Bonfire, Birthday, and Beaches

After School Beach Bonfire

February begin with an after school meeting on the beach. We built a bonfire, drank some sangria, and limboed the night away. We taught the Puerto Ricans the art of making a traditional american treat, the smore. They were a little reluctant at first but soon realized what tasty campfire treat it is. In our hunt for firewood we found the perfect piece of bamboo for a limbo stick so we all tested how low we could go. I think Barbara, the oldest teacher at the school, was our champion!

San Blass

The town of Coamo hosts a famous half marathan every February. Runners from all over the world come to run on the hilly roads and Puerto Ricans come from all over the island to drink beer, eat food, and watch the runners go by. This was definitely one of my most memorable experiences in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Ricans will use any excuse to have a party. Although the marathon is only a couple hours on Sunday, the festivities begin on Friday.

Charco Azul

On Sunday afternoon Andrea and I adventured out with Barbara to Charco Azul, which is a lake in a forested area. We hiked up the river. Then were about to swim in the FREEZING cold lake when the rain began. So we quickly jumped in and then tried to out wait the rain.

Happy Birthday Alyssa!!

February 22 we went to a restaurant in between the "The Tits of Cayey", literally they call the two mountain tops "las tetas de Cayey". The restaurant had a fabulous view and a lively environment. They sang Happy Birthday to Alyssa like every half hour. There was live music and great food. I literally had to look my dinner in the eye as I ate! But it was tasty. It was a excellent birthday celebration!



Corona Extra Surf Competition in Rincon

On friday after school we packed our bags and headed west to Rincon. Destination: surf competition. We went out for the night to get a feel for the surfer town. Then woke up early on Saturday to claim our spots at the beach. With the cooler packed we arrived at the beach by 9:30 for a day of watching surfers and soaking in the sun. The surfers were incredibly talented. There was even a 13 year old girl who was ripping up the waves. We had friends, sun, tropical drinks, and cute surfers... what more could we ask for?

Holidays Island Style

When it comes to holidays the Puerto Ricans know how to celebrate. The Christmas season officially begins Thanksgiving day and lasts until Jan. 15 with the Festival of San Sebastion in San Juan. It begins with Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, Three Kings Day, New Years Eve, then the 8 days of Octavistas ending with a three day street festival in Viejo San Juan on the 15th. These celebrations include lots of food and drink: lechon (pork), arroz con gandules (rice), pasteles (kind of like tamales made with yuca or plantain), pitorro (an illegal alcohol made in the mountains kind of like moonshine, it comes in a variety of flavors, my favorites being coconut and passion fruit), and coquito (like an egg nog). They also have a very interesting tradition of Christmas Caroling but more entertaining, called Parranda. They get a group of people together and instruments, then go to someone's house in the late hours of the night or early morning. They sing and play the instruments outside the lucky person's house until they wake up. Then that person invites everyone in for food, drinks, and more singing. Then they move on to more houses throughout the night. They are very proud of this tradition and with reason. I was impressed of how willing the people got out of bed and started serving food and drinks and even moved on to the next house. I almost forgot to mention that on Thanksgiving the city ordenance of a bar closing time is lifted so they stay open as late as they want or the people want! Shhhh.... I may have seen the sun come up on a few occasions, once on the beach!




So how did I fit into all of the festivities. First, we began by decorating our Christmas tree in November in anticipation of a festive holiday season. We strung blue lights on our dollar store tree and hung sand dollar ornaments (that were really found in the ocean). We thought we would go with an ocean theme for our first Puerto Rican Christmas. For Thanksgiving we had the week off of school. Andrea's mom and sister came to visit so we had some adventures showing them around. The highlight of the week was Culebra. It is a small island off the island. We packed up to camp there for the night and took the ferry to the island. We hung out at Flamenco beach, which was once voted the second best beach in the world for it's white sand and clear, warm waters. The snorkeling there was unbelievable. Laying on the beach watching the stars was unforgetable. Falling alseep listening to the waves crash on the beach and waking up steps from the water was extrodinary. Camping in Culebra is an experience of a lifetime.


On Thanksgiving we got together at the Mudd's for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie so I didn't feel so far from home.

Then Christmas vaction began with our work Christmas party. The school rented out a place and had a band and an open bar. The teachers brought lots of good food. We ate, drank, gave away secret santa presents, and danced the night away. The director of the school even tried teaching me some salsa moves.


On Christmas morning I woke up to presents under my tree and my childhood stocking filled with goodies thanks to my amazing family, who had sent me way too many thoughtful presents, but talking to them was the best gift I could get. Then we were invited to the owner of the school's house. They cooked some turkey, rice, stuffing and flan for dessert. Then we actually spent Christmas night at a reggae concert, Cultura Profetica. It wasn't a white Christmas but a wet, rainy one. Talk about a typical Christma celebration.


