Communicating Culture: TOURISM & MEDIA in PUERTO RICO: local

Continue the Journey

Studying abroad was something I had always wanted to do. While this trip taught me how to travel efficiently, how to travel write, and how to quickly adapt to different situations, I would highly recommend it to anyone considering taking the trip. I have never learned so much in such a short amount of time. From monuments, to local art galleries, to a serene forest oasis, it was a trip of a lifetime. I will take the skills that I learned about travel writing and apply them to my future endeavors.

My favorite part of the entire trip was touring the Puerto Rican capital. We did this on the first day, and it was incredible. The entire building was made of marble and it was beautiful. I also enjoyed visiting the Castillo San Cristobal, you could see the island for miles and it was breathtaking. Anyone who has travelled knows that things can go wrong at times and you need to be able to go with the flow and adapt to new plans. When this happened to us, we took the extra time to explore more of San Juan, and ate a delicious lunch while sightseeing in the city.

In the future, I would plan a trip with a similar itinerary as this one had. Making sure that I get to see main tourist attractions, while adding in some local attractions as well. Becoming acclimated with the non-tourism part of any destination is key to getting the full experience when traveling.

The Puerto Rican Capital

The view from the Castillo San Cristobal

A rope swing in the El Yunque Rainforest

Check these out:

http://travel.usnews.com/Puerto_Rico/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g147319-Activities-c47-t26-Puerto_Rico.html

http://www.trippy.com/question/Puerto-Rico-Non-touristy-things-to-do-in-Puerto-Rico

Contact Information:

Email: sdeshurley@ou.edu

Phone: 281-222-7329

Facebook: @sarahdeshurley

Twitter: @skdeshurley

Instagram: @so_desh_so_clean

Flavortown: Puerto Rico

Food is the way to the soul, at least for me. Since Puerto Rico was an unfamiliar place to me, I was most looking forward to trying the local foods. Each day, we had the opportunity to try something new, explore on our own, and decide what local dish we would try. From the mofongo to the pizza there, everything was different. Every food had a Puerto Rican spin on it and it was fun to try them. My favorite dish that we ate was the Puerto Rican BBQ. We tried a small town, BBQ joint that our tour guide recommended, and it was phenomenal. The portions were hefty, the food was packed full of flavor, and the atmosphere was an open-air type restaurant.

We had the chance to shop in a local grocery store, which offered items we were used to seeing in the states, as well as native goods that were only sold locally. I purchased some Puerto Rican candy and coffee to take home to my family.

One of the best opportunities that we had while studying abroad was teaming up with my classmates and preparing a Puerto Rican dish ourselves. We made arroz con gandules and although we might not have cooked it as well as a local might have, we enjoyed the experience and the flavors.

Puerto Rico did not disappoint my taste buds, and I would love to go back with friends to show them the unique cuisine.

Puerto Rican BBQ

Large avocados at a local Puerto Rican grocery store

My cooking team after making Arroz con Gandules

Check these out:

http://welcome.topuertorico.org/culture/foodrink.shtml

http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/luquillo-kiosks/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g147320-San_Juan_Puerto_Rico.html

Contact Information:

Email: sdeshurley@ou.edu

Phone: 281-222-7329

Facebook: @sarahdeshurley

Twitter: @skdeshurley

Instagram: @so_desh_so_clean

Food is Family

By: Andee Gentry

Every new place you visit offers a new lifestyle and culture. The way people live, communicate and eat is different. While being in Puerto Rico, I was exposed to many different delicious foods that I had not tried or heard of upon arrival.

Puerto Rico is known for many distinct food and beverages that I was excited to try. The Puerto Rican culture adds a unique flare to every aspect. I was able to taste some amazing foods such as the mofongo, plantains, and arroz con gandules. By tasting and seeing all the different foods, I was able to better relate and experience the culture.

Many of the local foods were some of the yummiest foods I have ever tasted in my life. I was able to go to go to the local grocery store and purchase plantains to take home from Puerto Rico. We were able to visit the Kioskos in Puerto Rico, which is a place that has over forty restaurants in a row. I was able to pick and choose many different local food items at a reasonable price.

Since we were by the ocean and surrounded by vegetation, the seafood and fruit was fresh and excellent. The pineapple and other fruits were very juicy and the fish was savory and delicious. By tasting the food and talking with the locals, I was really able to submerge myself into the Puerto Rican lifestyle. Many workers that I talked to at the restaurants were all sons, daughters, or grandchildren of the owners.

Food is family and is a big aspect of everyone coming together. I think by tasting many different foods, you are really able to understand and appreciate a lifestyle and a community.