We started the day at 6:00 AM, we had ham and cheese sandwiches for breakfast at 7:00 AM, and we departed for San Pedro de Macoris at 8:30 AM. At 10:30, we made a quick stop at the rest station to use the bathroom and stretch. We arrived at our destination at 12:30. It was a winding drive through the mountains with many beautiful views. Once we arrived at San Pedro we ate locrio de salami with orange juice for lunch. After lunch, we visited the nuns at the ASCALA organization to talk about the challenges that immigrants face in the Dominican Republic. At the ASCALA building, we met Abdias a Haitian migrant who talked about the discrimination that Haitians face in the Dominican Republic when trying to come over and start new lives in the DR. After a humbling visit, we went to sugar cane fields and spoke with ‘Dictadura’, the leader of the Batey about working in the fields. It was a very humbling experience, finding out about how they work 8 hours daily for roughly $10 USD per day. We learned that there are two different types of jobs in the sugar cane fields, cutting sugar cane or weeding the fields and planting it. After that, we came back to the base house in Juan Dolio and had group self-reflections, talking about the poverty that people face both in the United States and the Dominican Republic. For 7 PM dinner Milqueya (the cooking lady) treated us with delicious tacos con beef, chicken, corn, guacamole, and more. After that, the group got together to plan the CAP seminar presentation for the president of the community association in Cañada de las Palmas, Ramon. After the nightly meeting, we had pool time!!
Wow. A great experience and very well described in your recap. We don’t have awareness of the hard work that goes into the sugar that we put in our coffee. What a gift to step out of the normal trappings of tourism and experience the many realities of what it means to live in a place. Good job wearing your UV shirt Nevin! Mom is doing well in Barcelona and coming home tomorrow night.
Sounds like an eye-opening experience. I’m glad everyone had time later in the day to reflect and talk about the day. I bet the tacos were amazing! XOXO
Wow, “humbling” is right, what a perfect word to describe what you all must be feeling. I can see it on all your faces. Stay strong, you will all do wonderful things in this world.
Wow- fascinating day. Hearing the POV and immigrant experience of Abdias as well as the experience of sugar field workers are probably different/and alike U.S. immigrants & workers in very interesting ways to contemplate. Good job leaders Felix, Noah, Tatiana. Perhaps Felix would like to work in the sugar fields during his gap year….(!) Me encantaba ver el burrito trotar por la huerta!
Time and space for only brief allusions to so many topics worthy of in-depth probing and development. I imagine the ‘reflective’ time touched on these areas of universal concerns. The provocative tag ‘Dictadura’ must have an interesting provenance.
—a mi tambien me encanta ver el burrito–
Good reporting job, leaders.
Xiaohan we are so happy you are getting to see how people in the DR live. This will be a profound experience for you. Your Mom and I have been unable to post most of the time, but please know she and all the rest of your family are thinking of you and the wonderful opportunity you are having. We love you. Grandmother, Mom and everyone else!
An eye opening experience for sure. The education you are receiving is something I wish everyone could experience. These blogs have sparked a lot of great conversations here at home and a great reminder to us as to how blessed we are.
XOXOXO
To see people working so hard for so little must be really painful and brings home just how lucky we and our children are. Unforgettable I’m sure.