Vallee Vanover, a Global Immersion Scholar, had the opportunity to travel to Puerto Rico this summer through the Division of Access and Engagement. Throughout the trip, Vallee and her fellow scholars visited local communities, art museums, and historical sites, met with local leaders, and provided hands-on service at schools and farms. These activities, along with many others, allowed the group to truly immerse themselves in Puerto Rican culture.
The most transformative part of the trip for Vallee was taking a Bomba y Plena class. “Learning about the cultural significance of Bomba y Plena from the clothing, musical instruments, the dance movements, to the coordination of the dancer and the musicians was not only fun, but eye-opening,” she shared.
Vallee also enjoyed getting creative during a workshop on making a Vejigante mask out of a coconut husk. Like Bomba y Plena, the activity is rooted in deep Puerto Rican history and culture, and she described it as another fun and meaningful part of the trip.
