It was a strange time for me. I was full of insecurities and definitely not least aware of which path I wanted my life to take. It's amazing that under these circumstances I would give music a chance.

I was 19, it was 1988 and I studied French at L'Alliance Francaise in Santo Domingo. French and German were obsessions from early childhood and dreams of travels through Europe filled my days and fueled my daydreams. My readings tended to bear this obsession specially my love for spy novels, novels dealing with the Third Reich, etc.

When I went to Paris in the summer of 1988, I didn't know anyone there except for this kid with whom I'd had a brief conversation one of the days when the people that were going on the trip met up at the school. Little did I know that he would wind up being so influential in my life.

The day of the big trip came and the first mistake I made which I would never make again, and if I had the chance I wouldn't let happen: I did not travel light. That was very important. I was tied down and many of the decisions I made on this trip had to do with that. I took too many books and too many clothes which I didn't use for the most part. In those days I was really preoccupied with notions of money of which I had none, nor did I look like I did. But I wanted to fit in because for some reason I had convinced myself that just being yourself was not enough.

We get to Paris. We are taken to Boulevard Raspail. My room was in a corner on the seventh floor and I could see Montmartre from there. I was alone in the room. There was one toilet and shower per floor, at least on my floor.

Emil Vega was on a discovery trip himself. He needed to do some serious soul searching and determine his own path. These trips far from home in unfamiliar surroundings tend to bring out the best and worst in people and in a heightened way for all, our instinct to survive, to communicate, to mate come alive. We were three guys and about 30 girls on this trip. It has been 13 years since that trip and the only person I'm in contact with albeit infrequently, is Emil.

When I got to know Emil, he opened my eyes to many things even though he is 2 years my junior, I found in him a maturity and security which I lacked. It didn't matter to me that he had his own problems and insecurities, I saw in him the confidence and attitude to face things that I wanted to have. I wanted to be aggressive, I wanted to not be afraid to try things, I wanted to communicate and reach out.

It took me a couple of days before I could really talk to people and even then I had trouble. Our love of music was what first brought us together. Pink Floyd. acoustic guitars, wine.

Sleep was a big deal for me. I slept a lot on this trip. Paris didn't impress me much right off the bat. It felt like NY but only cleaner. I never got adjusted to the time change nor did I make the effort. I enjoyed the night and I needed to convince myself that I could reach out. I met a lot of people who were not a part of the group, students from Louisiana, Germans, and of course a couple of Dominicans. And people of course create experience, but Paris was something which I thought would be a frequent thing in my life, a yearly trip or perhaps a residence there, but the events which shaped me there also led to my not going back for 12 years. I still hold on to the dream of living there one day but perhaps it is a futile dream for I don't need that anymore in my life. I want it though, just to know that I could get it.

Music grew within me at this time. I put music to my own lyrics and created an actual song stemming from my fear of being there. "Memories in my mind", a thinly veiled Pink Floyd rip-off was my first attempt at composition. I liked it, perhaps because it resembled "Mother" so much. But I did like it and It came from deep inside.

I had made music before when I had been in a band in NY and had written snippets, but I was a rock guitarist in the metal vein and basically didn't know how to accompany myself too well with a guitar. Plus I hated - Hate! - my voice. It's funny looking back because that spark, that momentary lapse of reason ( Pink Floyd album of the time) shaped my future for good.

And I really have Emil and Claudia ( his girlfriend at that time whom he met on that trip and was as sharp and witty in my eyes) for opening my mind to them, for making me believe in myself. For giving me the strength to try. It only takes a couple of people in your life to make you believe.