dry before the photo can be handled.

Most of this process must be done in a “darkroom,” a room that is completely dark. This is entirely a “hands-on” process.

Just based off of the amount of carefulness you need show when developing a film photo and the effort you need to put into any corrections or alterations that are done directly on to the negative makes it worthy of being considered art.

Digital photography is a bit different in the post-production phase. Although you are able to see the photo once it has been taken, the next step is uploading the photos onto a computer, then transferring them on to a program that allows

OPINION

you to not only view the RAW image (the digital equivalent of a photo negative) but to make any necessary adjustments.

For either process of post work for photos, an individual will need to put anywhere from one to five or more hours and in more advanced cases, a days worth of work time in order to reach completion.

“Honestly, I never really considered photography to be like art art. Not that I don’t think it’s kinda artsy, it’s just that anyone can do it, you know? I mean you can even use a phone to take a picture now-a-days.” said Nadine Martinez, 20, art major. “I haven’t taken a photography class yet, but I’ll be taking one soon.”

Although Martinez is not wrong about the fact that a phone can be used to take a photo and has a lens attached to it, with social media apps that give users the ability to mimic effects or styles that an actual photographer may utilize, a photographer also takes into consideration the composition (how things are placed in an image) of their desired image prior to the image being taken.

For example if photographing a person, the photographer will determine where that person stands or sits, how much of that person is shown in the photograph and how much of the background will be shown and in focus.

In many cases, photography is looked at as solely a means of documentation. Photos of important events, historical or otherwise are taken in order to show or hold onto for a later date.

“I see photography as something that people use to remember an important moment in time. Like how the newspaper uses pictures to go with an article or something,” said Marcus Gonzolez, 30, business major.

Be that as it may, this just shows the diversity of a photograph.

Just like paintings, particularly in the early part of the seventeenth century when they were not only used for personal use, but as documentation of wars and other happenings to show the public or to be archived, photography can also be used for this purpose.

Photography in this aspect has been used to start many movements and to bring out the emotions of the public in the process.

Like the works of contemporary photojournalist Sebastiao Salgado, whose work is thought to be so beautiful it has a place in the fine art world, Salgado’s photographs are filled with political purpose exposing the social and environmental problems facing our planet. The beauty of his images make it hard for viewers to look away thus making it just as difficult to ignore the message Salgado is trying to relay.

Another good example of this is the Dada movement which also led to photography’s transition into surrealism in the early 20th century. This movement was formed during the First World War in Zurich, Switzerland, in negative reaction to the horrors and foolishness of the war.

This was artists’ way of opposing the cultural values they believed led to the war and to express the meaninglessness of the modern world at the time.

As for surrealist photographs, they were taken of everyday places, people, and items, but were cropped or staged in ways to force the viewer to question their perception of reality.

‘Art’ is simply the product of human creativity and our need for expression. With all other art forms the subject is contrived, created by deliberate use of skill, built by human hands. With photography, the only thing you can control is your perspective.

Admittedly in this day and age photography has become so culturally saturated and easy to do that it is easy to discount it as an artistic medium. Just like a painter composes an image on a canvas or a sculptor chooses a certain material as their medium, the photographer makes many of the same decisions in order to create his or her art.

The photographer has to develop form, motion, balance, storyline and function from the existing world. It allows the artist to let go of fabricating anything (which can also be done of course) and rely completely on their taste and vision. L FALL 2019 | LOGOS | 20

opinion

TEXT & ART BY: ADRIANA PEREZ MONTENEGRO

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opinion

Going into college after high school presents many challenges for students. From having to become more independent to improving time management and organizational skills, it can be a challenge to adapt.

For those of us who wanted to attend college after high school, we were constantly being reminded that if we wanted to get into a school that was more competitive, we had to do things that would make us stand out. They’d tell us to take advanced classes like AP, be more involved in school by being in clubs or sports, or have a leadership position in extracurricular activities.

In the beginning of my senior year, I felt lost I didn’t know where I wanted to go. But what I did know was that I wanted to have options. So, during my time in high school I tried my best to build up a good transcript by taking quite a few honors and advanced classes to be able to apply to schools that were more competitive.

Another issue was my choice in career for so long becoming a veterinarian was what my goal, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do anymore. Other subjects started to interest me, but most importantly I realized my true passion.

Ever since childhood, creating things with my hands has been a joy. I love to draw, paint, make origami, knit and more. But I was conflicted I wanted to major in art, but my parents weren’t exactly thrilled with the idea.

The reason for that was because of the stigma against it and humanities. Many people, including myself at some point, are led to believe that there are no jobs in those fields, where there are the jobs are in STEM majors, and I didn’t realize this was not the case until my senior year.

Thankfully my English teacher helped me realize, through her own experience, that money isn’t what we should be striving for instead we should strive to find happiness. She shared how after almost completing a nursing program she came to the realization that was not what she wanted to do for the rest of her life, so she quit, and instead pursued a career of her choice, not anyone else’s.

After hearing her story and her experience, I was certain of what I wanted to pursue. That it is why when it came time to start college applications, I chose visual arts as my major even if my parents were not thrilled with the idea.

But when the time came to decide, it was very difficult and stressful because I didn’t know where I wanted to go. My counselor suggested I apply to Cal States, UCs and private universities, but I wasn’t sure if that was the right choice. I considered applying to art school, but in most schools you needed a portfolio, something I did not have prepared. So I didn’t know what to do next.

Not only that, I was also concerned about money.

Would financial aid and my parent’s financial support even be enough to cover tuition? My parents aren’t wealthy, so would I have to consider having a part time job to help cover for it?

After a couple of weeks, I still did not know what I was going to do. I would hear other students talk about how they had finished and sent their applications, and at that point, I felt even more lost than I did in the beginning.

Then one day an opportunity presented itself.

Some representatives from Citrus College went to our English classes to talk about the Promise Program which they were offering to high school students.

If eligible, like being a high school seniors graduating and meet certain requirements, like applying for Financial Aid each year by either submitting a FAFSA or Dream Act application, Citrus College would cover enrollment and mandatory fees (including the registration, health service, student representation, class pass and student services fees) for fall and spring semesters for the first two years.

This was a great opportunity because not only was it going to save my parents money, it gave me time to figure out what to do next. I knew what I love to do, but I was still undecided in terms of a career. So, I did what I had to do to get accepted into the program and once I was accepted I was able to attend school during the fall semester of 2019.

Before starting school, I was excited yet nervous. I was new to the campus and the only people I knew were my friends from high school, and in my classes I didn’t know anyone. I knew it was going to be different from high school, but I didn’t know how different nor what to expect. But at the same time, I was excited because I was to be taking art classes.

In the beginning, I thought I was going to be able to get away with procrastinating, which is something I do often, but that was no longer going to work.

I needed to start managing my time and organizing myself, but that has proven to be difficult. So, I’m hoping I can figure out a method of organization that best suits me.

