Mid Week Reflection

What have you learned about the people and policies during your service in Puerto Rico?

Prior to this trip, I've been to Puerto Rico a few years ago with my family. To say the two experiences are different is an understatement. Although I was able to capture a glimpse of Puerto Rico's beauty as I stayed with my family in San Juan and visited Luquillo, it was through the lens of a visiting tourist. I knew when I visited with my family it was to escape the heat and go somewhere beautiful, and that was about it. This trip on the other hand, is an exploration rather than a visitation.

So far, the people we have met in Puerto Rico have been incredibly welcoming and genuine. Walking along with Titi as she tried to satisfy my search for a coconut, I felt as if she was someone I knew for a long time from the way she was treating me rather than an individual I just met. Francisco was cracking jokes and was so invested in sharing aspects of the rain forest. The way in which Manuel described his struggle, and triumphs, in renovating the Naval Base was nothing short of inspiring. Doing service for and with these individuals felt different than serving at home. Back in Ewing, there's a clear supervisor- volunteer relationship. There are rules that need to be followed and a level of propriety expected. Here, there is no power dynamic between volunteers and individuals of the service site. We can be goofy, and more importantly, we can be vulnerable. We're not here to simply serve them, it's a mutualistic experience where we learn through our service and can engage in activities and practice values that are deeply important to us.

So far, what I've learned about the policies is even worse than I thought. The fact that Puerto Ricans have to prioritize their debt to the United States before they do the social services and infrastructure necessary to promote productivity and self- sufficiency within a country seems deliberate and insidious. It's in direct contrast to the notions that lead to the formation of the United States: autonomy and freedom. The metaphor that comes to mind is placing a beautiful fish in a half empty fish bowl. The fish is given enough water and food to survive, but not enough to swim freely or even to be able to jump out of the bowl altogether. It's deliberate, and it's undoubtedly colonization in a different form- one established by the United States and is therefore not questioned.

I look forward to meeting more people and learning more! I am incredibly grateful for this beautiful experience.