Headed Home

All students are through customs and headed home!

La Grua

Part of the reason I came on this trip was to experience change and diversity by exposing myself to new cultures. Today we went to La Grua, a community of both Haitians and Dominicans that is stricken with poverty, pollution and many environmental problems. Their river (which was more like a stream) was not only used for bathing, drinking and cooking, but for bathing their pigs and dumping their toilet waste in. Their houses were inching their way down the cliff because of erosion. Most of the people were unemployed and unable to provide for their families. Trash was almost everywhere you stepped. But here these kids have huge smiles on their faces, never been happier. What’s wrong with that? America is so heavily reliant on material things as sources of happiness. We have so many privileges in America that we take for granted. We helped pick up trash and played with all the kids. It was a blast giving them piggy back rides, and some of the guys had kids on their shoulders. They were adorable. And although we are doing good things in this community and building good relationships, there are so many other communities like this that need the same attention. And I know we’re supposed to be writing about what we did today, but I just can’t pass up the opportunity to hopefully inspire others to take action. Stop waiting on the world to change.

-Riley Staal

A Full Day

Today, we got to sleep in an extra hour. It was much appreciated, especially after a long day in the sun yesterday at Dudú. We did a really neat reforestation project at the home base. If you can believe it, we planted exactly 1,500 cacao seeds. We all started by filling little bags with dirt with either our gloved hands or water bottle halves as shovels. Once we had a few done, we split up into two groups to start watering and seeding them. We had to fill a wheelbarrow with filled bags and transport it to a shaded area of basecamp. We watered the bags and placed a fresh cacao seed in each one, straight from a cacao bean. It’s really hard to believe that something so funny looking can produce such amazing chocolate, not only here in the DR, but also in the form of Hershey bars around the world. We got to taste the seeds, and they tasted like sour mangoes and were slimy to the touch. It’s pretty interesting as to why GLA is deciding to plant this particular type of tree. Once planted, given two years, each tree will yield $10 in profit. So far, that’s $15,000 per year starting two years from today. That’s more money than most villages around here see annually. With this much to spend on things other than food, locals will be better able to demand political rights and will be able to afford health care. This simple task to help the Earth leaves more of an impact than it may seem by touching upon all 7 elements of human security – individual, community, food, health, political, economic, and environmental. We really enjoyed doing the work, knowing how beneficial it will be for so many communities. It’s extraordinary to think that one tiny little seed can make such a huge impact. After a hard day’s work of “being the change”, we got some free time to go to the beach, the local store, or just hang around and play cards. We ended the day by watching a Ted Talk about passion and its importance to connecting with others. Passion is something that those who lead must possess in order to be successful. Everyone here at GLA has that necessary inspiration to make a difference, starting right here in the DR.

-Fiona Muir and Lily Krietzberg

Service

Today we woke up early at 7am and we got ready for the day. At 7:30 we had breakfast. For breakfast we had eggs, sausage, toast, and fresh fruit. For our drink we had hot chocolate. After that we packed our day bag and headed out to Caraballo. Some of us stayed behind sick. It took a little more than an hour to get there. On the way, we saw mountains, the Carribbean ocean and lots of palm trees. When we arrived we grabed our materials and went straight to work. We worked on an amazing bottle school with 6 rooms used for a clinic, and a school. Today was our third day helping to build the clinic. Some of us put bottles in the wall and others cut and put up chicken wire. We worked for a few hours then had lunch at 12:30, made by some of the locals. After that we hopped on the bus and went too a public beach. We bought souviners, got henna tattoos, ordered food and drinks and, of course, went swimming. Many of us enjoyed the wifi and some of the girls had their hair braided. It was very relaxing after working for a few hours. We stayed untill about 4pm then headed back to the home base. We met up with the students that stayed home sick and then enjoyed dinner. We had buritos, tortillia chips, guacumole, rice, and beans. After that we had education and leadership. For education, Dave talked about Food Inc. A documentary we watched the night before. For leadership we played rock, paper, sissors cheer and talked about tomorrow’s schedule.

