Importance of Language

Growing up, my parents always expressed the importance of language. Within my family alone, my father speaks Greek and Hebrew, my sister and my mother both speak Spanish. Whenever the chance came for me to take a foreign language my parents encouraged me to try it. At first I started off taking French classes, but I soon realized that it was not for me and switched to the American favorite, Spanish. Never truly mastering the language of Spanish, I still feel a strong connection to the culture.

            Keeping my background in mind, my encounters with the Puerto Rican language were impactful. Puerto Ricans take their language very seriously, which can be understood through the way they speak it. Puerto Ricans have even came up with a term called, Spanglish, where they mix both Spanish and English words into their language. Spanglish has given Puerto Ricans a sense of pride and ownership of their language as a whole. An important thing that I soon realized that is that Puerto Ricans do not speak in English unless they have to, which goes back to the fact that they are proud of the evolution of their language.

            After my trip to Puerto Rico, back home, it soon dawned on me that language helps establish cultures and provides explanation on how a culture has evolved and deviated from a central force. No different than the rest, Puerto Rico provides more than enough support for this thought.

http://www.topuertorico.org/descrip.shtml

Beyond Language

http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Pa-Sp/Puerto-Rican-Americans.html

Back Across the Pond-by Marley Harris

Sitting at home, reminiscing of Puerto Rico, I cannot believe I was just there yesterday. As I stepped off the plane here in Oklahoma City I was quickly reminded of reality as the bitter cold hit me with a gust of wind. The beautiful island of Puerto Rico was behind me. It now all seems to be a giant blur and my wonderful memories are now a dream. As I am loading my pictures on to my computer (I only took about 500), my screen is filled with such beautiful color. Greens, blues, whites, pinks, my screen has the essence of paradise. While reminiscing threw all of my photos, I begin to realize just how vast the Puerto Rican landscape was. This tiny island that is apart of the United States, has such a unique history, culture and landscape, that I feel as though I am two worlds away from Oklahoma.

Since Puerto Rico is made of over 60% mountains and hills, there is little land that is left flat. Houses gripped on to the side of these mountains. I cannot imagine being able to live in one of those houses that is hugging on to the side of it so tight. The views are breathtaking.

It always made me laugh when I heard people on the island talk about “these winter months in Puerto Rico.” As if to call 82° F winter, and to call that cold. Since Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean and near the equator, the temperatures stay about the same throughout the year. Seasons slightly differ from one to the next. This is what helps make Puerto Rico so appealing.

*All photos were taken by and belong to Marley Harris

Check out these cool links to learn more about Puerto Rico and where we visited!

http://www.samuellind.com/

Map

El Yunque Rainforest

Spanglish

Spanglish

By: Laura Pope

As I departed the island of Puerto Rico yesterday, the San Juan airport was crowded with travelers, travelers from many different locations and dialects. People and language fill the security check areas. I heard more than only Spanish being spoken within the area surrounding me. As people talk, I feel as if I am taking a miniature tour of their culture. The passion and emotion that is expressed through language compels me. It compels me to learn Spanish and translate what people are conversing about.

Puerto Ricans use inflictions and emotion to better convey their message when speaking in Spanish. Throughout the airport I could determine the difference between an angry tones of Spanish from a fast direct tone that was not necessarily angry. I feel that the Spanish language is passionate when spoken. The relationship between Spanish spoken parents and their children is extremely touching.

Although, I do not speak Spanish, my trip to Puerto Rico has taught me a lot about the Spanglish influence throughout Puerto Rico. English is not a Puerto Ricans first language I discovered because they are not as confident in English as they are speaking Spanish. When I did speak to Puerto Ricans in English, they quickly began speaking in English. Most Puerto Ricans learn English for the first time in school because their parents only speak Spanish. I could determine from the children that I spoke to while in Puerto Rico that their English teachers are effective and changing future generations.

