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The Household
So not much later after arriving in the household, we started compiling some trash, which got me to wonder where the trash goes and when we would move it to the front. Little did I know, that the garbage truck comes everyday at 7am and 4pm, which was very surprising to me because in Brooklyn, NY trash only comes twice a week. With the trash in the sidewalk, I’ve noticed that the sidewalks were extremely narrow. The narrow roads provide this very enclosed feeling, which doesn’t feel too welcoming. Streets are designed to be narrow here in Ponce because it is a historical area in which designing or restoring buildings and sidewalks become a very complicated process so people decide to keep it as is.

Water here in Ponce is also very distasting. It has a very strong sense of chlorine and personally the local Medalla beer taste a lot better and cleaner. While trying to settle in more in the household, I turned on some lights and the landlord informed me that the electricity here in Puerto Rico is more expensive than anything so be careful of utilizing the air conditioner. This is either going to be a hot summer with no air conditioner or an expensive cool comfortable summer with air conditioner. 

- Edward L

 
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Thin narrow streets of Ponce






















We have finally landed safe and sound in San Juan. The PR group is on their way to Ponce to get settled in and get to work. First thing I’ve noticed was the crazy amount of traffic and the amount of cars that had missing parts and dents in them. It took 2 hours to drive in from San Juan to Ponce with all the traffic.  Cars here are 25% more expensive here than in the States, which was surprising.

Streets in the city of Ponce are extremely thin. No more than 3 feet of space for the pedestrians to walk, which forces the people to walk in the sidewalks with the cars. Cars drive extremely close to one another and at times it looks like an accident will occur but somehow they manage to avoid the crash from each other. Streets of Ponce are lively especially tonight where bars are filled with people enjoying their warm breezy nights with a beer in one hand. Music is loud and the streets are bright with orange lamp posts.

Everybody in Ponce in easy to get along with so far and the Ponce team has been able to manage our around way around the radius of the house letting ourselves become more familiar to the community in which we live in. However, people are almost too laid back at times. Just know that when they say 20 minutes, be ready to wait 45 or even an hour at times. 

- Edward L

 
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Safety on Flight
I have been picturing this moment for four years now since I got accepted to the Department of Landscape Architecture. The 5th year Study Abroad Program is no longer a dream, but a reality. I am thrilled and more than excited to embark in this journey to be more independent and strive to find my personal design process. 

The COUNTDOWN is on: 9hours 30minutes to takeoff. Next Stop ====> San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Arrival: 13:00 San Juan Airport

- Edward L