Dudu

Today was a good day. Everyone got to get up an hour later than normal thanks to Cameron’s graciousness. Three people went on a run this morning at 7 which is better than the normal two. Breakfast was at 8:30 and consisted of eggs, French toast, salami, and real syrup. After breakfast we got on the bus for an hour drive (everything is and hour away) to DuDu for a fun day of cliff jumping and zip lining. The 35 foot drop was conquered by most but a few of us, not going to name any names, chickened out. The water was much cooler than the surrounding temperature of 85 degrees making every jump a refreshing experience. Aside from cliff jumping there was volley ball and soccer. Many competitive games of volleyball were played as Becca and Cameron squared off in an epic battle of wit and agility. Lunch was quite American compared to most other lunches. We enjoyed the luxury of fried chicken (no ketchup) along with the usual rice and beans. We ended up leaving around 4. Everyone was tired after a long day of fun and sunburns. Despite the bumpy ride back to the camp, around half of the bus was able to fall asleep. We got back to the camp, hung out, ate dinner and watched the well-known documentary “Food Inc”. We are looking forward to the upcoming days in the DR.

-Benjamin McCourt, Aiden Prentice

Caraballo / Cabarete

Today we woke up at 7:00 in the morning and we ate breakfast at 7:30. We ate eggs, toast and fresh fruits. After everyone finished getting ready we got on the bus at 8:00 and we went to Caraballo to help work on the bottle school. The locals were really friendly and helped us a lot. For the school, we cut wire, filled bottles in the wall and cemented and painted it. We finished our work at noon and a local person make us lunch. We had rice, chicken and fresh fruit.

After we ate, we got on the bus again and we went to Cabarete beach. There were a lot of tourist and venders selling things such as; bracelets, jewelry and Henna tattoos. Some girls got their hair done in cornrows. At the beach, it has a lot of tables and chairs for visitors. Then the water is really blue and a lot of people were kite surfing and swimming. Also, the weather was really nice and there was a nice breeze. It was really relaxing and enjoyable. We all liked it a lot and can’t wait to go back again. We stayed 3 hours at the beach and then got back on the bus. Unfortunately, the batteries of the bus died and ours mentors pushed the bus until it worked again. It was really hot in the bus but it took only a few minutes to get it working again.

When we all got back to our home base, we went into the pool. Then we hung out until dinner 6:30. For dinner we have two types of spaghetti, with fresh fruit and other dishes. We started our leadership activity at 7 pm. First we learned about climate change and discussed the cause of it. Then we all took the True Color Personality Test. We all learned about ourselves and our weaknesses and strengths. Today was really fun and we can’t wait for tomorrow’s activities!!

-Shealah and Annie

Caraballo

Today, we went to Caraballo, a small village about an hour away from base camp. Caraballo is the home of the biggest bottle house in the world, and GLA has been spearheading its construction. Our group is going to be able to complete it by the end of the trip. That’s not something that everyone has the opportunity to say. It’s so amazing to be able to finish this building, and even more inspiring to know that it will make a tremendous impact on the little village of Caraballo, as well as other surrounding villages. There were so many children there. We learned later that the DR is one of two countries in the world where the children born in a country to illegal parents are also illegal. Due to this illegality, the kids have extremely suppressed opportunities. Thanks to the construction of this building, about 5,000 people, a majority of them illegal immigrants, will have access to medical service. The work was, at times, physically difficult, but it was very rewarding. Besides, it was nothing in comparison to the hike up Brison yesterday. We did everything from painting to filling the walls with plastic bottles to cutting chicken wire. The children were a big help. They were adorable, and also really interested in our phones. A group of kids got a hold of someone’s phone, and it was a struggle to get it back. They clearly understood our limited Spanglish, but just held their hands up as if to say “One more minute”.

