Rain in the Rain Forest...Who Would Have Guessed.

Thursday May 24, 2997

By: Kendal Tate

After visiting a dry forest, it only seemed appropriate to tour an actual RAIN forest! Early this morning, I got ready to head out to the El Yunque Rain Forest. This place is absolutely breath taking. Our tour guide, Jose Morales, gave us a synopsis of what kinds of plants; birds, monkeys (that we were not allowed to photo because they have rabies and get mad, plus we didn’t see any) and insects are in the rain forest. The environment was so green and full of life and sounds.

Picture 1: Caterpillars in the rain forest, with the babies!

Along the way, Jose pointed out snails that were edible (if one were to be lost in the forest and needed to know how to survive) and where the poison ivy was located, as to avoid it at all costs! When our hike paused (on the path, that I do not believe is historic!) I was able to see the waterfalls. They are incredible; the water is ice blue and a wonderful cool temperature. As you can imagine, what makes more sense than rain in the rain forest? That’s right, while we were playing, photographing and recording the waterfalls; it started to pour down rain. I was prepared with my poncho in bag, but after sweating buckets it didn’t seem appropriate to let the rain get the best of me. Eventually, it did.

Picture 2: This is before I fell on the rock...KJW took a great shot of the waterfall!

After retrieving my camera from KJW, she took my photo in front of the giant waterfall, I was following Wes to another area that was beautiful. I laughed at him for slipping and falling down on a rock. Well I learned karma sucks, because after pointing and laughing at him, I did the exact same thing…I fell down really hard and spun ¼ of the way around. Wes tried to capture the shot on film, but failed. The next day, I had a bruise…a real documentation of my journey through the rain forest. Anyway, after hiking down the rainforest, and the millions of stairs…surprisingly yes there are stairs in the rain forest, I realized I would have to hike up those stairs! I was not a happy camper. But with KJW as the leader, the 30-minute hike seemed to take ten minutes. For every one step she took, I think I managed to take four! We finally made it back through the rain forest, and on the bus to head to the Luquillo Beach.

Picture 3: Bamboo plant in the rain forest, and what my cups are made out of.

Luquillo Beach is a beautiful beach with a view that goes for miles. The water seems endless and although the sky was covered with rain clouds, I was able to imagine what the sky would look like on a non-cloudy day. This beach had incredibly soft sand, palm trees to provide shade, and clear blue Atlantic Ocean water. Every beach we have been to so far has had beautiful, blue water. It must come with being on an island, everything is much more serene and peaceful. I spent my time on the beach not in the water, but enjoying the scenery and the towel I was laying on. I took a nap; I was exhausted from the hike through the rain forest, and nothing is better than a beach nap. Before loading onto the bus for San Juan, I found a cute, older gentleman selling bamboo cups. Now these were one-of-a-kind cups, nothing I had ever seen before. He was a very sweet man who let me choose my cups and for a reasonable price, I had a complete bamboo set. The man said that the cups should last a lifetime, and if I had any problems to give him a call (his card was included with a purchase.) After making my purchase, I headed to the bus to continue on our voyage toward San Juan, Puerto Rico.

San Juan Offers More Than Just Rum...

Friday May 25, 2007

By: Kendal Tate

Today is going to be an exciting day, I have decided.

The day started out with a tour of TUTV channel 6, the Puerto Rican television and radio station. The station is amazing. First, we went into the rooms where the station broadcasts on the radio. We were able to meet the major voice of the station and get a glimpse of what is done on a daily basis. Then, we were able to look inside the script room, where about nine microphones (that look as though they are from the early 1900s) were actually digital. They reminded me of the microphone Christina Aguilera uses in her Candyman video. After looking in the radio rooms, we were ushered into the digital control room. Inside, there were flat screen monitors, several computers and “old equipment” with necessary information that was being transferred into the new wave of technology. Following this room was the “old control room” which was half the size with more equipment. There were only two computers, and half the monitors. This room will be out of date February 17, 2009. This is the date in which all studios are required to switch from Analog systems to the Digital systems. Our multiple tour guides showed us how the “old” equipment worked. With the punch of a few buttons, the tape was pulled out of its location, placed into the VCR and with another click, it would be broadcast. (He did not push that button, because other shows were on air, and that would have messed up the broadcast.) Our final room was the live broadcast technology room. This room was freezing, at one point the tour man gave his sweater to Angie because she was so cold! I felt like I needed 24 layers to be warm, it was that cold!! The behind the scenes people were slowly making their way into the control room for the live broadcast of a talk show that was to start at 1 P.M. The last stage of our tour consisted of watching a live broadcast of a popular talk show. The two women were very enthusiastic, even though I could not understand exactly what was being said.

