After a very intense trip to Puerto Rico, I am home. I cannot quite describe what I was doing, but over three 16-hour days, I completed 22 field visits, had an important meeting with high-ranking officials, and attended a ceremony…

…led by five clergy and had 19 speakers. Fortunately, I was not speaker #20. The ceremony was held in an outdoor venue with a beautiful view, but under intense sun. It was interesting for the first hour, but after it droned on for three hours in all that sun and tropical humidity, I was “done.” (Thank goodness I was prepared and had lathered on plenty of sunscreen!)

The field visits were much more interesting. I can assure my employer that what we assisted with since the ravages of the hurricanes of 2017 has been implemented for post-event recovery — correctly, accurately, and will provide the services we require for years to come.

As much as the people of Puerto Rico have been through — many losing their homes and livelihoods — they are, nonetheless, vibrantly resilient. They make the best of the raw deal they were dealt by Mother Nature and the Government. There are still many people without homes of their own, and they share housing with others while repairs are slowly being made.

They also are still angry, insulted, and stinging emotionally by that idiot who calls himself a President of the U.S. and the episode where he went there and threw paper towels at them. (Video)

I never have met people who despite so many hardships, they still smile and will give you anything they have if they think you need it more than they do. And they will do anything to express their appreciation for actions of kindness and comfort.

I mentioned on my previous post that I had trained someone 25 years ago, and she still remembered what I taught. She comped my dinner on Tuesday (though I left a very generous tip, so don’t think I left there without paying something!)

On Wednesday evening after a long day in the field, I was sitting in a hotel lobby waiting for a colleague. I saw a girl seated at a small table in a corner with a math book struggling to do homework. She appeared to be crying.

In my broken Spanish and through her tears, I realized that she was having trouble with algebra. Fortunately, math is a universal language. I helped her to learn how to apply what the book was trying to convey. Apparently, I must have done something right, because soon she was solving the problems assigned for her homework in preparation for a “big test” the next day.

Thursday morning early, I had breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant before going out again. I met that child’s mother who was a server there. She did not say much other than “gracias” and gave me many warm smiles.

After another long and grueling day in the hot sun on Thursday, I had forgotten all about that. When I got back to the hotel on Thursday night, I crashed.

On early Friday morning after doing two hours of work (for my job back home, via telework email), I heard a knock at my hotel room door. I opened it — and there was that same server whose daughter I had helped with her homework bringing me a hot meal! This hotel’s restaurant does not have room service, but there she was with two eggs, toast, bacon, and she even remembered that I drink orange juice instead of coffee.

She told me that her daughter received a 98 on her math test, and attributed her success to my helping her with her homework for a half-hour and building her confidence.

To me — these are the types of gestures that I have grown to love about the people of Puerto Rico. Despite the losses and hardships, they still find ways to be generous, sharing, and helpful. These kinds of small gestures occurred throughout my trips to this lovely and friendly island, this time and in all 20-or-so times I have been there before.

I love mi isla del encanto, and always will.

Life is short: small gestures add up to a lot of love.