Our lunch was cooked by locals in the village. Everyone got a heaping pile of a steaming rice dish. We gave our leftovers to the children, and they happily accepted. The essence and necessity of community is so powerful there. A village like Caraballo is comprised of people working together for the overarching cause of the well-being of the community. Most towns in the US could learn a lesson or two about the true meaning of neighbors from Caraballo. Later, in place of leadership activities, we watched the documentary “11th consequences of climate change, including exponential population growth, use of toxic pesticides, and the overall attitude humans have towards nature. We have such privileges in this world. We have a moral obligation and responsibility to lend both hands to those who do not have such privileges. -Lily Krietzberg and Jocelyn Ding Hour”. I highly recommend it to anyone who has Netflix. It explains the true  consequences of climate change, including exponential population growth, use of toxic pesticides, and the overall attitude humans have towards nature. We have such privileges in this world. We have a moral obligation and responsibility to lend both hands to those who do not have such privileges.

-Lily Krietzberg and Jocelyn Ding

Just to highlight a quick quote for you Dave..
“The essence and necessity of community is so powerful there. A village like Caraballo is comprised of people working together for the overarching cause of the well-being of the community. Most towns in the US could learn a lesson or two about the true meaning of neighbors from Caraballo.”

Hiking Brison

Today we woke up at 7 and took a long bus ride to the base of Brison Mountain. The hike was around 2 miles up and 2 miles down. The steep inclines and hot temperatures caused everyone to slow down and take multiple breaks. After about 2 hours, we made our way to the top where we were greeted by locals who served us a delicious meal of beans, rice, chicken and fruit. Everyone was most excited about the ice cream, which was the main form of motivation throughout the hike. While at the local’s house, we got to see what their everyday life consists of as well as their living conditions. On the way down, we got to enjoy the beautiful views and an easier walk. During the hike, we also learned about the deforestation within the community due to the farming methods and need for land for cattle. We also learned that with the help of GLA and the Peace Corps, pipes were put in place to provide a water spigot at each house. As hard as the hike was, we learned a lot and felt a great sense of achievement when we reached the top. We have continued to learn about leadership, human security, the lives of Dominicans and have had our own physical and emotional strength tested in various situations. We are all having fun playing cards, going to the beach, interacting with locals, and are excited for the rest of the activities!

We’ve Arrived!

All students have arrived in country and are ready for their program! Stay tuned for blog updates!

La Grua

Some say ignorance is bliss, but the ignorance of the world around us does more harm than help. Gaining perspective on the lives of La Gruan inhabitants has opened our eyes to the harsh reality of abject poverty. Our task for the day was to assist the community by picking up trash that has consumed the fields and their lives. Being students who are unappreciative of our own communities’ sanitation, we were surprised by such a polluted atmosphere. The community of La Grua had never been visited by any non-governmental organizations, so our visit was even more special.

Following our trash clean-up, we had the opportunity to interact with the natives. One activity that was incredibly exciting to engage in was the game of checkers. The natives created their own twist on the game with a few new rules, but it was impossible to beat them due to their experience with the game. It is extraordinarily inspiring that the youth of this community found it simple to interact with our whole GLA group. Although it was sad to leave the community, the impact created will stay with everyone forever.

– Abby and Nathan

Goodbye, Las Canas

Today was truly an inspirational day. We were able to come together as a family for the greater good. It is such a life changing opportunity to be a part of something so positive and real. This being our second and last day at Las Canas bottle clinic made me feel like I was able to give and learned that giving is the most valuable gift. The Dominican children put in so much effort into helping us all day long without a single complaint. The passion they share and the strive they have has forced me to come to the realization that I should not only be thankful for all that I have, but also give back as much as I can. Today was definitely an extremely rewarding day to close the doors to a clinic that will be used by people of all ages from that community. I’m proud to say that I was a part of a life-changing benefit not only for the locals but also for me.

Learning a Lot

Today, we went down the road to the village of Las Canas and put the finishing details on the bottle school. The group split off to work on different sectors such as: planting cacao and coffee, painting the interior, and painting a mural of the world on the outside of the school. We are the last group working in Las Canas and in a few days there will be a ribbon cutting there. I think today, more so than other days, we felt extremely productive and motivated to continue from being able to see the progress we’ve made. I feel like I’ve been able to participate in something huge for the people of the community; they have an area for school, a hospital, something they wouldn’t have had easy access to before. The work we’ve done this week and the people in the communities we’ve been in have taught us all so much about the meaning of service and being able to do something greater than ourselves to impact tomorrow’s future. Watching the kids run up to us when we come to the areas, seeing their smiles when they try to teach us Spanish, and watching them light up when we get a project done is the most rewarding thing on the trip.

