Comparing Antigua & Puerto Rico

 In Kincaid’s story A small place, the author presents us her perspective of what she understands is a tourist and also she makes us see that the outsiders point of view is not the only one we must consider. Her childhood was the engine that makes her write about the Antigua government and the tourist industry there. Her expressions about the tourist were very strong and one could feel the resentment she has to them. 

I have to admit that I did not get identify with Kincaid at first, but then when I did the research of tourist in my island, all that came to my mind was Kincaid’s book. In my tourist vs. traveler reflection I selected the main difference between a traveler and a tourist. There is a difference between look and observe and between hear and listen. That is how I difference a tourist from a traveler. The traveler maybe is not fit fully into the problem, but knows about it. For example: Travelers know that San Juan is surrounded by homeless (as tourists also know), but unlike these, the travelers seek how interesting and attractive can be a place with all that San Juan owns. Tourists evade things and also people that do not fall within their “perfect paradise” thought. Like what happens in A small place, Kincaid throughout the book puts blame on British colonial rule for the corruption of the government and for crimes such as drug dealing, prostitution, and the selling land for tourist attractions. The same selling land business the government of Puerto Rico has here. 

Kincaid challenges the reader to look beyond the beauty of a place and explore the reality and truth behind that beauty. She converts us ito travelers.