Preparing yourself to stay with new people can be a mountain to climb alone. This is why RocApply has made this functional guide to help you with the process of acquiring information on the daily routines to observe in the land of the Puerto Rican!
We are committed to making life easy for you! Apart from this, we can guarantee you that people here are as welcoming as it gets. You will certainly make a few friends with minimal effort here!
The culture in the island country is characterized by a wonderful amalgamation of influences, both international and indigenous. Some of the most prominent include Taino, the country’s indigenous group, Spanish, who ruled the territory for decades, African, which is a direct result of the slave trade, and of course, North American. These can vividly be seen in the cuisine, music, and literature that the island produces.
Puerto Rican cuisine takes the cooking traditions of both Africa and Spain and mixes them into a delicious Creole. Ingredients like coconut, yams, okra, and other root vegetables are blended with popular ingredients like olives, capers, onions, and garlic which are found in Spain.
More recently the island's food has been influenced by the styles and traditions of the United States of America.
Similarly, the music of the island is a vibrant blend of international and local sounds. Popular genres include bomba, seis, and plena, while more modern beats have brought reggae to the country.
A combination of fiery Latino and earthy African rhythms have produced an interesting and unique sound. RocApply has dedicated the following rules to aid your stay in Puerto Rico, be sure to read through!
Basic Etiquette
- The appropriate amount of personal space depends on your sex and the person you are interacting with.
- Men to men: normally an arm's length but it depends on how well the people know each other. Friends and family tend to stand a bit closer.
- Men to women: Again, depending on the extreme of one's religious views, arms-length is usually considered normal.
- Women to men: An arm’s length or more is appropriate.
- Women to women: Arm's length is appropriate but with Westerners, they tend to want to stand quite close.
- Dress conservatively in Puerto Rico.
- Show respect for the elders by greeting them first.
- Accept any offer of food or drink. To turn down hospitality is viewed as rejecting the person.
- If you are invited for a meal, there is often a great deal of socializing and small talk before eating, and the evening comes to an end quickly after the meal.
" Its a place to be" - Martin from Canada
