During my current time in Puerto Rico, I have been trying to understand it's current state. Analyzing every bit of information, news, propaganda, and murals yet, most importantly its people. In every little town that I go into, I interview at least one of its residents. In reality, If you want to know the struggle -- get to know the people, who go through that struggle.

This is their story, their lives and their way of living. No one would advise them well ahead of time of the 12 % IVU tax that, would take over their island and most importantly the debt that they would be placed in. Tourists arrive at their homes after visiting the island for a week and already proclaim they understand the struggle of the residents living there; when in reality half of them stay in San Juan and hardly see other parts of the island. Some residents even, live in poverty and beg for food, while their own people disregard their very existence. Also, I have felt and seen the courtesy of people slowly leave. In the sense, that the simple words of "Permiso" when they want to pass by you or "Buen Provecho" when you eat a meal, are hardly heard. To many, this may seem like perfectly normal actions and quite understandable because people change; yet, to me, I did not grow up seeing such things radically.

Yet, with all that's happening over here; economically, politically and culturally -- the people are still standing. They still figure out a way to make café for their neighbors, have some Sangria with their close friends, go to church on Sundays and hang out in the "playa", when it get's to hot outside. Sure, things are not at all perfect or always intact, yet they persevere and don't break down. It's in our blood. In some ways, maybe what they need is an uprising. In Lares, the people decided to revolt against Spanish oppression during the 1860's and revolted through the "Grito De Lares". Maybe, that's what Puerto Rico needs in order to wake up from its sleep.

All in all, I have learned a lot for this one week in Puerto Rico. It has been a while, yet I am glad I came back to my Borinquen because now, I am ready to see things the way they are. In the end, I feel like Javier Solis when he sings, "Una tarde me fui a una extraña nacion, pues lo quiso el destino pero mi corazon se quedo frente al mar, en mi Viejo San Juan" in En Mi Viejo San Juan. I left, yet I came back to the place of my birth to reconnect with my roots in order to understand my people.