Tourist for a day

   

Condado, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Today I am going to act as a tourist in my country. I must prepare myself physically and mentally for this adventure. To change my Puerto Rican look, by the way, very difficult to hide, I will wear a shirt that says Puerto Rico and a bathing suit that could be seen below. I used some shorts, a hat, glasses and flip flops. Use sunscreen as a body lotion. I went to spend the day in Condado, San Juan, a place frequented by tourists. 

I went to breakfast in a nice and comfortable place, I started to speak English, but my accent and my Caribbean look did not help at all. They treated me kindly, but I could still see their faces the discomfort for making them speak English even though I look like I knew Spanish. The server was very cordial, and it did not take her by surprise when I asked for the menu in English, she spoke fluently, and I could see on the spot many tourists speaking English as well.

 In the second place I visited, it was a clothes shop, I decided to change my accent to Cuban, which I mastered quite well. As soon as I entered the girl welcomed me in Spanish and asked me if I was looking for something specific, she was very attentive. When speaking with that accent I could see in their faces that attitude of equality and not otherness as I saw it in the previous place. There were Americans there too and they were treated with the same attention as me, all the employees spoke English. 

At the end of the day, I bought an ice cream in a walking cart on the corner of the street. The man who was selling was promoting himself in Spanish and English. He said all the flavors in Spanish and English. It had a long line, there were many tourists and they preferred the tropical fruit ice creams. I decided to ask in English and it did not take him by surprise, nor did he change his expressions. I think he was used to receiving tourists of different nationalities.    

By analyzing each of these experiences, I can say that being a tourist in my country is good and pleasant. People make you feel welcome and try to help you, for example, speaking your own language. In the first experience I can say that the discomfort of the server, to hear me speak English even though I have a Caribbean look, I can understand, and I would also be uncomfortable. I received a fair, attentive, and quality treatment even in the ice cream seller. I could see the kindness with which they treat other tourists, even me with my Cuban accent.