We all wonder what it's like to live in “La isla del Encanto” and whether it lives up to its name. Here's what ALPI Master's alumna Chloé Cheyenne Bernard has to say about her university exchange to San Juan, Puerto Rico at the end of the second year of the master degree.
Chloé's journey
“I completed my second semester of M2 at IUPI - Facultad de Administración de Empresas y Facultad de Comunicación de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, San Juan City Campus, Puerto Rico (EUA) from January 20, 2015 to May 30, 2015. To do an internship in Puerto Rico, you need a different type of visa than the student one we were issued. This has a cost to be taken into consideration. For personal reasons, I absolutely wanted to do my internship in Argentina. But I literally fell in love with Puerto Rico, its people, its joy, its landscapes and beaches, its nature, its food, its parties, its classes - in short, life there. I felt a great lack and told myself that, despite my plans, I was going to apply to a couple of places in Puerto Rico just in case the lack was too great. Within two weeks and after two interviews, I had landed a nice internship in Puerto Rico as a marketing officer, but I gave it up having also been accepted for an internship at the French Embassy in Argentina.”
Before and after moving to Puerto Rico
Naturally, before you leave, you'll have a few preconceived ideas about the country. Chloé also had preconceived ideas about Puerto Rico before her trip, even though it wasn't her first trip to Latin America. “I'd already spent my L2 year in Montevideo, Uruguay, where things went really well. What's more, I've been lucky enough to travel a lot on my own since I was very young. So I wasn't too worried about leaving to study for a few months in another country, but I did have a few preconceived ideas in my head before I left.” Let's take a look at the contrast between what she thought of the island before leaving France and the idea she has of it after living there.
The Food
Obviously, every country has its own eating habits, and Chloé was well aware of this. But what concerned her most was junk food. She had heard that Puerto Ricans ate very badly, like American fast-food. Then she discovered that while there is such a thing as junk food, there are also other excellent dishes to enjoy. “Junk food... what can I say, it's like anywhere you have the option of eating very healthy food or pizza, fries, etc., price-wise, it's pretty much the same. You're quickly tempted because Puerto Ricans are very good people who love to cook, eat even during class, go out etc. ... I put on 10 kilos in 5 months, not because of the junk food but simply because I made the most of it (so to speak) and my gourmet side came out because I have to admit that Puerto Rican gastronomy is succulent (arroz con habichuelas, mofongo, amarillos fritos...).”
The courses
Like any other foreign student, Chloé was concerned about her courses and their level of difficulty. She was worried that the English exams would be too complicated because of the image of American universities as expensive and therefore necessarily very demanding. She was afraid she wouldn't have the time to enjoy Puerto Rico as she wanted because of her studies. But all her fears were allayed when she started taking classes.
“As far as the exams are concerned, the courses are really high quality and the students are motivated and participative. But it's no more complicated than what we're used to in ALPI, and the fact that you can choose your class times means you can organize yourself to have plenty of time to make the most of the city that lives up to its nickname: La Isla del Encanto! In fact, I had 20 hours of lessons a week, I taught 20 hours a week on top of that, and I went on excursions every weekend, Thursday evenings and outings with friends for lunch, dinner or four regular hours. On the other hand, you have to bear in mind that course books are very expensive, there's a lot of personal work and homework.”
What's a typical day like?
Given that at the University of Puerto Rico, students - including those on foreign exchange - have the opportunity to choose their courses and timetable, we wanted to know what a typical school day looks like for Chloé. Here's the answer: “The days were never the same... I chose to start my classes early so I could work in the afternoon, at 6:45. Each of my classes lasted two hours. The teachers are open and lead a lot of interesting debates, and the students are studious, serious, respectful and participate a lot in class. Even if this doesn't prevent a certain conviviality (students who come in pyjamas, eat, etc.) The class hours go by very quickly.”
The Weather
Suffice it to say that the sunny island of Puerto Rico bears little resemblance to Brittany. Being a tropical island, the climate tends to be very hot and humid, with temperatures averaging between 22°C and 32°C throughout the year. One of Chloé's concerns was that the sun was too strong. Since she said she doesn't have what you might call a “favorable phototype” for the sun. However, as far as the sun was concerned, she noted: “It's definitely present, but nothing unpleasant at this time of year. I had a good factor 50 cream, which saved me from all the sunburns that the other exchange students got. In fact, there wasn't a day of my stay without sunshine, which gave me the impression of always being on vacation despite my classes, and that had a big influence on my mood. Bottom line: it's hard to be grumpy in Puerto Rico.”
Health and safety
The things Chloé dreaded most before leaving were trivial, such as the diseases that could be brought to me by mosquitoes, like chikungunya or dengue fever. Because of the heat and temperature on the island, mosquitoes are plentiful all year round, some of them being gateways for these types of diseases. “So as far as mosquitoes are concerned, I can tell you today that Puerto Rican mosquitoes love me. I'd say 5 bites a week is a good average. In fact, you'll have to find someone like me - it's the best anti-mosquito remedy. And despite all those bites, I've never had anything! And I don't know any exchange students who've had any problems. On the other hand, my Puerto Rican friends have confirmed that most of them have already had an illness due to mosquitoes, but well, 5 months' stay versus 20 years is not the same risk.”
In addition, Chloe was naturally concerned about the safety of the country. She wondered whether she would feel safe going out at night and whether she would be able to fully enjoy her stay on the island. “I was also a little afraid of insecurity and drugs. From what I'd been told, and Puerto Ricans tell you stories that aren't very reassuring... but I didn't have any worries, I often went out shopping alone in the middle of the night, I never felt in danger, fortunately, and yet my physical characteristics always gave me away, I was immediately 'la gringa'.”
The cost of living
As a student, one of Chloe's main concerns was the high cost of living in Puerto Rico, compared to her scholarship. Her concerns were entirely justified, especially since Puerto Rico has ties to the United States, a country notoriously known for being expensive. “Otherwise, life is certainly a little more expensive than in France, but it's still quite decent, and accommodation is unbeatable on campus. This is a big plus offered by the University of Puerto Rico, unlike other exchange countries. You leave with the peace of mind of having good, well-located, supervised, inexpensive accommodation.
I don't remember exactly what the cost of living is in San Juan, but I'd say I spent around 500/600 euros a month, including rent, food, outings, clothes, extras - no sacrifice at all! The University of Puerto Rico offers rooms in student residences to exchange students. They're really top-notch, located just 20 m from the university, on the street where all the restaurants and supermarkets are, and where you go out on Thursday nights. It's a great place to make friends, and they're protected. They also have outdoor spaces. Bathroom, private fridge in the shared apartment.”
Final thoughts
At the end of her trip, much to her surprise, Chloé experienced positive cultural shocks on the island: “The overflow of love and the uninterrupted joie de vivre of the Puerto Ricans. Being hugged by people you've only known for 1 hour.... I can think of worse shocks, can't you? But... I've had nothing but pleasant surprises! Everything surprised me, amazed me sincerely, but I think the most was the generosity, friendship and kindness of the Puerto Ricans, which is really sincere, immense and unselfish. I've traveled relatively a lot and I've never met so many people with such big hearts.”
What's more, the island made her want to return to explore it further. “Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to go back since. But I hope to get the chance very soon. I couldn't wait to discover this island, which I'd always dreamed about. Today, I can say that it's no sweet illusion, this island is a REAL dream, a little piece of paradise on earth. La Isla del Encanto “me encanta”!”
Would you like to know more?
Would you like to find out more about the Master LEA ALPI Commerce International? You can read what other former students have to say about the Master's program and their mobility on our page. And if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. We'll be delighted to help!
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