Hello!

The brothers of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, Gamma Pi chapter are once again planning a service trip to L'Elmo in the Dominican Republic. The following accounts are the thoughts and feelings of each of this year's participants regarding the following questions.

1. Why do you want to go on this trip?
2. What do you expect to see/experience/learn from this trip?
3. How does your participation in this trip reflect your values as well as Sigma Chi's?

1)       I want to go on this trip because all my life I’ve been fortunate enough for everything to be given to me, or easily obtained through my own means.  Besides my college education, which is the most prominent, I’ve been given a variety of things: from the superficial such as a car, a cell phone, or my own bathroom; to the necessities that are food, water, a home, and sense of safety.  If I had to describe the feeling I have that is motivating me to take this service trip, it would be guilt.  Guilt because all my life I’ve had everything given to me and never appreciated any of it as I should; guilt because despite having everything and more, I’ve never helped others who are less fortunate than me.  I want to go on this trip so I can finally begin helping others and begin properly appreciating everything I have.

2)       One of the biggest reasons I want to go on this trip is to learn what it is like to have very little; to have the color of your house be your biggest pride; so that I can properly appreciate everything that I have.  And although it’ll be impossible to learn what it is really like to have so little in only ten days, ten days is still somewhere to start.  

          I also expect to learn about life and happiness.  Here in the states, specifically in the commercialized north-east, success and happiness is defined by how much you earn and what lake your summer house is on.  I want to open my eyes to the world and see that despite our upbringing, people can still be happy without a Mansion and corvette.  While I’m helping people who are less fortunate with their housing, food and water; I expect those same people to be helping me and teaching me about what life is really all about.

3)       I believe my participation in this trip reflects all the Sigma Chi values, described in the Jordan Standard, which perfectly match my own set of ideals.  I believe only a man of good character would have realized the opportunity there is for both personal growth and charity that there is in this service trip.  A student of fair ability is also required to be able to work with the other brothers to successfully organize this entire trip.  Ambitious purposes are also required or else a man might never even go on the trip.  A congenial disposition is the key value that this trip requires in my opinion, because without it a man might look down on others less fortunate and be wary of committing his time to help them. Good morals are also required to drive someone to help others less fortunate than him. A high sense of honor and deep sense of personal responsibility also tie into this because on a personal level, this trip is something I’ve already put much of my time into and plan on putting much more into it.  I genuinely want this trip to happen so I can grow as an individual and be able to help others that may not be as fortunate as me.

Kevin McAlpine '16

1.) Immediately after returning from the last service trip to the Dominican Republic, I knew it was something I wanted to do again.  It was incredibly interesting learning and participating in Dominican customs and traditions.  However, more importantly, it was very rewarding to see the positive impact we had on the lives of the people.  On the last trip, we painted a number of houses in addition to a school and the people were thrilled.  They continually thanked us and were eager to work alongside us!  On this trip, our primary project will be building latrines, which will have a hugely positive because of the lack of appropriate plumbing down there.  I look forward to the differences we can make and the lives we can touch with our work in the Dominican Republic and I cannot be more excited for this years trip!

2.) Since we will be staying with families in a remote village, I expect that we will live in a fashion similar to their day-to-day lives.  I am eager to learn more about what goes into a day in the Dominican Republic, whether it is how they travel from place to place, what goes into the preparation of a meal, common occupations, or popular games, activities, and dishes.  However, I also expect to be put out of my comfort zone.  I think we will see some extremely impoverished conditions and live in homes that may not be very similar to those that we come from.  This being said, we will not only learn lots about their culture and ways of life, but also about ourselves and where we come from.

3.) Our mission on this trip stems from the ambitious purposes we hold as Sigma Chi’s.  We have to work hard in organizing the trip and raising enough funds to make this trip possible.  Having gone on the last Dominican Republic service trip and seeing the conditions of life down there, I feel a personal responsibility to helping the people down there in ways that they may not be able to help themselves.  We have access to resources that will have a substantial positive impact on their lives and we must work hard to ensure that the projects become possible, and subsequently executed through meticulous planning.