Another change was my newfound independence. I was so used to my teachers constantly reminding me to do their work, when there was going to be a test, or even informing us about events going on at school. But now that’s something I must do on my own.

But it wasn’t as bad as I thought, especially since I am used to being independent from my family in terms of anything school related. My mom couldn’t help me because she’s not familiar with how the education system works, nor is fluent in English I’ve always had to rely on my peers as well as my teachers and counselors to help me get through school.

My motivation is different as well. In high school, I didn’t wantto be there I was forced to go whereas now, I am choosing to be here. I wanted to go to college because I wanted to further my education. Not only that, I know it can help present opportunities which I may not have otherwise.

Getting accustomed to these new changes has not been easy. Fortunately, having people around me who understands how I feel and being able to turn to them when needed, has helped tremendously. My hope is to be able to make the best of the years to come. I want to meet new people, experience many new things, but most importantly, I want to figure out where I want to go and end up. L

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Culture

A Day At The Cemetery TEXT AND PHOTOS BY: DANIELA NAVARRO

Patreons of Hollywood Forever Cemetery pose for photo on November 2, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Hollywood Forever Cemetery annually hosts a large Dia De Los Muertos festival.

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Culture

Dia de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead is a holiday celebration that spans from November 1st, All Saints Day in which celebrates deceased children, to November 2nd, All Souls Day in which celebrates deceased adults. Although practiced throughout Latin America, Dia de los Muertos is most strongly associated with Mexico, where the tradition originated. This holiday celebrates the dead with lively celebrations and festivals.

People go to the cemetery and celebrate the lives of their deceased loved ones. As you reach the entrance to the cemetery, you are greeted with vibrant shades of yellow, orange and white as it is decorated with arches of marigolds.

Marigolds are considered to be the “Flowers of the Dead” because they represent the fragility of life. Petals are used to create pathways for the dead to take their journey as their vibrant colors guide them to their graves.

Graves take centerpiece on the Day of the Dead for they are transformed into altars. Altars are considered as the gathering point where the dead and the living meet. Photos of the deceased are placed here and surrounded by colorful flowers, sugar skulls, candles (to help dispel the darkness) and their favorite antojitos, for a grand feast to welcome the dead back home.

It is believed that the dead would be insulted by mourning or sadness. So families and friends gather around the altar throughout the night, eating, drinking and doing activities the deceased enjoyed in life in order to remember the time their loved one spent on earth.

At the festival, people often dress up as Calaveras and Catrinas, in which were inspired by the work of Jose Gudalupe Posada. These characters are also known as ‘Dapper Skull’ and ‘Elegant Skull’, can be found throughout the cemetery and are almost always seen as enjoying life while wearing fancy clothes.

Posada was an engraver, lithographer and cartoonist who used his skills to create the popular skulls that poked fun at the mexican government and the social change that was happening during his time.

There are many places in Southern California that hold Dia De Los Muertos celebrations and festivals. A great example of this, and probably the largest example is the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

What began with only a few altars, the Hollywood Forever Cemetery now hosts more than 40,000 participants (mostly in costume), displays more than 100 altars created by members of the community in remembrance of their ancestors/loved ones and just recently celebrated its 20th annual Dia De Los Muertos festival.

The 2019 celebration theme was dedicated to the sacred migration of the Monarch Butterfly and its home state of Michoacan. The Monarch butterfly is special due to it being the symbol of the Dreamers, the qualifying immigrants who entered the United States as minors and were granted residency status.

While walking through the cemetery during this festival you are able to view a number of elaborate altars. Colorful Aztec ritual dancers weave through the crowds of people as the sounds from musical performances eccos around them.

When you reach the Cathedral Mausoleum, you are able to walk through an art exhibit filled with original works of art provided by the community. To complete this experience, there are food vendors from all around Los Angeles as well as many arts and crafts vendors.

Dia de los Muertos recognizes death as a natural part of the human experience. On these days it is a mystical time when the veil is lifted between our two realms. The spirits of our ancestors and loved ones are awakened from their eternal sleep and are once again able to be a part of the community in order to share celebrations with us, their loved ones. L FALL 2019 | LOGOS | 24

PROFILE

TEXT BY: MARIAH SMITH PHOTO BY: LIANDRA THIBODEAUX

Rhianna D’Angelo performs with her palm tourches on October 29, 2019 in San Dimas, Calif. D’Angelo is a self-taugh fire performer and encourages people to take the proper safety precautions when choosing to work with fire.

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PROFILE

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section

Rhianah D’Angelo has been a student at Citrus College since 2015. She is attending to pursue an esthetician’s license and is a business degree major. D’Angelo, was born and raised in California. She grew up with a wonderful family, did well in high school academically and was also involved in several groups, sports, and choirs.

She says, “I’ve always had a passion for being active and artistic.”

Once she graduated from Bonita High, she went straight into fall classes at Citrus. Unsure of what she wanted to study, she decided to take General Education (GE) classes for her first year of college. D’Angelo felt intrigued by the criminal justice program that Citrus offers.

“I signed up for a course and instantly loved the class. Everything we learned about captured my attention. It got to the point where I was sad when class was over because I was having so much fun learning. The professor made the class fun, which boosted my experiences in the courses I was already enjoying!”

Eventually, she changed her mind of pursuing administration of justice, realizing that it was not truly her calling, and went back to taking GE classes again. She is currently licensed to do eyelash extensions, so her plan is to get an esthetician’s license through Citrus. Aside from school and career choices, D’Angelo is a paid flow artist and fire performer.

Flow arts can be described as the variety of movement-based disciplines including dance, fire-spinning, juggling and object manipulation. It is a broad category which includes a variety of skill-based techniques with creative expression to achieve a state of present-moment awareness known as Flow.

Her best friend Natalie Lahey was into flow arts and encouraged D’Angelo to get involved and learn more about flow arts.

Lahey gifted D’Angelo her first hoop to practice with two and a half years ago and she immediately fell in love with the art. “We always push each other to be more creative. Rhianah and I have made up multiple choreographed routines and we do not stop until they’re perfect” said Lahey.

To further her craft she began watching YouTube tutorials on the most basic, beginner hoop tricks there are, such as an escalator, a wedgie, isolations, and on-body hooping. D’Angelo says, “I’ve created my own signature moves that I put out tutorials on for other hoopers to learn. When it comes to learning fire arts, everything I know is self taught (which is extremely unsafe and never recommended by anyone).”

Obviously, when you add fire to a hoop, or any prop for that matter, it becomes much more dangerous. All fire spinners must acquire the proper knowledge of what to purchase, how to set up your dipping station (where you dip your props wicks into the fuel), proper clothing and gear for spinning and how to extinguish the flames in case of emergency. She states that these are all things you must know in order to burn safely.