Vieques is Not for Sale

Vieques is Not for Sale

By Rachel Bradley

Vieques is a Puerto Rican island that lies 40 minutes off the main shore by ferry. It was first settled by the Taino Indians and later invaded by the Spanish. The Tainos gave much resistance, so they focused on building a colony on mainland Puerto Rico then in the beginning of the nineteenth century built a fort in Vieques as part of that process. This fort is known as Fortin Conde de Mirasol (photo: top center).
Vieques was home to many slaves that worked their luscious sugar cane crops, which was the main economic income. About 350 slaves lived, worked, and died on the island. Slavery was finally abolished in Puerto Rico in 1873. The French also fought for territory of the island. The fort was never involved in battle, but rather used as a prison. In 1898 Vieques was part of the United States with Puerto Rico, and by the Jones Act of 1917 all Puerto Ricans were born United States citizens.
After three-fourths of Vieques was taken over by the U.S, they began sending their navy over around the 1940s to do bomb and nuclear experimentation. It devastated the island’s breathtaking flora and fauna and caused cancer rates among the residents to skyrocket.
Today, after a long history of battle between islanders, invaders, and the United States Navy, Vieques is back on its feet trying to improve their land and keep it thriving. Much of this was done with the help of the Fortin Conde de Mirasol Museum coordinator, Robert Rabin. He came to the island from Boston at the age of 25 for three weeks of research in which he said, “three weeks turned into three decades.”
Rabin had made it a passion to keep, what he calls, “the most beautiful view in all of Vieques” standing, its culture strong, and the U.S. Navy out (photo: top below). In 1993 he and his wife joined a spearhead movement to keep the Navy out due to the health concerns of the islanders. He even spent six months in prison due to a nonviolent practice where they sat in the Navy’s bomb range. This was his third arrest. Finally in 2003 the Navy listened to the protestors and moved out. Rabin is a strong advocate for the health and safety of the island and its people, and now helps the museum that holds the archives and history of this land and its people (photo: below, center).

The museum and the fort lie on a high point of Vieques overlooking the island's blue seas and green hills. It catches the fresh breeze blowing in from the water as you look down at specs of coral, pink, yellow, and baby blue houses and flowers (photo: below, bottom). The museum stands high in the fort with a sense of safety and preservation of a culture.

Adventuring Through la Selva

By: Tyler Dunn

El Yunque is a place all its own. A unique, breathing organism of self-sufficience. A system of peaks and valleys, tree, rock, and water. A mere hour in the forest will reveal its sacred nature, its presence undaunted by humanity.

  

During my time in Puerto Rico I occasionally came across such intense natural beauty I didn't dare take a picture for fear of misrepresentation. The rainforest of Puerto Rico was very much like this, and what I did capture I only hope does the place justice. 

El Yunque is one of a kind – the only rainforest in the United States. One of the most diverse places on earth, El Yunque contains more than 220 native trees. The Coqui and the Iguaca, the island's two sentimental favorites, both reside within the forest. 

The elevation of the rainforest is always changing. There are hills throughout El Yunque, and the winding La Mina River creates a path through the staggered grasses, through the highs and lows of mother nature. 

This place is sacred, ancient, authentic, untouched, and an experience you need to know for yourself.

For more information about El Yunque, check out these websites.

http://www.elyunque.com

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/caribbean/index.shtml

http://www.topuertorico.org/reference/yunque.shtml

http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/el-yunque-trail-map/

http://www.savetherainforest.org/savetherainforest_013.htm

The Language of Love

By: Kathryn Collins

Preparing to plunge into the realms of an unknown, foreign land can rattle your nerves. Questions of fear continuously run through your mind like a pet hamster peddling on its never-ending wheel. How will the people treat me? Will I get lost? Did I pack everything? Will my luggage get lost? Am I going to be dressed appropriately? And most importantly, will I be able to understand them and will they be able to understand me?

The locals of Puerto Rico have mastered the task of learning three languages: Spanish, English, and “Spanglish.” Many of the Puerto Ricans have gone out of their way to learn all three, which helps them to cater to the clueless visitors who have been ignorant enough to stick to only learning one language their entire lives. When you enter a store or get lost on the street or order a plate of rice of beans, the majority of people you speak with will not have a problem understanding you and helping you in the best way they can. However, the comfort of them understanding the words that came out of my mouth was not the way they connected with me the most. The language that the exquisite people of Puerto Rico have learned down to a tee is the language of love. It is evident in the way the locals treat others that they genuinely care about the people put into their lives, whether they are their closest friend or a complete stranger touring the new, fresh island. The Puerto Rican's strongest form of communication is a warm smile, a welcoming kiss on the cheek, or uncontrollable laughter. Not only do the locals cater to the tourists by learning their speaking language, but also they choose to communicate in the most welcoming form of love.

