Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic were both hit by Hurricane Maria in 2017 — the storm continues to affect how some people live now and created a traumatic situation.

 Today I will share the reflections of who told me about their experiences and a little about how they live now after all these years.

The first person I interviewed is a 19-year-old girl who currently lives in Massachusetts but at that time she lived in Carolina, Puerto Rico. She told me how when they announced the hurricane she was excited because she wasn’t going to have classes for a few days but when she saw the reality,these thoughts changed.  Their routine changed completely during that school year to the point that they did not take classes, or some did not have the possibility to do so, and the government had to move classes to everyone. 

Since for obvious reasons it was not the fault of anyone, neither the educational system nor the students, but something atmospheric and/or climatic. She tells me that the first few days it was almost impossible to leave the houses because this hurricane left strong percussions on the island, fallen trees, destroyed houses, streets, parks and public places almost unrecognizable from what they had left the day before. 

But she says “that despite all this she began to communicate with the people of her town more often than normal,” because even though in these Latin Islands speaking is part of the daily routine, as they had no electricity and could not do many things, they spent more time talking with the other people in the town. 

As the months went by, the island slowly recovered, but with the record that Puerto Rico has, it was neither the first nor the last time that it has gone through this great chaos of hurricanes. 

She currently lives in this state where she is finishing High School, but she will always remember that moment in her life that made her lose and build many things. You could even say that it made her mature to a certain extent.

The next person to share her reflections is 18-years-old, she lives in Massachusetts, and she lived in the Dominican Repub lic n when the Hurricane Maria went past. She lived on in the capital of the island called Santo Domingo, in one of the most needy neighborhoods and one could say that it was also a little dangerous. 

“I passed like 2 or 3 days without (going) anywhere for the similar time of the first girl, it is better stay in home..,” she said. 

“Around two weeks all the streets (of my) neighborhoods look like at total chaos from everything the hurricane left in its wake on to the point the all the adults need to star all the trash of the hurricane in the C corner of the streets, in the sides of the streets, so the ending and maybe fire some parts.” 

Like Puerto Rico, DR went back to regularly or most regular, but with less longer the wait than Puerto Rico maybe around at mouth or mouth and half.

In conclusion, the Huracán made the lives all of people upside down, but these two examples are only two experiences about what really happened during this Huracan, many people continue to feel its affects.