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Since D’Angelo was one hundred percent self-taught with fire arts, she had a rocky start. She would spill fuel, burn her arms and legs, and even burn her hair, eyelashes and eyebrows off. All of which are extremely dangerous incidents and can easily result in fatality.

D’Angelo performs with LED and fire props at shows.

Including festivals such as Insomniac Events which is an American electronic music event promoter; along with private events, parties, and weddings. The majority of the shows she performs at are EDM (Electronic Dance Music) shows, which are typically located in Los Angeles.

She has made her connections by being involved with the EDM scene for so long. Her friend Lahey also says that “Rhianah is one of the most influential members of the flow arts community. I have seen her social media and her following grow so quickly. So many people look up to her and admire her skill. She is extremely good at what she does. She has very creative moves and makes tutorials so other flow artists can learn them as well. She has an amazing social media presence and does so well at remaining connected and involved with other people online.”

“It’s all about networking and getting people to like you in order to get booked for gigs. Something as simple as your presence in your scene is so important and will help get you noticed” said D’Angelo.

She also teaches hoop workshops, where anyone can purchase a ticket for the class and learn from her personally.

With having a well known background in the Flow Arts community she is recognized by her nickname Red, which she got in high school because she had bright red hair. “Everyone in the industry calls me Red, but my stage name is Rhianah Harleigh.”

When it comes her achievements in flow arts and ability to turn a passion into a career, D’Angelo future plans are to keep expanding in performing arts and work her way up to traveling all over the world for paid performances. She also wants to complete a workshop tour in the near future.

D’Angelo’s words of advice for anyone trying to get into performance arts in this industry would be to spend as much time as you possibly can perfecting your craft. “If you are new to performing, be patient. Don’t ever chase anything, let your talent speak for itself and opportunities that make sense will come to you.”

She states that the flow arts has changed her life in so many ways, and for the better. It has brought some of the most amazing people, opportunities, and experiences into her life. Flow arts has made her life better by opening up countless doors of opportunity, whether it be business or pleasure.

Flow is her outlet for any and every emotion. This outlet has allowed D’Angelo to be a much happier person all around. “I have something to let my emotions out on. I have something to turn to when nobody is there or when I simply desire being in solitude, my flow toys are always there.”

“I wouldn’t give it up for the world.” L

PROFILE Rhianna D’Angelo poses with her LED hoop on October 29, 2019 in San Dimas, Calif. D’Angelo also goes by the nickname “Red” in which she gain while in high school do to having vibrant red hair.

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TRAVEL

TEXT AND PHOTO BY: GISELLE VARGAS

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TRAVEL

“From the perspective of a local.”

The cost of Isla Tortuga In Nothern Puntarenas, Costa Rica on Aug. 20.

The island is a popular turistic destiation in the country.

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TRAVEL

Between Panama and Nicaragua is a tiny tropical country the size of approximately 19,700 square miles called Costa Rica. This is not an island, although many may confuse it as such.

A little known fact is that the movie Jurassic Park was filmed on an island in Costa Rica called Isla del Coco, which is also a national park. The first scene of this movie takes place at a beach city whose address in the film is located in San Jose. The funny part about this is that San Jose is the capital of the country and is nowhere near a beach.

Costa Rica consists of seven provinces, Puntarenas: San Jose, Guanacaste, Limon, Heredia, Alajuela and Cartago. The provinces most recommended to visit are Puntarenas, Guanacaste and Limon because this is where the beaches are located.

The other provinces are beautiful; however, they have a downside to them, they consist only of city life. The weather is also slightly chillier compared to the tropical weather most people expect when visiting Costa Rica. So if you are looking for the rainforest and the beach, I do not recommend the city.

While visiting the city, there are also plenty of museums, such as the National Museum of Costa Rica and the Pre- Columbian Gold Museum.

The city is usually much cheaper than the beach areas, so for souvenir shopping this is your best option. A great place for this will be a “ mercado.” This place consists of several stores that carry a variety of items, from clothing to food and “sodas”.Which are buffet-style restaurants called soda. It is spelled the same as the soft drink, but with a different meaning. This restaurant has the typical, traditional Costa Rican food that consists of rice, beans, salad, meat, hash and a beverage, which will cost around $8.

If I had to list three things Costa Rica is most known for they would be coffee, surf and the ecosystem.

When it comes to drinks, coffee is a must. Please don’t go to Starbucks. Instead, try the local coffee shops.

What separates Costa Rican coffee from the rest of the world is the location. The temperature and the elevation in the mountains are the leading reasons for the great flavors people have come to love. This is because the altitude of mountains helps the grain to develop more frequently than in other places. Coffee plantations, many of which are open for tours, are found in the city because of the high altitude not found on the beach.

The ecosystem it’s a top part of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica is moving towards a green future of. The country will be fossil fuel-free by 2021. A law passed this year to ban styrofoam but will be officially implemented by 2021.

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Costa Rica is big in maintaining the environment as tourism is one of the biggest sources of the country’s economy. Costa Rica has a variety of tours for every type of person so it’s good to research activities you might be interested in prior to traveling.

If you are like me, and would rather be closer to nature than in a busy city, one way to enjoy the ecosystem is by taking part in adrenaline tours. Some of which will allow patrons to be in a canopy of trees flying from one tree to another while attached to a zipline. These tours can be found all around the country.

If being on the ground is more your thing, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or horseback riding is an excellent way to go through the mountain.

However, if the land is not really your style, water rafting and surfing are very well known past-times in the country. Costa Rica is as a surfing paradise, but both water rafting and surfing come with their own risks. Incidents in which people have been harmed while doing these sports are very common and have been known to lead to death because of strong currents and in the case of surfing, crocodiles sometimes swim in salty water so be cautious.

Costa Rica has plenty of great beaches all around the country to learn how to surf and the warm water of the ocean makes for an even better experience. The country has hosted many surf tournaments.

The province of Puntarenas is way more developed as beach towns in comparison to Guanacaste and Limon.

If you are looking to go off the grid, Guanacaste and Limon will be perfect for that. Celebrities are known to go to Guanacaste because of how isolated the province is.

My two favorite beaches are Manuel Antonio National Park and the beach at Isla Tortuga. Both are located in the province of Puntarenas where I am from.

What makes the beach at Manuel Antonio National Park so unique is how the rainforest is so protected and well maintained to conserve the environment. As it is a national park, there is a charge for admission. The entrance fee is $16 for adults and free for kids under 12.

When you first enter the national park, you will be surrounded by nature and to make to the beach it will be a walk through the trails. What makes this beach so special is that there is no stores our restaurants near the beach it is just pure nature.

When you finally arrive, there is a high chance raccoons will go through your things, so keep an eye on your bags and hide your food

The experience of watching animals in their natural habitat is a real possibility in the park. Monkeys will jump over you to move to their next branch, families of deer

TRAVEL Isla Tortuga In Nothern Puntarenas, Costa Rica on Aug. 20.

