I say all this with the obvious buildup that this time is different. I realized this a few days ago hiking in El Yunque, a protected rainforest. "I gotta come back here with Dan," I kept thinking. I made elaborate plans of which trails to hike and where we would camp. I had similar trains of thought for different activities with different people in my life.
Why was this place different? I can think of a number of reasons, and for the sheer enjoyment of doing it, I am going to make a bucket list of what made this trip and place (the two can't be separated) amazing.
1) The Natural Beauty - aside from the built-up cities, the vast (mostly) untouched plants and wildlife carpeting the island allows one to feel it as it has been for thousands of years.
2) My travel companions - I was going to make this number one, but I did not want to confuse the fact that Puerto Rico is special and this fact is not circumstantial. That being said, this trip was made great by my three fellow grantees: Jada Brown, Jeanne Rachko and Jenerra Williams. It was the consistent laughter and enjoyment, the drive to learn as much as possible about the culture, the people and the history and the genuine kindness and caring that was demonstrated throughout that transformed my colleagues into my friends.
3) The People - exceptional kindness and welcoming was the norm. Some say that is part of the living pulse of the Taíno of old. The height of this feeling of being bienvenido (welcome) was participating in a religious ceremony with Taínos in Juyuya. As I contemplated Mother Nature and Father Sun while leaving the sacred circle defined by jagged upright rocks, I knew what it meant to make a foreigner feel like nothing more or less than a fellow human.
4) The Language - this one is simple. I love Spanish. I delight in hearing it, reading it, speaking it and even writing it. The opportunity to continue to hone my language skills for two more weeks is rejuvenating and I am thankful for it.
5) The Artwork - Puerto Rico has their own twist on everything, and the artwork is no exception. The foundation of the Taíno petroglyphs (whose foundation was on nature) would have been enough, but each culture that dipped its straw into Puerto Rico seemed to leave just as much as it took. The Spanish influence is evident. The African roots are clear. The Middle Eastern and Asian influences are observable. The American influence easily detectable. However, the hybrid of all of these mixed with the ingenuity of the islanders make for a unique combination that is worth the visit alone.
6) Space and Time to delve deeply into something for my and my school-community's benefit - I've never traveled with such intention. I knew the whole time why I was in Puerto Rico. I was there to learn so I could, in turn, teach; to collect information and items that would help this mission; to collaborate with colleagues and to enjoy. Having this intention gave every day important meaning.
7) Two weeks traveling on someone else's dime - didn't want to say it, but it's true - amazing! Thank you Fund for Teachers!!
Maybe I'm a slow writer because we are descending over Boston. Soon I will be asked to turn off the electronic device I am using to write this post. Soon I will be back in Boston. As our trip comes to an end I smile as I think about being able to share this experience with all who care to look and listen while allowing the experience to continue to grow through conversations, and, maybe one day, a return visit.
what a delightful piece!
ReplyDelete