9 Reasons You Need To Visit Puerto Rico

9 Reasons You Need To Visit Puerto Rico

Ramon A. Misla David
Ramon A. Misla David Nov 3, 2015
51
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Puerto Rico is a small island (roughly 3,515 square miles, to be exact), yet there is so much to do and such diversity that you’ll want to stay longer - and here’s why:

1. Puerto Rican beaches are amazing!

With renowned beaches such as Ocean Park, Flamenco Beach, Boquerón, Crash Boat, Gilligan Island, Luquillo Beach, and so on, you’ll never be bored. Plus, you’re never more than 45 minutes from a beach!


2. Summer all year around!

Even during winter, the temperature average is 60-70°F; this means that no matter when you go during the year, you can expect a nice, hot time.


3. No passport needed!

One of the good things about Puerto Rico’s current relationship with the United States is that US citizens can travel between the US and Puerto Rico without the need of a passport.

(P.S. - Puerto Ricans have been US citizens since 1917.)

4. El Yunque Rainforest!

El Yunque National Rainforest is actually the only tropical rainforest in the entire United States National Forest System. In El Yunque, you can hike through the many trails, experience breath-taking scenery, and even take a swim in the river! It's truly a magical place.


5. History you can experience!

From magnificent forts, such as El Morro, to the Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center, Puerto Rico offers you the opportunity to experience history first hand. Whether you take a stroll through colonial-style Old San Juan or walk through the historic Hacienda La Esperanza, Puerto Rico is full of history.


6. Puerto Ricans know how to cook!

You have not lived until you’ve had authentic Puerto Rican food! Contrary to popular belief, Puerto Rican food is mostly sweet instead of spicy. Plantains are very common and are used to make heavenly foods such as tostones, amarillitos, arañitas, and most importantly, mofongo. Rice, beans, and meat are also an essential part of the Puerto Rican diet. All in all, Puerto Rican food is both diverse and delicious - there’s something for everyone!


7. Music that inspires you to get up and dance!

Puerto Rico is a land of music and dance. While Puerto Rico is the birthplace of many music styles, such as bomba y plena, aguinaldo, and reggaeton, it has become the center of Latin music, such as salsa, merengue, and Latin pop. So make sure to take your dance shoes!


8. You’ll fall in love with the scenery!

It’s not that often where you can have a few beaches, a rainforest, a coffee plantation, a mangrove swamp, a colonial-style city, and even a bioluminescent bay all in a 2-3 hour drive area. Despite being small in size, Puerto Rico definitely has a lot to offer.


9. The bioluminescent bays are almost right out of a movie!

Last, but certainly not least, Puerto Rico is home to three of the world’s few bioluminescent bays. In addition, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world is found in Vieques, Puerto Rico. Being able to jump in and see how the water literally glows around you is a truly memorable and amazing moment you do not want to miss.
Cover Image Credit: http://wallpaper222.com/explore/free-wallpaper-puerto-rico/
Ramon A. Misla David
Ramon A. Misla David Nov 3, 2015
At Liberty University

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To The Boy Who Will Love Me Next

If you can't understand these few things, leave before things get too involved
Danielle Stallins
Danielle Stallins Apr 27, 2016
16160
views

To the boy that will love me next, I need you to know and understand things about me and my past. The things I have been though not only have shaped the person I’ve become, but also sometimes controls my life. In the past I’ve been used, abused, and taken for granted, and I want something real this time. The guys before you were just boys; they didn’t know how to treat me until it was too late. They didn’t understand how to love me, until I broke my own heart. Before you truly decide to love me I want you to understand these things.

When I tell you something, please listen.

I’m my own person, I want to be loved a certain way. If I ask you to come over and watch movies with me please do it, if I ask for you to leave me alone for a few hours because it’s a girl’s night please do it. I don’t just say things to hear my own voice, I say things to you because it’s important to my life and the way I want to be loved. I’m not a needy person when it comes to being loved and cared for, but I do ask for you to do the small things that I am say.

Forgive my past.

My past is not a pretty brick road, it is a highway that has a bunch of potholes and cracks in it. I have a lot of baggage, and most of it you won’t understand. But don’t let my past decided whether you want to love me or not. My past has helped form who I am today, but it does not define who I am. My past experiences might try and make an appearance every once in a while, but I will not go back to that person I once was, I will not return to all that hurt I once went though. When I say those things, I’m telling the complete and honest truth. I relive my past every day, somethings haunt me and somethings are good reminds. But for you to love me, I need you to accept my past, present and future.

I’m just another bro to the other guys.

I have always hung out with boys, I don’t fit in with the girl groups. I have 10 close girlfriends, but the majority of my friends are guy, but don’t let this scare you. If I wanted to be with one of my guy friends I would already be with him, and if you haven’t noticed I don’t want them because I’m with you. I will not lose my friendships with all my guy friends to be able to stay with you. I will not cut off ties because you don’t like my guy friends. I have lost too many buddies because of my ex-boyfriends and I promised myself I wouldn’t do that again. If you don’t like how many guy friends I have you can leave now. Don’t bother trying to date me if you can accept the fact I’m just another bro.