Dudu!

I felt the wind cutting across my face, and I held the zipline bar for dear life as I zipped down towards the freshwater lagoon below. And then, I let go. For the next three seconds, it was silent. I free fell from 35 ft in the air. Finally, I made impact, and the cold turquoise water quickly enveloped me. Surfacing, I let out a loud, “WOOHOO!”

Today was our “break day.” We went to Dudu Water Park where we ziplined, jumped off cliffs, played beach volleyball, and swam in a cave. It was a day full of fun and laughter. I was really nervous before I tried each of these activities, but I definitely don’t regret any of my decisions because these were truly once in a lifetime experiences.

Someone asked me today, would you mind if we didn’t do any of these fun activities and just worked every day? No, I wouldn’t mind, and I don’t think anybody in this group would. Even though today was amazing, the work we are doing in the local communities is much more impactful and life changing for me. It is the reason, the passion that motivated me to come to the Dominican Republic. I can’t wait to get back to work tomorrow. It is truly amazing to see how our work can impact the local communities. When I step back and look at the work I’ve done, I feel proud. In just a little amount of time, we have done little things with big impacts. Imagine the children who will be learning in the schools we built, the better life they will have in the future, the sick who will be treated in the clinic, the lives that may be saved. This feeling, the happiness, that I get from helping others and taking action is more beautiful, inspiring, and powerful than any beach, any zipline, almost anything.

Last Day in Caraballo

During our last day of work in Caraballo, there were happy moments and sad moments. The day was full of hard work — both on our communication skills and on the largest bottle school in the world. It was so amazing to interact with all the Dominican and Haitian children and families for these past two days, and so heartbreaking to finally say goodbye. Despite that heartbreak, the memories, values, and skills that we have made and improved will never be forgotten. A feeling of accomplishment has appeared in all of us here. I can speak for everyone when I say that we feel achievement in a portion of our individual goals. I know that personally, I have accomplished more than I ever imagined I would during my stay here. It is the final hour of day 4 and I already feel as though I’ve improved in my spanish skills, connected with my own Dominican heritage (my father’s family is Dominican), and helped out a community in need of human security. Everything here is connected, whether we are working together to help build a community or working individually, to better understand ourselves. Our overall goal is to create a better living environment for everyone here, including ourselves. There are so many different places for growth and opportunity; our GLA community, the Dominican/Haitian community, and in our personal communities. This trip has been simply incredible, and I know we will never forget the impact this Dominican community has made on us, and the impact we have made on them.

— Sofia Cabrera

Service

Today overall was both extremely educational and eye opening. We had the opportunity to first hand help build a local clinic and classrooms for the Caraballo community. Although the ride to the community was chaotic and bumpy, the Haitian villagers welcomed us with open arms and biggest smiles. We entered the community and got straight to work. Half the group began mixing cement while the other half collected bottles and tightly packed the wiring. We first had to measure the wire nail the wire into the framing of the building,the fill the gaps with empty water bottles. The empty bottles are used in replacement of drywall. After filling the wiring with water bottles we then covered the entire walls with cement. Although this experience was messy and in all difficult, it was truly life changing. The villagers and especially the children in the villagers were extremely thankful and it ultimately made me feel worthwhile for the effort and hard work we all put into helping build the clinic. Overall today was an extremely empowering day. I woke up feeling nervous because of the little Spanish I know however came to the realization that it’s the actions that speak louder than communication with one another.

–Hannah Smith

Starting Off

Today was our second day and most definitely a challenging one. It really helped to understand more about the community and their daily routine, as we climbed mountain Brison for 5 miles. We learned that because families wouldn’t have direct access to water they would have to walk this mountain and more to get the water they needed. As the children would mostly be responsible for this duty, they wouldn’t get the opportunity to go to school, thanks to the new access to direct water more children can go to school. When we visited the school I talked to the teacher and asked him a couple of questions. They were about 50 students and two classrooms with about 15 desks, he teaches kids from ages 5-12 and has three sessions every day. As we walked by the houses and towns we saw kids that were walking barefoot, but you could still see a smile in their face. All the families that we walked by were really friendly. We also saw the deforestation on the mountain. When we reached the top we had some delicious food cooked by some really nice Dominican ladies, and I got to talk to one of them and she told she was really happy and that she was really happy with all the work that GLA does. This experience definitely helped to let us catch a small glimpse of their daily lives.

