Greetings from Canada de las Palmas!
Today, us Glimpsers got a taste of how life looks like for 1.6 billion people living in a developing world. Yes, that means no running water, no electricity and no full tummies. Where do we start? We spent the day with a lovely rural community right outside of Constanza. In Canada de las Palmas, we were greeted by the president of the neighborhood association Jose Victoriano and his wife Amelia. Our group was divided between 7 host families including Nina, an elderly woman who has lived in the community for over 50 years and Justina, an exuberant woman working at a slaughter house. While helping with light housework, we were able to converse with the locals in order to get a greater understanding of what poverty truly feels like.
Sianna: My host family consisted of Nina, a 73 year old woman and her 15 grandchildren. While Nina often went without basic needs due to lack of funds to provide for both her and her family, she was one of the most welcoming and giving people I have ever met. She instantly received us into her home with open arms, we were greeted with not only hugs and kisses but coffee and sweets as well. She quickly became a motherly figure to all of us missing ours dearly, and explained that I especially resembled her daughter, who she has not seen in over 8 years. While being embraced by the lovely Nina, I felt an overwhelming feeling of both love and safety, I could not help but tear up every time. While spending the day with her, she led us through her garden of herbs which she uses to both cook and heal with. From her I learned that with a heart full of generosity and love, I will never live a day in need. As my life continues, a piece of my heart will remain with Nina and her lively family. Encanta a usted, vive con Dios, Nina.
Isabella: I was assigned Justina Victoriano and Fermin Victoriano who have been married for almost 40 years. She insisted that we were her hijos (children). She made us feel at home, every second we spent with her felt like we were with our own families. Though this entire community is living in poverty they were always willing to give us anything we needed. She insisted that we were her family and should feel comfortable enough to sleep in her home, eat her food, and embrace. We conversed over multiple cups of coffee. As we asked her questions about life for her and her family she happily shared with us anything we wanted to know. She shared with us her views on immigration, discrimination, and racism in the Dominican Republic. Justina and the community live under two dollars a day, yet she has never been sad a day in her life. She often goes with out clean drinking water, a flushing toilet, regular electricity or an insulated house. She cheerfully gave us the entire tour of the neighborhood from the top of the mountain to the community center. Along the way, we stopped at all of her friends houses. Everyone, though we didn’t have the time, invited us in for coffees and conversation. This day has opened all of our eyes to how much we really have compared to this community. In the US we complain about so much, myself included, when we have all of our basic needs and then some. They have so little but still manage to have a smilie on their faces.
Be happy always, Justina.
We miss and love you all. Happy Belated Father’s Day! See you in 6 days.
Te amo,
Sianna and Isabella
Hi Sianna,
As a father I miss you more than I’ve ever missed anything in my life, but knowing that you are having this experience ,it makes me feel that I did well with my daughter so far. In the meantime, in regards to Nina, I would like to personally thank her for her spiritual guidance and love, and let her know that her love to you has reached all the way to my heart here. she reminds me of my grandmother, and that is why I know that you are going to be ok. One last thing Sianna, tell Nina, and all those people that you have met and have helped you in all those places you have been, but especially Nina, that she has a special place in my heart in appreciation for all she has done for you and the rest of the glimpsers.I love you Sianna !
From Papa
Hi Sianna and Glimpsers,
What an amazing opportunity to visit with families that are struggling but still have so much love to share with each other and yourselves. Because of the Global Glimpse organization and your own hard work and efforts ,each of you will carry with you theses moments , people and experiences. You all are so fortunate!
Here at home we are all missing you something fierce! Bodega, Luna and Churro keep going in your room looking for you. Bo is the only one who gets stuck in there , of course. He keeps sniffing your car keys wondering where you are. Lol
Enjoy your time, and savor the experience and we’ll see you very soon!
Love you always,
Mama
Glimpsers,
Thank You for your insightful, informative and entertaining posts! I have enjoyed sharing you’re “glimpses” into the lives of the people you are engaging with.
Sianna, What a valuable lesson Nina taught you. Beyond the basic necessities needed for life, “a heart full of generosity and love” just about covers it. All the rest is just stuff!
I’m so proud of you….and all the glimpsers.
Sianna’s
Nana
Hey liz i miss you homie. I hope you are learninh that we live in the best place on Earth. Haha love you
Amazing how much love and appreciation they have towards all of you! Im happy you all have shared that in the same way.
The pictures look marvelous!
Alesia – it sure is hot at home.
Love you peanut butter.
Hey Bell, I’m glad you are learning and growing during this trip. I know you will come back a more enlightened and fuller person and be able to weave this experience into your everyday life.
Love, Dad
Hola Bella, Sianna, and the rest of the Global Glimpsers,
Thank you again for posting about your experiences in the DR. It is so fun reading about what you all are going there. I really enjoy watching travel shows and reading travel blogs but this one (from you all!) is by far the best one I have experienced! I can’t wait to hear more when you return.
Bella Bella,
Did you notice that your hostess, Justina, resembles your Abuela Charlotte? I did! Whoa! Their resemblance to one another is uncanny! It almost made me cry. I miss your Abuela. Our African and Latin roots run deep and beautiful. Immigration, discrimination, and racism have their own particular flavor from country to country. I wish I could have heard Justina’s take on those topics.
Please let Nina, Justina and their families that we thank them for taking such wonderful care of our babies! It means a lot to know you are in loving hands so far away from home.
Amor y Besos y Abrazos
Mom
Vivienne and Alex, this is a humbling experience for you. Now you understand the value of money especially in places where resources are scarce. You definitely will have a different outlook on life when you come back home.
We miss you!
PS Going to Utah tomorrow for work. It’s over 100 degrees here in California and in Utah. Ughhhhh.
Wow What a wonder experience. now mamacita we got to appreciate what our parents can afford to give us right. I am praying for all of you and for those families too. Been and lived in circumstances like this families makes us be very very humble and live life to the maximum. LOVE YOU CYNTHIA. *****God bless you all,,,,,,MOM