I might be a badass, but I actually have a big heart.

To a lot of people I come off to be a very crazy and wild girl. I will agree I can be crazy and wild, but I’m more than that. I’m independent, caring, responsible, understanding, forgiving, and so such more type of woman. Many people think that I’m a badass because I don’t take any negatively from anyone. Just like we learned when we were younger, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all.” Most people can’t do that in today’s world, so I stick up for myself and my friends. I don’t care what anyone thinks about me, or their option on how I live my life. The only thing I care about is being able to make myself happy. Even though I’m an independent woman, understand that I do have a big heart. Honesty when I truly care for someone I will do just about anything they ask, but don’t take advantage of this. Once you take advantage of this part of me, all respect will be lost for you.

I’m hard to love.

Sometimes I want to be cuddle and get attention, and sometimes I don’t want you to talk to me for a couple hours. Sometimes I want you to take me out for a nice meal, but sometimes I want a home cooked meal. Every day is different for me, sometimes I change my mind every hour. My mood swings are terrible on certain days, and on those days you should probably just ignore me. I’m not easy to love, so you’ll either be willing to find a way to love me, or you’ll walk out like so many others have.

I’m scared.

I’m scared to love someone again. I’ve been hurt, heartbroken, and beat to the ground in my past relationships. I want to believe you are different, I want to hope things will truly work out, but every relationship has always ended up the same way. I’m scared to trust someone, put my whole heart into them, just to be left and heartbroken again. I sick and tired of putting my whole body and soul into someone for them to just leave when it is convenient for them. If you want to love me, understand it won’t be easy for me to love you back.

When “I’m done.”

When I say “I’m done” I honestly don’t mean that I’m done. When I say that it means I need and want you to fight for me, show me why you want to be with me. I need you to prove that I’m worth it and there’s no one else but me. If I was truly done, I would just walk away, and not come back. So if I ever tell you, “I’m done,” tell me all the reasons why I’m truly not done.

For the boy who will love me next, the work is cut out for you, you just have to be willing to do it. I’m not like other girls, I am my own person, and I will need to be treated as such. For the boy that will love me next, don’t bother with me unless you really want to be with me. I don’t have time to waste on you if you aren’t going to try and make something out of us. To the boy who will love me next, the last thing I would like to say is good luck, I have faith in you.

Cover Image Credit: Danielle Balint
Danielle Stallins
Danielle Stallins Apr 27, 2016
At Southern Illinois University Carbondale

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Valuable Takeaways You Will Get From Studying Abroad

The things you'll remember most won't be the "crazy parties", but memories much more meaningful than that.

Jessica Ma
Jessica Ma May 20, 2019
30
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Everyone who studies abroad always comes back saying the same cliche things, such as how study abroad absolutely changed them or how they feel like they just belong in the place they studied in. Others will boast about skipping all their classes and partying every other night, which in a way, are also unique experiences. After 4 months abroad, I can assure you that although there is some truth in all of those statements, the reality is more of a mild mix of all of them. You will create unforgettable memories with friends and spend time partying it up in the city, but you will also come to genuinely appreciate your city for its small quirks instead of the major touristy activities. Regardless of your experience, however, here are some lessons everyone will have taken from their time abroad.

1. More Independence

No matter how well traveled you were before starting this semester abroad, when you're thrown into a foreign country with no one familiar, you'll be forced to grow up quickly. From figuring out how to interact with your non-student neighbors to figuring out meals every single day, studying abroad will help you grow up quickly. This may be the first time that you'll be away from everyone you know for more than a few weeks, and you'll have to find ways to cope with it.

2. New Perspectives

After spending more than 10 years in the American education system, learning about events like World War II and the Global Financial Crisis from a non-American perspective can be extremely eye-opening. Interactions and discussions with international students from other countries will leave you baffled at how many major things in history that your public high school education back in America never taught you. Picnics with your classmates will reveal new foods that you have never been exposed to, but that you now love and must eat once a week. The world is a diverse place, and it required you to get out of the country to truly realize it.

3. Travel opportunities

In the US, you could drive 7 hours from Los Angeles and still end up in California. In Europe or Asia or any other place, transportation methods under that same time can get you to another country or even multiple countries. Instead of a weekend trip to the mountains in the same state, you can take a train from Paris and end up in London a mere two hours later. With different countries so close together, take as many chances as possible to explore as much as you can. That being said, don't forget to travel within your own country and thoroughly explore the place you're living in!

4. Lifelong friendships

Even if you're an introvert, you'll find someone you can get along well with while abroad. Slowly but surely, you'll make that study buddy, gym buddy, boba buddy, or whatever-else-you-do buddy. Realistically, you won't be able to meet up with these people anytime soon after your time abroad, but you'll become so close to them during these few months because you're all on your own for the first time. Every few years, you'll still be compelled to meet up and catch up with them. Every time you visit a country, you'll be able to hit up the friend you made while studying abroad who lives there.

Everyone's study abroad experience will be different, but as long as you put yourself out there and make the most of your time abroad, you will come home with some of the fondest memories of your life.

Jessica Ma
Jessica Ma May 20, 2019
At University of Southern California

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