The dawn rose on another bright and sunny day. We find our Glimpsers still in Juan Dolio where they have another adventure-filled day ahead.
We started today off early waking up at 6:30 am frantically but excited to explore our hotel’s maze of rooms. After everyone got up we enjoyed a wide assortment of breakfast foods such as toast, eggs, orange juice, hot chocolate, and coffee. Following breakfast, everyone walked down to the beach but upon finding a blanket of algae covering the sand and a flea ridden dog (which we admired from a distance lol) we instead drove to a different part of Juan Dolio beach.
The beach was marvelous and the water was perfect (not like hypothermia-inducing waters of California Bay). Most of us immediately got into the water and spent time collecting shells, floating, and splashing. Most of all everyone got a chance to unwind and relax. After swimming we dried off and refreshed ourselves with juice boxes, cookies, and crackers. Many of us also had a chance to bargain with vendors on the beach to buy jewelry. After that, we packed up and returned to the hotel.
Before leaving we had a delicious lunch which consisted of beef, rice, salad, and beans. Then we left and embarked on a four-hour journey jam-packed with more karaoke, laughter, and sleep (big love to Ms.LeMay for allowing us to steal her phone for our 16-hour-long Spotify playlist).
Once we arrived we got settled again and had our first Community Action Project meeting. During this meeting, we started planning to speak with community members of Jarabacoa which we plan on collaborating with tomorrow. We learned the importance of understanding the community’s needs and delegated the responsibility of translator for tomorrow’s activities.
After the meeting, we had eggs, mashed potatoes, carrots, broccoli, and fresh fruit for dinner. We ended with our daily nightly meeting where we passed the torch to tomorrow’s LDDs Mimi and Iris.
And so the sun sets on our seventh day in the Dominican Republic and our glimpsers return to sleep recharging for the long day ahead.
messages:
Dear mama, dada, mira baby, kylo, mummy, papa, all the chawdas, and everyone else reading,
I miss you all a lot. It’s definitely weird being away from you guys for so long but I have learned a lot and I am taking a lot of pictures. I can’t wait to show you everything I learned and tell you about all of our adventures. I hope you guys are not having too much fun without me. Please continue to tell Mira baby about me and make a list of everything you guys are watching right now so I can catch up when I get back. I love you all so much and I cannot wait to see you guys again in person.
love,
maya
To my lovely, darling parents and dearest brother,
I miss you all sososoososo much, words cannot even express it, but I am also making the most of my experience here. I can’t wait to be home soon to spend time with you all and to also be reunited with poke and boba hehe. Be sure to hug Eames for me. I love you so much, see you in a few days; I can’t wait to hear your voices soon. <3
Love, Malaya
Glad you’re getting to enjoy the warm waters of the Atlantic! Can’t wait to hear all about the Community Action Project.
We’re doing our best to get by while you’re gone. Good thing for the pool and casino time to keep our minds off your absence 😉 We hit the BeReal time today in a parking garage right by some teens doing the same. I was so proud we did a second post of our tapas dinner. I even changed the camera angle halfway. I think you would be proud.
Thanks for the post Maya and Malaya; I like the 3rd person narrative 😉
Malaya, we are happy that you got to be a co-leader for the Glimpsers’ beach day, one of your happy places! You are halfway through this wonderful experience and will be home soon. Keep making the most out of your trip. Boba and poke will be waiting for you at the airport! Isaac was sad he didn’t get to talk to you when you called. He’ll tell you all about his TWICE concert when you get back. Love you kiddo!
Thank you Maya Valiyaveettil and Malaya Cruz for the update. They didn’t post my last comments or I did not push send. Either way I’m glad you guys had a great time at the beach except for the fleabag. You have to have some fun in there somewhere! . I know your 1st Community action project will be a success because you are a group of smart young adults and will definitely pull it off. I can’t remember what I wrote last night Divinia because I was tired(and I’m old), but I hope you are having a great time and are able to use your card.
Tu mama y mejor amiga.
Lovely post! Nice to know you were able to get some time to enjoy the beach.
We miss you every day. I especially so because my “pickup maya” alarm rings daily. Mira also asks about you and we have caught it on video. We have convinced her that Maya is playing hide and seek. We are not watching anything that you might also want to watch with us. Saturdays are not the same without you.
We love and miss you and can’t wait for you to be back home.
🥰
Oh me my goodness Malaya I am going out of my mind here I miss you bruh. I have been sending you so many ASMR videos I’ve been making, I hope you enjoy watching them whenever you get to. I still have my list of all the updates I have from the past week and plan on continuing said list for the remaining time you are gone. It’s funny lol. Excited to share. That is it, that is all I have to say but MISS YOU LOVE YOU see ya soooooon
– AMULYA
Maaaanga … now you strike were it hurts for not taking the chawda name ??! Lol where is my shout out ? Kidding babe !! Can’t wait to ask you a million questions and talk over you when you get back!
– Saaji Mai