The Rum Diary Reflection

This movie not only portrays an American tourist in Puerto Rico but also someone who comes to live on the island and gets to know the culture through his eyes. The Rum Diary takes place in San Juan, Puerto Rico in the 1960's. Paul Kemp is a journalist who looks forward to publishing his own book. With various failed attempts he decides to take a job at a local newspaper in Puerto Rico. Being a New Yorker, he is completely unfamiliar with the culture and what this island has to offer. In some way we could catalog Paul as a tourist. He is new to this island yet he doesn't show much interest at first in getting to know Puerto Rico. On his first taxi ride the driver asks him "Primera vez en Puerto Rico" he immediately answers "I don't know Spanish" and without hesitation tells the taxi driver to keep the change. It's clear how Kemp had no interest in having conversations or surrounding himself with the locals. In the opening scene his boss, editor of the San Juan star, Edward Lotterman, compares Puerto Rico with England. He tells Kemp that “It’s a schizoid society, Kemp. They got two languages, two flags, two loyalties, two anthems. We bring stuff they never had; they either hate it or want more of it. It’s a reluctant part of America. It’s like England with tropical fruit.” This is how Americans that live in Puerto Rico view the island. They believe that Puerto Ricans are opportunist in such a way. Later on Lotterman asks Kemp “Been to Puerto Rico before?” Kemp answers no as he is unaware of the conditions of Puerto Rico and its culture.

When other visitors were interviewed they also had many misconceptions of what Puerto Rico is actually like. In an interview, one couple was asked about their experience in Puerto Rico. They were asked "Been to Puerto Rico before?" they quickly answered "No". They were also asked "What would you say you like most about Puerto Rico?" "The bowling alleys and the casinos", "Have you seen most of the island?" "We don't leave the hotel, it isn't safe". With the statements of this couple it is obvious the way tourists perceive Puerto Rico and believe that it is beautiful yet it does not have many things to offer except beautiful beaches and nice hotels.

During his stay, Kemp began to observe and closely analyze what really was going on in Puerto Rico. This is when he becomes a traveler and begins to internalize the situation of the island. He was well aware of many things such as poverty and bad conditions outside of San Juan's wealthier living quarters. Kemp was told to write in the San Juan Star an article called “10 things that I love about Puerto Rico”. He must not write about the cruel conditions that are seen on the island because it is bad for tourism and that was the point of the article, to promote more tourism on the island. This is when Paul Kemp believes he is not being honest and wants to find out more about the island and closely observes every detail.

It is at the end of his stay in Puerto Rico where he realizes and writes on his type writer his real discoveries in Puerto Rico and he writes “I finally understood the connection between children scavenging for food and shiny brass plates on the front doors of banks”. He uses this quote to emphasize the living conditions on the island and how they tourists are very naïve when they visit the island.