Montessori Community School Puerto Rico 2024
March 3, 2024
Our first full day in Puerto Rico was quite enjoyable. We woke up to a beautiful breakfast of local foods on a rooftop with a view of the city and the ocean. We drove to Old San Juan where we had a historical tour that showcased the old architecture, history, and vibrant life of the city. Students had the opportunity to go to a souvenir shop where many purchased gifts for their families or themselves. We then were able to spend some free time at Seven Seas beach. Students swam and played games while in the water. But sadly the beach time cut short due the unfortunate timing of a storm. Everyone made the most of the situation staying sheltered and playing with each other. Later we had some free time getting back from the beach to shower and wind down before the showcase of tomorrow’s itinerary and tasty dinner. After that we made a community contract that everyone made and signed. We will keep you updated as our Peace Study Trip progresses.
By Noah, Patrick, Charlotte, Zed, Ella S.
March 4, 2024
Our second day has been a very insightful experience. We began with breakfast on our hotel terrace, which has a beautiful view of the surrounding area. We then left to journey into the mountains to our main destination for the day, Foodscapes Caribe. The owners of the farm, Carlos and Ana, gave us a brief introduction to how their farm works. After that, we helped plant in their greenhouses. Carlos then took our group on a tour of his farm, during which we saw plants of all kinds. They then provided us with a home-cooked meal using produce from their very own farm. We then came back to our hotel and went to the pool for our free time. Then, after dinner, we went on a 2 hour kayaking tour, which cumulated in a bioluminescent lake. We will keep you updated as out Peace Study Trip progresses.
March 5, 2024
By Miles, Jonas, Kabir, Jordan, Sylvie & Cori
March 6, 2024
We woke up bright and early this morning to say goodbye to Fajardo Inn, and packed our suitcases in the van to head to our work site, Villa del Rio. Upon arrival, we walked up a steep hill to William and Angel’s work site. As soon as we arrived, we jumped right into our service projects. They taught us the ratio to make the cement (10 buckets of sand, 1 bag of cement, and a little water) and we started spreading it over the floor. We had different jobs, such as the people who made the cement mix, the people who filled it, and the people who poured the cement. After working for a few hours, we went to one of the community members’ houses, where Maria made us a delicious lunch, introducing us to the many flavors of the island. We headed back to the work site and started working on the floor again. Doing this work left us feeling tired from hard work but feeling fulfilled. Shortly after, we finished and drove back to our new lodging, The Big Yellow House. We had free time where we played frisbee, basketball, and more. Following an amazing dinner, we prepared to get salsa lessons. Two professionals came to teach us more of their culture through dance. They came in and gave us a basic tutorial about footwork while doing one the most well-known dances in the world. It was a little out of our comfort zone at first, but as the hour went on we started to get more and more comfortable with the rhythms and steps. As we wrap up for bed, we are looking forward to another full day of service and excitement for tomorrow!
By Andy, Anika, Ella I., Robby, & Sebastien
March 7, 2024
Going back today to the community was a really nice experience getting to see our work start to take shape. We experimented with using a different concrete mixture that included rocks which we poured on what will be the terrace. Today’s work offered new jobs and more community building with Villa del Río. Students have begun to form bonds with other members of the family such as William, María, Edgy, and Angel. When the students got the opportunity to watch William, Angel, and Edgy work we could see the pride they took in their craftsmanship and we began to feel that pride as well. After dinner everyone got together for a group meeting to reflect on the work we have been doing and how it connects to some larger concepts we have been learning about such as mutual aid and white saviorism. We then did a brainstorming activity where we would write down potential topics for our Peace Study presentation while keeping in mind the former two topics. We ended the day with some free time and cupcakes.
Today was a day for lasts, both happy and sad. Our service project was finished ahead of schedule, and we had our last meal at María´s house. While there, William and Angel shared their story about how their community service project started. We then returned to the Big Yellow House to get ready and then go to the beach for the last time on this trip. Then we had the members of the Villa Del Río community, the ones we had been working with for the past three days, come and join us for a final dinner. We thanked all of the people who have been helping us throughout our trip, and guiding us through the constantly changing plans that have plagued us throughout. We have enjoyed our time here immensely, and we look forward to returning home tomorrow.
