Day 3: Culture

Hello Familia!

We woke up bright and early on day three excited for our “culture” theme of the day. With a 7 am wake up call, we all rolled out of bed for a breakfast of cereal and fruits before we took on the day with positive energy.

We met at 9 for a quick mental warmup where we discussed Dominican culture, history, and gave some exciting clues for what our day would entail. We recognized the Dominican Republic as a melting pot, taking influence from indigenous Taino culture as well as other outside influences from Africa, Spain, and the United States. After introducing our question and quote of the day, we got to talking about our perception of civic engagement as well as how we think the Dominican people view involvement from domestic and international sources. After, we all loaded on the bus and made our way San Pedro De Macorís! A special thank you to Kelvin, our wonderful driver for our two-week trip!

Once in the city, we stopped at the church that the whole town was built around. It was amazing to learn how the people rationed their concrete to make sure they had a church above all else before expanding the city from there. It was a beautiful landmark that showed their dedication to their faith. From there we walked to Iberia, a supermarket that reminded a lot of us of Walmart back home. We can’t wait to have some time to peruse and shop for some delicious snacks and treats!

Next, we discovered the local park on our way to the ice cream shop. We each got a few scoops and enjoyed the refreshing air conditioning as we waited for our bus back to the Rancho. Unfortunately, we hit a pothole and experienced a flat tire. We really made the most of it and got to know each other through a few fun games as our hero Kelvin repaired the tire in record time. Of course, this roadblock led to some sour moods, but we made sure to pick up the energy and use this as a reminder to embrace the unknown!

Once we finally made our way back to the Rancho, we enjoyed a delicious lunch of steak, rice, beans, fruit, and steamed veggies. It was a hearty meal and a fantastic reward for a long morning in the sun! After some time to digest our massive meals, our Program Coordinator, Yocabelis and her manager Isabel taught us Bachata and Merengue.

It took some time to get everyone out of their shells, but after a lot of encouragement, and Holli embarrassing herself (for the sake of the people), we got everyone on the floor dancing their hearts away! It was a chance to bond, as we switched partners often and hyped up the few naturals in our group. Notable mention to Gregory, Giselle, Kayla, and Tristan! You have a real future in the Dominican dance scene!

After our lessons, we all got some much-needed free time and many enjoyed a refreshing dip in the pool. Others took the time for a siesta in the air conditioning, and of course, there were many games as well! Thank you to Liz for taking this time to exchange our money for pesos and pick up the groceries for the week. We couldn’t do this without you!

Our last activity before dinner was a quick reflection in the same groups from yesterday. Our kids paired off into groups of four and asked each other thought-provoking questions about their lives and how they think this experience will impact them going forward. Once we concluded, we had a delicious dinner of pastelon, pasta, salad, and fruit. Pastelon is a sweet plantain and ground beef casserole! It was definitely different from what we are used to, but our kitchen workers are some of the most talented chefs we’ve come across!

After dinner, we had our nightly meeting where Liz and I were honored to pass the torch to our first student LDDs of this trip! We are so proud of the courage it takes for them to be first and lead us through the adventure that will be Working Like a Local Day! Let’s give some good luck and warm wishes to Kayla and Morgan as they lead us on our journey tomorrow.

Lots of love from your Glimpsers,

Holli and Liz