We’ve Arrived!

Today we began our adventure in the Dominican Republic. We arrived at the airport in Puerto Plata from flights either from Miami or JFK. The flight I arrived on, which departed from Miami, allowed its passengers to experience beautiful island views of the Bahamas. When we arrived in Puerto Plata we went through customs, received our luggage from baggage claim, and headed outside to meet up with our GLA leaders and the rest of the group. From there, we took a forty-five minute bus ride to our home base on the northern side of the DR. On the bus ride, students got a quick look at some of the towns and environments that make up the Dominican Republic and the variety of living conditions throughout the island. We got settled in at the home base; swam for a bit in the pool; ate a delicious dinner of chicken, beans, rice, and fresh fruit; and then met for orientation and a quick leadership seminar. We set goals for ourselves and our experiences in our GLA journals and got to know each other a little bit better with some ice breaking activities. Overall, it was a good start to our Dominican adventure.

Final Thoughts

In my opinion, this trip has changed me physically and mentally. what i have experienced in previous journeys and misadventures do not compare to the experience on this trip. For the first few days it felt like I knew everyone for months. But until the 5th day, the days got faster and faster. If i were to jump off the lagoon on this trip, the first few seconds would feel like forever, but the closer you get to the water the faster it gets until… you splash. I have had so much fun and I would recommend it to all my friends and even family. This entire experience, from the bottle school to snorkeling, is exhilarating and inspiring. Best fun in years.

-Nicolas Visbal

Headed Home

All students are headed home!

La Grua

The morning was spent in La Grua, a Haitian community about an hour and a half away. When we first arrived we began to pick up some of the seemingly endless trash strewn across the fields and riverbanks of the village. As we worked, local children joined us and helped us out so that all of the trash bags were filled within an hour.

Although many of them were visibly ill, the kids were eager to interact with us. At one point during the morning I found myself with a little girl on one hip, a toddler boy on the other, and three other small children hugging my legs. We played games (there were several intense checkers matches) and exchanged smiles, furthering our main goal of the day: building a meaningful relationship with this struggling community. These people have so little physical possessions, yet so much energy and kindness to offer. La Grua did not have the dependency on NGOs that Caraballo is stuck in, so the interactions with the villagers were not motivated by a later profit. I thought that this made them exceptionally meaningful and genuine. The poverty I viewed was heartbreaking- there was one boy with a marked face suggesting a water-borne illness who asked me for my clean water. Every day I grow more and more aware of the privilege I am blessed with and am more inspired and determined to work towards changing the world’s problems.

Lunch followed, consisting of the usual rice and chicken and melons, then we boarded the bus to leave for Cabarete beach. After a delay due to a finicky bus, the afternoon was spent pleasantly on the beach. We ended the day with more “family time”, relaxing at the GLA complex. After dinner we all sat around the pool in the dark, sharing one “I’ve learned” and one “I will”. I thought it was a really powerful moment of shared reflection Most of us have come to the shocking realization that this will be. our penultimate night here, and I have yet to talk to a person ready to leave. I think I speak for the whole group in saying that his had been such an amazing, substantially life-altering experience that will truly stay with us.