Jonathan Fricke '14

1)       After going to the Dominican Republic last winter break, I saw a few inland poverty stricken areas. People lived without many amenities that I take for granted such as running water and plumbing. I decided to go on this trip because I want to help those who are much less fortunate than me. While in the past I have performed community service, I have never had the opportunity to help and live among a culture that is this different from my own. Therefore this trip to the Dominican Republic represents a rare opportunity to help others and learn about another culture.

2)       From this trip I expect to be able to lend a hand in improving a community. From my upbringing I was taught various values and skills working with my hands. I would like to be able to teach others various skills which can be used to continue to teach and build the community after the service trip leaves. 

3)       This trip embodies all of the values of Sigma Chi and those that I hold. Being able to help others who are less fortunate, is something that I take great responsibility in. If I were to pass up this trip, not only would I be letting myself down morally, but also those who are in need. 

Connor Noel '15

1)       I want to go on this trip to improve the quality of life of a community of people and broaden my perspective of the world. It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to permanently live without plumbing, never mind without permanent outhouses. I wonder what kind of systems they have in place now. I imagine that the twenty outhouses we plan to build will be a significant improvement over what their current customs are. Being a part of this trip will be extremely rewarding by helping fundraise for and build these outhouses with my own hands.

2)       This trip will immerse me in a culture with a much lower standard of living than I’m accustomed to. Living with one of the families that will get to use the outhouses we build will be a great way to experience what life is like for these people. I hope to gain insight from having this experience about what things they hold important and how they differ from what is important to me.

3)       Both my values and Sigma Chi’s are reflected in this trip. Two core values I share with Sigma Chi are friendship and learning. I will be befriending a community and giving them a friendly helping hand. I will also be learning about their customs, what needs to be done to complete a project like this, and how life in the Dominican Republic relates to my own.

Craig Rogoff ‘15

1)       I want to be a part of the DR trip simply to give back. I want to make an effort to do something for people who have very limited resources. I want to supply this impoverished community with living essentials that we in America take for granted each and every day.

2)       I look forward to gaining perspective on life that I wouldn’t otherwise have. Coming from one of the richest countries in the world, everyday norms from my perspective are considered novelties in some countries. Not only do I want to be able to experience this fact, but I want to take the necessary steps to change it.

3)       By participating in the effort to better a community’s living standards, we are giving this group of people something they would never otherwise have. We are recognizing how privileged we are to have what we have in day to day American life, and taking a step back and to give a piece of this to people who have nothing. This trip typifies certain values such as good character, which I, as a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, am proud to embody.

Matthew Michael '16

1)       I decided to go on this service trip to expose myself to a different culture and provide assistance to those in need. In addition to this trip providing a bonding opportunity for me and my brothers, I can connect with people of a different cultural background and help them. I haven’t traveled much outside of the United States, and I believe this trip will be an eye opening opportunity to experience a society that is much less fortunate and developed than my own. It will also allow me to provide the service to help others in need.

2)       I expect to come away from this trip with a new outlook on the world. Experiencing the lifestyle of the Dominican Republic will help me evaluate my values and priorities in life. I will be exposed to a society that isn’t concerned with what the next iPhone will be like or what new movie is coming next weekend, but with how they can afford to put food on the table. The trip will provide a great opportunity to do some self introspection and learn more about myself.  Also, by helping the families of L’Elmo, I will feel a great sense of accomplishment by getting to physically see the end result of our labor and philanthropic effort, as opposed to just sending money to an organization and never seeing the end result.  

3)       This trip is associated with the aspects of good character and good morals. We are providing community service which shows unselfishness and a commitment to help others in need, while showing that we have the character to dedicate our time for our labor. We are providing assistance to families for the sake of benefiting a community.

Andrew Stark '15

1)       I want to go on the DR trip because it is an amazing opportunity to visit another country while doing something great for the people of that country. I will learn so much on this trip, while getting the chance to better the life of other people.

2)       On the trip I expect to see a way of life that I have never seen before in person. I expect to have many experiences in the Dominican Republic that will help me grow as a person and give me a new perspective on certain things in life. I hope to learn many things on the trip that will allow me to continue helping people and doing things like this in the future.

