While a strong gust of wind made quick work of numbing my nose on the way to class this morning, I thought back to the warm sand and sunny skies I had enjoyed only a few days prior. It has definitely been an interesting experience layering clothing on top of sunburns and bug bites. With the quick return to my normal routine and flow of assignments, last week’s trip has felt increasingly surreal. It has been daunting to attempt to summarize it all, but I hope you enjoy my take on the highs, lows, and key takeaways from our Global Service Learning trip to Puerto Rico.
Settling In
We arrived at the San Juan airport around 2:30pm, and I could already tell that I would no longer be needing my jacket. After picking up our shared checked bag, we all met with Mariana, the volunteer coordinator for Caras that would be driving us to each of our destinations for the week and guiding us through the activities. She did a quick tour of the hotel and the various shops that were within walking distance. Next, we quickly unpacked before heading to our most frequent dinner destination, Café del Parque. My appetite was at an all-time high, and I devoured every bit of arroz, habichuelas, and vegetables on my plate.
One of the first areas we visited was a microforest that Caras was creating for the community. There, Mariana gave us some insight on Caras con Causa’s complicated relationship with the government. Caras had recently been forced to uproot and relocate several trees after planting them on government property. This was an unnecessary alteration and primarily meant as a demonstration of power from the municipality. We later learned from Michael Fernández, the director of Caras con Causa, that the current headquarters for Caras is in an old school that had to close down. Since this was a government property, they did not have to pay utilities, but there have been recent changes that have required Caras to pay both current utility bills and those for the entire time they have been on that property. This is an important factor to keep in mind for the future cohorts working on the LabCom project.
Experiencing LabCom
We had a chance to see the LabCom space being used in real time! We all sat down and watched as a teacher instructed students on how to use binoculars. Afterwards, we then joined the group as they went into the Puente Blanco community and had the chance to look at and ask questions about the plants and animals they saw. While this class was with younger students, it allowed us to see the many ways that the LabCom space and local flora and fauna could be utilized.
We also participated in a water quality monitoring activity, where we drove to different points along the shoreline to collect and analyze water samples. While none of us had experience in this field, the people guiding us through the measurements neatly summarized the concepts. Visiting students would have the chance to delve into these findings much more and potentially document some of their research for credit.
Misadventures
As with any good trip, there were a fair share of misadventures along the way. The first of these was a few days after arriving. Wanting to take advantage of the warm weather, we decided to walk to a beach nearby. All went well, and we decided to get an Uber back so we could make it in time for dinner. The Uber arrived right in front of us… then promptly made a u-turn and canceled the ride. We were all a bit confused, but we thought that it could have been because we were still a bit soaked and sandy from the beach. After discussing this with Mariana, we learned that another likely reason the Uber did not pick us up was because we were tourists. Many people hold a negative opinion on tourists in Puerto Rico as they can get drunk and be disruptive to the local community. This sentiment was also shown in various pieces of graffiti that we passed by. It was interesting to hear about this aspect of tourism and its potential influence on whether or not someone would be in favor of Puerto Rico’s statehood.
A few days after this, I had my own setback. Despite many attempts to convince myself it was allergies or dehydration from the intense heat, I finally had to admit that I was sick. I sat sadly in front of my lunch that day, mentally debating whether I should go along on the mural tour I had heard so much about or stay in the hotel to rest. With a small sigh, I put my fork down and asked if I could be dropped off at the hotel.
I spent that afternoon resting and rejoined the group for dinner. The following morning, I was still not feeling well, so I rested for a few more hours before making my way over for lunch. There was just one issue: I did not have a ride or an address. I messaged the group, but no one was sure of the exact location of the Puente Blanco community center where we ate, so I scanned buildings using street view on Google Maps until I came across a familiar parking space. With a few technical hiccups, I managed to download Uber and arranged my first-ever solo Uber ride. I got through the doors right as everyone was served their food and joined the group for the rest of the day.
I have frequently reflected on my decision to spend a day resting. After all, this trip is only a week long. There is a nagging voice in my mind asking if I wasted a great opportunity, but I have only grown more confident in my decision. No matter the length of the trip, it is essential to listen to what your body is saying. I knew that I would not have had fun if I had gone out that day, and not taking the time to rest could have jeopardized the rest of the trip. So please, remember that it is okay to step aside and take care of yourself while traveling! Not only will you feel better, but you will also prevent those around you from getting sick as well.
Service Activities
The most immersive service experience we had was in the wetlands on Thursday. And by immersive, I mean our boots were sinking into the mud. Besides having to occasionally help a groupmate free their trapped foot, the activity went smoothly. We were all given large clippers (“loppers” according to Google) to cut down invasive species. At the end, we all got to plant a mangrove tree, which should be fully grown in about two decades.
After we cleaned up, we had lunch and then headed to Caras to weed and water the small plots in their plant nursery. This was a relaxing final service activity, and the shade was much appreciated.
While I appreciated every opportunity to be involved in the community, the service activity that I resonated with the most was when we painted the home of a woman with an autistic son. One of my older brothers is on the autism spectrum, so I understood some of the daily challenges that she likely faced. It was saddening to hear that the government was not providing her with support, and I was happy to help her in any way that I could.
All of these service activities were things that we would not have experienced on a typical trip to Puerto Rico, but were essential to understanding the struggles and values of the community. In class, we had discussed letting go of the idea of exchange and the idea of others owing us something because we had paid to be there. This was at the forefront of my mind, as I believe service is an opportunity to look at our shared struggles and humanity.
Being Tourists
While the main focus on the trip was connecting with the community through service and learning about Caras, we also had some time to visit popular tourist destinations. One highlight was when we took a ferry to Old San Juan. The wind constantly whipping our hair around was perfect for the dozens of families that had gathered to fly kites. We passed by a variety of shops and restaurants and even got to see some beautiful birds. I look forward to returning in the future and being able to spend more time there.
On our last day in Puerto Rico, we were also able to visit El Yunque! This was the only day it rained during our time there, but it was light and refreshing for our long trek up. Our early drive there also gave us space to wade into one of the waterfalls before too many people arrived.
Reflection and Looking Forward
It is a strange feeling to fulfill a long-term goal. Now that I have traveled to Puerto Rico, I am left with a looming question: what do I do now? First, there is this project. Interacting with Caras and speaking with its employees has only strengthened my resolve to make this project the best that it can be. This was also a core concept presented in our readings pre-departure. You need to respect every organization you are working with and give 100% to everything you do. By hosting us, Caras used valuable time and resources, and we should not ignore that active effort.
Second, I want to reimmerse myself in my Spanish studies. I remembered much more than I expected on this trip. The cultural presentation section on Puerto Rican dialect was especially useful (we heard the word guagua at least a dozen times a day), and I want to continue developing my skills in Pitt’s tutoring sessions so that I can communicate comfortably.
Long term, I want to return to Puerto Rico and continue helping Caras. This trip may be the most fulfilling one that I have ever taken, and I do not want my impact to stop here. I loved bonding with people throughout Caras and the Puente Blanco community, and I hope to see them again. I am also grateful to have gone with such a great group. I enjoyed our very long walks past the community center, late-night novela watching, and the encouragement to move “just one more” branch. This trip would not have been the same without you all.