Reality teaches you to appreciate.

By: Dawn Scales
June 1, 2007

It's the day after arrival back into the continental United States from Puerto Rico when I'm forced to recon with reality and attempt to start my car. I say a silent prayer and proceed to insert my key, I turn it and a false hope takes over my body. The sound of cranking spook my nerves but after seconds of time flew by I realized it wasn't turning over.
Next option: Walk.

Having too much fun at club Nuyorican in Old San Juan. Quick, hide the pina colada!

I think to myself maybe this is a blessing, "Relying on a piece of metal to get me about town only cripples me."

After walking almost every where in Puerto Rico the breeze and not so scorching weather here in Norman seem to be a blessing in disguise. Twenty minutes into my walk sweat starts dripping from my forehead and of course the arm pits. Let me remind you, I'm not walking for my amusement. I have to pick up a pay check from Burger King and meet with my boss Angela at my other job, News writer for the College of Arts and Sciences. I'm writing a special piece about my experience in Puerto Rico for their magazine Kaleidoscope, which isn't hard at all. I'm sure I could write for days about my experience.
About to pass is a Norman public transit bus with the words Lloyd Noble printed on the top for everyone to see. I figured it was heading from Lloyd Noble to the south oval of campus. I waved it down, not thinking it would stop but it did. I entered to find myself the only one riding and immediately asked the old white haired man what bus I would take to go to Wal-mart. I had to purchase some Cd's to copy all the Puerto Rico pictures I had stored on the Mac laptop Gaylord College had provided during our stay in the Caribbean. He said Alameda and suggested he could call and have it wait for me, fore it was leaving in less than 5 minutes. I said thanks but I had to take care of some other business first. I thought to myself, he was a nice little man.
After picking up my check and making it over to the Arts and Sciences building, only to find Angela was on lunch break, I headed over to catch the Alameda bus. I stepped onto the semi-packed bus and sat down. The bus pulled out of the south oval and I finally realized two blue eyes were peering up at me. The eyes of this three month old baby girl made my face light up, while her mom jokingly said to her, "It isn't nice to stare." At the moment I didn't mind. Only after I noticed her gaze hadn't parted my face nearly 10 minutes into the bus ride did I begin to feel a little bothered. I had spouted all the baby talk and smiles I could muster. Pleasing babies unless it's mine, so I'd like to imagine, seem to be a hard chore for me. Finally I was at the stop for Wal-Mart. After crossing busy 12th street, purchasing three blank Cd's and making my way back over to the stop I found myself sitting next to a guy I thought looked mighty familiar. Nevertheless I proceeded to make conversation as if I had never seen him before.
He looked African so I started off with, "Where are you from?"
"Angola," he replied. "Do you know where that's at?"
"Yea, Africa."
"Good, I've had some people ask me what city is that." We both shared a laugh and I told him some people are just ignorant.
He asked me what I thought of the weather, I said it wasn't that bad.
"It's hot," he said. "But not hotter than you." I thought to myself, it's probably hotter in Africa but of course I didn't voice that. I just told him that I just got back from Puerto Rico and the weather is noticeably hotter there. Only seconds later did I realize he was voicing a cheesy pick up line. I took the compliment and tried to move on as quickly as possible.
"So are you taking summer school?"
"Yea, history and math. Are you?"
"Well the trip to Puerto Rico was a class but other than that no I'm not taking any classes."
From there I asked him what his major was, which was petroleum engineering but he expressed to me that he would rather be majoring in civil construction. His father, is apparently controlling his decision and he added that people in his country are overly concerned about money. I felt for him. Especially after co horsed questioning when he brought out the fact that my major was journalism, I love what I do and the trip to Puerto Rico only enforced my convictions.

"We are total opposites. You love what you do and me on the other hand, I don't," he said in an accepting tone.

Top: Enjoying the water at the Camuy
Caves.

Bottom: Dianne and I making music with the local vendor along side the beach.

Drinking in Puerto Rico must be a hobby!