“Foreign Languages aren’t so Foreign”

By: Katylee Strange

Photos:

Up- A sign on the side that is written in both Spanish and English

Right- Papo, our tour guide explaining the Spanish meanings to numerous trees in El Yunque Rainforest.

Left- A sign that is written in English, which is peculiar since most people in Puerto Rico speak Spanish.

Many people think the Puerto Rican language is different than that of the United States, but in reality it is very similar. On my trip to Puerto Rico I got to learn what influences the Puerto Rican languages just like every language. From our tour guide Papo I learned that Puerto Rican language was once officially Spanish when Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony, but now the official language is English. One would never think the official language is English if they ever visited the island. Every local place I went people strictly spoke Spanish but new a little English. Barbara Velez, the lady who gave us a tour at La Concha Hotel in La Condado, said that in order to get any type of job in Puerto Rico in any aspect of tourism a person must be bilingual. Puerto Ricans themselves say that their official language is actually Spanglish. Over the years people have mixed both Spanish and English to become Spanglish. Papo said that people from Spain or any other strictly Spanish speaking country wouldn’t understand half of what the said, because their Spanglish is unique to Puerto Rico.

I noticed a lot of the signs in Puerto Rico have both Spanish and English on them. This way people that speak both languages understand what is being said. Culture and language have changed over time. Language in America and Puerto Rico is actually quiet similar because the mixing of cultures and the region in which someone lives makes their language distinct. Being from Oklahoma I have grown up saying phrases and words specific to the region like the word yall. People from other states laugh at the word yall

every time I say it, but to me it is just a common word. Also one word that comes to mind that has different words in different languages is a coke. Depending on where you grow up it is a coke a soda, a soda pop, or a pop. It is interesting to see how people use different phrases in different regions in America and Puerto Rico.

C is for Cueva

C is for Cueva
by Tess Taylor

The trees swayed in the present wind that cooled the day to a comfortable temperature. The air was moist but contrasted the heated humidity my pores and hair was getting used to at other parts of the island. The meeting center of the Cueva Clara, a cave located in Arecibo, was one large gazebo shelter made of wood probably chopped from a local Puerto Rican forest. The entire area was shaded by lush green forests that stretched further than my eyes could see. The Rio Camuy flowed through the forest area and causes the formation of the cave itself. As we rode on a comical yellow truck resembling a small train we descended on a narrow, winding trail enjoying the fresh air. Walking through one of the cave's seventeen entrances, I had to make sure to watch my step as I slid down the slippery path. I was instantly astounded by the vastness of the cave, having never seen anything like it. I was amazed at this natural wonder that was millions of years in the making by limestone and mineral water buildup. It takes approximately one thousand years to form just one cubic centimeter of the stalactites that form the cave. One area of the cave is so tall it could fit a seventeen story building in it! Your travel group will not be alone, for bats reside in the caves; but don't worry, these nocturnal creatures sleep throughout the day. Water from the ocean and Camuy river is essential, and it is water that brings the cave to life: flowing above, through and below it. The caves explain much about Puerto Rican culture and pride. One of the many beautiful places that Puerto Rico has to offer, the cave makes the visitor appreciate natural beauty and shows why it is so important to take care of all that the world provides to us. The history of the island is so rich which is the source of Puertoriqueno pride, and the caves bring a tourist back to when the Tainos roamed and used the Cueva Clara for shelter. This educational and breath-taking experience is perfect for any individual young or old and I would highly recommend it to anyone in the area!

Understanding Geography From A Cultural Standpoint

Breaking out of my comfort zone seems to be something that I often struggle with and even though I hate to admit it, being complacent is something that I often become out of self-security.  Puerto Rico has opened a door wide for me to pass through to experience things that I pass up with adding any thought to it. One of the important elements that I have always analyzed through smoke filled glasses has been the complexity of the geography and the power within.