The island is a popular turistic destiation in the country.

walk the same trails to the beach, and there always a sloth coming down a tree which is the slowest and most amusing action.

My second favorite beach is Isla Tortuga is an island located in the northern part of Puntarenas.

The main method of transportation here is by boat.

The easiest way to make it to the island is by booking a day tour, though the price ranges around $100.

The reason why Isla Tortuga is one of my favorites beaches is the crystal clear blue water.

The island has several water activities available for the adrenaline junkies from: jet skies, paddle boards, kayaking and a banana tours. Most tours here will offer snorkeling in their package as well. It is an amazing and colorful experience to swim with several types of fish.

If relaxation is more on your mind, this beach is great to just do anything at all. The beach is full of lounge chairs to lay down on with umbrellas to shade you from the sun. Most tours to the island offer free drinks all day, the boat ride to, from and back again included. This beach is also not strong with waves so it is perfect for swimming.

Most tours to the island will offer food, snorkeling and an open bar. If you are booking a tour to the island and if snorkeling or open bar is not included, I recommend to look for more options as there are plenty of tour companies to choose from. Lunch is usually included in the tour but that’s something to double check.

Although all Spanish- speaking countries share the same language, each country has their different forms of slang.

The language barrier for non Spanish speakers will not be a major issue. The country’s economy is powered by tourism, so the locals do their best to accommodate the tourists; for example, if someone is unfamiliar with Spanish, locals will speak English or attempt to speak English.

These are some of the more common slang phrases in a native Costa Rican’s vocabulary.

If you hear the phrase “pura vida,” it means “pure life” and could be used as an informal greeting when someone asks you, “how are you?” It is a phrase you will hear and see often around the country. Costa Rica is known by this phrase it could be viewed as there life motto.

Another word you might hear often is “mae,” which means “dude.” If you want to say “cool” or “dope” the word to use would be “tuanis.” It could also be a form of saying “okay” as a means of confirmation. The words “ que chiva” it could be used to say “how cool is that.”

In the Spanish language, many words are defined by feminine or masculine. The words “tico” and “tica” mean Costa Rican in local slang.” Tico” is for males and “tica” is

for females, these phrases are not offensive to use.

The language barrier for non spanish speakers it will not be a major issue. As mentioned before, the country’s economy is powered by tourism, so the locals do their best to accommodate the tourists, for example if someone is unfamiliar with spanish, locals will speak english or attempt to speak english.

As getting around from place to place on vacation is extremely important, it is good to be informed on a few different methods available.

Public transportation is always an option while on a budget; it is not much different from the public transportation system in the United States.

There are cheap taxis, called “pirates”; however, they are not legal and if an accident were to happen, there is no insurance to cover the passengers. I also found Uber to be cheaper than regular taxis but not by much.

The main taxis of the country will be painted in strong red with the word taxi in yellow written in the door. It won’t be hard to find.

As a Costa Rican, I consider the country safe, but if in an unfamiliar part of the country, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings. This goes for anyone traveling to a new place.

Danger comes in many forms. For example, if you are at the beach, do not go swimming if you see signs of high tide or go walking around alone late at night in sketchy places.

However, Costa Rica is an incredibly peaceful country. Based on the World Happiness Report, Costa Rica is the twelfth happiest country in the world.

If you are wondering what to pack, Costa Rica is a humid tropical country; it’s going to be hot! So besides packing many swimsuits for the beach, also bring along shorts, and fresh T-shirts and flip-flops. If exploring is on your agenda, some comfortable tennis shoes would be a good idea to walk through the jungle.

The seasons in Costa Rica are opposite of that in California. For example, when it is summer in California, it will be winter in Costa Rica. However, Costa Rica only really has two seasons: dry and rainy. The difference in heat between California and Costa Rica is that in Costa Rica the weather is very humid, while in California it is dry desert weather.

Last tip don’t forget sunblock and mosquito repellent in your trip if you are sweet. L

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culture

Study

Date TEXT AND ART BY: MARIAH SMITH

School life can take up a lot of time, cutting into our social lives. Having to stay home and cancel plans in order to finish homework can be the worst. But what if you can still enjoy the company of friends and help one another study. If you are trying to find a quiet place to work or want to meet up with a study group, there are several coffee shops that have the perfect environment.If you have been thinking about checking out some local cafes, here is an easy guide to help find the right place. Each one has a little bit of everything. They have hot or cold coffee and teas or pastries to snack on.

“aDosage Coffee�

926 E Alosta Ave Azusa, CA 91702. (closest to Citrus campus)

aDosage is a newer addition of cafes that provides a wide variety of mixed flavors and unique blends. They also are one of the few places that have boba if you do enjoy boba with your choice of tea or coffee.

-Average prices range from $3-$6

-College Students

-10 percent off for reusable cups and students

-Social crowd

-Student discounts

-Aesthetic setting

-Variety of baked goods

-Early/mid day study sessions

-Milk alternatives

-Free Wifi

-Limited seating indoor/outdoor -Small groups

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@adosagecoffeee

“Classic Coffee”

culture

148 Glendora Ave, Glendora, CA 91741

My favorite is the seasonal special “Pumpkin Chai”, I prefer oat milk with mine which creates a smooth creamy tea. This is a drink that matcha fans must try!

-Average prices range from $4-$7 -Vegan options -Milk alternatives -Protein powder/energy boost $1.25 -Indoor/outdoor seating -Small groups/ Individuals -Older crowd -Quite setting -Mid day study sessions -Free Wifi @classiccoffeeca

“Mantra Coffee”

615 N San Gabriel Ave, Azusa, CA 91702

Mantra has a limited menu but provide the classic favorites. If you’re looking for something a little fancy, try the iced lavender latte and the almond croissant warmed up is worth drooling over.

-Average prices range from $3-$7 -Environmentally friendly, use paper cups and must ask for lid -Vegan/keto options -Milk alternatives -Indoor/outdoor seating -Large and small groups/individuals -Mixed crowd -Talkative setting -Night owls welcomed closes at 12am -Free Wifi, changes everyday and password is available on receipt @mantracoffee

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PROFILE

Your Not SO average joe TEXT BY: LIANDRA THIBODEAUX

Joe Guerrero Jr. poses for photo on August 29, 2019 in Montclair, California.

Photo By: Stephine Hanno

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PROFILE

Usually donning a ball cap, walking through the

parking lot nearest to the Visual Arts building is Joe Rudy Guerrero Jr., 38, photography major and a father returning to school in order to better his life and set an example for his three young sons.

Most that see him may be intimidated by his heavily tattooed aesthetic, but underneath this rough exterior is a man who has been through a number of traumas and still wishes the best for those around him. Guerrero Jr. is always striving to be a better man and hopes to inspire his loved ones and peers to be their best selves.

Born December 5, 1980, in Monterey Park, California, Guerrero Jr. is one of eight children, four from his mother and four from his father, as well as an identical twin.