December 30: Niki, Stephie, and Dana ARRIVE!!

I picked the girls up in San Juan and we went to San Juan for the next two days. On the 31 I showed them around Viejo San Juan. We walked the streets and visited the forts. Then that night we kissed 2008 goodbye and welcomed 2009 on the Rumba party cruise, with typically Puerto Rican food, drinks, music, and dancing. The next day we relaxed on the beach in Isla Verde.






One of the highlights of their visit was Icacos. We took a watertaxi to another little island. The taxi dropped us off on a deserted island and we unloaded our coolers and bags hoping we would have a ride home (or maybe not!). We turned on Bob Marley, poured ourselves some sangria, and waded in the crystal clear waters. We spent the day catching up and taking in the rays, excpet for Niki who we had to send to the shade!










We also went on a guided rainforest adventure. We hiked up a riverbed through the forest. We climbed a mini waterfall. Then repelled down an 80 foot waterfall. Stephie may or may not have cried, Niki was like a pro, and it was probably the crazy thing I have ever done, which I think I may have been screaming on my way down. What an adrenaline rush!










It was great seeing my girls! I appreciate the time and money they took to come visit me. I hope they think it was worth it and will be back for more! Love you girls. Miss you already.

I also experienced my first "Chinchorreo". They have these little road side stands called chinchorros that are along the coast that sell typical Puerto Rican fried food like pastelillos, alcapurrias, empanadias, and drinks. Many Puerto Ricans go "chinchorreando" which is stopping along a various chinchorros to eat and drink. So some of my friends from here took me Chinchorreando. It was a pretty entertaining evening. We supposedly even meet a famous Reggaton singer (Julio Voltio-he's the one with the kids).

That last week of Christmas break I actually took some time to relax and work on my tan (I've moved down to SPF 15!) and rest up for school.


Then on the 15 we ended the holidays with a bang in viejo San Juan at the Calle San Sebastion street festival. Our friend Juan, guided Andrea and I around the festival. There were lots of people, food, drinks, music, dancing,and (seeing a pattern here). It was a pretty typical street festival and a great way to end the holiday season.



Although I missed celebrating the holidays with my friends and family, I am glad that I was able to experience a Puerto Rican Christmas. Before I left for PR, I had heard many times how amazing and beautiful Christmas is here, but I thought it can't be much different from home. Christmas is great everywhere. But it was different. It may seem like all I did was party but I learned something. I think that Americans have something to learn from the Puerto Ricans and I think that everyone could use a little island life philospohy. Not once did I hear anyone complain about anything that has to do with the holidays. No one complained about cooking, lines, money, or buying presents. No one is stressed out. They simply enjoy the time that they get to spend with their friends and family. Their families actually get together for each of these holidays and not only does Santa Claus come but so do the Three Kings. They even enjoy getting woken up from a deep sleep to host a party. All I saw were smiles, and heard many laughs. It truely is an "enchanted island".


I hope everyone at home also enjoyed the holiday season. I did really miss you all and missed the White Christmas for about a minute! I wish you all the best in the year 2009. May you all be blessed with health, happiness, and love! I don't know about you but I think 2009 will be a great one. Probably, one that I will never forget.

Daily life in PR

Bonding with the Sixth Graders

Recently I went on my first GPS field trip. We took a three hour bus trip through the curvy mountatins in an outdated school bus to see the largest radio telescope in the world in Arecibo. Despite the the sixth grade dance party with Jonas brother and Daddy Yankee music on the bus we finally made it. The museum had many hands on informative stations for the kids and it was interesting to find out how scientist travel from all over the world to Arecibo to use the telescope to learn more about our universe and beyond. The best part was actually spending time with the kids, the long day was worth it. Aren't they cute?!

Unfortunately, Puerto Rico has many homeless wandering dogs that just break my heart. There happened to be one who comes around my house, that I really want to take in (can you guess why?). I named him Omar because he came around right after the hurricane Omar that was suppose to hit us. I can't believe this little guy survived the rains, he's a tough cookie.

Trick or Treat!

We dressed up as Puerto Rican boxers for halloween and then went out for the night. I was "Juanma Lopez" and Andrea was "Ivan Calderon". I think that the Puerto Ricans were pretty impressed with our research we did for our costumes.

