I’m sitting in the library, on the campus of Seminario Evangelico de Puerto Rico.  I arrived yesterday safely after a long night of travel from San Diego (via Atlanta).  Puerto Rico is, of course, a U.S. territory in the Caribbean.  Its status is regularly a source of controversy – some want U.S. statehood, some want total independence – it’s complicated.  But this is an incredibly beautiful place with beautiful people, beautiful street art, and thus far, beautiful food.  I’ve only been here 26 hours at the time I’m writing this, but it’s already been great.

The people here at the seminary have welcomed me warmly, and encouraged me to interview faculty and students.  I’ll write another post about my first interview with a professor, which was great.

The seminary was kind enough to arrange a room for me to stay in, right here on the campus – it’s a full apartment with a kitchenette and living room.  So let’s do a quick inventory: I have a place to sleep, a cafeteria on campus, a library with internet to work from, and lots of great people to talk to.  I guess I don’t ever need to leave the campus!  WRONG.

Late afternoon yesterday, I walked around the neighborhood surrounding the campus and found a place for an early dinner.  Good rice and beans, with fried plantains.  As I walked, I immediately began seeing some stunning street art.  I don’t know if this is mostly graffiti, or mostly sanctioned, but I do know it’s lovely.  I’ll post a few pics over in the Media category.

One awesome thing about being in Puerto Rico is that I get to better understand my close friend, Eliacin, who was born and raised here.  He called me yesterday, excited for me to be in his home, telling me that when he was a college student at the University of Puerto Rico (which is directly across the street from here), he used to come over to the seminary campus a lot.  A lot of people go to Jerusalem to walk in the footsteps of Jesus . . . I came to Puerto Rico to walk in Eliacin’s!  Tomorrow I’ll get to hang out with his friend here, too.