Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LIFESTYLE
Most Puerto Ricans live a lifestyle that weaves together two primary elements: the commer-
cial and material values of the United States and the social and traditional values of their
'enchanted' island. Because of the strong connection to the mainland United States and in-
undation by American media, Puerto Ricans have espoused many of the same social values
as their cousins in Brooklyn. Even so, the Puerto Rican flags that fly from the fire escapes of
Brooklyn leave no doubt that many Puerto Ricans will never fully adopt mainstream Amer-
ican culture.
According to a recent World Values Survey, Puerto Ricans were among the happiest people on the planet, with a 'happiness rating'
of 4.67 out of five. The United States came 15th with a rating of 3.47.
To look at the figures, about 45% of the island still lives in what the US defines as poverty,
but the remaining population is doing quite well - they are the managers of the ever-present
pharmaceutical factories, the beneficiaries of the burgeoning tourism business or bankers or
business owners in Hato Rey. San Juan is the only city that has much of a middle class -
people who do administrative and clerical work in restaurants, hotels, tourism businesses
and so on. Many were born in Puerto Rico, raised in the US, then returned to the island
after college to find work. Over the years this return migration has been a boon for the is-
land businesses, which need skilled workers, but has made it harder for Puerto Ricans with
high-school diplomas to fill those spots. The difficult economy of recent years has created
formidable hurdles to even Puerto Rico's young and educated set.
A glance beyond the shiny buildings of San Juan will reveal that the effect of the Global
Financial Crisis has been felt more acutely in Puerto Rico than other parts of the US. A num-
ber of manufacturing jobs left the island over the last five years, taking a number of skilled
managers with them and leaving factories to rust in the withering tropical heat. With an un-
employment rate of 17% and average salaries around $17,000, many Puerto Ricans can't
afford to pay the real-estate taxes the government has been levying of late, and consequently
are losing their traditional homes - old farms that have been handed down for generations.
Those who left Puerto Rico in their youth and returned to live off an American pension find
that their dollars don't stretch quite as far as they used to.
Still, this is the strongest economy in the Caribbean, and you'll see that almost every
household owns at least one car. Puerto Rico hasn't quite gotten to the point of having 'two
countries' living on the island, but the economic disparities are growing more apparent, es-
pecially in the recent years of financial hardship. Tons of fast-food outlets and strip malls
cater to the working-class families, while trendy eateries doing fancy
comida criolla
(tradi-
