First full day in the DR!

Today is our first day in the DR!

With only a few hours of sleep under our belt, we set off from our hotel in Santiago and made the 45-minute drive up into the mountains to Jarabacoa! We arrived at our DR home, Rancho Ruiseñor, just before lunch! After everyone found their new rooms and roommates for the next 2 weeks, we had a delicious lunch in our fantastic outdoor dining room!

After lunch, we learned each other’s names, reviewed rules and expectations, and came up with our group norms, followed by some free time where students were able to explore the grounds, spend time getting to know each other, and even swim! After a fantastic dinner, we celebrated Gio’s 17th birthday with cake and a song! We ended our night with our first nightly meeting!

Photo 1: On the bus to our home for the next 2 weeks!

Photo 2: Group discussion in our meeting space.

Photo 3: Geo working on a reflection while also taking the time to enjoy our beautiful accommodations.

Photo 4: Cake for the birthday boy!

Tomorrow, we will have a tour of Jarabacoa, visit a local village, and participate in dance lessons! The students started out the day very quiet and not talkative, but over the course of the day, they really started to bond and talk. We look forward to watching them grow in their confidence in themselves as they take on more challenges and see incredible Dominican sites!