His close relationship with his mother, Delia Guerrero, is partially a product of his rough upbringing and her struggling efforts to provide for her children.

Guerrero Jr.’s young life was surrounded by his drug-and-alcohol addicted father’s domestic abuse of his mother. At the time, Guerrero jr. was growing up in El Monte, Calif. His father was in and out of jail most of Guerrero Jr.’s life.

At the young age of 12, in 1993, his father died of a heroin overdose. “That is why I’m 100 percent drug and alcohol free...never tried any of it,” said Guerrero Jr. as he spoke about his father’s struggle.

The death of his father really took a toll on him causing him to grow a sense of hatred for the world around him. Because of this hatred, he began running with the wrong crowd. Luckily he chose not to join a gang, and still made sure to not indulge in drugs or alcohol, despite pressure from his peers.

Soon after his father’s death, his mom revealed that she was a lesbian. This was a shock to Guerrero Jr., as this was during a time when same-sex relationships were not as accepted as they are now. “My first thought was, what are my friends going to say?” said Guerrero Jr. It took him some time to come to terms with this.

Although at a young age he struggled with his mom’s sexuality, as an adult, he now looks back and realizes that it was this fact that helped diminish any animosity he may have possibly felt towards his mom choosing to date again.

In high school, Guerrero Jr. took an interest in sports. He ran track and field and played football, becoming team captain for both sports. These sports inspired Guerrero jr. to want to become a role model. However, at 16, his dreams were shattered when he was expelled from Mountain View High School due to misconduct allegations and was sent to a continuation school.

At the age of 17, Guerrero Jr. joined a party crew (a group of people that throw parties for fun or profit) with two of his brothers, Mark Guerrero and Abraham Guerrero.

90s party crews were a way for teens in Southern California to escape from school and have a better alternative to gang life.

Guerrero Jr. thought he had stopped affiliating with the “wrong crowd” under the assumption that a party crew and a gang were completely different from one another.

Until one night, after choosing to stay in as his brothers went out, he got a phone call informing him that both of his brothers had been stabbed at a house party. “ I remembered collapsing to my knees and questioning why? ” Said Guerrero Jr. “Due to one of my brothers being a minor at the time, I had to inform my mom what had happened … hearing her screams and cries still haunt me till this day.”

Both brothers obtained serious wounds and were airlifted to the Los Angeles General Hospital where they underwent surgery.

Although they survived the attack, his brother Mark flatlined twice and this situation changed his whole perspective on party crews. “I walked into the hospital room my brothers were in, my heart broke and I just broke down in tears. At that moment, I told myself gangs, party crews, biker crews, any type of crew, it was all the same.” Said Guerrero Jr. It was also this incident that caused him to become very protective of his loved ones, leading him to make the decision to no longer affiliate with the party crew and to focus on himself and his immediate family.

While walking through La Mirada Swapmeet in Santa Fe Springs, California, 23, Guerrero Jr. was approached by Danny De La Paz, the actor that played Big Puppet from “American Me” and Chuco

Teenage Joe Guerrero Jr poses for photo with temmate at Mountain View High School in El Monte, Californis. Guerrero was captain for his high school football team.

Photo donted by: Joe Guerrero Jr

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PROFILE Joe Guerrero Jr. poses with identical twin brother Abraham Guerrero.

Photo donted by: Joe Guerrero Jr.

present for the birth of his son, Davian. But that thought changed after the birth. “Witnessing the birth of my son is where everything changed.

I saw through fresh eyes and those eyes gave me a whole different perspective in life. It wasn’t about me anymore; it was about this innocent life that needed me.”

Just 14 months after the birth of his first son, he had a second son, Makati J. Guerrero, from his then-girlfriend and future fiance, Marie Billones. “I always told myself the day I become a dad, my kids are going to know who their father is,” said Guerrero Jr. This caused him to make working his priority. So he obtained his GED and took acting into consideration once again.

In mid 2008, his brother Abraham introduced him to Mike Gonzales. Gonzales then introduced Guerrero Jr. to working on music videos, the first being Why We Thugs by Ice Cube, which featured comedian Mike Epps. This propelled him into the music video scene, making it possible for him to do background work for a number of musicians such as Busta Rhymes, Jennifer Lopez and Rhianna. “Word of mouth is everything in this industry,” said Guerrero Jr.

After spending some time as an actor and working with Gonzales, Guerrero Jr. found himself having a strong passion for being a part of this industry and grew an interest to further expose his talent. He spoke with Gonzales about the possibility of finding an agent that can help him get more television shows and movie roles instead of the frequent background music video roles he was becoming accustomed to.

This lead him to his current agent Nancy Chaidez, from the Nancy Chaidez Agency, who in late 2008 helped him get his first big co-star role. “They sent me out to my first legitimate audition as a co-star for the television show Southland on TNT. After, my agent calls me after my audition and tells me I got a call back. I go to the callback two days later. Then later that evening, my agent calls me again and tells me I’m booked. I was so excited,” says Guerrero Jr.

from “ Blvd Nights, “ who later introduced him into the acting industry. “I just want to tell you that you have the perfect look for acting,” De La Paz told Guerrero Jr.

Although he found himself curious about what it would be like to be an actor, he didn’t focus too much on the idea. De La Paz gave him his business card and told him that if he ever decided to get into acting to give him a call.

It had never crossed his mind that he would be in this type of field as an actor. At the time Guerrero Jr. was working at Sam’s Club in the tire department. “Business was kinda slow, so I called him (De La Paz) up. I was like ‘Hey Danny this is Joe. Were you serious about the whole acting gig thing?’ And he was like ‘ya, there’s actually a job that I know of, do you know Damian Chapa?

He’s Miklo from Blood, In Blood Out, he’s doing this job in Lincoln Heights and if your down I’ll call the main guy, Manny Jimenez Sr., at Suspects Entertainment and send them your information.” Suspects Entertainment is an agency that specializes in type casting actors to play gang members.

Guerrero Jr. spoke to Jimenez and informed him that he was a twin. Jimenez, as his first agent, booked Guerrero Jr. and his brother Abraham Guerrero to take part as extras for a movie.

However, due to his brother’s lack of dedication to acting and showing up hours late to the set two days in a row, Jimenez had to let them go. “Manny came to me and was like I’m sorry Joe, butJoe Guerrero Jr. poses with fiance Marie Billones after the I gotta tell you guys to go home. Obviously your brother doesn’t birth of their son Rizer Guerrero in 2015 at the hospital.

Photo donated by: Joe Guerrero Jr. care and that makes me look bad. So I was like ya man, it’s cool, I understand.” Guerrero Jr. decided at that moment that maybe this field was not for him and chose to take a break from acting to focus solely on working regular jobs.

In 2008, Guerrero Jr. decided to enlist in the Army. He went as far as retaining high scores on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test (ASVAB), which measures a person’s aptitude in a broad range of careers, while also working on his getting his General Education Diploma (GED). However, while going to the Military Processing Center (MEPS), he learned that he would soon be the father of his first son, Davian M. Guerrero, with a woman he was no longer in a relationship with.

