On our final day in Puerto Rico, most slept in after a fun-filled and exhausting day at Las Fiestas de La Calle San Sebastian. I rose with the sun and headed out for my last 79-degree jog at Aquatika. I was greeted by roosters screeching, birds chirping, a variety of noisy bugs, and the feral cats that roam the property. Afterward, I went down to the beach to take it all in and say goodbye to the ocean. I returned to the apartment to make coffee, cook the last of the food, do laundry, and pack.
One-by-one the rest of the group started waking up and coming around to tie up loose ends, use the internet, or claim dishes and utensils from the many nights spent shared at the apartment. Hannah downloaded photos, Chris caught some final rays by the pool, Mai cleaned the kitchen, and Chloe packed her suitcase, while a couple people next door magically uncovered their countertops and reassembled their apartment. Sarina weighed our suitcases with her handy travel scale. Everyone worked together to end our stay. We shared food, cleaning supplies, and some good laughs from the day before. As 12 Noon approached, everyone gathered at the one apartment that had become the hub of activity over the last three weeks. At 11:58, Sam came through the door to announce he was missing his wallet, along with his ID, which he would need to board the airplane… But with a little help from his friends, he retraced his steps and located the wallet. Whew! Emmanuel and Luis, our faithful drivers, arrived shortly after.
“Goodbye apartment!”...“So long Aquatika!”
We loaded up the luggage, gave Emmanuel a thank you gift, and embarked on our final journey en la guagua (the bus). We bumped down the road, through Loiza and Pinones, listening to a combination of 80s pop songs and beloved Spanish hits for the last time… (And oh yeah, let’s not forget the group rendition of Britney Spears’s “Oops I Did It Again”). Once at the airport, we spent a long while waiting to check in, finally got through security, and sat down to our last shared meal at Margaritaville. Before we knew it, our flight was boarding! Chris poked fun about us all accounting for one another, but after three weeks together, it was only natural to confirm everyone’s presence.
In these three weeks together, we have each gained a new perspective in a new context, and I think there is some truth to the saying “a mind that is stretched by new experiences can never go back to its old dimensions.” (Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.) We learned from Maria, our in-country hosts, the planned tour guides, and representatives. We learned from the locals we interacted with, and we also learned a lot from each other. We gained something unique and valuable from every conversation and each place we visited – Loiza, Isabela, Camuy, Arecibo, San Juan, Condado, Canovanas, Luqillo, Fajardo, Caguas, Utuado, Adjuntas, Guanica, Ponce, and everywhere in between. We found that an island that is at times considered economically poor is actually rich in many things, including art, culture, history, nature, innovation, and diversity and social capital.
