Sarai (Me) on the left side of the photo, my best friend Jesstyn is in the middle, and my good friend Henrietta is on the right!
I could only imagine the joy I’d feel once I took my first steps off of the plane landing at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. The air was much clearer than what I’d previously become accustomed to in Dallas, which had been dealing with fog, smog, and air quality levels that make you question whether not you should really breathe in the air around you or if you’re better off with a gas mask. After I grabbed my bags, I stepped outside and felt the relief of being back in the place that I loved visiting the most. I visited San Juan earlier this year in February for my 21st birthday with my best friend, Jesstyn, and my good friend Henrietta. We had a blast!
After visiting Puerto Rico for my birthday, I knew this was an island I wanted to come back and keep exploring. Everything from the kind people, to the culture and the views, made me fall completely in love within a span of four days
After an amazing 21st birthday trip, I got back home in Dallas and I continued on with pursuing my degree in Hospitality Management. Approaching my final year, it was finally time to decide where I would start applying for internships. It was hard to find a good fit until I came across an internship opportunity with the Rainforest Inn.
I sent over my resume and had a virtual interview through Skype with Bill and Renée. During my interview, I got to meet Sarah and Issam, who were both interns here before me, and they had nothing but great things to say! They were actually all on their way to the beach, how fun! Before I knew it, I had landed my internship and was landing at the airport!
This was the first time we ever hung out, awkward. She doesn’t look at me like this anymore.
Bill and Renée came to pick me up after I landed around 6pm. We went and got sandwiches from a place called “El Meson“ — which is a locally owned restaurant chain. I tried Renée’s favorite sandwich that she recommended, and it was really good! After we ate, we started heading to the inn and I was able to get settled. There was a drive up a long winding road into the mountain, and even though I knew I was going to a rainforest, this was when everything really sunk in. Going to sleep for the first time that night was new, as I’ve learned through personal experience now that the coquis love to sing at night (they sound like birds)! They did sing me to sleep, so much so that I slept through my alarm and was actually late for my first day (We all laughed it off but I was actually veryyy embarrassed). Luckily Bill and Renée are both very understanding people and weren’t upset with me about it at all.
On my first day, I learned how to make a cappuccino, and had a failed first attempt at latte art, but after a few failed attempts at learning how to steam milk, I finally got it down! On my first day I also met Miss. Gracie who was giving me the awkward side eye…
After making coffees and meeting Gracie for the first time, I got to sit down and try breakfast for the first time. One thing I really looked forward to coming here was trying the vegetarian breakfasts because I’d told myself prior to getting my internship that I wanted to be exposed to cooking more and more healthy options. I tried their vegetarian breakfast tacos with were absolutely phenomenal! The mango juice that went with it as well was great!
After breakfast, I got to explore the property a bit and and finally see everything in the daylight. The pictures on the website of this inn are amazing, but they really don’t do it justice. The property truly is beautiful, is the place to be for anyone who loves nature.
After I spent my first week learning how to make coffees and complimentary piña coladas, our delicious grazing boards and picnic lunch sandwiches, and also learning how to check guests in and out of the inn, I had my first set of days off! Renée dropped me off in the town of Luquillo and I spent my first day off at the beach! It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a beach, and I had so much fun! Despite being alone, I felt very safe walking around.
Check out my instagram reels and TikTok below to check out my day in Luquillo and to follow my journey as an intern here!
Overall, my first 7 days at the Rainforest Inn were absolutely amazing. I had so much fun even on the days that I was working, and I’m looking forward to all of the things that I can learn, and all of the ways I can grow while I’m here. It’s been a blessing to meet Bill and Renee, who are both so supportive of my dreams and helping me grow in every way that they can possibly help with. If you check out my social media, you’ll see that while I’m in school for Hospitality Management, I’m also pursuing a career as a musical artist. They have both been so open minded, accepting, and supportive of my journey. I look forward to my growth here, but I also deeply look forward to supporting them in theirs. Cheers to my first 7 Days in Heaven, and to many more!