3)       The Sigma Chi values are very important to me and a reason why I am happy to be a part of the organization. The characteristics of a man that are stated in Sigma Chi’s Jordan Standard are well exemplified in this trip because I believe it is important as a person to be able to put yourself aside and help other people.

Sean Hickey '16

1)       I heard great things about this trip from multiple brothers who have gone in past years. It is a chance for me to help out others who are not as fortunate as we are, while also gaining exposure to a way of life that I am not accustomed to. I also am very excited to provide help along with my other brothers on the trip for whatever tasks we are asked to do and interact with the people living there.

2)       I expect to gain a lot of insight into how a good portion of the rest of the world lives. Growing up the United States, and the north east specifically I have lived in a comfortable “bubble” for most of my life, with little exposure to how the rest of the world lives. I think putting myself into the lifestyle that the people in the Dominican Republic live it will open my eyes and help me gain personal experience and understanding on many things that I take for granted in my everyday life.

3)       I think this exemplifies my values as a man of good character and possessing of good morals. It would be so much easier for me to just sit at home and watch TV during my winter vacation, however I feel that going to the DR the help those less fortunate shows my commitment to help others over just my own personal relaxation and enjoyment. Another aspect to address is the thought that morally helping people no matter the situation is always the right thing to do. This trip will give me the opportunity to not only show my good character but also help me feel morally just in my actions.

Ben Faiga '14

1)       Two years ago when I attended the Gamma Pi Dominican Republic service trip it was one of the most eye opening experiences of my life. It was also extremely rewarding, being able to help those in need and directly seeing the impact and response of those you are helping. The gratitude extended by those in need in the DR had no bounds and it was clear that they can use any possible assistance. 

2)       I expect to have an increased understanding of  the situation of poverish nations throughout the world. I would like to see the impact that our work will provide the people. By the end of the trip I hope to have not only an increased awareness of poverty in the world but also an better understanding of how people as individuals can help.

3)       The Dominican Republic service trip distinguishes  Sigma Chi as a philanthropic organization on campus as we are directly providing help to the people as opposed to only providing fund raising. As men of action, this is exactly what we are called to do as members of Sigma Chi.

Vincent Alleluia '14

1)       I believe there is an inherent, incalculable value associated with knowing and understanding cultures that are foreign from your own.   While I lived over in England, during my junior and senior year of high school, I experienced a myriad of cultures ranging from urban German cities to rural Romanian farmlands.  Out of this exposure to various different cultures I found myself not only learning things about different countries, but also about the world and myself.  This is why I plan on using this trip to not only learn valuable things about the Dominican Republic’s culture, but to also gain valuable insights about myself and the world by applying the lessons I learn through my experiences at the Dominican Republic to my life and to the way I generally think.  

2)       I plan on experiencing a culture so dissimilar to my own that it makes me reevaluate my way of thinking, pertaining to what I take for granted and how much I truly have.  I’ve heard stories from brothers who have been on this trip before and they all say that it is truly a life-changing experience.  I hope that when I return from this trip I come back with a new appreciation for all that life has offered me so far, and a new appreciation for all that life has to offer. 

3)       This trip reflects my values as a Sigma Chi in the sense that I want to reflect the ideals that have been bestowed upon by the Sigma Chi fraternity, upon the people who I encounter whilst in the Dominican Republic by conducting myself in a manner that exemplifies the Jordan Standard. By conducting myself in such a manner I hope to spread the ideals of Sigma Chi to people of the Dominican Republic that have not been previously exposed to these same ideals before.

Brian Doherty ‘14

1)       I want to go on this trip to improve my bond with my brothers, while also helping those less fortunate than me, and spreading the ideals of sigma chi around the world.

2)       I hope to be exposed to a style of living that I have never seen before and realize how fortunate I have been in my life.  I hope to be inspired by this and use the opportunities I have been given to both better myself and those around me.

3)       All sigma chis should strive to spread the fraternity’s ideals to everyone willing to learn.  This trip provides the rare opportunity to help and teach those who we would normally not be able to reach.  Personally I hope this trip will allow me to better myself and others, I hope this trip will be an eye opening and learning experience.

Kevin Haddad '16

Thank You!

