A little history of basketball in Puerto Rico

This has nudged me to reconsider the value I assign to events in my life that at face value may not have much meaning. For example, my decision nearly three years ago to sign up for a Roberts summer camp led me to forge a connection with Dr. Kovach, which in turn helped ease me into the Global Honors Program, which has led me to meet several wonderful friends and develop a Christlike mindset for global impact. If I hadn’t made that one mundane decision, some or all of that might not be the case right now.

So I encourage you, remember that no event or person in your life is too small to springboard into something significant – and that includes yourself!

We started off the day in San German where we took a walking tour of the city. We were able to meet a lot of really awesome people and learn a ton about the history of Puerto Rico. Of course, when we went to leave the museum, it started to rain with no end in sight. With no other option, we began our journey to the church in the pouring rain. After we were completely soaked, we realized the church was closed so we made the most of it and took a selfie in front of the church instead. While we were a little disappointed that we could not go to the church, it was still a really cool experience to walk through the city in the rain. It’s like they say, life is about learning to dance in the rain, not about waiting for the storm to pass!

Next stop was the bioluminescent bay! It was still thundering and lightning but we were prepared to make the journey to the bay. Once we got to the bay, the storm continued to worsen. Luckily, we were able to get in the water and see the microorganisms light up the water before we had to leave. As we left the bay, we had a front row seat to this incredible storm. It was pitch black but the lightning would light up the whole sky and you could see each individual strike. Watching this intense storm on the back of a boat in Puerto Rico was certainly a once in a lifetime experience.

On paper, it would appear that our day was ruined by the rain but really the rain only made our day more unique. Many of us would argue that watching the storm was even more exciting than the bioluminescent bay. This day reminded me of the importance of embracing every moment. Just because things don’t go as planned doesn’t mean it still won’t be great. Sometimes it is more fun to just go experience the storms instead of waiting for them to pass!

Bomba is a form of music, dance, and art that has its origins in “free African people who were under enslaved conditions” who were brought to Puerto Rico by the Spanish. The other cultural influences of Puerto Rico: the Taino and Spanish, were mixed in with their African culture (instead of overriding or stomping it out), eventually forming Bomba. Bomba’s defining features include multiple forms of drums (one leading and others to maintain pace) and a communicative dance between the dancers and drummers.

Upon first arriving in Loíza (and quite frankly all of Puerto Rico), I could see, hear, and feel Bomba everywhere. In the distance, I could hear a specific, rhythmic drum beat while people laughed and hollered. People walked by me on the street wearing Bomba t-shirts. Almost everyone I encountered was proud and excited about this shared cultural passion.

Our first stop was at a world-renowned artist’s house: Samuel Lind. Almost all of his art revolved around Puerto Rican culture, and at the forefront was Bomba. Paintings of Bomba dancers were in every room, alongside literal paintings of the drums and festivals where Bomba was usually played.

During the Bomba dance class, people were so genuinely excited to share it with us and they made an effort to make us feel included. Other Puerto Ricans were seemingly drawn in by the Bomba music and watched us dance with a smile.

That day’s experience really helped me appreciate the love that the locals had for us! It’s very clear that many Puerto Ricans have an intense passion for Bomba, but instead of focusing on others’ differences or trying to gatekeep their own cultural experiences, I felt like these people truly wanted to invite me a little bit into their family by sharing it. Their inclusivity made me feel so welcome and cared about. These Puerto Rican hosts have inspired me to be more inclusive in my own life, too!

As we scaled the mountain, I was taken aback by the sheer beauty of it all. Towering rock faces surrounded much of the path, only broken up by beautiful waterfalls and pools among the boulders. Foliage surrounded the stream, appearing as tiny groups of ferns and moss or leaves larger than my head. Although being awestruck by the scenery, we pushed forward, encountering natural waterslides and stone paths that seemed like they were made for us to walk them. As we ascend to the peak, we jump over thirty feet off of a cliff into a natural pool, perfectly breaking the fall and giving us a new experience to tell everyone about.

