Hi Everybody!  My name is Lauren DeFino and I am a middle school science teacher at Eagle Academy for Young Men Bronx.  I am one of your leaders for your trip to San Juan De La Maguana, and I am looking forward to meeting and working with all of you!  I wanted to write a post to say hi and tell you a little about myself.  This will be my first time in the Dominican Republic, but I am a seasoned traveler.  I have spent a few years abroad and have traveled to over 60 countries.  I have been teaching in NYC for 5 years, and before that I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Jamaica and a scuba instructor in Honduras and St. Martin.  My time overseas has greatly shaped who I am today and I became a Global Glimpse leader so that I can expose other people to the wonderful experience of being immersed in another culture.  I look forward to watching you learn, have fun, overcome challenges and grow as a person!   I can’t wait to meet you in a few days!