Found a note in Puerto Rico

Hello from the middle of the ocean! We left Puerto Rico on Monday and we’ll be arriving in Brazil the day after tomorrow, so I figured it’s about time for an update on all the activities from Puerto Rico.

First, a little update on the ship…it’s absolutely wonderful! I wasn’t too sure how I’d adjust to life on a ship, but I’ve fallen in love with everything about it! I have a great roommate named Christy from Pittsburgh, who is as sweet and considerate as could be – we’re getting along phenomenally! With SUCH limited Internet, and no tv/video games/etc, I’ve spent a lot of time outside, from lying out to eating on the deck to sitting around talking with friends or playing games (I’ve learned sooo many new card games already as that seems to be the primary source of entertainment). Sometimes I just get lost looking off the side of the ship, staring at the horizon or watching the beautiful sunsets... I feel so spoiled! The food is very mediocre, but it’s really the least of my concerns…a little diet certainly won’t hurt! My classes are all really interesting so far: Human Unity and Diversity, Intro to Music Therapy, History through Memoirs, and Global Studies. I’ve made some great friends already, and the students, faculty, staff, and crew all seem to be absolutely wonderful!

On to Puerto Rico…I wasn’t even expecting it to be a favorite, but I had the best time there! We arrived on Saturday, and immediately got a group of 17 people to go to El Yunque rainforest. We saw 2 amazing waterfalls and swam in one of them (albeit freezing!). The highlight of that day was finding a not mom and dad had left for me when they were in Puerto Rico 2 months ago. It was on a small gum box and they told me exactly where they left it – I was SHOCKED to actually find it there, but extremely happy! The sounds of the birds, coqui frogs, and moving water were enough to relax us all. On our way back, we found a “chicken on a stick” stand….live chickens walking around while they served grilled chick on a stick…hmm! I was terrified of it, but convinced that it is a very typical and authentic Puerto Rican snack.

The second day highlight was the bioluminescent bay trip! Mom and Dad convinced me to do it, and I’m so so glad I did! I didn’t get it through SAS, so I found a group of 7 other kids to go with me. We took a 12 person boat through the canals as our tour guide pointed our iguanas, water bats, constellations, flying fish, and more! When we got into the bay, our tour guide let us swim, and I can’t explain what a surreal feeling it is to move and see glowing bubbles radiate off your skin. My best comparison is that it looked like an outline of glowing sparking cider every time we moved.

The last day we went to Kmart (to stock up on some granola bars, sunscreen, games, etc) and then sat on the edge of a cliff that overlooked the shore and reflected on our amazing time in Puerto Rico. In one class of mine, students complained that everyone in Puerto Rico spoke English, ate American food, and lacked a unique culture. However, the people I traveled with had a completely different experience, and I’m so glad for that! We ate at all local restaurants where no one spoke English and we had to point to order, saw housing arrangements out of San Juan, and spoke to many local people around the city.

We’ve been at sea for almost 7 days, so I’m VERY anxious to get to Brazil. Tonight I’ll be spending the night on the deck of the ship so I’ll wake up to the beautiful horizon of Brazil…I’m so excited for Carnival and my Amazon adventures….I hope everything back at home is going well! I miss all of you greatly, and would love updates from you too! Mom and Dad – I can’t thank you enough for this incredible opportunity – no doubt the best of my life!