Vibin' to D.R. Rhythms

On our second visit with the children of Hoyo de Pechula, we were initially quite fatigued but instantly uplifted as soon as the song “Jerusalema” was played. The children didn’t need encouragement to dance this time around, and were rather excited to show us that they grasped the moves from the previous day! It was truly touching to see how comfortable they were with us after such a short period of knowing each other. The time we spent with them was apparently impactful on their lives. We gave them a reason to smile when their minds are usually fixated on survival. The children softened our hearts. Just to witness the joys of childhood from children in tough living situations evoked a deep sense of gratitude amongst us.

As the day progressed, we were able to unpack some of our feelings, expectations, and challenges surrounding our volunteer experiences during our service seminar. Many of us spoke of language barriers and difficulties we were having with adjusting to the cultural norms of the Dominican Republic. But overall, the breakthroughs we made with the students made our growing pains feel miniscule.

It’s impressive how close and vulnerable we as a group have become with each other in less than a week in the Dominican Republic. Students from different parts of the United States, various grade levels, and unique familial backgrounds have discovered ways to unite in the midst of uncertainty. Movement has been a glue for this bond…but the other adhesive agent has definitely been FOOD! Like true Dominicans, we have been bonding a lot during meal time, so the Progressive Dinner night strengthened our close-knit dynamic.

On a neighborhood walking tour, we were given an opportunity to visit the host families of our CIEE students and experience different meal courses prepared by their host moms. It was exciting to experience the different living situations of the students and understand how that has impacted their time in this land. We ate local cuisine, drank fresh juices, laughed at our shared experiences, and even sang to the guitar played by one of our talented students. Slowly but surely we are becoming in sync with the rhythm of the culture and the heartbeats of our peers.

Kokayi & Sheila