By Will, Jack, & Calvin
This morning our excited group of 19 seniors, juniors, and sophomores ventured off to take on Puerto Rico. We all arrived at school around 5:30 a.m. and boarded our American Airlines flight at 8:40 a.m. The four hour flight was a breeze and we finally arrived in Puerto Rico to humidity and sun, a huge contrast compared to the cold New Jersey weather.
After we had a chance to meet our Global Works supervisors, Lindsey and Fabrizio, we were picked up by a coach bus and were on our way to San Juan, Puerto Rico. While touring old San Juan with our native tour guide Alvin, we learned about the history and background of the rich port known as Puerto Rico and the diversity that forms the indigenous population.
We had a chance to visit some of the oldest churches and residences in the Western Hemisiphere such as the Catedral Metropolitana Basílica. As a group, we also had a chance to tour the Castillo San Felipe del Morro, an older fortress run by the National Park Service after lasting two World Wars.
After a long afternoon in the sun, we had some time to eat an authentic Puerto Rican lunch, which consisted of rice and beans, tostones, and plantain. Then we went shopping at the local businesses.
Afterwards, we rode to the Big Yellow House in Cerro Gordo, where we are staying for the next four days of our service trip.
We are very much looking forward to the days to come and the service we will be able to accomplish in Puerto Rico!
