If you wear PSU gear on vacation..

[Alphalion75]

The thing to remember is people are no longer used to interacting with strangers. I don’t take offense if I don’t get a return.

That said, I see Penn Staters everywhere. Whether I’m at the restaurant at the bottom of a Polish salt mine, at the Eagle’s Nest, Tower of London, Marienplatz/Oktoberfest, Neuschwanstein, Zugspitze, Rome, Normandy, Pearl Harbor, cruises, I’ve gotten returns when I say it or have done the latter part of the greeting.

And what do you mean by “if” you wear PSU gear on vacation? It’s an unusual day of I’m NOT wearing PSU gear. I probably have enough tshirts and polos and nice shorts or mesh shorts to make it a couple months in blue and white.

"...people are no longer used to interacting with strangers"? I don't find this to be the case where I live. I find strangers are very very willing to engage with me, especially if the conversation on a humorous level. I have never had anyone ignore my "We are..." shout out.

 

[LionsAndBears]

My wife an I honeymooned in Culebra. Loved the place. We were married in December and the Dewy was all decked out for Christmas. Easily the best vacation we have been on.

I wish we could have spent more than 1 day there. It really is a beautiful island!

 

[scocha409]

A few people threw up on the way over, including my Brother-in-law but we made it. Yes, I really enjoyed Flamenco Beach and Culebra! Flamenco was one of the nicest beaches I've been to and I've been to some beauties in Hawaii and The Caribbean. There's a really good chance that we retire in PR in 6-9 years (probably Camuy or Hatillo area).

We have a villa in Rio Mar Village and spend as much time as possible here, and will in near future officially be snow birds and look spend equal time here and in PA. PR is amazing, not just the weather and beaches, but the people. If only I could learn more Espanol.....

 

[WVilleLion23]

I normally don’t wear much PSU or any US sports team stuff while in Europe. Try to blend in as much as possible.

 

[LionsAndBears]

We have a villa in Rio Mar Village and spend as much time as possible here, and will in near future officially be snow birds and look spend equal time here and in PA. PR is amazing, not just the weather and beaches, but the people. If only I could learn more Espanol.....

Try the Duolingo App. It's free and provides a good foundation. Then when you retire you can try an immersion program. Luckily my wife is Bilingual and I can use her as a resource.

 

[LionJim]

Try the Duolingo App. It's free and provides a good foundation. Then when you retire you can try an immersion program. Luckily my wife is Bilingual and I can use her as a resource.

My wife swears by Duolingo. User-friendly and you make steady progress.

 

[1995PSUGrad]

I can't believe that. That's some weak *** anti-social bull ****. You can't use a playful yet simultaneously endearing benign and yet intimate brief engaging phrase that connects and unites after very likely spending 3+ years of your lives in the precise same academic institution out of thousands you could have both potentially gone to? Dude, that's embarrassing and I didn't even go to Penn State-I'm beyond disappointed to learn you're "that kind of person." I'm shocked you even thought it was prudent to admit that. It's disconcerting that for some reason this little "uniquely rare" instance of fraternization? not sure what the word would be....camaraderie? rapport? causes you to show disinterest or disengagemen or annoyancet. I'm supremely curious as to why-why you would admit it (especially on a PSU message board) is outlandish enough and lacks self awareness, but lets just finish the dying thing off and tell me WHY you would feel that way in public or vice versa or whatever situation happens when you cross a PSU person? Like I would be beyond appreciative if you could type out perhaps one or two sentences that enunciate and or validate why you or ANYONE-especially if they really DID go to PSU to feel and respond the way you do? I'm curious to hear it from your vantage. I want to be fair and see if you can re-frame this sentiment, statement, and purported behavior in a humane and logical way that doesn't paint you as unsavory, surly, and dare I say, rude. I hope a minority of people in general treat each other with more respect than this-ESPECIALLY if they didn't even go to the same school or I am again reminded why we are in so much trouble as a country that's becoming more and more socially fractured and close minded every day. If I saw you were wearing PSU garb that was easily visible and I clearly threw you a "We Are" and you responded like I was annoying you. I would think you were a creep.

I didn't read your whole post, it's way too long, so I may not get to all of your points. I will say that I am not very social; I don't really care to talk to people outside of a very small group of family and friends and I really don't engage with strangers. You don't have to like it, but that's how I am and I am very happy that way.

 

[Nitt1300]

I can't believe that. That's some weak *** anti-social bull ****. You can't use a playful yet simultaneously endearing benign and yet intimate brief engaging phrase that connects and unites after very likely spending 3+ years of your lives in the precise same academic institution out of thousands you could have both potentially gone to? Dude, that's embarrassing and I didn't even go to Penn State-I'm beyond disappointed to learn you're "that kind of person." I'm shocked you even thought it was prudent to admit that. It's disconcerting that for some reason this little "uniquely rare" instance of fraternization? not sure what the word would be....camaraderie? rapport? causes you to show disinterest or disengagemen or annoyancet. I'm supremely curious as to why-why you would admit it (especially on a PSU message board) is outlandish enough and lacks self awareness, but lets just finish the dying thing off and tell me WHY you would feel that way in public or vice versa or whatever situation happens when you cross a PSU person? Like I would be beyond appreciative if you could type out perhaps one or two sentences that enunciate and or validate why you or ANYONE-especially if they really DID go to PSU to feel and respond the way you do? I'm curious to hear it from your vantage. I want to be fair and see if you can re-frame this sentiment, statement, and purported behavior in a humane and logical way that doesn't paint you as unsavory, surly, and dare I say, rude. I hope a minority of people in general treat each other with more respect than this-ESPECIALLY if they didn't even go to the same school or I am again reminded why we are in so much trouble as a country that's becoming more and more socially fractured and close minded every day. If I saw you were wearing PSU garb that was easily visible and I clearly threw you a "We Are" and you responded like I was annoying you. I would think you were a creep.

pretty judgmental-you must be very special

 

[1995PSUGrad]

I wish we could have spent more than 1 day there. It really is a beautiful island!

I sailed there once. Stopped there for a couple of days on the way to Puerto Rico. Didn't see too much, but it seemed like a nice place.

 

[OaktonDave]

Be ready with the appropriate response when someone approaches you and says "WE ARE!"

Yesterday, I was on the return ferry from Culebra PR when I spotted a PSU hat. I said loudly "WE ARE" but got no response. I approached the man and said it again in a regular tone. This time he asked me what I said and I repeated it, then he said "oh that, yeah, thanks."

Brrr brrr

I have a friend who grew up splitting time between State College and PR. She and her sons are all alumni and make frequent visits back to PR. I don't know her sons particularly well, but mom is as passionate a Penn Stater as you can find.

 

[Mr. Potter]

I'm one of those "Tools" that always says "We Are", and if no response I always attempt to educate the reply, to said non-responder.

 

[LionsAndBears]

I have a friend who grew up splitting time between State College and PR. She and her sons are all alumni and make frequent visits back to PR. I don't know her sons particularly well, but mom is as passionate a Penn Stater as you can find.

Funny, those are the 2 places I've talked to my wife about retiring to. The older I get, the better PR and its warm weather sounds.

 

[razpsu]

If you walk into my restaurant be ready for the “we are” from my staff. I trained them well!!! Also you will
Need to sign the psu alumni book.