Reflections
As I stare out the window at the gray and rainy Pittsburgh sky, I have to remind myself that it was only a few weeks ago that we were all passing around sunscreen and constantly refilling our water bottles. Before I came to Pitt, I had never left the United States. Having now gone abroad twice, I feel much more comfortable in different environments. International travel had always seemed intimidating to me, but now I easily navigate the airport and pack the right amount of clothing. However, the true value of going abroad is in the experience itself.
In my first two blogs for this trip, I had hoped to find some clarity on my future career goals. How would I feel about consulting? Should I continue to explore the nonprofit sphere? I am happy to report that the work we did on this trip strongly resonated with me and helped define the trajectory I want to pursue. A strong desire to aid the community was apparent in each Caras employee that we met. Whether students, the local environment, or the elderly, Caras was there to help with unwavering dedication. We had read about Puerto Rico having a more collectivist culture (opposed to the more individualistic one of the mainland United States), and that was evident throughout our time there. People eagerly greeted one another with smiles, high-fives, and kisses on the cheek. The sense of connection and community was amazing to experience, and I hope to cultivate that in my future business endeavors.
Caras con Causa’s approach heavily mirrored a reading we had on ethical partnership, which highlighted areas such as respect, collaboration, and caring for everyone’s well-being. When we were helping people in the community, it was not a one way exchange. We took the time to speak and learn from each other, to play with their pets and explore their beautiful backyard gardens. Everyone worked as a unit, switching between tasks as necessary and reminding each other to get water or put on more sunscreen. The joy and camaraderie found in those moments was unmatched.
In addition, we had a chance to participate in water quality monitoring, wetland, and educational projects. These gave me an appreciation for the work that Caras does each day. Every activity we engaged in throughout this experience cemented my drive to pursue a career where I can continue connecting with and helping others. This trip has also helped me develop various skills that will be useful for future pursuits.
One of the great things about trips abroad is that you never really know what to expect. This meant that there were many changes to the itinerary. The professor warned us of this previously, and I found myself coming to embrace the unexpected. Typically, we were given a general overview of the next day’s activities, and I would prepare accordingly. This adaptability was useful as it made me appreciate each experience instead of holding onto a preset plan. It is impossible to plan for everything, and flexibility is crucial for any project.
Another large component of our trip was collaboration. With the pandemic, there was a large disruption in the original plan for the promotion of the LabCom space. We all needed to get together and decide what aspects of the past cohorts we wanted to adopt as well as which areas were no longer as relevant. This required many meetings, especially as we adjusted our deliverables after speaking with people in Caras.
With the limited time we had in Puerto Rico, we also had to decide how to prioritize. Unfortunately for me, that also meant prioritizing my health when I got sick midway through the trip. While I am sad to not have been on the mural tour, I recognize that I would not have enjoyed myself in the state I was in and could have potentially gotten other people sick as well. All of these experiences will be important to draw upon as I consider how to approach other projects in the future.
A Note to Future Cohorts
Hello! If the next Global Service Learning group decides to skim through the past blogs like I did, then this section is for you. Perhaps you are not even enrolled yet and debating whether this program would be a good fit for you. For that, I can say that this will be a project that I will remember for the rest of my life, but you need to give it your all. This is not a simulation. You are building on years of student work and interacting with real clients that have an unwavering passion to aid their communities. If you have the drive to expand your horizons and actively engage with your client, then go for it! Connecting with the people in Puente Blanco, learning about LabCom, and working in unison under the hot sun left me with a lasting sense of accomplishment. That being said, there is a lot of work that goes into preparing for this experience, which leads to my official advice:
Tip #1: Start by reading our final report.
Our main goal was to reassess and redirect the plan for LabCom post pandemic, and part of this involved going through all the documents of the past Global Service Learning groups. Those documents will still be available to you, but it can be overwhelming to look at all at once. I would highly suggest starting by reading our group’s final report. There, we will have a reevaluation report with key information from the past cohorts, an outline of the deliverables we worked on, and how we see the project going forward.
Tip #2: Be curious.
Even if you have some Spanish knowledge, the dialect and customs can vary in Puerto Rico. Take the time to learn about the culture both before and during the trip. This provides the foundation for your community interactions. Getting to know the people in the community was a highlight of the trip, so I encourage you to start up a conversation, even if you are nervous. Taking the time to make these connections not only creates a meaningful experience for you, but a strong foundation for future cohorts. Pitt’s positive relationship with Caras con Causa allowed us to gain valuable insights on their costs, struggles, and future plans that we might not have heard about otherwise. By taking the time to listen and connect with the people you meet, you are ensuring future success.
Tip #3: Make your own itinerary.
Of course, this piece of advice is not completely literal. As I said, the itinerary constantly changes; however, you will be provided an outline with things more or less set in stone. This tip is more in reference to the periods outside the itinerary. Many of my personal favorite moments happened outside what was planned: waking up early to visit a new café, browsing a bookstore, walking to the beach, visiting the food trucks at Lote 23, and more. The trip is short, so take advantage! While the day’s activities can tire you out, usually a good meal and 30 minutes of rest will have you ready for another small adventure.
Final Thoughts
There are many lessons and experiences from this trip that I will carry with me forever. I am excited to tell future interviewers about my first official consulting project where I got to work with a client abroad both virtually and in-person. In addition to the skills I outlined earlier, I want to mention our times in the wetlands, interactions with the community, adjustments to an unfamiliar environment, and my newfound appreciation for sustainability efforts. This project has strengthened my passion for service-learning work, and I hope to have the chance to travel to Puerto Rico and work with Caras con Causa again.
This course also made me consider how I want to approach future team projects. One of our last readings discussed team dynamics and what makes up “the ideal team.” Instead of avoiding conflict and disagreement, an effective team has systems in place for when conflict inevitably arises. It centers around clear communication of struggles and looking at the situation instead of casting blame. Luckily, I had a great experience with my team, but it was interesting for everyone in the class to reflect on past group projects and the different areas where they could have been improved. As my projects get larger at Pitt and more stakeholders are involved, it is essential to have these systems in place to ensure that everything runs smoothly, because before you know it, the semester will be over.
Much like the trip, this school year is wrapping up fast. Our presentation to Caras is next week, and I cannot wait to show them what we have developed throughout the semester. Getting to know the people working at Caras has made me excited for the chance to formally introduce and receive feedback on all of our deliverables. I am eager to see where the LabCom program goes in the future.