At first he only considered this a minor setback, in which he would only postpone joining the military so that he can be 37 | LOGOS | FALL 2019

PROFILE Marie Balliones poses for photo with sons Davian M. Guerrero and Makati J. Guerrero. Billones is currently pregnant with third son, Rizer J.Guerrero.

Photo donted by: Joe Guerrero Jr.

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PROFILE Joe Guerrero Jr. poses for photo on August 29, 2019 in Montclair, California.

Photo By: Stephine Hanno

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PROFILE Guerrero poses with his three sons, Davian, Makati and Rizer.

Photo donted by: Joe Guerrero Jr.

Prior to his work on Southland, he had only done background work as an extra. He and the other actors would sit in a room for long hours waiting to get called. His experience as a co-star was something totally new for him. With this experience, he had his own trailer to relax in, people treated him more kindly and there were shorter hours. This change encouraged Guerrero Jr. to further pursue work in movies and television shows. Guerrero Jr. and his twin brother Abraham Guerrero booked their first lead roles in a movie called “Cruisin” that was directed by John F.U. and shot in Bakersfield, CA.

Throughout the next few years, Guerrero Jr. worked himself up in the movie industry and decided to become a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) member, a union for actors. Having a SAG card made him feel like a legitimate actor and made him want to push himself further.

In 2015, Guerrero Jr.’s third son, Rizer Guerrero, was born. Knowing that being casted can be hit and miss at times, Guerrero Jr. continued to work jobs outside of acting such as being a security guard, loss prevention, mental health worker, and even a contractor for Edison.

Around this time, Guerrero Jr. was also flying back and forth to San Antonio, Texas, for a play he had gotten booked for called “The Rosary” written and directed by Gregory Anderson.

Being a part of this play enabled him to be a better actor and to sharpen his craft. However, while having to choose between the actor’s life and having a steady job, he chose his passion for acting and eventually got let go from his current job.

One evening while driving home, he was left feeling as if he had been working hard throughout the years, while having

nothing to show for it. So he decided to listen to a motivational speech by Mateusz M called Unbroken, through his bluetooth. This speech impacted him so greatly that he was on the brink of tears and inspired him to once again make a change in his life.

The next day, Guerrero Jr. contacted his younger brother Michael Guerrero, asking him to assist him in the registration process to go back to school. This was a very important milestone for Guerrero Jr. and getting the approval of his brother, who was a returning Veteran after serving eight years in the United States Army as a frontline combat medic, made it all that much more special. “My brother is a very hard man to impress and that day, he told me, I’m very proud of you Joe.”

Although he had his brother’s support along the way, this was still an intimidating road for Guerrero Jr. to take.

This is partially due to him frequently comparing himself to students going into college straight from high school. “I saw the counselor, and next thing you know I had two classes,” said Guerrero Jr, “being older and out of school for so long, I kept thinking these kids are going to look at me like: man this guy is stupid.”

However, after sometime in his classes he began to notice that was not the case. “I’ve noticed that life experience will always be your greatest teacher.” Because of his experience he found it easier for him to handle the pressures of tests and homework and that he was seemingly more happy to be in class.

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PROFILE

“I first met Joe while in Photo 101. He was not in my class, as he was recommended by another teacher to ask for my advice.” says Dana Attebery, photography professor, “He later took my class. He’s very effervescent, very much alive. At first he doesn’t look like the most approachable, like he’d probably even tell you, but then he lights up like a little kid in a candy store because he’s excited to learn. He talks to everyone around him and really cares about everyone around him.

He’s always willing to experiment and try new things and is not afraid to ask questions.”

Guerrero Jr. is currently in the process of taking the last of his general education classes and multiple photography classes.

In 2018, he was once again taken aback by the suicide of his close friend Carlos Lopez Jr (Los), who was suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Lopez Jr. was an important part of Guerrero Jr.’s life, serving as a mentor, friend and additional brother. After completing five years of active duty- three of which where in active combat zone as infantry in the Army, he did not return home the same and fought the battle against PTSD for a number of years. “I think anyone that serves never really comes back the same because they have to see and do things a normal civilian wouldn’t have to… a lot of people don’t understand PTSD.” said Guerrero Jr. “That’s why I’m really big when it comes down to this country and our veterans...I really respect our soldiers.”

It was partially due to this tragedy and the number of previous traumas that inspired Guerrero Jr. to complete a photo essay with the images representing each one. This was a form of coping and healing for him as he had to continue forward through the sadness of his loss. “I want people to believe in themselves and know that no matter what we go through in life, it’s up to us to make that change.

The odds were against me since the day I was born and even though I may look like the bad guy, I’m not” said Guerrero Jr.

His goal in the future is to open up his own photography business in which focuses on head shots in hopes of opening up his availability to pursue his acting career while still maintaining a sustainable income to support his family.

“Leaving something behind for my sons that can teach them that hard work is earned and not given will probably be one of my biggest accomplishments in life. What I project for my sons and future generations to come is very important to me.” Now a little over two years in college, he will be graduating this coming year in 2020 with his Associates of Science and a certificate in photography. L

Photos dontated By: Joe Guerrero Jr.

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Joe Guerrero Jr. poses for photo on August 29, 2019 in Montclair, California.

Photo By: Stephine Hanno

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profile

BOUND TEXT BY: LISA OGANESYAN PHOTOS BY: JACQUELIN TORRES

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profile

Photo illustration of a person’s wrists bound on November 17 in Whittier,California. Rope is just one option used when taking part in bondage.

If we all look inside, we are bound by something, whether it be an addiction, obligations, or merry-go-round relationships. We feel our internal bondage day in and day out, sometimes thinking there is no escape except for anxiety, depression, a mental breakdown, substance abuse or even self-harm.

Drey Rincon, a San Gabriel Valley-based artist, gives his models a safe way to express their internal conflicts. Ricon is a photographer who shoots in both black and white as well as soft deep colors, all in various poses and angles.

Rincon’s art has to do with BDSM, which stands for bondage and discipline, dominance (Dom) and submission (Sub), sadism and masochism. The complexity of the knots and the intricate designs demonstrated in the ropes show this is no ordinary “I’m going to tie you up” kind of thing. Each session tells a story for the artist as well as his subject: What are they thinking? What are they feeling?

What drove the desire to be bound?

In early fall semester of 2019, around the Citrus College campus there were flyers posted with a sketched drawing of a woman tied up in rope and a simple 49and8 underneath (49and8 stands for 4948, the address where Rincon used to live and where he started practicing bondage). Rincon goes to many college campuses to put up flyers in order to get more models. With this, he is able to gain models from all backgrounds, shapes, sizes, and ages.

He believes every woman is a goddess and they should be treated as such.