-Addie Heifetz

Service & Bonding

In order to finish our work on the bottle school and medical clinic at Las Canas, today we leveled the ground in preparation for flooring as well as deepened the hole for the septic tank. Although these tasks seem daunting, one smart member of our GLA family decided to bring bluetooth speakers to the worksite. Pop hits and classic rock jams were blasting through the construction zone as Dominican locals and GLA members danced with their shovels and paintbrushes. The work hours flew by and we were treated with another lunch of chicken and rice, and I’m still amazed at how the locals continually surprise us with different ways to prepare chicken. Upon return at the GLA homebase, we changed out of our unbelievably sweaty clothing and into our swimsuits to make our way to the beach. Exhausted, I laid in the sand and watched in awe as some of my peers waded in the water to fight the huge waves. We spent hours lounging at the beach only to realize that we had been challenged to a basketball tournament against local Dominican teenagers. Although it was a struggle, our GLA basketball team was victorious in their games against two Dominican teams. We ended the day mingling with locals, swimming in our pool, and playing cards. Looking back at the day, I loved the fact that we were able to work and have fun at the same time. It’s incredible to be able to view the progress that we are making at the bottle school as well as within the Dominican community. I enjoyed practicing my spanish with local Dominican kids and getting to know my GLA family on an even deeper level during our beach and dinner conversations.

-Kennedy Farris

Las Canas

Today we visited another bottle school site, this time in a dominican village called Las Canas (only about 5 minutes from our home base). There we worked on multiple small projects to help finish up the structure. Throughout the day we had people painting the inside walls, mixing and getting cement onto the outside walls, and planting trees in the area as a part of a reforestation project being done which will have 20,000 trees planted by the end of the summer. The painting was a nice break from the sun and from all the muscle work and a bunch of us got covered with speckles of white paint which was a ton of fun. While working on different projects, we fell into really cool patterns of teamwork which helped us get things done much quicker and also helped grow friendships even more. A few hours of hard work later, we had a nice meal of, of course, chicken and rice, cooked by the local “dona”. After that we split up into groups to come up with comedy skits that we performed for each other and then played a few other games. We then got back to work and returned to the home base and headed down the path to the beach, the perfect way to end a great day.

Regarding the people in Las Canas, the environment today was much different than that of Caraballo (the site of the other bottle school we’ve worked on). Not only was the construction process much further along here, but the locals acted very differently. In Las Canas, there were only a few dominicans out on the site and they were all helping out as opposed to the large number of locals standing in the last school and trying to get us to buy something from or for them. That being said, both sites provided us with a great place to work have fun, and make amazing memories.

-Maya

Dudú Lagoon

Today was our “day off!” We drove an hour and fifteen minutes to a tourist site called Dudú Lagoon. The water was a beautifully clear shade of azure with a zip line running 35 feet above it. Throughout the day, we moved from activity to activity, ranging from cliff jumping (40 feet high!!!), competitive beach volleyball, eating food from the restaurant, and jumping off of the smaller cliffs in the cave among the stalactites. The lunch was spectacular. We were treated to steamed rice and fried chicken which was a great reminder of home. Some took in the sun while others played a few games of volleyball. Some even took the opportunity to film themselves cliff jumping with GoPro cameras or waterproof phone cases to create amazing movies. The trip was a great relief from our daily hard work that we’ve been putting in and offered a way for us to relieve some stress. After we returned to base, we helped the returnees with their service projects. These tasks included cutting steel rods with a bandsaw and moving cacao seedlings. Tomorrow, we will be at Las Canas to work on another bottle clinic that is very close to completion. We’re looking forward to the rest of our days in paradise!

– Chris and Sam

Another Day at Caraballo

Today we went back to Caraballo to continue working on the clinic/school. We were able to accomplish alot very quickly because we all knew the basic system of how things were done.We continued to apply cement and install wire in the parts of the building that were still open and didn’t have complete walls. The locals came to help us and though it was very crowded we were able to work very fast because everyone wanted to help. The people mixing cement couldn’t get it to us fast enough. As soon as a bucket was set down, everyone would take a handful and it would become empty. During this time we were able to talk with the kids and teenagers as we worked. Though there was a language barrier we all tried so hard to communicate with each other through a mix of the languages and hand signals that it wasn’t that much of a barrier at all. It was incredible to be able to talk with these people and take a glimpse into their lives that are so different from the way we in America live. The kids just hang on you; holding your hand and smiling.

After lunch we went to the market stalls to look at the wares the people were selling. We were supposed to have a soccer game with the locals but at the beginning of the game the soccer ball was accidentally kicked over the wall. After lunch and the short soccer game we went to the beach and had wifi for the first time in 4 days. While everyone went through their dozens of notifications and caught up on social media we all got the first french fries and pizza to mix up our chicken and rice diet. The water was beautiful and the people friendly. The whole day was an amazing time to learn and understand these beautiful people and their country.

