The majority of people look back upon their time in Puerto Rico and think of sandy beaches, laying idly in the sun, and eating the island cuisine. When I think about Puerto Rico memories of the homeless shelter, veteran’s hospital, and local high school come to mind. For these memories and experiences I will always be grateful. On our trip to Puerto Rico we were able to see a side of the island that most people will never see. We were immersed in the language, culture, and life of the people there. Each day of volunteering at a new site let us meet new people and hear different stories. For me the day spent working at the boarding house was unforgettable. The shelter was located in a poor region of San Juan. The unique thing about the boarding house was that it was not only a food kitchen, but also provided shelter, facilities to wash, religious education, and clothing. The people there functioned as a community; the workers did not act superior and the people in need did not seem ashamed. Instead they all conversed together and appeared genuinely happy to be there. Spending a day with both the volunteers and the people who came to the shelter showed me that if you are fortunate enough to be well off, you should happily want to give back to others who are less fortunate. As humans we need to care for one another and that is what the people at the shelter are doing every day.
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