Today was politics day! We didn’t have to wake up until 8:00. We started off the day at Sheila’s and had a delicious breakfast. We quickly headed back to the hostel to begin our Academic Seminar on Politics. Through that we truly learned a lot about one another and young American political views. We were then able to compare Dominican and American politics. Our first free time of the day followed. This was thrilling because today was the first of many in which we were allowed to explore the city in groups of just Glimpsers! Many students headed out to the grocery store, internet cafe, etc. Lunch at Sheila’s was just as great as usual. We are becoming very accustomed to local Dominican cuisine. After lunch we returned to the hostel where we planned our lessons for tomorrow’s English classes. Luckily we were given even more free time! Students participated in card games, souvenir shopping, and other sorts of exploration! Once we all returned to the hostel, we had a brief storm take place. All the while, the heat continued. Next we had a speaker, Gabriel Mascaro, a public defender for the state come to the hostel to give a presentation. His main focus was youth participation in government. He gave a truly inspiring talk of how we as young people are responsible for making change in the world. An amazing dinner of hot dogs followed causing the majority to run for seconds or thirds! We just completed our nightly meeting and self reflection, and are hanging out with one another before it’s time to go to bed.
Hey guys it’s Summer, I’m having an amazing time here in San Juan and loving experiencing Dominican culture. My card game skills have proven to be sub par but my teaching skills have definitely improved. I’m having the time of my life and can’t wait to tell you guys all about it when I get home!
Hey again everyone! It’s ya girl Ari take two! To my family: I miss you guys more than ever and I’ve been reading your comments everyday! They truly keep me going when I’m down.Thank you so much for all of the current event updates as well <3 Quick note to my Mom: Your email was amazing! Also please register me for the SAT 🙂 I love you guys so much I hope you’re all having the best Summer ever!
Great smile David!!! Remember it for Senior pictures!!!!!!! Glad to hear you all are having a good trip. p.s. David pray for Pat she is having a hard time. Love ya lots,Mom
Hi Robert,
There you go again, showing the back of your head. LOL, mom wants to see YOU 🙂
Looks like you are having a great time. And for the free day, I bet you were so happy for that. Well, keep up the good work, learn alot. We miss you very much.
Well, I cannot wait to hear about the tutoring, living/spending time with the host family, etc. SO much to see and do I bet.
Once you are back we can take a weekend to regroup and just embrace all you have learned. Proud of you. Will write you again soon. Jason and auntie Michele send their love and hugs.
Love Mom
Hi mija, I can’t wait to hear about your discussion on politics plus everything else. I hope you incorporated other strategies for your class lesson; I’m confident that you did. I still believe teaching is your calling. We are all doing fine Sofi will be speaking in front of parents and students for her ALEARNS Cermony, Mami is fine and loving as ever, Marqitos is learning letters. He knows O and A. As for me, living one day at a time and feeling blessed because I have a beautiful wife and great kids. Have fun tomorrow, see you soon.
Hi Kyla,
Grandmother wanted you to know, “I am proud of you, you are young gifted and black, I am praying for you and know that you will take from this experience all you need to be a light in this world. You might not know it now but this experience is preparing to be independent. Love Grandmother”. Grandmother couldn’t comment herself because of the technical challenges but she had me type every word. I love you my child. We all love and continue to have fun. Mama
Thank you Ari and Summer for your wonderful report.
Ari, again glad that you are having a great time, but I’m not sure if I’m ready for you to go away for college 🙂
So I think you should look at local schools and live at home because we miss you dearly 🙂
After hearing about Sheila’s so much that I want to make a special trip there just to eat there 🙂
Love you and looking forward to your team’s blog for tomorrow
Luv,
Baba
Hi Ariana, I hope you are keeping a journal! I just sent you two pictures to your email. Love and miss you!
HI FERNANDO ESPERO QUE TE LA ESTES PASANDO MUY BIEN Y TE ESTES ACOSTUMBRANDO ALA COMIDA DOMINICANA QUE ME IMAGINO QUE ESTARA DELICIOSA!!!!LOVE YOU AND LOOKING FORWARD TO READ TEAM’S BLOG TOMORROW,WE MISS YOU A LOT,KEEP IT UP!!!WE WILL BE THERE WAITING FOR YOU:)
hi Seung Se, one more great day! Looking forward to your day of leadership, wishing you all the best. Please wright detail posting, tell us all your best experiences and post a lot of pictures.
Great post Summer & Ari! Keep posting, I know all of the parents and family members look forward to these each day…
Ari, I saw your note about the SAT registration, I think you still have time so don’t stress out but, if you need me to do it I need to know what subjects you want – if you can, check out the email I sent you. I love you!!!
Hi Marisa!
Hope your day of politics was interesting and intriguing. As you know politics are a hot topic back home. I’m curios to hear about the similarities and differences between the US and the DR.
It’s great to hear that you are getting more free time. Be sure to explore and experience as much as you can.
We love you and can’t wait to see more pictures of you!
Hey Sloane!!!!! We miss u so much!!!! That is Ollie and I. He keeps opening your door and going in your room. He may be sleeping on your bed. At first I thought that maybe we had a ghost! Then I realized that he was the culprit.
Looks like you guys are having an amazing time! What an awesome experience and the beginning of many more adventures to come. Once bitten by the travel bug it’s hard to turn back, I guess you already know this.
I can’t wait for you to come home and don’t worry I’ll be there to pick you up on the right day. I’ll even be early waiting. Can’t wait to hear all about your adventure! Remember be in the moment, everything will be exactly as it was when you get back!
Love you so much and miss you tons!!!!
Mom aka Shannon just in case there is another Sloane!
Dearest Ariana,
I really miss you so so much! Beyond words I would do anything to just spend time with you again. It is so nice to read about what has gone on over there for you. I’m so sorry for not having commented sooner! So much has happened here at home and I look forward to catching up with you right when you get home.
The DR looks beautiful and I do hope that you are having the experience of a lifetime over there. The number of times our group chat brings up missing you (obviously mostly me) is insane and I have literally been counting down the days for you to come back.
I love you so much and I hope that your last week over there is a blast. Talk to you soon! Be safe, have fun, and don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do 😉
I second everything that Keith said I’m just not as eloquent 🙂
Ah Ari!!! I miss you so much. Please come back soon, I need one of my favorite pals back. The world is much harder to live in without you here. I’m so excited to see you and hear about your trip! I’ll buy you boba. It’ll be cute. I’m no Keith so I can’t write a full letter but I love and miss you. I hope your trip is safe and magical. I’ll see you soon.
Hey Ari!
Keith and I were just talking about how excited we were that you’re coming back soon!! Well, everyone’s excited to see you because you’re a wonderful person and we all miss you. I can’t wait to hear all about the trip over some icecream/boba. I love you and I hope you continue to have a great time. Be safe and see you soon!