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 

Traveling and Tourism

By Maddy Payne

Looking back on the trip, I realized there was never a dull moment. Our tour guide and driver were both great and made sure we experienced Puerto Rican culture first hand. I tried street food – shrimp empanadas – in Luquillo at Los Kioskos, and I dined at La Mallorquina in Old San Juan, the oldest operating restaurant in the Americas. I met with the famous Puerto Rican painter and sculptor Samuel Lind. I explored the Cueva María de la Cruz, a historical cave archeologist Dr. Ricardo E. Alegría discovered in 1948. I took a day and explored the city of Caguas, where I was given the opportunity to watch women hand-make Puerto Rican cigars. The list goes on, and everyday was filled with something new and exciting to experience.

This trip gave me the opportunity to be more than a tourist. I was able to immerse myself in Puerto Rican culture and learn a significant amount of information in only 10 short days. I am thankful for what I learned on the trip: self-sufficiency, flexibility and an appreciation for differences. Although there were some challenging times on the trip, I definitely made lasting memories. On the plane ride back to Houston, I sat next to a nice man named David. He is from Isabela, Puerto Rico, a region on Puerto Rico’s northwest coast, and he told me there are 78 different cities in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately we didn't get to that many cities this trip, so I guess I'll just have to go back and keep exploring.


WORDS: 256

Los Kioskos in Luquillo, Puerto Rico. 

Samuel Lind, Puerto Rican painter and sculptor, shows us his art pieces. 

Exploring la Cueva María de la Cruz. 

Check out:

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/samuel-lind.html

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

http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/loiza-cave/ 

Email: maddy.payne@ou.edu

Website: maddy.payne.weebly.com

Twitter: @maddypayne397

The Godfather and Papo

By Marisa Mohi, world traveler and consigliere to the Don.

My dad has raised me on two ideas. The first, is The Godfather. Ever since I was little he would quote the movie, reminding me to never “take sides against the family” or to “take the gun and leave the cannolis” and various other bits of wisdom that only the Corleone family could relate in parts I and II. The other thing, is the notion of travel.

You see, my dad is what he refers to as “an international.” That is, he is not from the U.S. I’ve always heard stories of him coming to the U.S. from Iran when he was a teenager, and how this has shaped him into the person he is today. (This is probably one of the many reasons that he likes The Godfather, because he relates with young Vito coming to the U.S. to make his way in the world.) He didn’t speak the language, but came here anyway to make his fortune. Before considering this trip, I knew that I could never live up to the person that my dad is if I never traveled.

Enter Puerto Rico.

Since I’ve been here, I’ve gone on many an organized tour and done the touristy sort of things. And while I don’t feel like the badass that my dad was, I feel like I’m definitely growing up. I feel like I’m getting the vibe of the place, and getting to know Puerto Rico.

Since I’ve been here, we’ve had a few tour guides, but none so great as Papo. If you ever go to Puerto Rico and decide to go on a tour, ask for Papo. He’s the most fun you can have in a tour bus.

Papo has 8 daughters and claims that he needs to work as a tour guide in order to get out everything he wants say but can’t say at home when surrounded by women. He’s also the head trainer for the tour guide service we’ve used. And, even though he recently had a stroke, he’s still going strong, showing the flora and fauna and architecture and relating anecdotes.

A stop on our grand tour that really sticks out in my mind is Loiza, a city founded by freed slaves. We all hopped on the bus with Papo and headed from San Juan to Loiza. We stopped at the home and studio of Samuel Lind, where I bought a print.



Then we were off to the Loiza Cultural Center to learn how to dance the “Bomba.” The Bomba is a type of dance that uses different drum rhythms created by the freed slaves from that area. We sang the chorus and learned a simple dance, though the majority of us weren’t quite up to par. The pros, however, were a sight to behold.



And then, we made a stop at the proverbial mecca that is the Bacardi Rum factory.



And throughout it all, we had Papo to give us the quick and dirty, and also the long form of information regarding these destinations. And, though our time with Papo has ended, I’m glad he was here to properly introduce me to the greatness that is Puerto Rico.