A day as a tourist: Guanica's Dry Forest.

Today has been my day as a tourist. I went to Guanica's Dry Forest for the first time. I did not meet much people, except for the tour guide and the human resources employee. The guide was in charge of enjoying his life doing things he loved and the human resources employee was in charge of very superficial maintenance of the forest. One must never go there without a long sleeved shirt and insect repellent, it is of upmost neccesity for the element of survival. It was actually a nice road trip, I had a blast. I payed a couple of dollars to a really good friend of mine and he took us there, wondering it was going to be a school trip. We spent quite the significant time on the road, making stops and enjoying deep fried everything over the way, like a typical tourist would do. I was dressend in cakis, a buttoned shirt full of beach like flowers, some white socks (high to the knee of course), my heavy duty brown boots and a sun cap. My friend and I learned so much on this road trip, all from the rich variety of species Puerto Rico has to offer to the astounding climate conditions these speecies have to endure.

Overall I acted as a latinamerican tourist. I commented the people who greeted me that I was endemic from Colombia (since I could defend myself a little due to my paternal family being Colombian) and acted like a complete south american citizen. I asked many questions, had a funny and ambicious attitude and of course, be extremely nice. My friend and I were laughing almost all of the time we spent there because of my humorous and astounding attitude, sometimes it was just too funny. Overall I had a great experience. The people I had contact with totally thought I was for real. In fact, I never even told them it was for my English Literature Class. I'm grateful for the oportunity of being a tourist, it brought me positive vibes all day, although I always saw tourists as people who disturb. I hope I can do this again another day, just for the fun of it.

Reflection about "A Room with a View" and comparing it to "A Small Place"

Marvelous story. Perhaps a little too emotional for me. I found no mystery at all. The common attitude of a person in that point in time was a bit obvious and unconvincing. Very typical love story, the young ones meet at the beginning of the story, later on they are separated, then they are rejoiced again, only that this time she is going to marry another man, it turns out illegitimate and she cancels the wedding and finally return to the one she is truly in love with. I would say that is the stereotypical plot of a love story. The characters are: Lucey Honeychurch (An indecisive young girl from Surrey), Charlotte Bartlett (Lucey's older, poorer cousin and maid), George Emmerson (a young man with a passionate disire for truth, also falls in love with Lucey), Mr. Emerson (George's father, he is a gentlemen in his own ways), Cecil Vyse (Lucey's dislikeful, dispiting fiancee), Mrs. Honeychurch (Lucey's adorable, caring mother), Mr. Beebe (The rector in Lucey's town, also a peasant), Freddy (Lucey's young, energetic brother), The Miss Alans (the old spinster sisters), Miss Lavish (an inspired writer), Mr. Eager (The British Chaplain), Minnie (Mr. Beebes niece) and Sir Harry Otway (The local who buys the two villas).

The travelers/tourists are Lucey, Charlotte, Mr. Beebe, Miss Lavish and Mr. Eager. They are all travelers/tourists because they travel to a guest house in Florence for purposes of tourism. The 3 quotes I chose that relate to the idea of travel and tourism are: “It is fate that I am here,' George persisted, 'but you can call it Italy if it makes you less unhappy.”, “One doesn't come to Italy for niceness," was the retort; "one comes for life. Buon giorno! Buon giorno!” and  "Every city, let me teach you, has its own smell!". I chose these quotes because they all represent a factor in travel and tourism, possessing a nature of difference of culture and aspects from "home”. Jamaica Kincaid’s idea of being a tourist can relate to this story. I say this because the relevance portrayed in both stories about distinction, analysis and comprehension, extreme emotional behavior, euphoric experience (positive or negative) and usual appreciation for what is foreign when people travel is strong.

I think Jamaica Kincaid would respond to the British women who visit Italy in a most unusual way. She would’ve greeted everyone with the same in the same fashion, but when she finds out the ways of some, she would’ve had a bit of shame for those who are blinded by money ,social status and by being rich by all means necessary. One can see in Jamaica Kincaid’s A Small Place that she focuses on relevant factors that compete and reckon with most of the rich British women’s ideals. The British women would’ve probably greeted Jamaica Kincaid as some sort of abomination or unnecessary being, for her social class or behavior.