Blog 1

1. What is your personal connection to Puerto Rico and how does their struggle relate to you personally and connect to your service?
Puerto Rico and its culture have played a profound role in my life. I have numerous extended family members who currently live in Puerto Rico. I stayed with them during the my previous four visits to the island. As a result, I already was exposed to the lifestyle of the locals and felt that organic/authentic experience. The fact that we are staying at an AirBnB instead of hotel in tourist trap is very promising, in that my peers likely will also experience this. 
2. Based on your reading of the Battle For Paradise, what were 1 or 2 key issues or policies that resonate with you and why?
My passion for protecting the environment is what brought me to Bonner Environmental division for a fourth year. I love that many residents Puerto Rico embraced solar energy and other environmentally friendly energy practices. This solution kills two birds with one stone(metaphor) because its makes the residents more self reliant and independent while saving this beautiful haven of paradise from pollution. An issue that made me sick to my stomach is the fact that Puerto Rico's economic policies are not decided by its representatives chosen by its population, rather an unelected council of seven wealthy and influential members, many of which are not from Puerto Rico. This is unacceptable!
3. This trip to Puerto Rico has been inspired to help the island recover after the disaster of Hurricane Maria. Puerto Rico is an American Territory making its residents American Citizens like us, but they do not have the same rights and privileges. What do you hope to learn from this trip?
I want to hear first hand stories from the locals about how they dealt with the hurricane, how the hurricane itself affected them and how their lives are affected by corrupt American and wealthy Puerto Rican policies.