As of Tuesday, I will have been in Puerto Rico for 2 weeks. Feels like I have been here way longer, but at the same time there is so much I don't know (a common theme for those who travel I feel like.)
I have done amazing things so far like to go Old San Juan for the fiestas of San Sebastian and gone to one of the most beautiful beaches in my life. However, the best thing I have done so far is go to church.
Through a mutual friend, I was connected with the church Mar Azul about 10 minutes away from university campus. A friend who also attends drove Emma and me and as soon as we walked in, a familiar melody was playing but with unfamiliar words. Songs by Jesus Culture, Hillsong, and other popular Christian bands were played, but with Spanish words. The sermon was in Spanish. Most importantly, I felt at home.
This is a place where the congregation is alive and the Holy Spirit dwells, where singing at the top of your lungs is encouraged and yelling, "Amen!" or "Hallelujah!" is normal. Coffee is served after which has only convinced me that all Christians anywhere in the world drink coffee to some extent. The people were extremely friendly (something I have noticed that is very Puerto Rican,) and wanted to meet Emma and me, and speak to us in English even though we are trying to convince natives to speak in Spanish to us.
This was exactly what I was praying for: a community, a way to get connected, a church that preaches the Gospel and loves the LORD, and somewhere I can worship whole-heartedly. In addition, our friend who drove us and another woman I met are leaders for Young Life! Emma and I will be going with them to meet more people and get even more connected. Praise the LORD!
I have this idea in my mind for some reason that so many countries in the world are spiritually dead with little hope and really hard to share the Gospel in. What I forget is that Christians are everywhere, God is not inhibited by darkness for He has already overcome it. Churches like this exist in Puerto Rico and France and Australia and so many places in the world. The US is not anymore saved or holy than other countries, we have darkness too, but we more importantly also have Light. It is important to make these connections because then we are not walking in the dark alone, but together. For if someone has a light, he does not put a bowl over it. No! He puts it on a hill for all to see! So being here with Emma and being in a church community is walking in the Light together so all people, everyone, can see.
So far since I have been here, I have gone to Old San Juan a few times to explore and go to fiestas.
The city is beyond colorful, every building is a different color: orange, yellow, purple, green, blue, mint, lavender, red, white, gray, pink, etc. It is very touristy, but it is a beautiful city and somewhere fun to just walk up and down the cobblestone streets. Puerto Rico also has some of the best coffee in the world (even the Pope drinks Puerto Rican coffee!) so there are coffee shops on just about every corner. This is a perfect excuse to fuel my coffee addiction.
I have also been to the beach. I hesitate to put these pictures up because I know of the frigid temperatures those of you in Minnesota (and most places in the US) are suffering right now...
Is this not the epitome of every tropical beach picture?
Hammocks are quite handy for taking naps between palm trees.
So yeah. That's my life. Sunshine and 82F nearly every day. My calendar tells me January but my body tells me middle of June. My hammock has been quite helpful and gives me a reason to go outside and do homework or lounge around. Literally, palm trees are everywhere. I guess they are the pine trees of the tropics. Still shock me every day when I walk to class and see them everywhere, like what. Minnesota didn't have these.
Speaking of which, I started school! I am currently in Phonetics of Spanish, Literature of Puerto Rico, and Art of Puerto Rico. I will find out tomorrow if there is space in the Brazilian Cinema class, and if not, I will need to find another class. I am currently thinking about either French, Italian, or some Latin America History course. All depends which classes aren't full and if I can get credit for my major back home. The university I go to, UPR, is the best on the island. There are about 15,000 students who attend and campus is actually quite large!
View from one of my classrooms. Note how there is no glass or screen in the window.
Bugs apparently don't exist.
La torre (clock tower.) The front clock perpetually says 7:10
Alas, more palm trees
Teachers' lounge
Needless to say, walking around campus is wonderful and a good way to pass time. The only downside is that I have class at 8:30AM Monday-Thursday, but no classes Friday. It all balances out I guess. I would have to say that I am most excited for my phonetics class because it is like a speech pathology class I would take at the U of M, but in Spanish. Seeing as I want to work with people who know more than one language and how the brain processes this additional language information, Spanish phonetics will be a very helpful class for this!
As of now, I have been to the local coffee shop 3 or 4 times and it is probably one of my favorite places I have found so far. Emma and I compiled a list of things we hope to do around the island this past weekend, so now we have direction! Things we want to do and where these places are! In a few weeks, we will be taking a day-trip with the other exchange students to El Yunque national rainforest of Puerto Rico. It will be my first time seeing a rainforest. My inner zoologist is geeking out hardcore. No shame.
Finally, "La Isla del Encanto" means "The Island of Enchantment" and is the nickname for Puerto Rico. I agree with that name 100% because Puerto Rico has charmed me. I strongly recommend that everyone comes and visits me. Okay, thanks.
But that is an update of what my life is. More, and more exciting, things to come!
Hasta la próxima