The brother’s of Gamma Pi wish to thank all those who have supported the 3^rd Annual Trip to the Dominican Republic. The following are reflections of three questions the brother’s were given upon their return. Without the generous support of so many this trip and the impact of it would not have been possible. While we hoped to build more laterine’s it became impossible because of logistical reasons. The end result was being able to paint the homes of some 10 families. These homes were in complete disrepair. It is not a stretch of the imagination to say that a paint brush caused the wall to move and the wood to crumble. They had never been painted. Our work provided not only some relief from the elements but also gave the homeowners a sense of identity and pride. Additionally, we spent two days painting a world map on a school wall. Many of the children (and adults) had never seen an atlas and had little to no understanding of countries around the world. The experience was highlighted by not only the learning and work but in many ways the interaction between brother’s and our host families (where we stayed) and the neighbors who came out to volunteer with us each day!

Again, many thanks for your support!

Fr. Brian Cool

Greg McKay

Jonathan Fricke

Tim Felong

Dave Abplanalp

Vinny Alleluia

1) What was one or two memorable experiences/encounters or learning experiences you had in the Dominican Republic?

2) How do you see yourself or the brother’s you went with differently?

3) What impact do you think your service/presence made in the lives of those you served?

Jonathan Fricke:

1)

While in the Dominican Republic, we stayed in a small town that we thought was pretty impoverished. We walked about a mile down a rocky dirt road that is notoriously dangerous at night to a village called, "La Guasumita" to paint some houses. I will never forget the first time that I saw that village. There will little children with nothing but rags for shorts running around, teenage boys and girls not more that 14 performing duties that mothers and fathers would usually do, and lots of people simply sitting around passing time. These people live the simplest lives yet still manage to survive. They do not solely live for pleasure, but still are intact with the basic principles of survival.

2)

I see myself in a different sort of light after returning from this trip. I have a better understanding for how the majority of the world lives, an understanding that one cannot understand unless first hand involved in such an experience. My brothers that went on the trip with me share this bond of knowledge, simply having the exposure to the lifestyle of these people.

3)

I distinctly remember that one of the people whose house we painted said, "I used to have to tell people that my house was the one with no color, but now I can tell them, my house is the blue and white house." Even just painting their houses meant the world to them and more so, our presence there meant even more. Showing these people that others do, in fact, care about them and they are not forgotten by any means.

Timothy Felong:

1)

My host family was awesome; Greg and I were both fortunate to live with them for a week. Roseangela – funny, outgoing, and larger-than-life – was the mother to toddlers Beba and Chi-Chi. Beba was a ball of energy with therapeutic laughter, while Chi-Chi was timid but compassionate all the same. Chi-Chi and Beba have different fathers, neither of which come around more than once a week. Roseangela, who was unemployed at the time we were there, basically has to provide for her children on her own. Roseangela’s familial composition was not unique; mother and children under a roof with little or no presence of a father was commonplace in the villages where we stayed and worked. One experience really brought the consequences of this societal issue to life for Greg and I. On the night before we left, as Beba and Chi-Chi were sleeping, Greg and I brought parting gifts to Roseangela. After she thanked us, she broke down into tears. Knowing some Spanish, I was able to comprehend that Roseangela really appreciated our presence in their home and was sad to see us go. She said how grateful she was for the gifts we gave to her children on Three Kings’ Day. But, more importantly, she said that it meant a lot for them to have positive, male, adult role models in the house. And then she discussed concerns about Beba and Chi-Chi growing up without a father. It was during this moment – when Roseangela opened up to Greg and I – that I became aware of how serious a problem their living situation was. Although Roseangela is strong-willed, independent and has a kind heart, I could not help but be worried about Beba and Chi-Chi’s future without a father to teach them so many things about life. This invaluable moment of human interaction, across language and culture, really allowed me to reflect on how blessed my life has been. Not only can I live comfortably, without having to worry about enough food or water, and have access to an education, but I have a strong family whose love and support has molded me into the person I am today. And, from this trip and that moment, I learned that a strong and complete family must never be taken for granted.

