Detaching from reality

By: Pam Ortega 

I sat down on the shoreline, warm water rushed and hit my thighs, my hands played with the sand, and I looked out, not thinking about what awaited back home. It’s no surprise that Puerto Rico is called the island of enchantment. From their high mountains, to their colorful bio bays to their clean beaches, Puerto Rico has something to offer everyone.

Nature is an essential part of Puerto Rican culture. The island is in a tropical state, thus vegetation and fishing is key. Puerto Ricans have always closely identified themselves with nature, especially at night when the coqui sing a lullaby.

Among one of the wonders of Puerto Rico is El Yunque. (http://www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque) The forest is the only tropical rainforest in the US Forestry Service and one of the most diverse sub- tropical mountainous forests in the Caribbean. It’s no surprise visitors are amazed by it. Aziz and Sarah Alamajil , a newlywed couple visiting from Saudi Arabia (http://www.wunderground.com/weather-forecast/Saudi%20Arabia.html) , were amazed by the size of the trees, waterfalls and snails. El Yunque served as an escape for them from “ 122 to 130 degree weather.”

Puerto Rico (http://www.puertorico.com) allowed me to detach myself from the world and enjoy the wonders it has to offer. In Oklahoma, we can not walk to the store or run by the beach. I had the opportunity to engage with nature, in a way I had never done before. I trekked up the El Yunque trail, which other than giving me a good workout gave me a learning experience. For a person who easily freaks out over ants, I did not mind being around green-eared snails (http://lntreasures.com/pr.html)  and coquis.(http://www.elboricua.com/coqui.html)  I gracefully ran by the ocean shoreline, continually thinking about life. I was able to sit down, by the ocean, and just stare out. Puerto Rico gave me a break from reality, from running errands, to meetings and assignments. It gave me the opportunity to finally live.

http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/top-10-natural-wonders/

http://www.naturalwonderspr.com

http://www.seepuertorico.com/en/experiences/nature/

http://gopuertorico.about.com/od/top5attractions/tp/7wondersofpuertorico.htm

http://www.puertorico.com/reserves/

Que pase lo que pase, yo sera Puerto Riquena!

By Paola Lopez

I feel as if I have fallen in love again, but this time with my mother country! I feel as if I have started a long distant relationship where it begins passionate, remains committed, and yet it’s not enough to just be labeled as in a relationship—I need that physical presence. I cannot remember when there was a time that I did not know that I was Puerto Rico, but I do know that it is not until recently when I realized that everything that has kept me connected and rooted in Puerto Rico is unfortunately succumbing to age and will eventually leave me without a cultural and spiritual connection to where I am from. It is up to me to discover the history, flavor, and spice of Puerto Rico. I cannot help but become emotional when it comes to writing about mi patria. I cannot explain the emotions that well up in my throat like an immovable lifesaver. It’s the fifteen years of summers spent listening to the coqui, waking up to walk across a gravel path to abuelita’s for breakfast, and always having afternoon serenade of dominoes sliding across a tabletop. I could not ask for a better memory of where I am from and how I became who I am today. The simple and culturally rich environment of Puerto Rico has become a very important facet in my life!

Contrary to what my other classmates would believe, the classroom material was also new to me. Up until now, I did not know the political affiliations and intentions on the island, the towns and various knowledge bowl trivial, and the various historical struggles of my people. The most beautiful aspect of Puerto Rico that I experienced on the trip was the humble and beautiful hospitality of my people and how the attitude is connected to the quintessential struggle for cultural identity. The Puerto Ricans have an extensive history of being the conquered and yet they have still remained true to their identity, Boricua’s. During our various lectures on wheels, the class learned of these historical dates and timelines when countries came into Puerto Rico and began their reign of cultural cleansing; however, no matter how many attempts they always failed. The people may be a conquered people, but we will never forget who we are and why we are so.

Mi Patria, es simple, es bella, es el cielo y el mar. Es mi criansa, es mi spiritu, es mi ser y poder. I do not normally write or type in Spanish, but extreme passion and emotion have stirred within me what I can know say is what my intangible is: My mother country, it is simple, beautiful, the sky and the sea. It is my upbringing, my spirit, my being and my strength.