The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 8

September 29, 2020 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 4 Features The history of coffee: How it may have started with energetic goats An off-campus guide to Hispanic Heritage Month Coffee has been around for ages, but it has not always been your pumpkin spice toasted caramel cloud foam macchiato. Legend has it that coffee came from Ethiopia, when a shepherd’s goats ate the berries from the coffee tree and it made the goats energetic. The shepherd shared this information with an Abbot who then made the first form of coffee. Of course, this took off and everyone and their mother wanted some of that caffeinated bean juice. Trade quickly began leading to coffee farms popping up in different locations across the world, leading to different types of coffee and ways to make it. Today, there are over 38 ways to make coffee, from an Italian espresso to traditional Turkish coffee, and of course, the crowd favorite, the pumpkin spice latte. The famous Seattle born Starbucks PSL took off in the early 2000s when the company needed something new to spice up the menu. The drink is a latte with the company’s own signature syrup blend consisting of sugar, condensed skim milk and pumpkin puree, among a few other ingredients to give it color and preserve it. The name of the iconic fall drink took much trial and error to come up with. The name needed to tell customers about the flavor and the cozy fall feeling that they would get from the drink, and thus, the pumpkin spice latte was born, followed by the HispanicHeritageMonth ismeant to be a celebration of Hispanic heritage of every color, creed and country. The month is observed both in the U.S. and abroad, and the music and food of Latin America are also enjoyed. According to the National Hispanic Heritage Month website, Hispanic Heritage Month began back in 1968 as “Hispanic Heritage Week,” created by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The week was first turned into a month by President Ronald Regan in 1988. In South Florida, it may seem like we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month every month, but the exact date puts the celebration’s start on Sept. 15 and the end on Oct. 15. The start of the celebration, Sept. 15, commemorates the independence of Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. So, before you bust out the Cumbia and start preparing Cuban sandwiches, here are some ways you can celebrate this month. Visit a museum or cultural iced latte, iced coffee, Frappuccino and so on. The flavor was so beloved that other companies had to get in on the action to draw in the masses craving their fall flavor. My favorite is the Wawa pumpkin spice cold brew. Even Florida has its own history with coffee. The Native Americans in the southeast made what was called black drink from the wild coffee that grew in the south from Texas up through the Carolinas. This coffee has a bland and musky aftertaste. It was used for ceremonies and had hallucinogenic and addictive properties. While volunteering at Emerson Point Preserve in Palmetto, FL, I learned that the local natives gave black drink to the European settlers and they became addicted to it, and when they did not have it, they violently lashed out. The fruit used to make black drink was widely traded. Residue of it has been found in shells far outside where the bush grew naturally. You can find a similar non-addictive version of this drink called yaupon tea. Much like the drink, the history of coffee is bold and rich. Today, coffee is a staple in many households, but it used to be only available to the few who could afford it. Next time you buy your favorite roast, try a new flavor of creamer or style of coffee. Who knows? Maybe you’ll like a cafecito more than your americano. center There is a lot of Hispanic history in South Florida -- the only problem is finding someone who actually wrote it all down. Thankfully, there are plenty of places that respect the achievements and art made byHispanics. If you ever find yourself at the end of the world, Key West is home to the San Carlos Institute, a beautiful museum of the Cuban independence movement. The history is intriguing; however, the long and grueling battle by the people who kept the museum alive through hurricanes, private companies and the state makes it even better. If you don’t want to drive four hours, in Miami, you can visit such sites as the Freedom Tower inDowntown, or the Bay of PigsMuseum in Little Havana. The FreedomTower isMiami’s own Ellis Island, being the site of the first major wave of Cuban immigrants into the city. The history is all documented, showing a relatable side of trying to reach the American dream. The Bay of Pigs Museum is mostly for the history buffs and those that can speak a little Spanish, since it is still run by actual veterans of the invasion. It serves as a solemn By: Chloe Rousseau Contributing Writer By: Rey Perez Contributing Writer