By: Dawn Scales
Friday May 25, 2007

I woke up tired after a long night of partying on the town in San Juan. We were awakened by our room phone, which rang twice as Kendal slowly turned over to pick it up. It was our wake up call from the front desk that we had requested the night before. I laid there not wanting to get up but I knew it was a must to jump in the shower and get ready as quickly as possible for today was the day we would visit the TuTv channel 6 television station and Casa Bacardi, which I and others had been looking forward to visiting even before we had landed in Puerto Rico. It wasn’t a secret. Two free alcoholic beverages was enough information to get me there. But let me not get side tracked, let’s talk more about the station.
The station was not strictly television, housing a radio station as well. One station was devoted solely to classical music and the other was a form of entertainment targeting the older generation. From wall to wall were up to date equipment that would more than likely amaze radio personalities in the states. Let me not speak for others but it definitely impressed my little socks off.
Maritley Lasant, manager for public relations, was kind enough to explain the dynamics of the radio control rooms and shortly after Osualdo Perez Torres, director of the station, whisked us around the corner and up the stairs to show us the new master control room, which they had been renovating for close to a year and a half, Osualdo said. The room was state of the art, filled with the latest technology. Flat screen TV’s massed the far wall as we walked in, computers and ingesting equipment outlined two outside borders of the room.
As pretty and high tech as it looked it wasn’t actually working yet, next Thursday would be the first day they drop their old ways and begin a new. Dana Rosengard, one of our accompanying professors, asked some good questions and comments. Insinuated that this was now basically a one-man job. Jorge Jay Norate, master control assistant, objected and said they were not updating in order to reduce the people working there.
“It is intended to reduce the people errors that occur and speed up the process, but I don’t doubt that could happen it’s just not our focus,” he said.
After leaving the new master control room we entered into what will soon be the old one. After seeing the previous room this room seemed extra rickety and filled with outdated equipment that worked okay but not as efficient. After visiting the technical side we were able to go down and see a live show in the studio. I was amazed. The set was colorful and modern, very reminiscent of Puerto Rican culture and there was also a live band. From working in the newsroom on campus I know how things are basically run, hectic and busy. I definitely saw that but in the end things seem to come together and come out close to perfect. That’s exactly what happened.
A bartender was on set to show the viewers how to make pina coladas. Well after throwing in all the fruit and mixing it together the hosts had a chance to taste it. I literally thought one of them was going to get a brain freeze from drinking it so fast and in such large quantities. She couldn’t even talk for wanting to taste more. Shoot, the way she was sucking on that straw had me wanting some.
That was a nice end to visiting the station because shortly after that we were entering the gates of Casa Bacardi. Immediately our tour guide, Jose, was giving us two pink tickets for two rum drinks of our choice and a green ticket, which was our ticket to taking the tour.

Wes, Kendal and I show off our drinks in front of the Casa Bacardi gift store.

I learned a lot about the man behind the alcoholic beverages branded Bacardi and also how much risqué marketing goes behind supporting such a product. I felt like I was literally in the club during more than half the tour.

The bat symbol that brands every bottle of Bacardi is represented as a sculpture.

I left San German a different being.

By: Dawn Scales
Wednesday May 23, 2007

There was no turning back, all our belongings, all 10 tons of extra baggage were packed and we were on our way to San Juan after spending four nights at the Universidad de Interamericana (University of Interamerican). Now that was an experience. Spending four days on a college campus in Puerto Rico really isn’t too different from spending time at OU. Many of the students were going through finals so staying out late was rumored not to be happening but every night there was a crowd of guys posted up in the game room or court yard. Most of the individuals that stayed in the dorm were athletes so they had no problem walking around with their shirts off or sporting skimpy little shorts. I was feeling the atmosphere though, even though I don’t speak fluent Spanish or even maintain adequate Spanish I was able to communicate with them. I knew enough words to get by and a few students that knew English that could help me out.

Students at the university made the visit worth while.

It was amazing how many students I came in contact with that didn’t speak English when speaking around a large group but once around a smaller group they would open up and by the end of the night they were speaking fluent English. I later found out that most of them were shy or not so sure about their English. I on the other hand would try anything to connect, throwing out words that weren’t conjugated and even acting out words. Basically I looked like a fool and then I would ask a person sitting right next to them a question and they would know how to understand and speak almost perfect English. That cracked me up really. I’m over here struggling and you’re secretly watching me probably thinking, “what the heck.”
The night before we left Steven, our host, gave Kendal and I some wise words to leave with.
“Do what you have to do to succeed, there will be people who will spite you and dislike you but in the end you have to be strong and do what you got to do,” he said.
I thought that was great how he cared that much to share those words, they struck me and added yet another factor to my loving Puerto Rico.
While in San German I also got my labret pierced. Yes, kind of a random act but I saw a flyer and noticed how cheap it was so I thought what would be better than to get a hole in Puerto Rico. So Angela and Jessica accompanied me while Rosa Sierra drew a dot underneath the middle of my lip and inside, clamped and thrust a needle from the outside through the inside of my lip. I thought it would hurt even more. It hurt but not as much as I thought.

Getting my labret pierced in San German was more than amazing. Rosa was off the chain.

That night the ball fell off and I found myself at the piercing shop the next day. After minutes of trying to reopen it Rosa had me fixed up and in no time conversation of religion had spawned, only because I initiated it of course. She immediately said she hated religion.
“People here are so judgmental and because I wear a lot of black I seem to be targeted a lot,” she said.
She followed by telling me a story about how she walked out of her shop one day and this woman handed her a flyer saying she was a sinner and she was going to hell if she didn’t follow the teachings of God.
“Religion is confusing and if God is going to send someone to hell because they follow a different teaching, I don’t want to be associated with a God like that.”
Despite her views religion seems to be ever present in every aspect of life. The art, the buildings, the numerous churches dispersed around the area, the jewelry and even the people walking around all scream religious affiliation.