2)

When I took the time to think about why I wanted to go on this trip, I realized that it was because I wanted to go out of my comfort zone and experience a different culture firsthand. I wanted to go to a developing country, see some of its problems with my own eyes, and do what I could to help fix those problems. And that’s exactly what I did. In a discussion about poverty or different cultures, I no longer have to reference statistics or a text book, I can tell stories from this trip. I think that there’s a huge difference between reading or hearing about and experiencing different things in this world. And after this trip I can now say that I have immersed myself within and fully experienced another culture. This trip has allowed me to bear witness to the fact that American culture, with its unique issues, is only one of a seemingly countless number of cultures on this planet. I can only hope to experience more cultures in my future. Because my brothers who went on this trip also left their comfortable homes in favor of this unbelievable experience, I can say that I have gained much respect for them. But also, I can say that, after constant interaction with one another over this week, I know them so much better than I did before the trip. We undoubtedly bolstered the elevated friendship that we learned about when we joined a fraternity.

3)

Church is a big deal in the Dominican Republic. This is not only due to the fact that the people there are very pious (which they are), but also because they are very community-oriented. In a society without the technology or privacy that oftentimes secludes families from neighbors, the people in Don Juan pass the time by opening their doors and engaging in conversation, thus truly getting to know others in their community. So, for them, Church is a place to not only worship but is also a place to be with their friends in the community. Needless to say, many people go to Church. When we went to Sunday Church in Don Juan, we were shocked by the volume of people listening to the service from outside in addition to the amount in the packed building. Amidst our attempts to take-in our surroundings and understand the priest’s passionate lecture, we were told by Alycia – the local Peace Corps worker – that we had to go to the front of the church. Facing the congregation while a nun briefly discussed our work, we recognized a lot of faces in the crowd: people we helped, neighbors of those whom we helped, and people we simply interacted with or said ‘hola’ to. When the nun stopped speaking, their faces lit-up as they gave us a warm round of applause. For the brothers and I, this meant a great deal to us. Because the people there could not speak English, that was probably the most direct way that the community could have said ‘thank you.’ From that simple act of appreciation, we got the impression that the community truly valued our presence there and the work we did. That picture-in-my-head will forever be synonymous with the impact that we had on the lives of those whom we served. And, in convincing brothers to go to Don Juan in the future, I will do my best to describe this moment to prove how important the work we do there really is.

Vincent:

1)

Our service trip to the Dominican Republic proved memorable in many ways and experiences. One thing that stood out in particular to me was how excited the kids were to see us. Just being there for the kids, even though I was unable to actually communicate with these kids, was a great experience. They were ecstatic to involve us in all of their activities and games. Important to note is that most of the children's fathers have left when the children were young, so it was amazing for us to be there as role models for the children. The most memorable of my interactions with the kids was when I was walking to begin the workday, one of the kids I haven't seen before ran up to me and held my hand. Even with my rusty Spanish, I was able to connect with this child and he ended up hanging out with us the whole day.

2)

This trip proved as a great bonding experience with my brothers. Interacting with them in an academic environment is one thing, but when we pull together to achieve a common goal in a foreign environment, it really proved as an intense bonding experience. I got to know my brothers on a much deeper level as we shared this experience. It was also nice to see how well we were able to organize as a team, and effectively accomplish our objectives.

3)

From the moment we arrived at the village, we were greeted with great hospitality and appreciation. We did not even begin our service work, but they were appreciative that an outside group was visiting them. When we began painting houses and we saw the faces of the owners after we were done, we could tell that the work we had done will stick with the families throughout their lives. The owners could now take pride in their houses, instead of being ashamed to dub their house as the "unpainted house on the corner." Every year we will continue to make this trip, and the villagers truly look forward to that. The thought that our fraternity can make an impact a large group of people in such a way is truly amazing.

Greg McKay:

1)

The most memorable part of the trip happened on our last night. Tim and I decided that we would give some of our left over Dominican Pesos to our host mother. In my broken Spanish, we explained to Rosangela that we were very grateful for her hospitality, and we wanted to help her and her kids as much as possible. We gave her 1000 Pesos (the equivalent of a approximately $25) and a hug, and she burst into tears. To me it was a powerful moment. To us we had given her a relatively small amount of money, but to her it meant so much. She explained to us how hard it was to be a single mother of two, and how she really appreciated having good male role models in her home, even if it were for only one week.

