Take Me Back!

I still cannot believe that we have been back on the mainland for over a week. It feels like a wonderful dream that we were in Puerto Rico. I miss waking up everyday to the sounds of 13 other roommates, the smell of Puerto Rican coffee, the constant lullaby of the Coqui, the sweat and blood of hard labor, the sounds of the machetes, and the small little community that we were able to grow between Bonners, Staff, and Puerto Ricans. I learned so much about the mountains Puerto Rico still has to conquer but I learned even more about the mountains they have conquered and the skills they continue to use to get up every morning with a smile on their face ready to take on the day. Their strength and resilience is infectious and was one of my favorite parts of the whole journey.

While I am going to miss the island and the beautiful people we were able to meet, I am looking forward to channeling everything I have learned/taken from the trip into my last semester of school. Seeing the impact that a group of 14 people can have in such a short amount of time gives me hope for the changes that are to come to ASA and restores my energy for keeping up with the chaos that is the first grade classroom.

I cannot wait to see what the world has in store for everyone on this trip. I am looking forward to keeping in touch and hearing about the amazing things everyone will achieve. I hope this is not the last time Bonner comes in contact with Puerto Rico, and I am sure it will not be the last time I do.

- Sam