Avoiding procrastination in an online world In a world of online schooling, distractions are only a reach away. A quick check on your phone can become a two-hour Tik-Tok break. You end up leaving everything for the last minute and are stuck scrambling to finish it all before the due date. So, how do we combat this? How do we fight this urge to drop all of our work and pick up our phones? The most obvious way to stop procrastinating is to get rid of any distractions. Themaindistractions areour phones, computers or any other methods of communication. It has become considerably harder to avoid these devices now that everything has moved online, but there are still ways to avoid procrastination. The NSU Tutoring and Testing Center offers a plethora of tips and tricks for avoiding procrastination. “Try to keep a similar routine to how you would before the pandemic. Try to change from your pajamas to a daytime outfit and get somewhat ready to change your attitude from sleeping and relaxing to work and productivity,” said Emily Garcia, the assistant director of Testing and Academic Success. Getting out of bed and preparing for the day ahead gives your body a sense of motivation to complete any tasks you need to do. Staying in bed all day compels your body to sleep and relax and you do not feel motivation whatsoever. Garcia also explained the importance of maintaining a balance -- having a blend of working and relaxation is key to both avoiding procrastinating on your work and keeping from becoming overwhelmed or stressed. “You need a good balance between me time and work time. You can do this by drinking your favorite cup of tea while you study, going on a walk while you listen to a lecture or getting comfy on the couchwhile you read,” saidGarcia. Major companies, such as Apple and Google, have created ways for students to avoid distractions this school year. They have created apps such as Forest that help you focus on your schoolwork. The app, which is available for $1.99 in the Apple Store, Google Play Store and free as a Chrome Extension, creates a distraction-free study environment with a reward at the end of your study session When you’re ready to study, plant a seed on the Forest app, and every 30 minutes of studying, the plant grows. However, when you go off topic and use something from the backlist, which are apps or websites you add as distractions (such as Instagram, YouTube or Snapchat), your plant dies. Keep focused and studying and your plant will grow into a beautiful tree. Over time, your trees will become a lush forest filled with your hard work. Remember Sharks, if you are ever feeling overwhelmed with work, you are not alone. Do not procrastinate and push things away, do your best, and if you do need help, ask for it. The Tutoring and Testing Center, Henderson Student Counseling Services and Brief Therapy Institute are only a call away. We can do this! PRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY C. ROUSSEAU A sip of coffee with a chocolate crossaint on the side reminder, more than anything, of the government’s blunders with foreign policy in the past. For those who enjoy looking through art galleries, the Miami Hispanic CulturalArts Center is another great place to see shows or appreciate art from around the world. Get some Hispanic food Besides history, South Florida has a wide variety of Hispanic food. A quick 30 minute drive to Miami transports you to the culinary embassy of Latin America in the U.S. Every dish you can imagine you can find in the city. Arepas, picadillo, ceviche and tacos are all readily available and expertly prepared for you on almost every corner, no matter where you stop in Miami proper. Some great places in Miami to find Hispanic food are Caribe Restaurant, which serves Cuban food, Dr. Limón, which serves Peruvian food and ceviche and La Ventana for all your Colombian needs. If you don’t want to brave I-95 or the turnpike to get toMiami, todo bien! Local culinary options include La Carreta and Sergio’s for Cuban food, Bocas for Venezuelan food and Los Tacos for Mexican food. Just one entreé from any of these places is enough to treat the taste buds and fill the stomach. Spend it with others So, you went to a museum, you bought all this food, but it still does not feel like a genuine Hispanic Heritage Month? All that’s missing is some friends and family. Hispanic culture is best enjoyed with company. After all, the one unifying factor all Hispanics can share, besides a language, is that feeling of togetherness with our family, friends and our communities. Even if your family is miles or borders away, you can still celebrate with them over Zoom and other platforms. The same goes if you cannot reunite everyone due to COVID-19 restrictions. Hispanics may not agree on everything, but there is nothing more unifying than a buffet table and some salsa playing on a radio -- Just stay away from your Tía’s cooking and watch out for any flying chancletas. By: Veronica Richard Contributing Writer