Dr. Nancy El Gendy: How I spent my spring break

Dr. Nancy El Gendy (English) totally immersed herself in Caribbean culture, music, dance, nature and food while visiting Puerto Rico this spring break.

Spanish isn’t one of Dr.El Gendy’s languages, but she enjoyed her visit nevertheless; she used Google translate, body language and images to help her communicate.

“I experienced the interrelatedness of language and power, which is a unit my WRI 101 students wrote an essay on a month ago," she said. "Short as my visit was ( March 4 to March 11), I really feel that I’ve learned a lot about the place, myself and my relationship to language.

"I encourage all of you to travel as often as you possibly can. Do it regardless of any fear you may have. Listen, if we wait till we are completely ready, we will never do anything or go anywhere. By the way, the same approach applies to writing something new.”

Dr. El Gendy is going to explore Puerto Rican literature, because she got really interested in its rich history. She is also going to start learning Spanish this summer.