Today was our first full day in country, and what a journey this was!! After a really invigorating night we started our day full of excitement and ready to take it all in, most of us were up even before the first wake up call!! After our breakfast with Licelot our food provider, we had the opportunity to create our group agreements, a commitment to be respectful, open minded and support each other the next 14 days. During the seminar, through a game of Jeopardy, we learned some important fact about DR’s culture and its everyday life, like moto-concho for transport and La Bandera, the traditional lunch.
We then had the opportunity to share facts about ourselves and get to know each other more. Then for lunch we ate La Bandera (typical Dominican lunch) and had the chance to learn about the most relevant facts Dominican history, over the last 600 years. While walking through the city of Bonao we learned about how power can change the lives of people and also that those changes sometimes come at a very high price. During our city tour we got to meet Stefany, one of the people in charge of La Voz del Yuna, who shared facts about the history of this important radio station and their inspiration to preserve it.
At the museum they played music from a vitrola, a manual vinyl record player from 1906, which is nothing like modern day technology, but still really cool to see it in action. We also met Felix, a shoe shiner working in Parque Duarte.
He has worked at the park for 40 years and with his dedication to his job, he sent his 4 children to college and provided toys for his 20 grand-children. We were fascinated by how colorful the museums are and also how even in the same area two extremely different realities seem to peacefully coexist.
After the tour was done, we had some ice cream and then Javier (our transport provider) drove us back to our accommodations. Our first self reflection today was about first impressions – first impressions of Bonao, its people and the food.vToday we all fell in love with yuca at dinner, and appreciated it as a part of the Taino heritage of the DR.
Today was full of new experiences and valuable discussions, of how history affects us today and also how it keeps repeating itself. As a Líder del Día (Leader of the Day), I felt proud to see everyone engaged and asking questions, especially when we compared the realities here to our realities back home. Lastly, our word for the Unity Clap was Community, representing the amazing anonymous people we met in Bonao and how we all appreciated their kindness towards us while walking in the City Tour, It really made me realize that this is a great way to start the summer.
I’m so happy to see that you all had a great first full day. Thank you for the update and I hope the rest of this trip is as rewarding as it was today.
Oh WOW!! That was a great recap of an amazing first day!! Congratulations to all the students and coordinators of the program!! Go Glimpsers!!!!
It sounds like a fun-filled day! Thank you for the superb narrative and beautiful pictures!! Dear Rohini, sorry missed your call 🙁
Looking forward to speaking with you tomorrow.
Have a wonderful time during the rest of the trip!!
Thank you.
Soma
Wow!! What a fun-filled and an amazing start to the program!!! Thank you for recapping wonderful day out. All the kids looking great and we are so glad for you all!!
Dear Rohini, sorry for missing your call earlier today 🙁
Looking forward to speaking with you tomorrow.
Have a fantastic day tomorrow…
Thanks
Soma Bulusu
wow, what a great first day! Hi Syd
Looks like you all hit the ground running! I pray every day is a good one! Enjoy!!!! P.s hi Julia Belle mommy loves you!!
That looks like it was a great day! I am so glad I see your smile Myrthe! We were so bummed to have missed that call. We did hear your voicemail.
Love to read about all the adventures. Big hug to all!
Wow, looks like you all had an amazing start to the program. Abhinav, we are so proud of you, and we are reading all the blogs, and learning a lot about DR as well.
So happy ? that y’all are having so much fun and experiencing A new culture. Thank god Whitney I see a smile, I know you were sad When you called but now that I see the pictures that means you are having so much fun that was the sign I was waiting for ? .. love you mama, papi say sorry he was not here to talk to you when you called he was stuck in traffic he got home 20min later. Dayi misses you and Luca ? been looking for you he comes to your room and looks around for you lol!
Well you have fun don’t worry ? about us we are doing good we want you to have the greatest time of all! Te mandamos un besote ?? y un fuerte abrazo Love you mi niña hermosa..
Thank you glimpse team for the picture.
Julia Hopkins
Sounds like you had a great day
Hi Vale… Hellooooooo Bonita.. I see that smile that tells me you are doing great!! I’m sorry I just found out how to reach the portal.. kudos to all of you guys!!! What an amazing experience this is!!!!! Love you mi Niña hermosa