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On the Island I was born...

For the past two months I've been in Puerto Rico, the island I was born in. I frankly feel conflicted about Puerto Rico. In a weird way every time I've come back since I left for college, it's felt like a different country, and I've suffered reverse-culture shock every time. Even now.

Now however I'm seeing a Puerto Rico that is in a worrisome state. NPR has been doing a 4 part series that's worth checking out here called "Disenchanted island." Puerto Rico is called "la isla del encanto" or the "island of enchantment" so the title is a play on words. It's worth a listen.

Like children you don't see grow up because you see them everyday, the people that live in Puerto Rico become essentially blind to the changes that happen in the island. While I who feel at times like a strange uncle that comes to visits sees them starkly. So much so that I get a push back. It's very strange to see consistent responses from people to the island's many troubles.

But now, this time, it feels like people are at the edge of desperation. No longer can people say "Puerto Rico lo hace mejor" (Puerto Rico does it best, Tourism's idiotic slogan for the island) without it feeling like a cynical slogan that means the oposite. People feel exhausted. And this is actually a good thing.

For too long, I've felt that critical problems on the island were shoved under the carpet, with no regard for the consequences. Now it feels everybody is acutely aware that things are critical. There is a say, a critical mass of opinion. This is a very good thing. For now it is posible to do something about it.
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