Without even realizing it, I was greatly enjoying the geography of Puerto Rico more than I would with regular locations. Every location that I ended up at, I was in total awe at the splendid beauty, however it was the el yunque or the rainforest that left me speechless. The entrance of the el yunque was full of native plants, organisms and other ecosystems that keep it thriving. The magnificence however was apparent in every picturesque moment seen through the every system living in the forest.

The sounds of the running water, insects, crackling trees and animals create an angelic sound that is way more soothing than the average nature CD.  Every descriptive word in the dictionary would not do the el yunque justice because it is a wonder that needs to be experienced. Every place back home that I thought was extraordinary does not even compare to the wonders of the rainforest.

Keeping myself alert to things that are connected to geography is a major aspect that I will keep alive long after I leave Puerto Rico.

El Yunque Website

http://www.solboricua.com/elyunque/

What's Your Flavor?

What’s Your Flavor?

By Rachel Bradley

Puerto Rico is an island establish by many peoples near and far. The most ancient of this casserole dish are Taino Indian, African, and Spanish (photo right: Three native peoples represented by Three Kings). The United States, a former melting pot, is now a salad bowl. Citizens are able to keep their ancient traditions and embrace their culture rather than melt and assimilate to be one. Puerto Ricans are United States citizens, but they do not belong in the melting pot or salad bowl. Puerto Ricans are a casserole dish because most all citizens (yes, U.S. citizens) are able to embrace their culture, but enhance the others as well while still creating unity.

Each village in Puerto Rico has a patron saint, much like that of a mascot. Every year, the towns have a carnival to celebrate their mascot. There is only one municipal in the entire island that celebrates two patron saints, St. James and St. Patrick. This municipal, Loiza, is situated on the northeastern coast of Puerto Rico slightly west of Rio Grande. Loiza has one of the largest populations of African descendents in Puerto Rico since Nigerian slaves settled it.

With such vivid African ancestry, Loiza houses a vast majority of artists inspired by their culture. Take painter and sculptor, Samuel Lind, for example (photo: bottom center). Inspired by the natives, Lind captures the culture and feelings of Loiza’s history through smooth movement and color that tell a story of its people (photo: bottom left). His works can be found in prominent places around the island.

Another dominate art media to hear of the African natives is through Bomba music. Bomba is played by hand drums and one pair of maracas. A dancer salutes the lead drummer and begins to make the music as the lead drummer follows the beat of their steps. This is a very traditional Puerto Rican style of music, but many on the island confuse it with the salsa and other forms of dance. It is a mission of the Cultural Restoration organization to enlighten and encourage the people of their own island to learn and appreciate this music rather than take all styles from other caribbean islands.

Being a casserole dish encompassed by so many flavors, it is difficult for Puerto Ricans to own what is truly Puerto Rican. Through the arts produced in Loiza, the African heritage of Puerto Rico is kept alive.

Going Sky High - by Marley Harris

My few short days here in Puerto Rico have been filled with adventure, food, conquering fears, and observing off the charts fashion. While here, I have seen women, no matter the age, walking around in sky-high, full-blown, high-heeled wedges. Some may disagree, but I admire these women who are brave enough to venture out beyond the flip-flop, which is a common style here in Puerto Rico.

The women here love to add a little pizzazz to their outfits with one of their favorite accessories, shoes. Of course not every woman has on a pair of these sky-high platformed wedges. There are some with regular sandals and flip-flops too, but I am sure if you visited their closets at home, they have a few pair. I wish I would have known about these fashions before hand, I would have totally packed some of my own. I would have fit right in. No matter the terrain, these women did not leave their homes wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

Men here in Puerto Rico are not left in the dark when it comes to fashion either. As I have observed, men like to be neatly groomed. I have never seen so many men with their eyebrows perfectly arched in all of my life. Puerto Ricans seem to take pride in their appearance. There is no way to determine socioeconomic status, all islanders

I enjoyed capturing the life and fashion of these women and men. Their shoes highly intrigued me. Enjoy these few paparazzi inspired fashion photos.

