andres orejuela
I was born in Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City, where I learned to eat bagels and lox. My father, however, lived in Cali, Colombia, where I travelled to often throughout my childhood and teenage years, and learned to eat octopus and lulo. Upon completing my BA, I travelled for three years throughout Spain, Italy, Portugal, England, France, and Morocco, where I learned to eat with my hands and fell ill after learning to eat couscous. In College, I participated in the performing arts as a technical assistant, actor, producer, sound technician, director, editor, and photographer. Currently, I’m preparing a dissertation on novels in Spanish, French, and English. In this photo, I’m having a coffee at the Hotel Saratoga in Havana after a conference presentation.
I love autumn in New York, the time between the intensity of summer travels, visitors, outdoor life, and winter’s reflective slow down. I love the turning of colors, a surprise of almost-summery sun, moody mornings when the day is rainy. My field of expertise is literature of immigration and exile. I also write about theater and translate poetry.
My home of origin is Warsaw, but I have two other cities where I lived for a long time and know well: Rio de Janeiro and New York. Each one of these cities has its own, very strong personality, & I feel lucky that I can consider three such different places as my “home.” I hope I’ll be able to share some of my enthusiasm for New York with you.
These black beauties on the photo are Penelope and Leo, brother and sister, Colombians by birth, but now New Yorkers too.