Picture 1: The hosts at the beginning of the show

There was a male performer, who had an incredible voice, (of course he sang in Spanish), and swayed to his own music. After the performance, there was an interview with how to make an alcoholic beverage. After the two hosts downed the drink, it what seemed like 30 seconds, it was time for us to head to our next destination…Casa Bacardi.

Picture 2: The performer on the talk show, clapping and swaying to the music

The tour of Casa Bacardi was better than the one of Casa Seralles. I had no idea this brand of rum had so much history. It was not just my favorite because I was able to have two free samples, of which were both the best pina coladas I have ever tasted.

Picture 3: Casa Bacardi gift shop and me

The tour started with a historic video that explained how the rum has been in the family for over 130 years and originated in Cuba. At one point, there was an issue and the business almost went under. Due to extreme desire to make the rum a worldwide delight, family members revived the rum and their dream has come true. The distillery showcased the varieties of run and old photos of the original vision. The last phase of the tour was by far the most enthusiastic. The bartender, Thomas, explained the different types of rum Bacardi offers, and how to mix a proper Bacardi drink in the comfort of one’s own home. Thomas described that the classic Rum and Coke (not Rum and Diet Coke, Rum and Diet Rite, or Rum and Dr. Pepper) was named after “free Cuba” and the name stuck. When Thomas was finished explaining the drinks, one enters a room full of pictures, bottles and web videos. This is where one can email a video of about 30 seconds to two people with the bottles in the background. The tour ended at the gift shop.

Picture 4: Thomas explaining the four types of rum on the counter.

This day was my favorite, and I was so glad I was able to write about it because not only was it full of historical information, I was able to see the entire process of rum making. The tour of the TUTV, allowed me to see a live talk show, that only reminded me of the Ellen DeGeneres show. I was hoping the hosts would get up and dance the way Ellen does, but their version of dancing today was consuming a beverage as fast as possible, while avoiding a brain freeze!

Puerto Rico..Here I Come!

I was starving, and after plan X, we finally ended up at Chiles!

April 1, 2007
By: Kendal Tate

I am interested in the May Intersession Study Abroad in Puerto Rico because it will expose me to a new country. I will rely on the culture and its history to guide my writing. Puerto Rico is a different environment where I will be able to interact with new people who share a different culture and lifestyle from my own.
After taking several Spanish courses, I have come to appreciate the Hispanic culture. It is obviously very different from my own, and I love to learn about new cultures. With my Spanish background I have some feel for the Hispanic culture and lifestyle, and want to learn more.

One of my favorite cultural excursions occurred years ago in Japan. My aunt took me to visit a fifth grade classroom, similar to mine in the U.S. I knew no Japanese and the other fifth graders knew some English. We found common ground in Print Club, photos from a machine. I enjoyed spending time with my new friends because I learned some Japanese and how to communicate with students I did not know.
I have always wanted to visit a rain forest because they are so exotic and intriguing. I have seen personal pictures of friends who have been to a rain forest in Costa Rica. As beautiful as the photographs are, I am sure the country is even more stunning in person.

