Visit Puerto Rico
Come to the “Island of Enchantment”, home to over 3 million US citizens.
This is Puerto Rico. Known for its natural wonders, culture, and the spirit of its people, Puerto Rico is actually comprised of three inhabited islands (Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra). Originally inhabited by the Taino, Puerto Rico was originally colonized by Spain before being captured by the United States in the Spanish-American War in 1898.
However, like much of the United States and Caribbean, the territory is marked by inequality, with much of the wealthy neighborhoods of the capital city, San Juan, surrounded by areas with staggering poverty, in stark contrast to some of the extreme wealth found in other parts of the island. This gap has been exacerbated by the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which devastated the island in 2017. We aim to provide students with first-hand perspective on both sides of Puerto Rican society, and to connect the reality on the island with the current political status and history of US-Puerto Rican relationship.
The group will also have the chance to make an impact on the lives of those most in need, through some volunteer work and donations from Diversity Global and the group, built in to the program cost. We will be partnering with local Puerto Rican organizations, and donating and working directly with them on their projects. We will do our small part in helping Puerto Rico rebuild and come back stronger than ever in the aftermath of the hurricanes.
We will spend time in the San Juan, Dorado (one of the wealthy suburbs of San Juan), and Aguadilla (on the West Coast of the Island; home to a US military base). We will be touching on a variety of subjects and themes, from culture and music to history and colonialism.
Back on the Move
After being devastated by two hurricane in 2017, Puerto Rico is back on the move – and much of the rebuilding is happening on the grass-roots level. There is unique spirit of solidarity, ingenuity, and persistent optimism that exists among many Puerto Ricans – which explains why there are so many exciting projects and initiatives happening on the island. After years of a bad economy and the recent hurricanes, that very spirit has helped PR and its people to weather the man-made and natural storms that it has faced.
Customization
We intentionally keep the size of our programs at manageable levels so that we can work individually with our students to provide the best experience, as much in line with each student’s goals and interests as possible. We also work with students in crafting their curriculum so that their respective schools will grant the maximum credit possible for their experiences both in and out of the classroom environment.
Cultural Riches
Puerto Rico is a place with so much to offer culturally – from the food to the music, and even the language, and more. Our programs focus on providing students with the opportunity to learn from and appreciate all that the culture offers. Many a visitor to Puerto Rico has come and not wanted to leave!
Authenticity
Our programs were crafted to provide our students with the most authentic experience possible. Unlike some other programs, we encourage our students to explore the country, get to know the locals, and truly immerse themselves in the local culture. With this in mind, as well as the different comfort levels that our students may have, we provide many options to our students regarding the level of immersion they’re looking for.
