Belonging To Puerto Rico

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Recommended: Perspectives on diversity

Generalized experiences with diverse individuals are a common occurrence in life. Traveling to Puerto Rico was my first real exposure to a culture which differs from my own. Spanish is the predominant language spoken on this small island. In spite of the fact that I studied four years of high school Spanish, a language barrier existed. Communication with the native Puerto Ricans was sometimes difficult. I had to listen closely to what was being said and frequently had to ask the individual to repeat himself. Often, the person speaking did not know how to convey his thoughts in a manner in which I could understand. Puerto Rico consists of individuals of lower class, due to low income, poverty, and lack of education. Experiencing the

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