We started off our morning bright and early. We were in the van by 7:30am (that is 5:30 Minnesota time) and embarked on a 3½-hour drive to a farm located in the city of Adjuntas, located in the western-central part of the island. On the way there, we got a little lost and ended up turning around twice while maneuvering winding roads. Needless to say, some of us got carsick before we made it to our destination.
Once we arrived, a long, elegant driveway that led to a beautiful home greeted us. We all rushed out of the car, thankful to finally be on our own two feet. The house was elevated about 1 story off of the ground and below it was a beautiful outdoor area dressed with beautiful plants and decorations as well as a pool table, a hammock (that we all used at least once), and the most entertaining piece of the day, a domino set. We spent awhile playing pool, lounging in the hammock, and making freshly squeezed orange juice with oranges that were grown right on the property. As we hung out, Maria introduced us to Puerto Rican dominos. As more and more of us came over to the playing table, we began to play some pretty intense games.
After we hung out for a while, we were hit with an unavoidable smell. As we looked over, we saw that they had prepared a delicious lunch for us. We began stuffing our faces, as most college kids do, and filled our stomachs to past the point of no return. After we had a wonderful meal, we were given a tour of the land.
It was during this tour where we learned about coffee plants (we even got to plant a few), oranges, roosters and rooster fights, and what it is like to live on such a wonderful piece of land (it was almost 10 acres). After a day filled with food, fun, learning, we thanked the generous people that provided us with a wonderful experience and prepared ourselves to take another long trip home.
This was a wonderful experience. It really showed me something that I love; passion. The owner of the farm was so passionate about what he did and what he produced it was very eye opening. As we were given a tour, it was mentioned that the owner of the land was nearing the age of 80. This surprised all of us because he looked so young and was so active in what he was doing (he even led us in a hike that had all of us winded). It was clear to me that he was doing something that he was passionate about. Throughout this trip I have seen nothing but passionate people. From the state capitol, to the non-profit, to the farm, people are really passionate about what they do and how it affects not only themselves, but also the community. I loved this trip and it allowed us to get an inside look on not only how a farm like this operates, but how someone operates within their passion. It was something that was very powerful and a great learning experience!