If one looks up 49and8 on Instagram, the searcher will be taken to a private account with a prompt saying “request to follow.”

Rincon will send a message with a welcome to his account. If there is no response, the person will be blocked. The privacy of the people that follow and pose for him is of the utmost importance and he feels women should be able to comment or “like” his photos without fear of being harassed by a man.

“This might sound like too much, but I don’t see a difference between a sexual assault and a verbal assault becuase that is just one action away from being a rapist,” said Rincon.

In the past there were times when a woman would “like” or comment on a post and they would get a private message or an unwanted photo messaged to them from a man. For this reason only women are allowed to follow Rincon’s account. He goes through his account from time to time and deletes people that have not been active.

Rincon is a down-to-earth, straightforward person. A former plumber, Rincon is a small business owner that took over the family delivery business when his father fell ill and died. He travels around the San Fernando Valley delivering produce, meat, and other foods to independently owned family restaurants.

Rincon, who was extremely close to his father, honored his memory by becoming the man of the house and is helping his brother raise his three nieces, which are his pride and joy. Rincon was raised in the City of Paramount as a devout Catholic and to this day still attends church. He currently resides in Whitter, California, where he has a garage converted into a studio. This is where he hosts his models and allows them to act out their mental pains or desires through physical means.

Rincon’s curiosity of bondage came about at a young age when he would play “cops and robbers” with the neighborhood children. He would tie the girls’ hands in front of them and make them wait to get out of jail. “The way I tied them up when I was young, I still tie the same way to this day. That’s how naturally it came to me.

It wasn’t sexual. When I hit puberty, I stopped because I figured it was wrong to treat girls like that and I should respect them,” FALL 2019 | LOGOS | 44

profile Bondage equipment displayed on November 17 in Whittier,California.

There are a variety of things used in this field such as rope, leather cuffs and paddles.

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profile

When I hit puberty, I stopped because I figured it was wrong to treat girls like that and I should respect them,” Rincon said of his early years.

As he got older, he continued his exploration of bondage, but it wasn’t until high school where he felt more confident with his abilities. While spending time with his high school sweetheart, Rincon asked permission to try something. He allowed her to tie him up, which he did not enjoy. He then tied her hands in front of her and it reminded him of when Daphne would get nabbed in the Scooby Doo cartoons. “Then and there I knew I wanted to be a Dom,” said Rincon of his first bondage experience.

His girlfriends were well aware of the fact he was a Dom and were always very supportive. He felt that sharing his art with the girls he dated made the relationships better. “Some guys give their girls flowers, I give mine a sub,” Rincon says of encounters he would share with his girlfriends.

Rincon’s family members say they are not bothered by what he does, nor do they talk about it. Rincon maintains strong relationships with his female friends, but not so much with the males. Male friends would often make sexual comments, which given Rincon’s great respect for women, left him bothered.

Rincon battles with depression and occasional self-hate. He is an advocate for mental health and has based the philosophy of his business around a quote that he follows by the late Robin Williams: “I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy.

Because they know what it’s like to feel absolutely worthless and they don’t want anybody else to feel like that.” He believes that his bondage sessions help women that have experienced trauma in their life and if he is able to do something to make someone feel good about themselves he will.

Family is also very important to Rincon, and it takes priority over any other matter. He is working very hard to make sure that he helps to raise his nieces to be strong, independent women. Rincon has been faced with a lot of hurt women through his art. “For me as a Dom and someone that loves bondage, I am very thankful to parents that make their kids feel that they are not good enough,’’ said Rincon when talking about what makes a perfect submissive model.

Women will attend a session already feeling that they are not good enough and have to serve because that is what had been taught to them growing up. “Women will come over here and they have that mentality where they say I have to serve you, I have to please you, I have make you proud. Other forms of the self hate is they feel as if they are nothing or feel as if they need to be punished,” says Rincon. “This is the physical form of those thoughts.”

Women that often attend sessions with Rincon feel a sense of release when the session is complete. At times they will start a session feeling immensely bad about themselves. They get to act out their feelings by participating in bondage. Every session allows them to act out some of the pain they feel from others.

“That’s what I like because it does make people feel good,” Rincon says of his bondage sessions. “It’s empowering and makes people stronger. I’m kind of like an unlicensed, unofficial therapist.” Some of his models are there to act out a fantasy, yet so many use

bondage as a release from mental and emotional anguish.

Just as with any activity that does not follow a social norm, there are many stigmas that loom over bondage. Some believe it is a master and slave kind of relationship, and it is surrounded by sexual activities. Others believe that people that practice bondage are pedophiles or perverts. Rincon has been called names by some people on the internet, but it doesn’t seem to bother him. He says enjoys what he does and feels he is able to help people.

Bondage is not just about sex, domination or submission. It’s about self empowerment, taking control by losing control, and being able to act out mental health issues in a safe environment. Just as it said that hugs can heal, the same can be said of bondage. Humans need to be touched in order to thrive, but not all touch is the same.

Research has shown that BDSM is not a form of mental illness, but can be a useful form of therapy for those that have been through trauma or may want to reduce self harm.

A session consists of getting tied up, spanked, and dabbling in other requested BDSM activities. A photo shoot consists of simply getting tied up and having photos taken. Rincon also offers a BDSM 101 lesson where he teaches the names of activities, safety, positions, and answers questions.

To prepare for a session or a photo shoot, models should wear comfortable clothes. Rincon provides his models with the outfits, which they are able to keep.

Each outfit consists of a white A-line tank top, knee high socks and boy shorts.

However, if there is an outfit a model wishes to wear they are more than welcome to bring it.

An open mind is definitely needed for a fun and rewarding experience. He requires participants to be sober during their session so they are completely aware of what is going on. “I don’t want someone high or drunk and I ask them if we can try something and they say yes and regret it the next day and felt taken advantage of,” said Rincon.

Sessions run three to five hours but sometimes can go up to eight hours. There is no charge for sessions because Rincon knows he is mentally and emotionally helping women.

Rincon uses ropes made out of hemp and uses equipment that he has built himself. There is a saw horse (a piece of construction equipment that is used to saw wood) in his studio that he converted into a spanking bench. He also visits thrift shops to purchase furniture and repurposes it. Ricon has old fashioned values when it comes to building equipment and believes it should be built by hand.

He has gained quite a model list and a great reputation amongst his models, so much so that women are always referring others to him. “Most men have the dream of a woman dressing the way he wants, doing what he wants, and submitting to him. I call that ‘Thursday,’” said Rincon. Bondage also serves as a great stress reliever for him, and he acknowledges he is fortunate to be able to do what he does. L FALL 2019 | LOGOS | 46

TRAVEL

ONCE UPON A TRIP TO MEXICO...

TEXT & PHOTOS BY: LIANDRA THIBODEAUX

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TRAVEL

Just four hours outside of Los Angeles and a quick trip across the Mexican border is a popular vacation spot for many southern Californians.

