Vacation Destination: Puerto Rico

2 weeks. It's one of the longer vacations I've had in a while in which I actually leave the house to go visit rather than just a local summer vacation. It was a last minute decision but give the length of time away from my birthplace of the island of Puerto Rico, I had to know if anything had changed in the 5-6 years since my last visit. While I wasn't expecting MASSIVE, Changes from the previous visits, I did receive a bit of surprise from area to area as I traveled along and spent my 14 days on the Island.

The first noticeable changes were in the airport upon arrival. Commerce was brimming! I mean there were stands everywhere, blocking every possible way to move around. Selling all types of foodstuffs and vacation goodies. A definite improvement in my eyes. I was amazed almost instantly at the progress along the tourist sector there. Though I did leave thinking this would be sort of a peak during my stay. Needless to say I was happy to see family, it's just the island itself still bugs me.

The majority of the trip was spent in Ceiba,Puerto Rico at my Sister's(half) house. Twas a very nice area inside a gated community. The apartments were small, but roomy enough to get comfortable in and even sport 3 pools!

Angled View from balcony

The primary to go spot near here was one of her Jobs(she has 3). Going by the name of "El Hotel Conquistador", One of the more well known resorts on the island and serves as a large spot for would be tourists. The Hotel sports Multiple pools at multiple elevations constructed along the side of a mountain located in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Since visiting it last in 2006-2007, It's expanded further along the coast with rooms and entertainment, and posses a private island for it's hotel guests of which are accessible by boat charter.

Other good news seems to be that higher quality houses are becoming more distributed around the island. From the wild coasts to the most harsh of inroads, apartments and housing are starting to really kick it up a notch. Newer models of cars are also becoming more common among-st drivers(though they are not all perfect). Most of my family on the island have seen higher standards of living as well.

Though not all is good. Puerto Rican Drivers remain notorious for their sheer madness. Constantly switching lanes, using the emergency lanes to bypass traffic, only to add to the traffic jam, BLOCKING Emergency vehicles from accessing the emergency lane, ect...you name it. In the first few days alone we already had drivers with us pinned as nearby targets. It didn't improve much over the course of the vacation and certain trips were longer than they needed to be. Most places on the island could easily be accessed in under 2 hours, were it not for bad traffic. Although they also remain masters of turning what look to be one way streets into two way avenues. Unless there is a sign that explicitly states that this is a one way street, no matter how thin it is, it's declared a two way(though good luck finding signs, they don't like those either.)

The terrain and smaller known local spots where quite the enjoyment. It often cause me to laugh, given the amount of 4X4 vehicles I see in Florida, which is relatively flat land with swamps mainly in the southern tip. Puerto Rico on the other hand has everyone driving small compact cars or SUV's while having to deal with inclines, and Mountains. One particular place, located at about 3,200 feet above seal level had a mandatory requirement of 4X4. There was not one single vehicle up there that wasn't able to offroad with precision. The whole trip up, the road was literally composed of nothing but medium sized rocks.

Despite receiving possible inside upgrades, most houses around the island still look somewhat trashy on the outside. One house abandoned was completely picked apart after being torn down, Not by the construction companies or the Government, but People looking to get some material(I'm serious). Politics I won't delve into, but nothing has changed. It's still everywhere and there are dozens of candidates rushing out for Ads to get voters. Gas was slightly more expensive than over in Florida, averaging about 3.65/Gallon for Regular. Though it was semi-irritating to keep track of units. Distance, and quantity are measured in metric(km and L), but speed is not. Electric infrastructure was also given a nice refresh. No longer does the power go out every single hour.

Overall if I can forget all the annoying parts and frustrating moments that still occurred and have yet to be rectified it is definitely something I would do again. Seeing family there is one of the best experiences I have had despite it's shortcomings. The nitpicks although vocal, don't do much to overly detract from the overall experience. If I could get another shot, I would probably return for another small visit. But the structure and drivers would definitely hold a permanent stay.

Why I disdained Popularity through School

It is often striven, mostly by the younger crowd to be a known figure, be important and to follow other's examples. Being "Cool" or "Hip" so to speak so that one would receive innumerable benefits in the league of a social status. I learned early on in my life that although being cool was nice, it was not a primary factor in my goals or if it would dictate my success. Popularity is a nice thing to have and I have no personal disdain for popular people in general, but the people in such position to make a sort of caste system for the school. To teach that one who does not follow a certain order is somehow less worthy, and generally should be ignored. The skills of which such a person or group of people generally provide little in the way of progress and more as an extension of the current time to benefit.

  Absolute power corrupts Absolutely
The general trend I equated to, but does not signify the presence of popularity was one of change. An innocent person could be transformed into some tool or fall into a state of supreme narcissism. It changed people to fit the nature of it's intention. Not always did this happen but from my personal experience I'd seen it more than I wanted to. Many people became less social and more focused on the appearance of themselves, more quick to place judgement, and less willing to contribute to the overall atmosphere of classrooms and the school. Friends became separated over trivial issues such as interests, some of which were irrational for the age and others because of peer pressure.

Skill vs appearance
I chose early enough that I would follow only a path that led to reward. The path of education for education, because without it I was to be doomed in the long road that is life. Being known is one thing, but being able to perform life skills is another. The friends I have called my own, are there because popularity was, as it is to me a commodity for them. We shared many interests and our knowledge was sufficient to be able to utilize it for the better of the group or individuals as whole. Even if we may have been separated academically, we could still aid each other in our own areas as well as specialized knowledge that we each possessed, no matter how silly. History commonly looks up to those who have strided out to seek knowledge rather than attention, or rather seek knowledge before attention. I have chosen this path because it yields great potential. Almost every single technological advancement in history has been propagated by men who dedicated their life to seeking out answers or solutions.

Double-Edged
This however, along with my raising brought forth many a big problem. Having always been a gentle, helpful person that I was raised to be, I was often the attention of a different type of popularity. Throughout my school years I lacked the ability to be able to reject a person. This led to many a situation where I was asked to complete tasks or aid those who did nothing. It lasted from as far as I can remember in Elementary to my last High school days. It was painful, to watch myself give in to such demands from average and popular beings. I was intelligent and very caring for my fellow classmates, but was never given back the only thing I asked for, which was recognition for aid. I did not want my name to go around to be popular, I simply wanted to be thanked without having to ask for it.

What now?
To this day, I continue my path forward onto that which more greatly rewards me in potential and reality. The great focus on education has left me with good standing, with both many educators and adults. I have been able to focus on many things and even get what I crave for in material terms with my own resources. Here on Google+ and Facebook(or what I use of it), I am gaining and retain many friends who change in some way, but who I know and love despite the changes. No relationship is perfect, but these friends and adults I converse with, are those who'd I'd fight my very self to keep in acquaintance. Loyalty is something I've given those who I hold dear for over 13 years, and it is not lost until one shows that they cannot contend with myself for a sole reason of appearing.