This semester that just closed was one of the most enchaining experiences that I had in my life. I had the liberty to go to Puerto Rico with my class on a trip to indulge in the Caribbean culture. The duration of our stay lasted for about 7-8 days (including weekends) and we were giving the opportunity to explore the culture, cuisine, and geo-climate to the fullest extent. Some of the experiences were a little more challenging for some that for others. I really appreciate bonding 11 other strangers and building a 'community' (as Alaina puts it) with these people.
Most treasured experience while we were down there was having the opportunity to go and visit the University of Pureto Rico. Their biology lab is impressive. Even more astonishing was the total annual cost of tuition. Their graduate courses about $40-$50; that's thousands cheaper than what we pay here in the states. So that institution really opened up as an option for me as far as graduate school. Plus, I love the atmosphere. I am a tropical person. I prefer warm, vibrant, areas than colder seasons. But the most profound thing of all was how everyone was so into the arts of their culture.
There was spanish music playing through out the streets of everywhere we went and the art work displayed the schools museum was breath taking. It felt as if people really put a lot of dedication into preserving their culture. The houses were so vibrant with colors; better than the old cement and stone houses of traditional America. If anyone were to ask/offer me to go back, I would take the opportunity in a heart beat!
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YES,PUERTO RICAN CULTURE WILL FOREVER HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART, GROWING UP I HAVE HAD MANY BORIQUEN FREINDS AS WELL AS MANY EXPIRIENCES WITH THE BORIQUA CULTURA.ONE OF MY MENTORS IN HIGHSCHOOL WAS PUERTORICAN AND SHE WAS LIKE A MOTHER TO ME. SO I HAVE EXPIRIENCED PUERTO RICAN CULTURE VERY CULTURE AND ALTHOUGH AND I AM NOT PUERTO RICAN I NEVER FELT LIKE I HAD TO PUT MY OWN CULTURE ASIDE TO EMBRACE IT. IT ALWAYS SEEMED TO SETTLE IN MY SOUL AS PART OF ME. then I learned that out histories are interwined because THE Taino Native americans were the first people to settle on the island of Haiti which consist of Republic of Haiti and the Domincan Republic.These native american also make up one third of the Puerto Rican Heritage.
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