Soleil

Soleil

by Tess Taylor

It puts food on the table, pays the bills and allows All-Americans to fulfill their duties as consumers. It is dreaded in the morning and watchful eyed stare upon the cock striking the day's end. For some it is their passion, for others it is tedious. In the end: we all have to do it do it. It takes a special person to work in retail, and you have to have the gift and talent of getting people to buy what you sell. Women want to feel beautiful not just for others, but for themselves. "Just around the corner in every woman's mind - is a lovely dress, a wonderful suit, or entire costume which will make an enchanting new creature of her." Wilhea Cushman was not lying, for as the group trekked under the hot Puerto Rican sun, over the cracked Vieques pavement, en route to the museum I stumbled upon Sol Creations boutique just around the bend. Located at Isabel II this quaint location was full of beautiful items and expensive lines. I was impressed by the taste and style of the store, the set up, the theme and decorations, the quality of the brands, and the vintage-inspired acessories. Clothing is my niche, so I was more than excited to converse with Soleil Beckedoff, the owner and main employee. She brought New York resort fashion down the coast to a major tourist attraction. Lines such as Free People and Velvet are chic, but not exactly affordable for the typical resident of the island. In fact, she admits that her store is targeted towards tourists and upscale locals. Soleil works everyday but one at the store so that everything stays as she would like it. Also, paying for labor is not cheap, and neither is finding a trustworthy employee. It seems like many of the small, local businesses keep the job opportunities within the family. It is nice that shops, restaurants and hotels the size of Sol Creations provide for friends and families as well. Like all Puerto Ricans, Soleil was very friendly, open to questions and hospitable; I enjoyed chatting with her and will definitely be in contact with her very soon!

Fort Island

Fort Island

By: Laura Pope

After a 40-minute ferry ride, I stepped off the three-story ferry today I initially looked around and took in my surroundings. Naturally, my eyes were drawn to the furthest points left, right and above me. I had arrived in Vieques the island is covered with open green areas. A few small colorful concrete buildings and homes make up the island of Vieques.

On the top of the mountain closest to the ferry terminal stands the Fortin Conde de Mirasol. The fort is a Spanish establishment that has stood since the 1840s. Rob Rabin gave us a short history lesson of the islands 4000-year-old history. Robert Rabin came to Vieques 30 years ago has a graduate student from the University of Massachusetts. Rabin never returned to his studies in Massachusetts. Since the 1980s Rabin has taken a personal interests in the well being of Vieques. Rabin was a part of the fight against the United States to seize use of the island for routine explosive practice. In 2003 the Navy seized all use of explosives on the island of Vieques.

Vieques was not an extremely sanitary island. Horse manure lined the streets giving the city an unpleasant odor. The horse manure did not give me a positive impression of the island. Although the island holds an immense history on behalf of Puerto Rico, the scenery of the island resembles the mainland of Puerto Rico in my opinion. From the fort I could not see noticeable physical damages to the island from the Navy explosives. I felt that the island was an accurate depiction of the mainland of Puerto Rico.

Magic of the Sea

By: Kathryn Collins

Magical. Majestic. Jaw-dropping. Breathtaking. These words do not even do justice to the wonders of the Bioluminescent Bay in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. As the kayak too off from land into the dark abyss of the Atlantic Ocean, I knew I was in for the ride of my life. We created our own current as we brushed our paddles against the smooth black sea. The paddles performed their own choreographed dance as they tossed from left to right in unison. As we entered the canal, we said goodbye to any light that might lead the way. The watery pathway became so narrow that we could have reached out our limbs to meet the weeping limbs of the trees. The paddles continued to dip under the surface, but this time something was different. Magic appeared within the blanket of ocean that surrounded us.

The water sparkled and glowed as the paddles swirled through what looked like a majestic potion underneath the surface. With each stroke, a trail of fairy dust magic swam into the stream. The enchantment of this supernatural glow captivated all of my attention. After rowing endlessly into what seemed like an everlasting black hole, a glimpse of the moon’s light blushed through the trees. The wet road opened up into a glistening lagoon with endless possibilities. I was surrounded by God’s creation in its most raw form. I looked up at the perfectly placed stars in awe, and I grazed my hand through the water and watched the sparkles illuminate from my fingertips.

