Old San Juan Narrative

The history of Mission San Juan Capistrano is similar to that of two other nearby missions in that it was relocated to the San Antonio area from East Texas in 1731. Its purpose was also similar to that of the other missions, namely to convert Native American groups to Christianity, assimilate them into Spanish society, and promote settlement in the region. In addition to its early history, the mission compound itself was constructed in a form typical of other San Antonio-area missions, including a church and plaza surrounded by a defensive wall formed from stone Indian quarters. The compound included other ancillary structures such as a granary, convent, workshops, and other storage facilities.

To the Taino people, Christopher Columbus and his crew were complete strangers who arrived carrying swords and speaking an unfamiliar language. Yet the Taino men, women, and children quickly emerged from their villages and ran onto the island's beaches to welcome these unwanted guests with food, water, and gifts. (Zinn)

On Friday I had the honor to visit the historical Rancho Los Cerritos House; also known as Rancho Los Cerritos or Casa de los Cerritos, in Long Beach, California, it was the largest and most impressive adobe residence raised in southern California during the Mexican period. The structure of the house was built in 1844 by merchant Jonathan Temple, a Yankee pioneer who became a Mexican citizen. Los Cerritos means "the little hills" in English. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970. I wasn’t lucky enough to visit this phenomenal and historical place until I took advantage of my history assignment and I decided to visit Rancho Los Cerritos with the company of some of my friends. On a Friday morning we took the chance and we

Once there lived a priest in San Luis Potosi, however, one day he decided to take a trip to an unknown destination to collect donations for the church. He was accompanied by two boys who he hired to help him around his house. When he returned he took a walk down an alley to his house where he was brutally murdered. The two teenage boys that the priest had been acquainted with were convicted of his murder and were hung by the neck. After their death, their hands were cut off and dangled on the wall of the alley near the house of the priest as a lesson to the people of the town. Many were terrified to walk down the alley and tried to avoid going down it, however, those who went down it rehearsed a prayer until reaching the end. Eventually, the

Since the nineteenth century Puerto Ricans have been caught in the cross-streams of two cultures,

We walked through the hallways, visited the garden area where there are still in place steel pots, carpentry machinery, and lots of documents from the era. My favorite place is the Guadalupe church, which is a temple dedicated to the Catholic Lady of Guadalupe. It is a peaceful place where you can meditate and pray. I give emphasis to this place because I am devoted to her. Not because religion was implied to me by the Spanish regime, but because of my personal beliefs and experiences. As soonest I entered the church something magical happened! My knees bent and dropped on to the floor, I cried because I was so thankful for being there. I bought some souvenirs like rosaries, books, and special oils. I also entered the Blacksmith place where the carriages are made out of steel; there are several carriages on display. Some of them were used as transportation for the city majors, and fire department. The Mission also has a small room which was used as jail for those who committed minor crimes. This room only contained the prisoner stripped uniform and a bed. The area was surrounded by landmarks, water, and lots of animals like coyotes, eagles, and deer. Today, The fault of San Andres rides along El Camino Real where the Natives used to travel and the spanish used to built the different

The culture industry ensures the reception of Santiago's Puerto Rico as "authentic" because it is taken as grounded in autobiography, which is already a problematic viewpoint for identitary projects (Cruz

Reading Craig Storti’s book, Figuring Foreigners Out, gives many new insights about my trip to Puerto Rico. In his book there are four categories that he covers that I will use to analyze and reflect upon my time in Puerto Rico. The four categories he uses are concept of self, personal vs. societal responsibility, concept of time, and locus of control. To begin I will examine Storti’s topic, concept of self.

had been weathered. And then in 1986, Chris drove out to El Segundo, made the

After introducing the mission system, I will briefly explain the short Mexican period by explaining how most California cities and streets received their names. For example, I will ask the students, “ Has anyone walked on or drove by Sepulveda Blvd or Rancho Palos Verdes”? and “Does anyone know how these streets received their names”? Introducing them to the history of rancho and pueblo society during the Mexican Period in

My process of enculturation into the Puerto Rican culture can be explained with the iceberg analogy, having in mind that the island itself has a high context background. Above water, the official language is Spanish, although English is taught mandatory on the education system since first grade. One of the things a tourist or anyone that starts assimilating the culture can experience first hand is the passion Puerto Ricans have to speak loudly and use many hand gestures during conversations. This passion is not only present during social interactions, but also on the way citizen’s carry out their beliefs. Even though, the island is a place recognized for its great night life activities and bars, the religion is 85% Catholic, therefore many people go to church on Sundays and tend to be very precocious of their actions because of their faith and religious thinking. Inside the water, on the aspect of feelings and values, Puerto Ricans are very traditional, nevertheless,

Morales talks about Puerto Rican cultures by explaining what Caribbean people like to do: eat, sing, how they have different ways to dance and enjoy different types of music. “I am Caribeña, island grown. Spanish is in my flesh, ripples from my tongue, lodge in my lodge in my hips; the language of garlic and mangoes, […] (Morales 1174). She associates with those specific tastes and her home culture. Food is an important element of cultural identity.

The debate on Puerto Rican Identity is a hot bed of controversy, especially in today’s society where American colonialism dominates most of the island’s governmental and economic policies. The country wrestles with the strong influence of its present day colonizers, while it adamantly tries to retain aspects of the legacy of Spanish colonialism. Despite America’s presence, Puerto Ricans maintain what is arguably their own cultural identity which seems largely based on the influence of Spain mixed with customs that might have developed locally.

We tried to remain imperturbable, but we were overwhelmed with all the glorious architectures, festivities, and traditions of San Jose, Costa Rica. Later, we arrived to the periphery part of the city, where are new, utilitarian abode for the week awaited.

The Mexican tile roofs jump out at your eyes, until the gorgeous iron gates of other estates snatch your attention. I can at times be overwhelmed with the feast before my eyes. My favorite structure by far is the towering ruins of the old sugar plantation. The words ruins, sugar, and plantation alone are enough to conjure up the most fascinating stories within ones imagination. I can see the bones of an age past; still standing before me to mourn, and dream about. I live in a grouping of villas where a restaurant and pool facilities are being constructed. I smell fresh sawn mahogany as the carpenters make bars, counters, and doors. I hear stone masons chipping at tiles, and the scraping sounds as they pull out the mortar to lay them.