Upon our arrival as I gazed out of the airplane window onto the stunning landscape of the island of Puerto Rico, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement and anticipation for the week that lay ahead—a journey filled with cultural discoveries, personal growth, and impactful experiences. Fast forward to the return trip, as I looked out that same window, I carried with me not just memories, but a newfound appreciation for the Boricua life. During our time on this trip, we engaged in a variety of activities that allowed us to immerse ourselves in the local culture and contribute meaningfully to the community. From exploring the vibrant streets of Cataño and participating in service work to delving into the rich history of Old San Juan and hiking through El Yunque, each experience proved to be invaluable. And of course, the beautiful weather throughout the week just made the trip that much better!
On the first day, the walking tour of Santurce provided us with a glimpse into the daily lives of locals and helped us to familiarize ourselves with the area in which we would be staying. Our hotel, San Jorge, was located in this area and offered us a convenient and central location with comfortable accommodations. Overall, staying in this area helped us to gain more context about the community in which Caras con Causa operates to be able to better assist the organization. Each morning, we gathered at the children’s community center of Puente Blanco to enjoy coffee and a freshly prepared breakfast. We returned to this same spot each afternoon for lunch, greeted warmly by a small dog whose tail wagged with joy the entire time. Most nights, we ate dinner at a local restaurant in this area, Café del Parque, with various dishes from the delicious Puerto Rican cuisine, allowing us to experience the island’s unique flavors and feel more connected to its culture.
Visiting Old San Juan and fort of El Morro not only allowed us to appreciate the historical significance of the area but also served as a reminder of Puerto Rico’s impressive resilience in the face of adversity. As we walked along the cobblestone streets and gazed up at the centuries-old architecture, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe of the island’s history, marked by conquests, struggles, and triumphs. As we wrapped up for the day, the ferry ride at sunset allowed me to experience a serene moment of reflection. I felt a profound sense of gratitude for the opportunity to experience such a remarkable place and encouraged myself to stay present in the moment throughout the week. Overall, learning about the island’s history further contextualized our work with Caras con Causa and emphasized the importance of their sustainable development practices.
Throughout the week, engaging in various community service projects, such as painting houses to revitalize the community and watering nursery plants that would be transferred to various microforests throughout the area, provided us with firsthand experience of the impact our efforts could have on individuals within Cataño. The painting helped to transform older houses into more vibrant spaces, not only increasing the aesthetic appeal of the neighborhood but also giving owners a new sense of pride in their homes. Caring for the nursery plants contributed to the preservation and restoration of natural reserves in the area, allowing us to play a direct part in the mission of Caras con Causa by promoting a greener future. It was a humbling experience to see the gratitude and appreciation from those we were able to assist, and it reinforced the importance of service-learning initiatives like this.
We also spent a significant portion of our time learning about the LabCom program that Caras con Causa offers to local students. Since this facility is the basis of our consulting project and scope of work, it was important that we gathered as much information as possible while seeing it there in person. First, we got to tour the space and see what equipment would be available to university students coming for an environmental-based study abroad program. We also were able to see the housing space that these students would be staying in while in Puerto Rico, which was located conveniently next to the LabCom. It was interesting to learn that the organization is currently residing in an abandoned school that is owned by the government, so they have not been paying rent or utilities but may have to in the future. This is an important consideration for our project and the benchmark pricing and profitability analysis.
To better understand the types of projects that students would be working on while there with Caras con Causa, we visited a few different environmental areas that are the focus of the non-profit organization. One day, we drove around to various bodies of water to collect data and participate in their water quality monitoring project. During this time, we were able to test out some of the scientific instruments that are essential to the LabCom studies. We also spent a day in the wetlands, clearing out a part of the large field with overgrowing weeds so that new plants could be grown. At the end of the day, we were each given the opportunity to plant a tree that would continue to grow there for decades. Knowing that I was making such a strong impact on the community and environment with these actions was extremely rewarding for me. These laborious days out in the blazing heat gave me an appreciation for those working there each day to contribute to the mission of supporting the community and helping protect the environment. I was constantly reminding myself to appreciate the time and feel grateful that I had this opportunity to engage in this community project firsthand.
Throughout our time in Puerto Rico, the language barrier posed a challenge at certain points, particularly with the fast-paced Spanish dialect spoken on the island. I have studied the language in a classroom setting for many years, but this was my first time experiencing it in an authentic environment, which was much different. I am glad that I learned some of the words particular to the area before traveling there, like guagua for bus which was used quite often in our travels. It is also common for Puerto Ricans to drop the “s” at the end of many words…this was the most significant difference that affected my comprehension, but with time and practice, I found myself becoming more comfortable with the language and able to communicate more effectively.
The volunteer coordinator for Caras con Causa, Mariana, played a crucial role in facilitating communication and fostering a sense of camaraderie within our group. Overall, her support and guidance were invaluable throughout our experience there, and she really made the trip that much more enjoyable. From the moment we arrived in Cataño, she welcomed us warmly and helped to coordinate all of the activities for the week. I enjoyed learning about her interests, including things like sports, music, and local restaurants…we even discussed some more personal topics, such as her opinion on the status of Puerto Rico as a territory. Overall, she was a wonderful guide who significantly contributed to the success of our trip.
A common struggle that we heard about was the complicated relationship between Caras con Causa and the government. The workers told stories about the municipality impeding a lot of their projects. One notable incident involved the recent planting of trees on government property, which were eventually forced to be ripped out and moved elsewhere. This experience shed light on a conflicting dynamic between the non-profit organization and the local authority, with the latter seemingly attempting to assert dominance over the former. Despite their best efforts to enhance the environment and improve public spaces, they often faced resistance and bureaucratic hurdles. It was interesting to learn about this issue, and it helped us understand the importance of advocacy for these marginalized communities.
Another challenge that I personally experienced was trying not to feel like I was imposing on the lives of community members. This relates to our class readings about points of discomfort and the idea of reciprocity. At times, I felt there was a natural barrier created between “us” the students and “them” the community members, making it difficult to see our engagement as a mutual interaction where we both help each other. I tried reminding myself that while we are completing physical acts of service to assist them, they are offering us a chance to learn about different ways of life and become more culturally sensitive individuals. There were multiple points during the trip where I thought to myself, this reminds me of the ‘points of discomfort’ article we discussed in class. I found myself questioning whether our actions were truly serving the community or if they were merely orchestrated to provide us with the service experience that we had purchased. Overall, though, it seemed like most of the planned projects directly impacted individuals in the community who specifically requested help, so that was fulfilling.
In conclusion, my journey to Puerto Rico working with Caras con Causa was a transformative experience filled with cultural immersion, impactful community engagement, and personal growth. Engaging in this project allowed me to gain deeper understanding of the complexities faced by both the organization and the local community. Moving forward with this new knowledge, I feel much more equipped to assist Caras con Causa and really contribute to their overall mission.