While I was rowing through the mysterious water of the Bio Bay, I noticed the appreciation that Puerto Ricans have for their land. They are proud of the beauty placed at their fingertips and they soak it in to the fullest. Living in Norman, Oklahoma, it is sometimes difficult to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the world around us. The Bio Bay was a wake up call to the miracles and wonders that we sometimes dismiss in our day-to-day lives. Although we do not have a Bio Bay flowing through the middle of campus, we are surrounded by beauty in our geography every day. Whether it is the bright stars in the Oklahoma night sky or the hovering mountains of the Wichita’s, we just need to open our eyes and appreciate the richness and freedom that the world is trying to show us.

“I think that tree is waving at me”

By Alison Ehtisham

                It’s breathtaking. One look around and I see a wondrous mesh of cultures in the very trees around me. Just like the historical culture of the people of Puerto Rico themselves, the flora and fauna of Puerto Rico is a brilliant mix of different cultures and origins from all around the world.

Before I arrived in Puerto Rico, I imagined it to be a temperate paradise of sandy beaches and palm trees. As soon as the landing gear hit the ground I discovered how very wrong I was. While yes, there are beaches and plenty of palm trees, there is so much more to be seen in Puerto Rico. From rain forests to grasslands, Puerto Rico has become a melting pot of trees and vegetation. Near the mountains, the trees are tall and sturdy. Right off of the mountains, where there is little rain, the grasslands that reside there reminded me of Oklahoma. I ached a little for home as we passed by the cacti and short yellow grass.

Places like El Yunque are rich with vegetation from every corner of the world. The rich, steamy rainforest provides a unique slice of the world with every inch you look. Near the coastline, where you would expect only palm trees, there is a unique variation of trees. On a kayak to the bioluminescent bay, I was able to have several, ahem, encounters with the mangrove trees. Their invading presence only adds to the splendor of the area. With the small sample I was able to absorb, I can safely say I now know about far more than palm trees.

“The Many Natural Wonders of Puerto Rico and beyond”

by: Katylee Strange
Photos: Up: A stalactite in the Cueva Clara Cave.

Down: Entrance of the Cueva Clara Cave.

Puerto Rico is a small island that is full of many natural phenomena that most people who live in Puerto Rico have never even visited. Like many people in the states people in Puerto Rico don’t realize the amazing places

they can visit in their own backyard. I was lucky enough to visit two beautiful locations during my trip to Puerto Rico including the Cueva Clara Caves and the Bioluminescent Bay. Both places have an immense history and their geography was shaped by the power of nature. The caves were carved thousands of years ago acidic water that cut away at the limestone and created the cave. The evidence, the writings found on the walls of other caves in the area, that the native Indians of Puerto Rico, the Tainos, used the caves hundreds of years ago. The name of the caves means, “clear cave” and the cave system itself is a sustainable ecosystem for bats, birds and many other types of species. In the cave the ceilings constantly drip water, which creates its slippery floor. The high-rise ceilings are evidence of the immense power that the underground river once had. The high ceilings also echo from the many people who come in and out of the many different rooms. While people listen on headsets at their own pace, they are able to see the wonders of nature that shaped the geography on the island of Puerto Rico.

Another location’s geography that was shaped by nature is the Bioluminescent Bay in Fajardo. This bay is situated in the prime location for many different elements to combine to create such a magnificent night excursion. The mangrove trees isolate the lagoon and plankton come in and out of the single mangrove channel with the tide every six hours. With the combination of continual sun and tannin from red mangroves it creates the perfect environment for the plankton to flourish. The tour starts with groups pairing off and following a guide on a 20-minute kayak through the non-government protected mangrove forest to the bio bay lagoon. Our guide, Miguel Narvaez said, “Theory says the plankton glow as a defense mechanism. It is not proven but seems to make sense,” when talking about what causes the plankton to glow so brightly. People are able to experience a breathtaking scene when they stick their hand into the water, and swish it around. The water glows like a freshly broken glow

stick right in front of your eyes. It was something everyone that live in Puerto Rico and those from other places should visit one day. Although there are places in Puerto Rico where its’ geography is shaped by nature there are place in the United States as well.

