Travel/Culture Spain, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic | Page 23

to Europe, for example. Puerto Rico is a cheap and easy way to vacation out of the U.S.

Another reason to visit Puerto Rico is that the official languages are English and Spanish. You’ll be in an environment that will be both familiar and foreign as you see and hear the two languages. From my own experience on the island, mostly everyone there will speak to you in English first so there is no uncertainty of understanding each other. One other benefit that comes from being in a place where the locals know

both languages, is that it is good for practicing Spanish speaking skills, or even begin learning. When I visited, I was in my first year of learning Spanish so I could pick up on some signs, but it was not vital that I knew the language. I talked with one of the gift store clerks and we had a small conversation in Spanish. As many language professors will tell you, the best way to improve on a learning a language is to immerse yourself in it, and in Puerto Rico, you can do just that, at a beginner level.

Photo of Ponce Sunset by Jamie Springett

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