This is a letter for a friend that wanted to know what it´s like in Puerto Rico, so I gave him the rundown-
I´m having a great time here in Puerto Rico, but like everywhere, it has its advantages and disadvantages. I´m currently in San Germán, Puerto Rico located on the Southwestern part of the island about 20 minutes from the beach by car. The university is a private one called the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, and the campus is regarded as one of the best on the island, though the buildings are old(it was the first of the system founded in 1912. I am living in a dorm on campus and pay 1000 dollars for the semester and share it with one roommate. Grading is pretty easy because the teachers realize I am an exchange student and they help me. The curriculum isn´t too challenging (i´m taking puerto rican literature classes and business classes), and I am also fluent in spanish.
today is a marvelous day, but you will see how someone will come and mess it up |
graf mayaguez |
traigame la vaca |
this viejo was so gangsta! |
the mountains |
some pr friends |
fotos in the art building |
To make things simpler here is a breakdown of what I see as the advantages and disadvantages-
advantages- great snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, fishing, hiking opportunities, forests, waterfalls, caves, mountains, beaches. It´s like a mini costa rica. People here are really easy to meet and I have alot of friends. make sure you meet people with cars and you can all pitch in for gas. Traditional Puerto rican food is great. Usually its rice and beans accompanied by a stewed or panfried meat like pork or chicken. It´s pretty cheap here, you can get a beer for a dollar regularly at the local bar. People are always celebrating something here, every weekend there is an event going on or a free concert. The island is so small but it feels really big in comparison. Class sizes are small and I know my teachers. It´s really easy to do the program(I did all my paperwork in 2 days) and cheaper than study abroad. The women are great and will love you. You have all the same amenities as in the US. You don´t need a visa or even a passport, problems with that stuff are negligible. the nightlife around the surrounding area is rather fun and cheap, if you like latin music. Also, if you need to meet some gringos, you can just go to rincón. The NSE director here, Ricardo, is really nice and did a great orientation for us(there were 9 of us exchange students). People are very family oriented. I sometimes feel very smart here though I really am not. Housing is cheap(I have friends that pay 200 a month or less for rent in a house with roommates.) Mangoes and coconuts from the trees are my breakfast every morning. Bananas and plantains are abundant, avocadoes are awesome. I get to watch the snow on TV while I sit in my hammock. Dominoes, laid-back, Caribbea lifestyle. I love how some people put their families and free time above their work. ,
disadvantages- even on this part of the island alot of people speak english. Upon arriving here every time I would try to speak in spanish people would automatically speak to me in english. With however, my spanish is sounding more natural and I have told my puerto rican friends to please address me in español. Also, they speak alot of spanglish here. You need a car to get around here unless you have friends with cars. the dorms aren´t co-ed and they feel a bit like a prison, and don´t expect the crazy freshman dorm experience you get in the US. Not as many exotic fruits as I thought. The actual town of San German is a little boring but it´s nice because its relaxing and tranquil at the same time. You can see even on this part of the island a huge American influence. there is some crime in the larger cities. There is traffic. The fried food that alot of people eat is really unhealthy. It can get hot and steamy, but I´ve learned to love it. People seem to not know the concept of a trash can. Salsa is becoming less popular with the young generation as reggaeton takes over. I wish sometimes I was the only exchange student so I would speak spanish 100 percent of the time. I don´t think they let you live off of campus for your first semester here. A number of people are rude, and even bad drivers here, but not as bad as Colombia. Don´t anger Puerto Ricans, they will do some harm to you.
Stereotypes- The puerto rican guys with ghetto cars, nice rims and sound systems that cost more than the car are funny. The dudes here are sometimes more well groomed than the women. They wear diamond earings, have rattails, dress metro, and love to get their eyebrows done.
all in all, it is a really interesting culture and worth the experience, I have grown to love it even through it´s imperfections.
Remember, living in San German is different than being in a big city like San Juan. There are almost no gringos and things are alot cheaper here. There are less traffic jams and it is easier to meet people. I feel like a local, and it is less americanized, though you can still see the impact greatly. There is, however, less to do in terms of shopping and nightlife, but more outdoor and adventure activities. In short, it is more of a true cultural experience here in San German.
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