Gabi G

Being Puerto Rican has always been something I am proud of. Both of my parents were born and raised in Puerto Rico but had left for the United States soon after they were married. I was born here in Georgia with two other sisters. One is older, and one is younger, which, of course, makes me the middle child.

I grew up in a house where both Spanish and English were spoken. Though I must say I was lucky my parents were never strict about me speaking Spanish back to them. I did, however, come to understand the language very well.

I’ve always loved asking my parents about where they grew up and have wanted to see the place they used to call home. I had been to Puerto Rico a couple of times throughout my life but never for any other purpose than to be with some family or meet new family.

It did get rather boring at times having to see and meet all of these people who say they met me when I was young even though I could never remember them. But it did get rather boring at times having to see and meet all of these people who claimed to have known me since I was a baby, even though I could never remember them. However, a couple years ago an opportunity struck, and my family had decided it was time to take a trip to Puerto Rico, acting as tourists and less like people who were going home. This trip was finally a chance for not just me but also for my parents, who had grown up in Puerto Rico, to really explore all of its beauty.

We began the trip at my grandparents’ home, where they told us they had booked me and my family a three-night stay at a house across the island in one of the island’s famous tourist spots. The house we stayed in was situated in a place that resembled a farm with its wide selection of animals and beautiful scenery to complement it. Being there, we had access to an amazing beach spot as well as many restaurants with views by the sea. Our time spent there felt like a true beach getaway.

We then spent the rest of our time visiting other staples of the island, like its tropical rainforest and Old San Juan, and of course visiting more family. This trip was one of the most fun and memorable trips I have had to this day. It not only opened me up to the world that is Puerto Rico but also showed me a sliver of the life my parents lived when they were there. It makes me excited for any and every trip to Puerto Rico in the future and gets me thinking constantly about when I will go back again.