My long term goal, once I finish graduate school, is to be the editor-in-chief of a magazine. Magazines are always changing and only have a shelf-life of about a month. They are based on current issues and trends. New information is gathered and stories are created. This tour will allow me to see this process in full view.
With this experience, I will be able to report what I see, feel, smell, taste and hear. I will strive to write so the reader feels as though he/she is on this tour with me, experiencing the breadth of culture and beauty.
I am not an experienced travel writer, although I love to travel and look at travel brochures. I am an avid photographer with many albums documenting my friendships, interests, accomplishments, and travels.
I am currently a freelance writer for an Internet based sports company. In this job I interview current and former NCAA and Olympic gymnasts, gather data, and create articles that are published on an interactive website. I will bring this experience to Puerto Rico and look to expand my skills.
I enjoy working on a computer whether it is listening to music, keeping in touch with friends, or assembling a presentation. I have experience in creating a slideshow, complete with script and music.

This will be my first time to travel out of the United States by myself. I am a hardworking individual who is dedicated and focused on the task at hand. I learned commitment and dedication through my experience as a level 10 gymnast and a competitive cheerleader.

I will enjoy visiting Puerto Rico and hope to have the opportunity to write about my travels through this exotic country.

Ponce…the Historicaly Dry City

Friday May 18, 2007

Byline: Kendal Tate

Today, tours consisted of visiting the Tibes Indian Ceremonial Park and a hike through the dry forest in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The tour of the Tibes Indian Ceremonial Park was very interesting, as the Taino Indians were on the land 1,000 years before Christopher Columbus. The tour guide, Salvador Mas, was a passionate leader who truly enjoyed his job. He explained the importance of the trees, and how particular trees have an impact on the body. The trees aided in stomach pain, fixing the urinal tract, soothing a soar throat, and cleansing out the body of contamination. Further into the tour, Salvador explained how a woman, when angry, is the strongest. Over time, women who grounded spices and flour on the granite stone eventually wore it away due to the excessive pounding. Salvador explained the beauty these people sought, the flat head. At a very young age, a wooden board would be strapped to the head of a child and because the bones are still developing eventually the forehead will flatten.

Picture 1: Dawn and I in the canoe at Tibes Indian Ceremonial Park

During our walk, replications of huts and canoes were visible to walk through. The history of the Taino Indians customs and rituals was very interesting. Salvador often times side tracked from the history of the Taino Indians to tell personal stories about his pet tarantula, but the passion he has for his job is undeniable.

The hike through the dry forest was quite fascinating. According to Francisco Jusino, our tour guide, the dry forest receives 15 to 20 inches of rain a year. Imagine the size of a normal water bottle…that is the amount of rain the forest receives annually. There were various types of birds and plants throughout the hike. On a side path of the forest, I was able to climb up to the oldest tree on the island; it was over 800 years old. It was in a secluded area where its roots were not deep in the ground, but shallow and went to the sides. The tree was extremely large and rare. After taking a group picture, we headed back to the main path. Francisco showed us a leaf that was thick enough that one could write a letter and send it as a postcard. This was my favorite part of the hike because this was used to be the way to write messages. One would inscribe a message onto a leaf and send it to another person.

After spending three days spent in Ponce, I realized that the policia are incredibly visible. Everywhere I went I was able to easily locate the policia on foot, bike or vehicle. I asked Francisco, our tour guide, about the policia and why the patrol car lights are constantly flashing. Francisco told me that the policia like to be noticed by the people. If the lights are always on, then how would one know if he or she was getting pulled over? Again, Francisco had an answer. He said that if a person were to be pulled over, the siren would sound. While out for a Puerto Rican evening, I noticed that people congregate outside of the bars, while consuming their beverages. The policia are continually driving around the crowded bar areas (like Bar Code and Bumpers) and the Puerto Ricans are not concerned. In the states, if the police swarm a bar or local hang out area, the people scatter immediately, for fear of being caught using a fake I.D or being publicly intoxicated. People in Puerto Rico are not bothered by the policia, and continue about their evening; while the policia continue their rounds. I have observed that the Puerto Rican policia are visible to actually protect the citizens instead of trying to catch them in an illegal act and issue a ticket.

Ponce, Puerto Rico is a fascinating location that offers a wide variety of activities and historical museums.

Picture 2: Bumpers night club in Ponce, Puerto Rico.