Latino Language, Pedagogy and Culture Immersion Institute in Puerto Rico

08/04/09

Spanish class is intriguing and extremely relevant. Spanish is spoken 90% of the time, which allows for practical application, a necessary and important learning tool. We are allowed to discuss any topics we have of interest, while always learning a fundamental piece of the language. I wish more of my Spanish classes in college would have been similar in style, as I have seen a more rapid growth here. A few of my favorite conversations from the intermediate class have been on: religion (especially Santaria,) music (types and dances,) and the public and private school systems here. It has also been interesting to watch the interaction with her 12 year old son. She has been an excellent representation and model as a mother and educator.

After Spanish class both yesterday and today, we were greeted by a beautiful surprise, Bernadette. Bernadette has had the pleasure of working in both Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico, and is a native to this pleasant island. She is a highly educated woman and a strong, interesting speaker. The two days were separated into two topics: School Dynamics and The Puerto Rican Culture.

While listening to her speak about School Dynamics, some very interesting points were brought to the surface. The topic on Instructional Strategies intrigued me the most. As an educator wanting to address every students needs, it is important to understand how culture affects children's lives. The part that brought meaning to the entire conversation the most was the last bulletin. It stated "Failure to recognize diversity within groups can result in stereotyping families and developing preconceptions that reduce opportunities for cross-cultural understanding and competence." Wow, such a strong, yet brutally honest statement. This was also completely accurate for the second days lecture. While discussing the existence of racism on the island, it was hard to believe the prejudices they have against their own people.

Tonight on our search to find food, we encountered an incident you would not typically see in the United States. A restaurant simply was not serving food this evening because the cook did not show up. I have worked at several restaurants and have never seen such a thing. The restaurants also run out of items frequently. I could not tell you how many times I have asked for either avocado or mushrooms, and they were always out. It is important to be flexible in all situations, as you never know what situation may rise next. The last little information about food, make sure you eat before 11 pm. It is almost impossible to find food past then, even though the bars close much later. This to some people could be a deadly combination.

Tomorrow we will be visiting a vocational high school. We have all formed a vision of what this will be like, based almost entirely on all the discussions we have had surrounding the public education system. As we near the end of the trip, suitcases are being packed and mixed feelings are erupting. I always hate endings, especially after establishing yourself inside another culture. It is time to start preparing for departure, which in my book means making the most of what little is left :)

Latino Language, Pedagogy and Culture Immersion Institute in Puerto Rico

7/29/09

Yesterday afternoon/evening, we visited our first playa. It was much different than I expected. The beach was not as white sand, clear water as I thought. The water however, was blue and very smooth and warm. There were wild dogs everywhere, sleeping and congregating closest to the people grilling. After being in the water for five minutes, I realized there was a small coral reef close by. I had not brought my snorkeling gear to Puerto Rico, but I would highly recommend it. Luckily, a small little shop right off the beach had goggles for sale. For three dollars, I bought a pair and went out on to the reef. To my surprise, there were thousands of black sea urchins in all sizes. It was slightly scary because I definitely did not want to touch them, but very interesting to see. There were not many fish, but the ones I did see were very colorful and tropical.

Today after Spanish class, we went to the Museum de Hostos. After developing knots in my stomach from the twists and turns of going up a huge mountain, we arrived at our destination. The sights of the drive were beautiful. Big huge patches of bamboo in the thick of a forest, with many little creeks passing through. Had the ride been smooth, I probably would have been able to take pictures.

The museum was a modern building, settled on the top of one of the mountains. As we entered, we were greeted by the wonderful feeling of air conditioning and paintings filled with color and meaning. After learning about the life of Eugenio Maria de Hostos, we had an open forum about any questions we had about Puerto Rico. It was interesting to learn about the islands current situations. After our hunger for answers about the government and public education system was fulfilled, we walked around the museum. It was very small, but well presented. The view from the back of the museum was incredible. You were able to see the valleys and mountains, and the little houses that you are not quite sure how they got there. Eugenio was a Puerto Rican (born in Mayaguez) educator, philosopher, intellectual, lawyer, sociologist, and independence advocate. He was widely known in the Caribbean and Latin America. The art in the museum was based on his ideas and beliefs. His passion for what is right in this world was an inspiration to many people throughout history, including myself.

Every day has been an adventure. From the food, to the trips, to the Spanish classes, to going to our new favorite bar across the street for Internet, I feel so lucky to be here and have the opportunity to experience this. I have been looking forward to tomorrow all week and want to be well rested. It is time to dream up another adventure far away and as they say here, buenos noches!