JstaRebel

Hola CorinaN, Bienvenidos al Caribe y El Pueblo de los Quesitos de Hoja. Yo pensaba que iba a comenzar mi respuesta en español, así que usted puede darse cuenta de que entiendo su problema ya que estoy muy familliar con Puerto Rico.
That being said, Puerto Rico and in fact all of the Caribbean is quite different than the mainland US. I currently live 44 miles south of Puerto Rico on the little island of St. John with my Dominican wife who even though there are many other Dominicanos here, has had the same problem as you are having with refrence to having friends. First of all, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean see a lot of tourists, and many people move here to "live the dream" only to leave after 6 months because things are just too different here. This causes the natives here not to befriend newcomers to the islands because they figure they are going to leave soon anyway. Also you ask the question if Puerto Ricans are friendly towards foreigners. This is a tricky question that I will first say "Puerto Ricans are very friendly people". However, that being said, Puerto Ricans want nothing to do with my wife because she is Dominican and is looked at as a second class citizen not equal to the Puerto Ricans. Her being married to a gringo only makes this situation worse. I also have a Puerto Rican friend that married a Mexican girl and was literaly disowned by his family for doing so. Why? Puerto Ricans are a very proud people, and look at themselves as different from other latin cultures including having their own unique way of speaking the Spanish language. One other obsticle you will find is that PR women in particular are a very jealous because of the "machismo" that is prevalent in their country.
I know that you are looking for answers to your problem, and I realize that I'm not giving you any. I will say that my wife goes home to Santo Domingo 2-3 times a year, and also goes to Miami to visit family there whenever airline prices are cheap. Other than that, My wife and I do everything together which isn't a bad thing. Some things that we do together that may give you ideas is Diving, fishing, sailing, hiking, and dancing salsa and bachata regularly. She actually has made a few friends in the past three years she has been here simply because she dances well believe it or not. I wish I could give you some good advice, but at least you have an idea of why this is happening to you. Remember, It's nothing against you.. It's just how their culture is..
Good luck, and I wish you happiness,
JstaRebel

Hola CorinaN, Bienvenidos al Caribe y El Pueblo de los Quesitos de Hoja. Yo pensaba que iba a comenzar mi respuesta en español, así que usted puede darse cuenta de que entiendo su problema ya que estoy muy familliar con Puerto Rico.
That being said, Puerto Rico and in fact all of the Caribbean is quite different than the mainland US. I currently live 44 miles south of Puerto Rico on the little island of St. John with my Dominican wife who even though there are many other Dominicanos here, has had the same problem as you are having with refrence to having friends. First of all, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean see a lot of tourists, and many people move here to "live the dream" only to leave after 6 months because things are just too different here. This causes the natives here not to befriend newcomers to the islands because they figure they are going to leave soon anyway. Also you ask the question if Puerto Ricans are friendly towards foreigners. This is a tricky question that I will first say "Puerto Ricans are very friendly people". However, that being said, Puerto Ricans want nothing to do with my wife because she is Dominican and is looked at as a second class citizen not equal to the Puerto Ricans. Her being married to a gringo only makes this situation worse. I also have a Puerto Rican friend that married a Mexican girl and was literaly disowned by his family for doing so. Why? Puerto Ricans are a very proud people, and look at themselves as different from other latin cultures including having their own unique way of speaking the Spanish language. One other obsticle you will find is that PR women in particular are a very jealous because of the "machismo" that is prevalent in their country.
I know that you are looking for answers to your problem, and I realize that I'm not giving you any. I will say that my wife goes home to Santo Domingo 2-3 times a year, and also goes to Miami to visit family there whenever airline prices are cheap. Other than that, My wife and I do everything together which isn't a bad thing. Some things that we do together that may give you ideas is Diving, fishing, sailing, hiking, and dancing salsa and bachata regularly. She actually has made a few friends in the past three years she has been here simply because she dances well believe it or not. I wish I could give you some good advice, but at least you have an idea of why this is happening to you. Remember, It's nothing against you.. It's just how their culture is..
Good luck, and I wish you happiness,
JstaRebel

Hola CorinaN, Bienvenidos al Caribe y El Pueblo de los Quesitos de Hoja. Yo pensaba que iba a comenzar mi respuesta en español, así que usted puede darse cuenta de que entiendo su problema ya que estoy muy familliar con Puerto Rico.
That being said, Puerto Rico and in fact all of the Caribbean is quite different than the mainland US. I currently live 44 miles south of Puerto Rico on the little island of St. John with my Dominican wife who even though there are many other Dominicanos here, has had the same problem as you are having with refrence to having friends. First of all, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean see a lot of tourists, and many people move here to "live the dream" only to leave after 6 months because things are just too different here. This causes the natives here not to befriend newcomers to the islands because they figure they are going to leave soon anyway. Also you ask the question if Puerto Ricans are friendly towards foreigners. This is a tricky question that I will first say "Puerto Ricans are very friendly people". However, that being said, Puerto Ricans want nothing to do with my wife because she is Dominican and is looked at as a second class citizen not equal to the Puerto Ricans. Her being married to a gringo only makes this situation worse. I also have a Puerto Rican friend that married a Mexican girl and was literaly disowned by his family for doing so. Why? Puerto Ricans are a very proud people, and look at themselves as different from other latin cultures including having their own unique way of speaking the Spanish language. One other obsticle you will find is that PR women in particular are a very jealous because of the "machismo" that is prevalent in their country.
I know that you are looking for answers to your problem, and I realize that I'm not giving you any. I will say that my wife goes home to Santo Domingo 2-3 times a year, and also goes to Miami to visit family there whenever airline prices are cheap. Other than that, My wife and I do everything together which isn't a bad thing. Some things that we do together that may give you ideas is Diving, fishing, sailing, hiking, and dancing salsa and bachata regularly. She actually has made a few friends in the past three years she has been here simply because she dances well believe it or not. I wish I could give you some good advice, but at least you have an idea of why this is happening to you. Remember, It's nothing against you.. It's just how their culture is..
Good luck, and I wish you happiness,
JstaRebel

I'm an expat thats lived throughout the Caribbean for 18 years. Advice? Go live there for 6 months before you sell off everything you have in the states. I cannot tell you how many people that I see pack up and move to the Caribbean to "Live the Dream".. Only to find out that it's not that easy, and changing ones ideas and fitting into an entirely different culture is not as easy as it sounds. Most don't make it past 6 months before heading back to the states disillusioned. There is also a site for expats including expats living in China. www.internations.org. Apply for free membership, and ask those expats living in China.
Hope this helps,
JstaRebel

I'm an expat thats lived throughout the Caribbean for 18 years. Advice? Go live there for 6 months before you sell off everything you have in the states. I cannot tell you how many people that I see pack up and move to the Caribbean to "Live the Dream".. Only to find out that it's not that easy, and changing ones ideas and fitting into an entirely different culture is not as easy as it sounds. Most don't make it past 6 months before heading back to the states disillusioned. There is also a site for expats including expats living in China. www.internations.org. Apply for free membership, and ask those expats living in China.
Hope this helps,
JstaRebel