Delicious food, bright colors and a relatively short travel time when coming from Southern California, accompanied by low prices is all part of the allure of visiting the seaside city of Rosarito, Mexico.

When passing the border by car, the first sights are the many unfinished and run down buildings, some riddled with graffiti and surrounded by a mountain-like terrain. Yet as one continues forward and before there is a chance to realize it, you are submerged into the Mexican culture.

Be weary when driving here because the roads can be narrow and many of the rules of the road that would be applied when driving in the United States, including those applied to pedestrian safety, may not be as strict in Mexico.

The buildings are no longer run down and riddled with graffiti.

Instead, they are covered in the vibrant colors that are present in wall-towall artwork. The fronts of these buildings are often filled with equally as colorful merchandise, many of which are hand made items, the flowing crowds of people passing by and those eager to make a sale.

A group of friends and I spent the weekend in Rosarito. Luckily accommodations were not hard to get, especially since we did some research and reserved ahead of time. We were able to rent a four bedroom house along the beach for about $100 USD per person for the six of us. I have also found that there are many hotels available in the area that offer rooms for as little as $15 USD if looking for something even cheaper.

Although it is very helpful to have converted money into the Mexican currency, Pesos (MXN), due to the fact that Rosarito is such a popular tourist location, most places will accept the United States Dollar (USD).

One thing to keep in mind when going this route, is that 1USD is equivalent to 18 pesos, so if something is listed as $270 Pesos, it will be $15 USD, unless otherwise listed. Though, always make sure to check currency rates prior to traveling because this is something that often changes in Mexico.

When deciding to purchase items, outside of the larger chain stores, you are able to haggle for lower prices. Just like with many places outside of the U.S. and some places inside, the moment a person is classified as a tourist, prices for items seem to become a bit pricer than they might have been for a local, even more so when unfamiliar with the native language, in this case being the Spanish language.

A great place to shop and eat is the popular municipality Puerto Nuevo, also known as “Lobster Village.”

Because there are many people trying to sell similar merchandise, most are willing to lower their prices about 50% on some items in order to secure their customers.

I bought three bracelets and a necklace for about $15 USD when I would have spent at least $40 USD had I purchased them in the United States. Each of the items were beautifully handmade.

The necklace I purchased was my favorite of the four things I bought. It is an amethyst stone dangling from a hand crafted silver encasing attached to a black hand braided cord. After my purchase, I was even directed on how to care for the necklace as well as how to “recharge” and “cleanse” its energy.

While so close to the ocean, the biggest must while visiting Rosarito is to try the seafood dishes. I was able to enjoy some of the freshest seafood I’ve ever had for such low prices.

Many restaurants offer deals on food and drinks in order to really stand out from their competitors.

One of the restaurants I visited while on my trip offered free drinks with the purchase of a meal meal. Here I had a lobster

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entree. The lobster tasted so fresh I would not have been surprised if it were pulled directly out of the ocean just before it was served.

The rice was fluffy and had hints of garlic and butter. Finally the leaves of lettuce in the salad were crisp and not wilted as were the rest of the vegetables. I was blown away at how wonderful it tasted.

Another restaurant I visited was a sushi pub and had a crab hand roll and an amazing natural, fresh lemonade. Admittedly, the lemonade was a bit sour at first, but the sparkling mineral water and honey used as a sweetener when making the lemonade, helped even it out, turning it into a refreshing and slightly carbonated drink.

My biggest recommendation would definitely be the lobster anything and the fish or shrimp ceviche. I would like to say I was able to photograph the delicious food I had during my trip, however, as soon as it was in front of me, it was gone.

One of the biggest attractions for vacationing college students is the nightlife.

Just like many restaurants and little shops offer amazing deals, the nightlife is no different.

I was able to purchase a wrist band for about $30 USD which allowed me to travel between three different night clubs, each of which offered an open bar for those with the wrist band. Drink responsibly though, because alcohol poisoning is a very possible thing when the alcoholic drinks seem endless, not to mention that the legal drinking age is 18 years old. Traveling in a group would also add an extra amount of safety. Think the more the merrier.

Each club played a variety of music, from 80s club music to 90s, hip-hop and Rhythm and Blues to today’s hits to bachata and reggaeton. They played enough variety to fit just about anyone’s musical interests.

The best out of the clubs I visited during my trip would probably be Bombay. This club had three areas to dance, providing lots of space even for the most scattered dancers and an ocean view. While taking a break between dancing, I was able to step away and look out towards the ocean from a balcony. I was also able to look up at the sky to see and endless amount of stars.

This is not something I’m able to do often while in my home city, so even without the endless drinks and spacious dancefloors, the view definitely made it worth the visit.

Once my groups dance needs were met, we could not help but to end our night at one of the many taco spots in the area.

Who goes to Mexico and does not eat tacos at least once?(Especially after a night of dancing and drinking).

Luckily we left the club area in just enough time to pick a place prior to it filling with the crowds of people that followed soon after. Here we ordered a number of asada and pastor tacos. They were just the right amount of savory, salty, spicy and sour (from the hint of lime you’re able to add if you so choose).

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Knowing we would be out late, the group had decided to take a taxi to the area and once done with our evening hired one of the readily available taxis parked outside the taco restaurant, patiently awaiting customers. The ride to and from cost us a total of $20 USD.

On the last morning there, I was able to wake up in time to catch the sunrise. The sky steadily went from shades of blue and grey to a warm golden color then to a more vibrant shade of blue to match to clear blue ocean.

My group and I packed up and headed to the line to return across the border.

Normally this is where the story would end however, it is an entire experience returning over the border. This is partially due to the large amount of vendors selling food and merchandise to those waiting in their cars. It can take anywhere from an hour to five plus hours to get through the massive line of cars, so people are bound to get bored and hungry.

Although you are not able to bring back fresh produce nor uncooked meat into the United States, the same can not be said for cooked meals and snacks.

So, you will be able to enjoy the “to your car service” of the vendors, some of which are young children.

Here you will come across those that are selling tacos and variety of snacks and drinks. There is also a row of shops along the line selling art, blankets, clothes and pottery. Be wary about how visible your money is though because you may become the target of the more persistent vendors (discretion is key).

Once you get to the front of the line, you will be asked by the border patrol if you have anything to announce (as in if you have anything that may not be allowed over), as well as for your passport. Luckily, if you do not have a passport, they will also accept two forms of identification (ID) such as a birth certificate and your state ID. As of 2020, everyone in the United States will be required to have a Real ID in order to travel, so that’s also something to be aware of.

Fair warning though, there is a possibility for a thorough car check from the patrol. This may seem a bit intimidating, but if you do not have anything illegal, the check will be quick and you will be able to be back on your way.

It’s similar to those extended checks that everyone hates to go through while going through security at the airport.

The experience you get from travelling to and from Rosarito is a beautiful, culturally rich and absolutely worth the trip. L

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