📍 Escambrón Beach, San Juan, PR
Greetings from Puerto Rico!
This past week has been a pleasantly eventful whirlwind, complete with latte art, sleepy cats, torrential downpours, and movie nights. Exploring San Juan has allowed me to get to know Jin and Gabriella—the other undergraduates from my lab—better, and I couldn’t ask for two more easygoing people to settle in with. Puerto Rico is rife with things that Pennsylvania simply doesn’t have, like coconut trees, little lizards, and 90º weather before 9am. I have become so enamored with the island’s wholesome features; I can’t wait to keep exploring as the weeks go on.
The Research
This summer’s lab configuration!
Our PIRE host, Dr. Rosa Guzzardo Tamargo, welcomed us to the University of Puerto Rico with open arms, and I cannot thank her enough for her generosity. Now that I’ve set up my station in her lab, and found the outstanding supplies I needed (which was quite the escapade, but not one I’ll recount here), I am technically ready to start running participants. Three people have contacted me so far, and one of them is scheduled to come in late next week. Fingers crossed, those numbers will rise as I spread my recruitment flyers.
The Rest
A mocha from Panchi
Barring the PIRE-related endeavors, this trip has otherwise had the mellow, balmy feel of vacation. I hope that can last! Almost every morning, Jin, Gabriella, and I have gone to Panchi, a local café that prides itself on maintaining the familial feel of your grandmother’s house. The beverages are wonderful there, setting the mood for whatever adventures the day will bring. So far, we have meandered around Old San Juan (for the pathways) and Río Piedras (for the festivals). We also spent one morning at Escambrón Beach, where the waves are good for surfing and the water is a translucent teal. All of San Juan pops with color, really. The houses look like Crayola crayons stacked together in their box, and the local community enjoys dressing down in vibrant clothes. I already love the atmosphere here. I am excited to see what the rest of the PIRE experience brings.
Witnessing the chicken that crossed the road
Hey Jasmine! Looks like you’re really enjoying yourself. I am so happy to see that you are loving Puerto Rico! I can’t wait to hear more about your adventures and your experiment in general. Have a great week!
Jasmine,
I’m glad to hear that your first week in Puerto Rico has been so great! I’m jealous that you get to see lizards — they are such great animals. Additionally, I appreciate that you’ve included so many pictures in your blog!! I can’t wait to see what you do in the coming weeks as a part of your PIRE research experience.
So excited to make more memories together! I love the chicken crossing the road!
Hi Jasmine! It seems like you had a smooth week settling in Puerto Rico! I’m glad you’ve found a good coffee shop to spend your mornings in because the mocha in the picture looks amazing. The chicken caught me off guard. Wow! I wonder from where it did it come from. I hope you have a great time in Puerto Rico!!