My trip to the Dominican Republic brought me to a type of place I never thought I
would live. Between the lack of running water and the wandering livestock that would
regularly cross my path (not to mention the dreadful cry of a pig being slaughtered right
outside my window each morning) I felt like I was also living in another time, one to which
a kid like myself from the comfortable East Coast of the US was unaccustomed.
To live and work for a week in such an impoverished community definitely
broadened my own perspective and made me realize the things I take for granted. We were
digging outhouses for people in the poorest part of town, where homes had dirt floors and
where garbage littered the ground almost anywhere you walked. Yet, the people didn’t
seem unhappy, and we often interacted and fooled around with the kids our age and
younger, despite the language barrier.
In this way we were able to alleviate some of the culture shock by sharing the things
we had in common. For example, we had the strongest in our group engage in a push-up
contest with one of the Dominicans our age who seemed to be the strongest that we
encountered. This same kid had built a bench out of wood and a barbell out of metal and
cement, and we each took turns showing off our strength to a gathering crowd. It was also
fun going out each night and drinking (moderately, of course) with the locals. We even
made a few friends that hold a dear place in our hearts.
I am extremely grateful for the hospitality that our host family showed us. It makes it
easier living in a strange country when they show you such universal kindness and serve
you such delicious food. Furthermore, this experience would have been impossible without
the donations from our friends, family, and brothers. We are indebted to them for their
support, and we are thankful for the great experience they allowed us to have.
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