They have arrived!!!

Experiences like these require an incredible  amount of work for the leaders.  My name is Andrew and I am the faculty leader for the group that just arrived Puerto Rico to experience the culture, history, and natural beauty of the island.  I spent the last few days finalizing some last minute details trying to smooth the way for the students when they arrive.  Having led full semester units in Ecuador, I have encountered the scope of what these experiences can bring to bear on the perspectives of the students since they are a full-time sensory experience in every respect.  So much new, so much unfamiliar, so much uniqueness to absorb all around them.  What is truly rewarding is when the students arrive and begin to experience all this newness. Watching them encounter some of these elements for the first time in their lives is a fascinating and meaningful experience.  It makes the many hours that were poured into creating these experiences  worth it.  This afternoon the group landed in San Juan and we promptly left the city to hug the northern coastline and take in some of the stunning ocean views.  We stopped briefly at one of the lesser known beaches in the area which is truly a gem to behold.  Tomorrow we jump right into activities that are baseball related, followed by culture, beautiful nature, and history over the weekend.  It is a non-stop onslaught on the senses in the best sense, with times to stop and reflect along the way.  Stay tuned for more to come.