This place is very dear to my heart. It is a little town called Silver Lake, Michigan. Most of its’ income occurs in the summer through tourism and house rentals on the lake. People come from all over the country to visit one of the largest sand dunes. These sand dunes constantly shift and change. Over the last 50 years several houses have been covered by the “live” sand dunes. The dunes were created after the create Chicago fire. The forest was cut and the wood was shipped to the city. Soon the topsoil was blown away and it exposed the sand creating the sand dunes that everyone enjoys today. Although it is similar to the place in Puerto Rico because of the power of nature it is different in that the local community is not yet working to preserve the lake although the sand continually fills in the lake. It is also different in that the Puerto Rican tourist locations are more of a national tourist location compared to the small town in Michigan. No matter if the natural wonder is located in a big tourist hub or not one thing is for sure: nature and natural forces are very powerful and shape not only landscape but also lives.

Photo: Up- The group in their Kayaks paddling to the lagoon at the Bioluminescent Bay.

¡La Lengua!

 By: Tyler Dunn

Hola, me llamo Tyler. Soy de Oklahoma.

I might have learned a bit more than this during my many hours in Spanish class, but I did not feel confident about much more upon coming to Puerto Rico. My anxiety was relieved with the first step on the bus with a man known to many as the best tour guide on the island. The gentleman with such esteemed credentials goes simply by Papo.

Papo teaching us how to use the beans as musical instruments.
PHOTO: Tyler Dunn

Papo, a native Puerto Rican, is bilingual and lived in the United States for many years of his adult life. His understanding of the english language is very impressive and has a disarming humor in most conversations. Because he speaks english so confidently, it is easy to forget he is a primarily spanish speaker.  

A historical Taino tour guide instructing both english and spanish speakers.
PHOTO: Tyler Dunn

After
witnessing this I began to wonder why he spoke english so well. Then it hit me: money. English is the second language of Puerto Rico for more than just terrestrial ties, it is because the ships and planes coming in to the island hold within them American citizens with money burning right through their pocket. So, I thought, english is just a must for the Puerto Rican travel industry. Nothing more.

Bacardi bartender teaching audience beverage information in english.
PHOTO: Tyler Dunn

As I ventured further through the island, however, I realized I had underestimated Puerto Rico's english-speaking capability. La gente all across the island speak english, and while not everyone does, the amount of people that do have been more than willing to help thus far.

A very helpful people, and while many might benefit from the language bridge, I think we unilingual folk got the better end of the deal here.

Doesn't anyone ever sleep?!

 The view from the balcony. The square is behind that tree. 
 A guiro. Jose said it was the largest he'd ever seen. 
 

Doesn’t anyone ever sleep?!

Alison Ehtisham

                My first night in Ponce was a loud one. The Three Kings had made their final stop in the square of Ponce. It would be the last parade before the big parade in Juana Diaz. Music blasted through the speakers as we arrived at our hotel. People swarmed the streets hoping to get nearer to the Kings. I planned to spend my evening in my hotel room resting, as my whirlwind experience of Puerto Rico had finally slowed enough so I could sleep. Ponce had a different idea. The parade wrapped up and the people dispersed, but the music continued. I tried to sleep as I listened, thinking that it would surely stop soon. No bueno. I could feel the bass shaking my bed and then suddenly it stopped. Finally I had silence…or so I thought. Soon the music picked back up again. I fell asleep listening to the sounds of the Reggaton from the square.

                The next day, I heard it all around me. The gentle pulse of the melody snuck over the hillside. The source would soon be seen, but the source didn’t matter. Music was everywhere in Juana Diaz. It sang through the streets in several forms. The parade featured music that seemed to involve the very soul of the people who were watching along the streets. People sang and swayed to the music they knew by heart. It was loud and exciting and it made me feel like a part of the culture as I couldn’t help but sway along too.

                As much as I enjoyed the parades and the sights, I was glad to leave Ponce. I was going back to sleepy Luquillo, where booming music was not an issue. As I arrived late into the night, I crashed into my bed, only to here another source of music. Coqui, Coqui! The cheerful chirp of the Coqui frog was a music form of its own. It reminded me slightly of the crickets back home, but somehow had a soothing effect. I closed my eyes and was lulled into a relaxed state as I listened to their happy songs. Music is everywhere in Puerto Rico, even in the most unexpected places.