2)

As the only Junior on the trip, I had not spent a ton of time with the other brothers on the trip. Though we were only together for a week, we quickly became great friends. We shared personal stories and had the deepest of philosophical debates, as if we had been best friends for years. By the end of the week, I gained a tremendous amount of respect for the brothers on the trip, and I felt that I had almost another mini pledge class.

3)

At the beginning of the trip, I felt that painting houses served only for aesthetic purposes, and I thought we should be building more necessary utilities such as latrines. There were a couple of things that showed me I was wrong. From a physical standpoint, we learned that painting the brittle wood that comprised their homes serves to seal the wood and protect it to last longer. So, our service was definitely helpful in that it will help their homes stay standing through harsh weather longer. Also, in our trip we painted a mural of the world on the side of their school. An alarming number of kids there were under the impression that the entire United States consisted only of New York, and that the Dominican Republic was larger than ‘New York’. Our mural was a source of enlightenment for the community, and we were glad to help spread education. Besides the painting we did, we were told just our presence in the community made a difference. In the village of El’Elmo, we did no painting, but showed up one day to offer clothing, candy, and play a game of baseball. Though it is kind of hard for me to understand, and I wish we had done more for them, we were told that our presence in the town and the simple acknowledgement of their existence meant a lot to them. Another example of our presence making a difference was the story I previously told of having positive male role models for the children to look up to. It is difficult for me to know exactly how our presence made a difference, but I know we did good in the world for a week, and we are all better for it.

David Abplanalp:

1).

My favorite experience while serving in the Dominican was the opportunity to play with the young children and see how happy they are to have visitors come and just interact with them. Also the opportunity to live with a local family and experience how they live was a very eye opening experience and forced me to think about how much I take for granted.

2).

This trip really forced me to reevaluate how I manage my time and what kind of everyday luxuries I take for grated. I realized that I live a very privileged life to be able to go and take a hot shower or microwave a hot meal whenever I want. Going on this trip has helped me to realize what parts of life are truly important and hold meaning.

3).

I think that the biggest impact out trip had was to show the families we assisted that there are people out there that care about the well being of those less fortunate and are willing to help improve this situation in any way they can. One of the best parts of the trip for me was seeing all of the young children's faces light up whenever we played with them. Thus I feel that although the service provided helped to improve the standard of living, the fact that we were down their and interacting with them provided a more profound societal service and was a very large part of the impact we had.

“So if I asked you about art, you'd probably give me the skinny on every art book ever written. Michelangelo, you know a lot about him. Life's work, political aspirations, him and the pope, sexual orientations, the whole works, right? But I'll bet you can't tell me what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel. You've never actually stood there and looked up at that beautiful ceiling; seen that... And I'd ask you about war, you'd probably throw Shakespeare at me, right, ‘once more unto the breach dear friends.’ But you've never been near one. You've never held your best friend's head in your lap, watch him gasp his last breath looking to you for help.”

The above quote, taken from my favorite scene of the movie, Good Will Hunting, has a simple message. That message is that there is a fundamental difference between learning about something…talking about something, and actually experiencing something. Sure, I watched the news and saw that homelessness and poverty housing, amidst the housing crisis, were prominent issues in America. But, until I volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and helped cleanout and build-up deserted houses, those problems weren’t real to me. Those problems weren’t real to me until I met the delighted neighbors or, especially, the elated family whose days of not being able to find affordable housing had ended. In other words, until I am able to truly experience something – feel the onset emotions and see something with my own eyes – I know I will never fully comprehend that thing. In order to understand the world around me and what real-world problems are, therefore, I must be able to experience.

I’ve never been outside of the United States or Canada. While some may argue that wealth inequity are huge problems in these countries, it can be taken for granted that those at the bottom end of wealth inequity in a developing country, like the Dominican Republic, are far worse off than those here. It can also be assumed that the education available in a developing country is obviously not what it is here. I’m telling you this, however, based on what I’ve read online. Consequently, when I was given the opportunity to take a trip to the Dominican Republic to truly experience these problems and do something about them, I knew I had to take it. I knew that by teaching English and building latrines the problems of limited educational resources and inadequate plumbing would become real to me and that I would have a chance to combat them. I also knew I had to take this opportunity to be exposed to a different culture and lifestyle. So here I am, waiting anxiously to do something more than learning or talking: I am waiting to experience.

