Puerto Rico: March 11, 2025

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Some of us began our day with a beautiful sunrise in the garden and a light breakfast. After this, we had to quickly get ready to start our day at P.A.Y.E. Once Orlando (our amazing bus driver) dropped us off, we were instructed on our tasks for the day. We were split into groups to either paint or garden. While gardening, we got to select different flowers and plants to put near the entrance of the community center. While most of us were planting, the best artists in our group sketched out an idea for a mural, and then outlined it on one of the large walls we painted yesterday. Throughout the afternoon, a bunch of us had the chance to switch back and forth between painting the mural and planting flowers and plants. Once everyone finished the planting and painting, we had lunch and then said our final goodbyes to our wonderful hosts at P.A.Y.E. We were gifted with stickers of the organization’s logo.

Later this afternoon, we headed to the hotel and had some free time with one another for a few hours. Many people swam in the ocean or the pool and soaked up the sun. Once everyone freshened up, we headed to Old San Juan and got some time to shop and walk around for an hour (we even got to see some parrots)! After most of us bought some souvenirs, we headed to dinner at Pirillo Pizza Rustica. Even though it was quite chilly in the restaurant, it was a wonderful bonding experience to immerse ourselves with one another.

After our delicious meals, we headed back to our hotel. A bunch of us spent some bonding time in one room and reflected on our day. Right now, many of us are relaxing and getting ready for bed before tomorrow, when we head to CRESpr (Coalición Restauración Ecosistemas Santurcinos, PR).

Adios and have a good night!

Written by: Xia Bennett, Olivia Collazo, and Leila Vetrini