First Post...Primera Parte

Before I get going, my roommate Stephen and I are both writing Google blogs. Sometimes we will cover the same stories, sometimes not. It would be impossible to update ya’ll on everything crazy that happens here, so we will try to split up the stories. We also have been taking different video snippets with our cameras, so we will also have different videos on our blogs. I encourage you to check out his site if you want to be as informed as possible. Here is his blog URL: http://thebeachlifeinpuertorico.blogspot.com/

I apologize for the delay in posts. We do not have internet in Santurce and are limited to trips to Starbucks every once in awhile. Also, there is so much to say! I promise I will catch up soon.

I arrived in San Juan on Tuesday the 11th. After I claimed my luggage, I had no idea where to go. Thankfully, Sylvia and Harry (two PRCSC coordinators) quickly found me. The rest of the volunteers flew in shortly thereafter. Once we collected everyone, Sylvia took us to one of her favorite authentic, Puerto Rican restaurants in the city. It was the first time any of us tried mofongo, pernil, and tostones…but everything was delicious! Sylvia is great to be around and a wonderful resource for all things PR. She is 70 years old, but I would’ve guessed 55. She has a lot of energy and really sinks her heart into this volunteer program.

We had the next day off to acquaint ourselves with each other as well as with PR culture. That included the realization that our apartment is nothing like home, that driving around San Juan is always an adventure, that sleeping past 9 is impossible because it is already about 88 degrees, and that the only UV rating they have here is labeled EXTREME. There are 4 other volunteers in the program. Stephen, Tesia, and Meg are domers while Dan is the lone representative of Lehigh. Specifically, I live with Stephen and Dan in Santurce (Sahn-tour-say) because we are all working on the same project in Caguas. Meg and Tesia reside on Orocovis (Or-o-co-veese), where they teach English and organize extracurricular activities.

Santurce is the only district of San Juan that does not have a shoreline. Sure, the south end is the San Juan bay, but if you saw the beautiful coastline, you would be jealous as well. Santurce is literally enveloped by an extensive metropolitan highway system. If you find yourself trapped in between Highway 1, Expressway Diego, and Highway 26, you are in Santurce. Roll up your windows! I live on the third floor of an apartment complex. Oscar, an ND grad in his 40’s, owns the building. His contribution to the PRCSC is letting us live in the third floor loft. His import/export business takes up the first two floors. Santurce is renowned for its food markets and delectable, low-cost eateries. Despite this, the neighborhood is a bit rough. We live across the street from the two largest housing projects in San Juan. We were advised not to walk around after about 7 o’clock. Good thing we’ve got our reliable, mid-90’s Honda Odyssey to shuttle the crew around. I know I complained about the lack of Santurce beach spots, but I will admit that we have gone to multiple beaches already and not one was more than 10 minutes away. A 15-minute walk straight north of the apartment will put us in the Condado resort area with beaches a plenty.

Orocovis has nothing in common with Santurce. We dropped the girls off at their casita (small house) on Sunday. It is an hour and 15 minute drive southwest of San Juan. Specifically, we have to travel straight west along the coast and then straight south through the mountains. Orocovis is said to be the geographic epicenter of the island. The drive south is incredible: beautiful mountains, rolling green valleys, and dangerous roads. We were instantly greeted by the few or so nuns that are overseeing the work done by the girls. These Salesian nuns also live in the casita next door. We had a feast for lunch and afterwards commenced a grand introduction to anyone and everyone involved in the Centro Allespi and the after-school program. Everyone had a big smile on their face and the children running around were some of the most adorable I have ever seen (next to my goddaughter, of course)! Orocovis is extremely rural, nestled in the mountains and tucked between forests. It rains daily there (3 times in the 3 hours when we were there), but the showers last 10 minutes and then the sun pops out and dries everything up in an instant. Also, a decent amount of people in Puerto Rico speak basic English. But, the farther into the country you go, the more the English disappears. This will be hugely advantageous to Meg and Tesia as they are less advanced Spanish-speakers. They will learn Spanish the best way possible. I can only assume they will have a similar experience to mine in Mexico, where no one spoke English. I think the girls are going to have an incredible experience in Orocovis. They don’t have anything except for the wonderful people, the beautiful scenery, and the satisfaction that they are teaching the children valuable life skills. I think they will realize that’s all that truly matters.

Part 2 coming soon!