-Tim Felong

Throughout high school, I have always had the yearning to embark on a community service trip. When this opportunity presented itself to me, I was at first hesitant to accept to traveling all the way to the Dominican Republic. However, I soon came to realize that every mile we travel, will make it that much more rewarding. The thought of helping build a community that is in the process of development, seemed greatly rewarding. It is one thing to contribute momentarily to a community in need, but this trip offers an opportunity to long lasting changes and improvements to the community. Such an opportunity, I could not pass up.

Realizing that we would make a significant, long-lasting impact on the community is a great incentive to go on such a trip. However, it is not that simple. Traveling over to a foreign country means that we will encounter not only a new way of life, but also the local hardships. There will likely be no running water, beds, or any other amenities that we consider necessities for any given home. Roughing it out will be a challenge, but the benefits that we could offer this community greatly outweigh whatever hardships we will have to adjust to.

After coming across this trip, making the decision to go seemed like an easy decision. However, the planning and preparations of this trip, will prove a difficult. We will have to undergo multiple vaccines, prepare the supplies for the trip, and purchase the plane tickets. This is one challenge we can not overcome by ourselves; this is why we are asking for your help. All contributions will be greatly appreciated by us, and the community we are serving. Without you, this would not be possible.

-Vincent Alleluia

Hi, my name is David Abplanalp and I'm a sophomore biomedical engineering major at the University of Rochester, and also a member of the Gamma Pi chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity. I'm very interested in going on this trip because I view it as an opportunity for me to help those less fortunate than myself, and to learn about the cultures and customs of the people in another country. We will be building outhouses and tutoring children in an effort to assist the people in this underdeveloped country lead successful and fulfilling lives. I hope you will assist me in reaching our monetary goal so that we are able to go on this mission.

Sincerely,

David E. Abplanalp

Thoughts from Jonathan Fricke

The service trip to the Dominican Republic is an amazing opportunity for brothers to travel to a developing community in order to make a sizable and meaningful contribution to others. Our plan is to build latrines for the community and to setup a tutoring program to teach English to the children in the village. These projects may not come across as "flashy," but they will have a significant impact on the community.

My decision to go on this trip was actually a rather easy decision for me. I have been to other countries in the caribbean, including Belize, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, but have not first-hand experienced the living conditions of the local people. Traveling has always been an interest of mine but I think that you cannot fully experience another country until you have seen all of it, both the parts meant for tourists and the parts almost entirely comprised of locals. I realized that I would miss out on spending time with friends and family from home, but the experiences I will have on this trip will be we priceless. The organization of events like this, to go out into the world and help others, makes me proud to be a Sig. I hope we can raise enough money to go on this trip!

-Jonathan Fricke

Why go to the Dominican Republic?

The Sigma Chi service trip to the Dominican Republic is great opportunity to make a difference in an underdeveloped country, and gain a new perspective on a region of the world we may not have thought twice about before. Our current plan is to work on a tutoring program for the 300 young students in the village of El’Elmo, and work to build more latrines. Though the project we are pursuing may not seem thrilling, in a village where the students can go to school only three hours a day, and do not have enough places to go to the bathroom, our work will make a significant difference.

Our first challenge is reaching our fundraising goal of $10,000 in order to pay for the costs of our project and our airfare. We are each committing around $350 of our personal funds, and are hoping that our friends, family, and alumni will step up and help us with the rest. Our next step will be buying our airfare, getting immunizations, and plunging into a culture none of us have experienced before.

My decision to go was not easily made; nerves about travelling to a new part of the world without running water and electricity, and giving up a lot of time with my friends and family over winter break are two of the biggest reasons I was hesitant. However, I recognize the importance of the work we are doing, and this is the type of work that we as Sigma Chi Brothers can be proud of. We hope that we get enough donations so we can go!

-Greg McKay