Puerto Rico is great, and we will have a great time living here! Puerto Rico is a perfect place because it is warm and sunny. I love the many fiestas, or parties, that they have here. They have lots of food and dancing. You will definitely enjoy the peace and quiet that most Puerto Rican cities provide, and the rolling hills which are perfect for picnics and barbecues. You will find an overall look at Puerto Rico as you continue reading.

The economy in Puerto Rico is very diverse and dynamic. There are $30.0 billion exports of coffee, sugar cane, and pineapple. Having a diverse economy is great because the government is involved and cares about the people. In Puerto Rico the economy is great and you will be very comfortable living here.

I found Puerto Rican history very interesting. Columbus claimed Puerto Rico for Spain in 1493 then Spanish colonized Puerto Rico in 1508. It was a slave country since it was founded. It came to be called Puerto Rico in 1521, when San Juan was founded and it also became a commonwealth of the U.S. when San Juan was founded. Dad, I know that you want to be a contestant on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," and that might be a question on the show!

There is a great diversity of people, so here is some of the races and nationalities people are here. You should learn to speak Spanish because it is an official language and most people speak it. Other people speak English, and it is the other official language. One major, major detail is that all Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens. So, now you see that there is a great diversity of people in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico is a great place for sight seeing and vacationing. We could visit beautiful beaches, or the breath- taking mountains here. There are over 240 types of trees, and no large wild animals to be afraid of. Rain forests here are trying to be preserved, but you can look at them from a distance. We could also go on gorgeous cruise ships and exotic tours. The picture on the right is a picture of a cruise ship ready to set sail. There are about 13,507 miles of road, and a great majority are paved, so you don't have to worry about bumpy roads. As you see, there are many places we could go to enjoy ourselves in Puerto Rico.

San Juan is the place I would want to live! I know you are concerned about good education, and there are many leading colleges like the University of Puerto Rico, and the Sacred Heart University. We all like parties, so we could go to one of the many fiestas in San Juan. There are all kinds of activities there and lots of dancing. Since you love museums, we could visit many and other different sites. We could live in a choice of luxury condominiums. So, as you see, San Juan is definitely the place I would want to live.

I was in the town of Santa Isabelle yesterday, and boy were the customs different! I was in an antique store, and I couldn't find the counter because it was in the back, and a woman came up to me and said "Pssst!" That is not considered rude here, and is a way of getting someone's attention. The same day, I was walking down the street, and a man had his palm down in the air, and was wiggling his fingers at a woman. Then I learned that by doing that, means for someone to come to them. Just never do that with your palm up, because that is considered very rude. I learned a very important custom today. You should never throw anything to someone, you must hand it to them. So, I think you should practice some of these customs before you come!

You will love the temperature here in Puerto Rico! I know you love warm weather, Mom, but not too hot, so the weather is perfect. The annual average temperature is about 75° C, which is usually warmer than in New York. It is not humid in the capital, San Juan or in Santa Isabel, another leading city. San Juan has about 200 days with precipitation compared to Santa Isabel, which ha only about 99. Puerto Rico has great weather, so that is something you can look forward to!

Well, you don't need to worry about holidays, you'll feel right at home. There isn't much of a difference. The only thing is that the New Year's is part of the Christmas season. The rest of the holidays are the same. Even Martin Luther King Day is the same. So, holidays here are something you will not have to change.

So now you have it. The facts and an overall look at Puerto Rico. I hope this letter will help you for your move here. This is a great country and I'm looking forward to a great new life!

Love,
Paul

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