Our EOH booth will be accessible and fun for all potential visitors. My vision is a booth with multiple forms of media throughout and an inviting display with the colors and cultural feelings of Puerto Rico infused throughout the booth. At the main table there will be multiple, approachable attendants inviting passerby’s into a trip through Puerto Rico. Once a visitor decides to check out our booth we will show them the displays playing multiple videos covering three varied topics which will encompass our journey. As they look at the topics they can walk up to the monitor to learn more. At the monitor they will put on headphones and learn more about the topic. At the monitor there will be panorama dividers which will be displaying images of Puerto Rico. These dividers will help the visitor be fully emerged in the Puerto Rico Experience. In addition to these stations, we will also have a monitor playing the interviews we conducted in Puerto Rico. These interviews touched on Illinois vs Puerto Rico as well as the importance of maintaining the environment. Finally, we will be there to give further information to visitors who have further interest or questions. Our booth will help educate visitors, while letting them enjoy themselves and providing the potential for further involvement.

When comparing and contrasting Illinois vs Puerto Rico, there are many different factors to consider. First, I will touch on the variance in agriculture. In Illinois the main crops are corn and soybeans, while in Puerto Rico there are Sugar Cane and Coffee. These differences are results of the environment that each respective crop is produced in. For example, in Puerto Rico weather fluctuates much less on a yearly basis when compared to Illinois. Another environmental difference is in regard to the different types of species on the island. In Puerto Rico there are more ‘exotic’ creatures as oppose to in Illinois there are increased numbers of deer, squirrels and other mammals. Next up is the labor comparison. When labor is compared it brings about an interesting story. In Illinois, given the common crop, there is less tedious manual labor, allowing for increased production with lower manual labor costs. In Puerto Rico, the crops more often necessitate manual pruning and picking; it is less common to see large scale machine based processing. This means more Puerto Rico citizens must work for the agriculture industry in order to maximize production. According to our tour guide, Daniel, at the second coffee plantation, these jobs are very hard for the agriculture company to fill, for the desire to work these jobs is low. When comparing Puerto Rico and Illinois in regards to topography. In Puerto Rico the topography is very diverse, ranging from desert to mountainous rain forests. In Puerto Rico the topography allows for varied crop growth and variation within a single type of crop. When compared to Illinois, the topography Is fairly constant. Illinois is mainly flat with little to no variation in elevation. Elevation allows for variation in a single crop, for example, coffee. In Puerto Rico coffee can vary in levels of moisture depending on the elevation. Next up is the temperature comparison. Illinois has many more highs and lows in temperature throughout a year, when compared to Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricos climate stays at a much higher average temperature, year round, allowing for crops such as coffee, plantains and mangoes to be grown year round. In Illinois the growing season is much shorter, forcing farmers to maximize their growth over a shorter period of time. The climate in Illinois allows for the growing of crops such as corn, soybeans and wheat. Another comparison is the cultures of Illinois vs Puerto Rico, perhaps one of the more interesting comparisons. As most know, Illinois and Puerto Rico are in vastly different climates. This causes for the urban planning and housing to be very different in Puerto Rico than Illinois. In Illinois, homes are usually sealed and effectively air proof in order to allow them to last through the four seasons. Although, in Puerto Rico, the heat allows for homes to have no insulation and usually no cooling either. The homes are usually open air with slat windows which are able to be cranked shut. This allows homeowners to be sheltered from the intense heat. In regards to person to person interactions, the findings will be subjective. With this being said, I have found the Puerto Rican citizens tend to be much more laid back and receptive of those around them. The entire environment is much more nonchalant although dress tends to be more formal than usual. In conclusion, Puerto Rico and Illinois have many difference, small and large, but ultimately they are just different. I have not found one to be better than the other. They both have their benefits and drawbacks. Although, in regards to agriculture, Puerto Rico provides a wonderful contrast on the differences in the entire production timeline. When compared to what I have learned of Illinois, Puerto Rico has very much helped highlight all the changes in the environment and has greatly aided my educational experience.

Through my visit to Puerto Rico, I have vastly widened my perspective on global issues. The reason for my widened perspective is the greatly differed life style and approach to life. I have been able to witness the other side of where many consumer goods come from. This means analyzing every step in the process and finding out, for example, how coffee can go from the tree to ones’ cup, hence I can appreciate the effort put into every cup of coffee.

One occurrence that really made me think was the plantains, intended to be sent to “Costco”. “Costco” is a band which I have always shopped at. Whenever I shopped there, I gazed up at the large quantities of fruit and many other goods, wondering to myself; how could they have ever go this much fruit here at the perfect time in their life cycle. Through this trip I saw exactly where these fruits came from and witnessed every step in the process. The fruits are carefully maintained in an environment which allows their growth to be at the exact specifications of the perspective buyer. Once they are grown, the fruits are pruned off the tree and carefully hulled to the packaging plant, at which point the ripeness and quality is checked. Next, the fruit is washed and checked for any impurities. Then the stickers are put on the fruit, it is packaged and shipped off.

This process is much more complex than I expected and through this process I learned to rationale for the price of the goods. Prior the learning about the process I may have critiqued the company for paying their workers minimum wage, but judging by this factory tour and the guides statements, they need the pay minimum wage in order to keep a decent profit margin. I must take this lesson and accept the there is more to the world’s problems then what may meet the eye. This means that before critiquing a world problem one should be thoroughly understanding of all aspects of the issue to their deepest extent. In addition, one must be able to view an issue from all standpoints.

The next example occurred at the ‘Café Gran Betey’. During our visit to this coffee farm, we learned how complex and intricate the coffee making process is. Our group walked through the different environmental factors which influence the growth and taste of the bean. With this being said, Daniel, our tour guide, also walked us through the labor factors which limit the production of the farm. It was stated that many Puerto Rican citizens did not care to work all day. This is a result of the government benefits for the unemployed. These unemployment benefits allow for citizens to survive with little to no work. As a result of this the company has to work around the hours the citizens prefer to work, for they will otherwise not work.

In conclusion, my trip to Puerto Rico has helped me realize that there is much more to Global Issues then what meets the eye. This can be supplemented by blanket statements and stubbornness. It is important to consider everything involved in an issue and leave room for compromise. One must realize their place in the world and take that into consideration. It is important to consider cultures when approaching an issue and in order to get a full view of an issue, one should consult someone who lives in the issue on a day to day basis. Through this one will be able to see a problem from another person’s eyes and get their opinion, this will allow on to increase their perspective before judging a global issue.

As I embark on my journey to Puerto Rico, I have many potential goals and roles in mind. As I think more and more about my effect on the group, I have decided that I would do fairly well at assisting the overall flow and efficiency of the group as a whole. I would do this by watching after the overall progress of the group and trying to make sure that all members stay balanced. In addition, I will attempt to stay aware of our environment and make sure our team acts accordingly. Hopefully, this will make for a more effective and concise trip, from all aspects.