Un Mocha, Cappuccino y Cortado, Porfa!

A team powered by Adjunteño coffee

By Clara Mello

The cure to post production haze is un cafecito brewed by a radiant man named Nando.

Adjuntas was a fever dream; from our vibrant teal porch, to the tree of life housed in the town square, the mountainside town truly felt like a mirage of sorts. Those 70 ish square miles reeked of the kind of happiness you only get from Disney movies. Frowns are extinct among the adjunteños.

While the others got the chance to explore the sights and tastes of San Juan, my team and I were playing house in the mountains. The thing is, I felt anything but FOMO. What I felt during my stay in Adjuntas was the same bittersweet feeling of a stray imprinting on you: pure instant joy with a side of devastating saudades from knowing the joy is temporary

Saudade is a Portuguese word that encapsulates the feelings of nostalgia, longing and simultaneous delight and heartache. Kind of like that one Whinnie the Pooh quote, it perfectly sums up my feelings about our Adjuntas fever dream since our return.

The town itself was not the only one to leave an immense impression. You know what they say: the people make the place.

Ever since the decision to switch over to Puerto Rico was made, I’ve felt a little intimidated. Being from Brazil, I knew I would have a lot to offer on the trip to Marajó, but that was not the case for Puerto Rico. I knew I was underqualified for this trip from the start, and worried I would be more of a burden than asset to my team. Working alongside such driven designers, photo/videographers and reporters, however, lit a fire under my *bottom* more than anything. Grateful does not begin to explain how I feel about this team, and I can only hope to continue to work with them in the future.

Here’s to carrying all of Adjuntas’ and the team’s love with me, and to hoping it all translates well on this website. Wepa!!!