Poly GIP Puerto Rico

 6/16/22 ¡Hola compadres! We started our fifth day here in Puerto Rico at 6:00 am with an early breakfast. We took the windy road to Adjuntas in the central region of the island. In the small town, we arrived at Casa Pueblo, an organization that deals with solving many important issues ranging from environmental damage to the economic issues surrounding so many in Puerto Rico. We got the privilege to hear from the founder of Casa Pueblo, Alexis Massol González, a truly special individual that is responsible for the success of Bosque Escuela La Olimpia. They grew from one follower to now 10,000 active supporters who fight for an alternative Puerto Rico. They have improved the community through the installation of over 1,000 solar panels. His dedication and passion towards fixing the planet in all aspects inspired the group in so many ways. After the phenomenal presentation, we were guided to El Bosque to explore the breathtaking landscapes that this island is full of. El Bosque also...

 6/15/22     ¡Hola com padres !      Today was day four of our trip, and it was a lot of fun! We started out the day pretty early (6:30) and met up for breakfast, then got into the bus for a two and a half hour trek to our hike to Fuerte Caprón. Fuerte Caprón was an old Spanish fort used to keep watch over the bay against pirates. It was a hot day, but the group made it up very quickly and took some great pictures. Some group members saw different species of Puerto Rican birds, and everyone got to see a big iguana! It was also a nice opportunity to bond with the Hotchkiss kids and take in the natural beauty and historical significance of this reserve in Puerto Rico.           After Fuerte Caprón, we went to the city of Ponce, which is unique since it is one of the few areas in Puerto Rico that is not only a city, but a municipality on its own as well. We stood in the main square in front of a statue of Pedro Albizu Campos, a po...

 ¡Hola com padres !  We hope you have been well! Today was day three of our amazing Puerto Rican adventure. We started off the day by splitting up into groups and going out to breakfast in the local area. Both of us (Eliana and Maddie) were in different groups and had an amazing breakfast where we became closer with the students from the other school. Maddie tried the Puerto Rican pastry "mallorca" while Ellie went to a diner.  After breakfast, we rode on the bus to "La Casa de la Plena," an education center for a native Puerto Rican dance style: La Bomba! We learned about the history of La Bomba and its significance to Puerto Rican culture, then toured "La Plenar" museum which explored the variety of art relating to the music genre plenar. The guide was incredible and we learned so much about the art, history, and legacy of plenar music. Next, we heard a presentation on Bomba by a university professor and we got to experience the music live from well-know...

 Monday June13th, 2022 Day 2- El Morro tour and Basura Cero NGO  Hola compadres :  ¡Bienvenidos al blog! The trip begins!!! We departed from our rooms today at 7:53 a.m. for breakfast, and promptly proceeded to the breakfast station. However, we were supposed to eat breakfast from 7:45-8:30 a.m., but we will refuse to let a predisposition for tardiness define ourselves. After munching on a scrumptious morning meal characterized by orange juice and eggs, we discussed the overall itinerary.  Today, we prioritized three Sustainable Development Goals in particular: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions; Decent Work & Economic Growth; and Climate Action. All of our work on this trip will bear some relation to these critical goals, and subsequent blogs will elaborate on how our activities promoted these goals in the context of Puerto Rico. We hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as we enjoy writing them! :)  After breakfast, we embarked on a walking tour ...

Sunday, June 12th  Day 1 Arriving in Puerto Rico and Old San Juan Today was mostly a travel day. After arriving in San Juan at about noon we met our guides from Envoys, Ben, Angie and Malu at the airport. They brought snacks and fruit for everyone and we spent some time getting to know each other and learning about the logistics of the day as we waited for other schools to arrive. Then, we drove to our hotel and immediately after, we went to have lunch at Cafe Juanes, a little quaint place within walking distance from the hotel in Old San Juan. Many of us ordered the traditional dish Mofongo and it proved to be a hit. After lunch we all went to get paletas,  and sat to enjoy them at one of the town squares overlooking the marina. We also took a walking tour of Old San Juan after getting some rest at the hotel followed by refreshing showers. We walked to dinner and there we met our peers from The Hotchkiss School. Everyone is getting along great and we're all looking forward to...

The Poly GIP Puerto Rico trip is ready to launch! After months of learning and planning our adventure, the Poly GIP group will finally be traveling to Puerto Rico in three days. The anticipation and preparation has been as exciting as starting the actual journey.  The words of Miriam Beard "Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living" remind us of the dedication and resilience of all participants in this journey. Puerto Rico, we can't wait to see you!