December 20, 2023
Bachata Tunes, Summer Beaches, But Most of All, Family
By John Myers
A Profile on Nicole Santiago
By Sheema Zaira
Where do we go when we die? From wise philosophers to people approaching their 80s, everyone ponders this question sometime in their life, but none as deeply as Nicole Santiago. As she squints her eyes and gives me a deep “hmmm,” Nicole bets the afterlife involves some mixture of incarceration or the transformation of humans into spirits.
Born and raised Catholic, Nicole’s religious beliefs have been influenced by her family. As she grew up watching her mother pray to the saints, Nicole made her own daily prayers as well. Her family has not only shaped her identity, but have made sure she is proud of it, too. According to her older brother, Joshua, their family makes sure to keep their Dominican Republic culture embedded in their daily lives by, “eating primarily Hispanic food, such as rice and beans, including a popular dish called ‘Platano con Salami.’” As they pass plates to another and laugh about their day, they’re reminded of their top priority — one another.
Nicole often reminisces about traveling to her home in the countryside of Salcedo, Dominican Republic. In the summer before 6th grade, she took an unforgettable trip there. On their road trips, she remembers her family chaotically boarding buses in heaps of twenty members, dancing along to traditional bachata and merengue music. Weeks passed by as they drove along rivers, laid on sunny beaches, and stayed at comfy resorts near magnificent waterfalls. She inhaled the fresh sweetness from the bananas and avocados grown in their backyard while sweat dripped from the shirt clinging to her back.
As she visited the Campos, her father’s childhood home in the mountains, she remembers the first time she saw a flamingo “just roaming around with an angry Chihuahua tagging along.” Her mother and she would visit Nicole’s grandmother and go to hair salons, taking a peaceful break from the eventful day. They topped it off with street food that was equally greasy and delicious like tostones and chicharrones.
But the most memorable part of the trip was Nicole’s family. “My community was carefree and living in the moment,” Nicole says, “There was always crazy stuff happening!”
Her family is further connected by her adorable Bombay cat, Blue, named after her icy blue eyes, which has now faded to a striking yellow. Years ago, her family drove three hours to Pennsylvania to adopt the cat, and she has been an integral part of their family ever since. Blue has even taken the official mascot title for our fellowship:
Nicole loves the Dominican Republic for its variety of music genres. Nicole’s music palate is influenced by American, Haitian, Mexican, as well as Jamaican music. Currently, she’s listening to Beyonce’s throwbacks since “it fills me up with tons of energy.”
Nicole believes that, “we are all here to do what we are meant to do.” When asked what she believes she is meant to do, Nicole took a pause and told me wholeheartedly, “I think I’m here to take care of my family.”