As we reached the peak of the mountain, we came across a small stone clearing with even more breathtaking sights. Along with it, however, was a small pool of water that seemed perfectly made to sit in and bask the view. Just behind this small pool were natural markings, made by the pre-Taino people of Puerto Rico. We sat, stunned by the sheer beauty of the place we were standing in. We made our way back to our base camp and shared a meal with each other. A mixed group of Puerto Ricans, Americans, and Canadians. A group of Free Methodists, Catholics, Christians, and Atheists. A group of Spanish-speakers and English-speakers. A group of God’s people that were able to experience the world that He had tailor-made for them together.

It was truly beautiful to see the love put into the food program. So many people came to receive supplies, and they were met with smiling, joyful friends who were there to support them. I was so happy to be able to join that team for a day, especially because it is close to my heart to help people facing food insecurity.
I work for the YMCA in my hometown to feed children free healthy meals every day, and the Comedor felt just like home to me. It was so wonderful to see how people come together to surround those in need and treat them as brothers and sisters. Just like at the YMCA, the volunteers and the community coming to receive have become close, knowing each other’s names and stories. At the Comedor, it was easy to see the beautiful creation of people making light out of dark situations and lifting one another up. This was so evident not only as families received food they needed, but as they were dancing to music outside and the employees and volunteers of the Comedor joined in.

In this first day of the Puerto Rico trip, I learned that each person is unique, unrepeatable, and so wonderfully loved. Michelle showed me over and over her passion for helping those in need, and she reminded me again why I love to work towards healing food insecurity and loving my community.

We were all split into different groups and assigned different tasks that we would complete over the next 3 hours. All of these tasks involved packing away bags of several different items that the cupboard would be giving away to various individuals in need.

I was in charge of packing snacks with many of my friends. By the end of the day, my group had packed over 250 snack bags that they’d be giving to children in need.

This whole adventure was incredibly awarding for me. Growing up in Kendall, NY, there were not a lot of volunteering opportunities just because of how tiny the community is. I love helping people, as it’s one of my life passions, and to be able to have that. This experience has helped me realize how important unity is. As a human race, we are one, and we are unified because of the fact that we are human. We need to look out for one another in times of need because we cannot survive without each other. It reminded me that some of the most beautiful moments in life are made when individuals come together as a whole. I will hold this experience extremely close to my heart because it was so meaningful to give back to my family which is humanity.

Inspired.

If I had to describe my experience of Samuel Lind and his love for his home, Loiza, in one word I would have to call it inspired. Lind’s artistic fertility imbued his home and our hearts with a calming sense of resolve and awe. As I walked through his living room, then garage, then upstairs, everywhere was creative space. It was like standing in his mind, or rather soul, and exploring its past and future.

His main media is paint and silk screens which create and print his artwork for others to see. The theme of his art expresses Loiza culture and we got a backstage pass to understanding it. Legend has it that Yuiza, or Loiza, was one of the few female chiefs of the Taino people. When Spanish Conquistadores invaded Puerto Rico, she became the wife of one to save her people. While her name is now loved and became the name of the town, her sacrifice was for naught as most of the Taino people resisted the Spanish and were wiped out. Hundreds of years of African slavery followed and grew the cultural roots of the Loiza today. Samuel Lind’s work demonstrates the beauty of his people past and present.

I could sense the pride Lind had in his work. He hastily showed all of us every room and almost every piece in his home, telling us stories of their details and his thoughts behind making them. He inspired me with his resolve especially when he told us, “In your own language, in your own way, express. Find your voice”. Lind was told he would never make it as an artist, but look at him now. He doesn’t do it for the money or fame, but because he has a clear idea of what he needs to do. He has a feeling, emotion, or inspiration from nature, people, or history, and he has to see it made. With this pride, Samuel Lind told us Loiza has her own rhythm, and while he referred to Bomba, I could sense it extended to all life in Loiza.

Later that day, I had a chance to experience this rhythm for myself at a bomba class not too far from his house. How beautiful are the ways those people found to express themselves? I’ve never been so inspired by art or people as I had been that day. I learned an important lesson which is that you can really do anything you set your mind to. If it’s what you desire, pursue it with all your heart and soul.