Elections

I'm sure things got pretty crazy at home around the election time, but I have never seen politics the way I have seen them here. Each of the parties caravans around town in a parade of cars with loudspeakers blaring music, hanging out of the car swinging their flags and beers. They come at all hours of the day and night. They will hold up traffic for hours, but the Puerto Ricans don't seem to mind. So the night before the elections we decided to find oursevles a parade. There are two main parties here that our color associated so we wore blue shirts and brought red ones so when we found a parade we could jump in. We ended up finding the Popular Party(red) so we put on our red shirts and started honking the horn and shouting. The parade actually ended up in the plaza at their rally. Look in the picture you can see that even the family dog goes. To the right is a picture of one of my students supporting the popular party.

Mom Weekend!!

Columbus Day weekend Mom and Connie (family friend) came to visit. It was a great opportunity to show off some off some of our favorite places and explore new ones. They finally made it to Guayama with half of my printed directions and the lack of street signs in PR (for some reason Connie thought it was wierd that we don't know our address). We welcomed them with some pina coladas then went out for a drive and dinner.

Then on Friday they came to school to see my classroom and meet my coworkers and students. My students were really excited to meet them and everyone was surprised about how young mom is. They went to relax at the beach while I was teaching. That night we headed to Ponce for a concert. It was the traditional African music. The women have really powerful voices and if only I could learn to move my body to the sound of the congas. It was a great taste of culture.

The next day we headed to the rainforest despite the dark looming clouds. We decided to go because we were going to a rainforest anyhow. We hiked through the rainforest with some showers (all the more adventurous). We stopped to get even more wet in the waterfall, which was flowing more powerfully than the first time I had been. We figured that we were already soaked from the rain that a picture opt in the waterfall wouldn't hurt. How exhilerating! Then after leaving the rainforest we went up to the Bioluminescent Bay in Fajardo for a kayaking trip to see the plankton light up in the water beneath the night sky. We kayaked through mangroves with just the moonlight peaking through the branches to guide us through the calm waters. We arrived to a lagoon where our guide taught us all about the plankton that live in the waters that light up when activated by movement. We jumped in and our bodies where followed by trails of light. I can't even explain how it felt to be swimming in the oean under the moonlight and having your movements trailed by light. The feeling was euphric, completely unexplainable.

The next day we headed to a beach for some relaxation, to only be followed by a 3 hour car ride(that sould have been half that) due to construction and political parades. When we got home we forgot about the ride with pizza, drinks, and games. It was fun!

On Monday we went to old San Juan. We ate and had margaritas at a great Mexican restuarant (oh how I miss Mexican food, Puerto Rican food is definetly the down fall of the island). We walked around Old San Juan. Of course before they left we visited Condom World because they're like the Golden Arches, you see them on every steet corner.

All in all it was a fabulous weekend, full of laughs and adventures. I hope they enjoyed their getaway as much as I enjoyed the visit.

Music, Island, and RUM!

Since the last entry I went to Salinas (a neighboring town) Patron Saint Festival. It was like the Taste of CL but instead of a Jimmy Buffet or Beatle cover band there was a reggaton group. It was like MTV invaded the family festival.

Then another night we went to a Reggae musical festival in Luquillo. At the fest there were local reggae bands and traditional Puerto Rican Plena. The men played the congas and the women danced in the traditional long white dresses. The rhythms were contaigous and the dancing was fascinating.

Then we need a little getaway so we left the island to go to another island, Gilligan's Island. We took a short boat ride over to the small little island to swim, snorkel, and relax. The water was clear blue and calm.

This past weekend we went to San Juan to visit the Bacardi factory. We took the ferry from Old San Juan to the other side of the bay. Then we followed the calls of "bacardi, bacardi" to what I think was a taxi service. In the factory we learned the history of Bacardi rum, and more importantly enjoyed the free samples. We decided to stay the night and check out the Puerto Rican nightlife. The streets of the quiant, spanish colonial town turn into an all night party scene as the nightclubs open their doors. So we put on our dancing (and drinking) shoes and joined the fun! Luckily, all we had to wake up to the next day was a nap on Condado Beach.

Las Cavernas y el Bosque

Last weekend we ventured into the caves of Puerto Rico. We arrived at the gas station where the path begins and we were met by our tour guide, a dog. It was cute she followed us all the way through the caves and assured us back to safety. We made it through the darkness, dampness, and flying bats to an incredible view in the Caverna Ventana, or Window Cave, to see a breathtaking view of a valley.

EL Yunque

This past weekend we explored the Yunque Rainforest. There are numerous trails that lead you throughout the rainforest. We chose the trail that leads to the La Mina waterfall. It was quite a refreshing resting spot, in the chilling rainforest water. I look forward to returning with anyone who visits.