See the World

By: Andee Gentry

By studying abroad in Puerto Rico, I was able to grasped a whole new outlook and appreciation for the Puerto Rican culture. By taking a chance or opportunity to embark on a journey like this is one I highly suggest. This was my second time to do a study abroad program and I can’t wait to continue to do more. 

While traveling in college, I have gained a better understanding of culture appreciation and an outlook on life. By examining and living in another culture, I was able to appreciate the beauty our world offers and has inspired me to continue traveling. After visiting Puerto Rico and traveling within a group, I decided to sign up for another traveling trip in order to explore a new environment. Traveling while your young is very important to me because it opens your eyes to new experiences and adventures that help guide your life. 

After seeing so many landmarks, museums, and important architecture in different cities, it makes me want to continue exploring the world. After seeing Samuel Lind’s paintings who is a local Puerto Rican artist to the views from the El Yunque Rainforest and The Forts, I want to travel and see more wonders of the world.

 The more you travel, the more you are going to gain knowledge and experience to help later in life. I have traveled to many different places and I think it has made me more independent and aware of our world. I can't wait to explore many more places and continue to see the beautiful creations our world has to offer.

Samuel Lind the artist 

One of Samuel Lind's paintings

View from El Yunque Rainforest

Check out:

http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide

http://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/best-places-to-travel-in-2017

http://www.travelchannel.com

Contact Information:

Email: Andee.W.Gentry-1@ou.edu

Twitter: AndeeWGentry 

Facebook: Andee Gentry 

Instagram: andeegentry 

Adiós mi amor Puerto Rico

photo by Adam Pinkney

Adiós mi amor Puerto Rico

By Adam Pinkney

Two weeks on an island was the best Christmas and new years gift I could have ever received. In these two weeks I learned a lot about the rich history and culture of Puerto Rico. I fell in love with the people, food, music, and beaches. No other place I have ever visited compares to Puerto Rico. I felt so welcome and did not want to come back home. However, back to reality and I cannot forget the amazing effect this beautiful Island had on me.

I will also never forget the awesome group of classmates that shared in my experiences. This was the best group of friends I could have asked for on this trip. We all smiled, laughed, and pretty much cried when we had to leave. My two professors and TA were also of great support on this trip and they made a perfect team.

Learning about the history of a place while being in the place was the best learning experience I have ever had. We actually went to the historical sites and absorbed the sites and sounds of places such as El Yunque rainforest, Vieques, Quanica dry forest, and bioluminescent bay to name a few. The local people are so loving and caring. They do not discriminate on the basis of race or skin color because the Puerto Rican race is so varied. Puerto Ricans are made up of Taino Indian, Spanish, and African.

For a person that has never visited the island, I would first suggest to them a tour guide named Jose Pereira. He is an awesome guide and you will fall in love with him. I also fell in love with every other native that I came in contact with. No one was rude; they were all nice and loving. One tip would be to make sure and pack a ton of bug spray.

Finally, the intangibles that I walk away with are emotions. I have never loved and felt so loved as much as I did in Puerto Rico. The beautiful sounds and smells of the island will dwell with me forever. The most important intangible, which I will soon turn into tangible, are the ideas I have been coming up with for my graduate project. I will be making a documentary of Puerto Rico in some sort of fashion.

Caution! Beware of Preconceived Notions

By Vince Winston

Watching a guy get punched in the face by boxing champion Miguel Cotto, walking around eating the native food such as mofongo and searching for the legendary Chubacabra monster is probably not one’s first perception of what is meant by anti-conquest travel writing. But this is the essence of what it means to look at a culture from their perspective; immersing yourself within the culture headfirst. And Anthony Bordain’s “No Reservation” episode showcasing Puerto Rico was just that, a headfirst adventure into the world of the United States most diverse commonwealth. He may have taken it a little too literal when he took a right jab to the face by Cotto, but it was a good show of his dedication!

It was a good learning lesson for us to have a preconceived notion from a travel writer before arriving. This helped us understand how easily knowledge can be misconstrued if only one point of view is taken into account. Yes, Bordain did a good job of exploring the island, but since being here and being an active travel writer myself, I have only experienced a few of the local customs he pointed out. The amazing bio-luminous bays, the El Yunque National Rain Forest or visiting the El Morro Fort are things that have equal validation to the uniqueness of Puerto Rico.

It is impossible to visit every place that makes a culture unique, which is why it is so important to have different perspectives when reading about a place. The more views and opinion you have will only enlighten yourself to the different areas that make a place special. But be careful though, you don’t want to get your “lights knocked out!”

Unity In Puerto Rico

Unity In Puerto Rico

Zaina Al Ghabra

January 10, 2010

Traveling today has changed drastically when you compare it to the agendas of those who traveled before us. Back then travel was dedicated to advancing certain agendas. Those traveling to far away places were a minority who were assigned to certain tasks. Luckily today, more people associate traveling with leisure and as a way to learn about our world and all its complexities. Anti-conquest is a word coined by Mary Pratt, which refers to the innocence of travel rather than traveling for conquering and dominating other people and cultures. Many of us find ourselves traveling to far away places simply to fulfill a curious obligation within ourselves; thus reiterating the notion of anti-conquest.

Anthony Bourdain is a well-known author and chef who travels documenting his experiences and broadcasting them on the Travel Channel for the world to see; a luxury that was not readily available in the past. His series integrate Pratt’s notion of anti-conquest, as he travels to different parts of Puerto Rico and offers his own account based on what he has seen and experienced. More so, he offers pointers to those who plan on following his footsteps into unknown lands. Bourdain also emphasizes the importance of familiarizing oneself with the local population, gaining a “real experience, rather than being immersed in tourist destinations with other tourists.

When it comes to the amount of things I have witnessed and been a part of on this lovely Island, I can definitely say I was offered a well-rounded experience. Bourdain stresses on tasting a Piña Colada when in Puerto Rico, and I can walk away assured I was lucky to find and indulge in the freshest Piña Colada on the Island. More so, Bourdain emphasizes a little restaurant in Old San Juan called “Raices,” of which myself, Dr. Subervi and Dr. Carstarphen, along with a few other classmates had the wonderful opportunity of eating at. Not only did we eat there, but we indulged in the all famous Mofongo. Mofongo is a Puerto Rican delicacy composed of mashed triple fried plantains topped with your choice of meat, chicken, shrimp or vegetables. Bourdain also made sure visitors know the relevance and love people in Puerto Rico have for rice and beans.

Lastly, visiting Vieques, The Three Kings Festival, El Yunque Rainforest and the Bioluminescent Bay just last night, truly offered a tourist experience like no other. I feel as though I can walk away from this trip with a personal account of the Islands rich beauty, history, food, culture and people; Anthony Bourdain would be pleased. Of course none of this would have been possible without our amazing tour guides who gave us their all, our professors who are the backbone of the trip, and of course my fellow students who filled our journey with laughter and fun.