Tiempos locos, locos en Puerto Rico!

Me in the dry forest during a tour given by Fransisco.

By: Dawn Scales
Friday, May 18, 2007


Ponce, the second largest city in Puerto Rico, is where we have spent the first three nights of our stay. Francisco Jusino, dressed in crisp khakis and a polo shirt with Adventuras Travels sewn onto the left breast of the shirt, introduced himself after we loaded the bus to begin our first full day in Puerto Rico. After a day of his guiding, I was impressed. He wasn’t supposed to show us around the second day but Angela Fetty, graduate assistant, did some talking and convinced him to come if we gave him $2 each. We all put two bucks together and had the opportunity to enjoy Francisco for yet another day. The absence of Francisco would have hurt my heart. He speaks brilliant English and knows almost everything about everything. He is his own boss, selling his car and buying a van is how he first started his business, Aventuras Puerto Rico Tours.
We started out the day by taking a winding up hill road to the Caguana & Tibes Indian Parks where most of our cell phones lost signal. The fact that our phones aren’t a priority for an hour or so relieves me. We as citizens of the United States seem to be engulfed with issues concerning materialism, which are rooted from perceptions of self-image.
On the way there we witnessed three brown horses just walking side by side in the middle of the street and before taking eyes off of them they began to gallop onto the highway. Are you serious, were my thoughts.

On the way to the Caguana & Tibes Indian Park we witnessed three malnutritioned horses run onto the highway.

Upon arrival Salvador Mas, park tour guide, guided us into a small structure filled with wall-to-wall information on the early civilization of Taino Indians.

Salvador Mass explains the huts that original Indians resided in during our tour.

Salvador’s speech conveyed that of conviction and passion, not just for his job but also for the history of civilization.
“Beautiful African culture, just so beautiful, look at you, you’re beautiful,” Salvador said with such conviction.
We followed Mas across a bridge into the woods where he used imagery, mythical tones of speech and humor to keep everyone engaged. He speaks like a novel, Franciso said. Who knew there were hallucinogens used that were so potent it could kill you or better yet take you to a place where you see Gods and Spirits? I hate to admit it but when he said that my ears perked up. At one point Francisco picked up a baby lizard and told us when women would lose their earrings they would, well he didn’t finish he just put the baby lizard up to his ear and the lizard clinched on and dangled for moments. I had to do it.

After witnessing Fransisco let the lizard cling to his ear I wanted to experience the same.









Thus far Salvador would be the second best tour guide we’ve met, Francisco being the first of course. Following we grabbed a bite to eat and then headed to the Dry Rainforest where the sweat seemed to pour out of my body. Imagine a bottle of water, that’s how much rainfall the forest gets a year. That's how much water I didn't have yet lusted for.
Like Lauren said, “I would die.”
There are 100 or so different kinds of birds on the island and 50 are found in the forest, one was sighted but I missed it. Apparently they are most prevalent in the morning.
After spending all day filling our “cabezas” (heads) with much wanted information we were able to fill our stomachs with the islands best, a little rum. Kendal, Wes and I walked about a block left of our hotel and ran into a crowd of young looking natives, just standing. There dress definitely was reminiscent of Hip-Hop culture. Matching shirts, shoes, sunglasses at night and baggy clothes were all seen. At first we thought they were waiting to get into the clubs, which consisted of about three bars right on top of each other. No, they were just talking, watching and of course drinking in the middle of the street.
It was an awkward vibe. I was told something interesting by Norman, an English speaking native, who told me a majority of people know English they just choose not to speak it and act dumb when you say something to them.

I said it's time to leave the states!

By: Dawn Scales
Jan. 28, 2006

For many years I have been interested in traveling and in the course of those years my passion for writing has definitely grown. I have obtained writing experience through reporting for two on-campus publications and a daily city newspaper. Taking that experience further is a constant need for me. Nurturing my skill, expanding the knowledge I know and encountering different cultures are all key as well. Traveling to San Juan, Puerto Rico will enable me to learn about the history of travel writing and its contemporary genres taught by Dr. Meta Carstarphen and Professor Kathryn Jenson White.
I always find myself researching, reporting and writing about issues that concern those of minority status, being those that have different ethnic backgrounds to those who are of completely different races. Even though English is required in all federal matters in Puerto Rico, Spanish is without a doubt the dominant language and I can’t wait to try out my two semesters of Spanish among native speakers. I think my longing to travel comes from wanting to connect the imagery I have seen with the actual encounter of a specific place and people. Being able to document happenings and creating bonds with individuals that I would otherwise not interact with is what keeps me going on a daily basis.
The Gaylord College, as I have noticed, works hard to provide further educational opportunities for us as students. I would like to have the pleasure of reaping the benefits of such scholastic programs.