Caraballo

Today we woke up bright and early and made our way over to Caraballo to work on the bottle school. Caraballo is a village mixed with Dominican people and Haitian. This bottle school is going to be the largest one in the world. The building is going to be used for multiple purposes such as medical clinics (to support the community and surrounding communities with a total population of around 5,000 people who are all in need of medical attention which they are currently not receiving it) and educational purposes like adult literacy classes and youth development programs . When we got there we started to work on mixing cement and covering the walls. The mixing of cement was challenging at first but after a couple times we got the hang of it. We all took small work breaks and got a little tour around the village where we met many little kids. They were all friendly wanting us to hold hands with them and give them piggyback rides. It was amazing being able to communicate with them and even though I speak very little Spanish, I was able to get to know them a little bit. After that we ate a delicious lunch of the usual chicken and rice made by the locals and it was outstanding. Then we went back to work and everyone knew what they were doing so it went by a lot faster and we made a ton of progress. We then headed home after saying goodbye to the people. It felt good to be able to leave Caraballo knowing that we made an impact not only short term but with something that will benefit the community in the future as well. Tonight we did a personality test which I found extremely interesting. It was so accurate it amazed me. Overall it was an amazing day of service and I feel great knowing that we had made a difference .

-Jacob Ramthun

Mt. Brison

Today we hiked Mt. Brison, an excruciatingly painful, yet marvelous experience. On our way up we were introduced to “Las Batatas,” a completely self-sustainable community, and in turn we discussed the water system there. Our leader, Cameron, gave us a little talk on how GLA implemented a water system there a few years back which truly improved the residents lives for the better. For, prior to that, the kids (only 10 years old) would have to hike up and down the mountain lugging water, and in turn they would be deprived of a decent education. Throughout the hike, we were able to see some pretty astonishing things. Quite a few men that were riding mules passed us, with gallons of water attached to either side of the mule. Aside from that, seeing how the residents lived was definitely an eye opening experience. As, they live in little wooden huts, without electricity, and the rooms are bare except for a bed and table. With a momentary glance into the houses, you could immediately tell that these folks live impoverished lives, yet all of the children are still so joyful. But we were fortunate enough to be able to do something nice for these people, as at the very end of our hike, we were able to plant cocoa trees in a tropical maze of banana, coffee, cocoa, and yucca trees.

The hike was definitely a strenuous one, but in the end, it was 100% worth it. It allowed us to see how these poor people live, and it made us take what we have at home for granted. We live very privileged lives, and as we talked about in our leadership discussed, it’s crucial that we use our privileges for the betterment of others’ lives. From this experience, I learned that we can only look up to these people for living such harsh lives, and for still seeing the happiness in life. A lot of times we tend to focus on the materialistic stuff in our lives, but being here…disconnected from the outer world, really makes you appreciate the essential things in life, such as food, water, and a roof over your head. I think that everyone should experience something like this because it truly betters you as a person, and makes you look at your own life from a completely different perspective.

Arriving

On arrival I had a nervous yet excited feeling and was not sure what to make of it, but on the bus ride there I found all of the other kids to be quite nice and welcoming. Once we made it to the home base I claimed a room with some of the kids I met on the bus. After settling everyone gathered at the pool to hang out and introduce themselves to others. Being there I found the mentors very approachable and friendly. After that we ate an amazing dinner, then after that we had a short discussion about leadership. At the conclusion of that I felt today was a great start to an amazing experience.

-Jacob Ramthun

We’ve Arrived!

The 44 are here ready to rock the 10 day program. Hola from DR!!!!

Headed Home

All students have are on their way home! We apologize for the lack of photos and will try and get some on the blog post-program, you will receive an email update!

Reflections

Today was the fifth day that I was able to enjoy the Dominican Republic. I was awoken to my favorite breakfast. GLA puts a heavy focus on an amiable and comfortable ambiance, where one feels welcome to explore new friendships and cultures. GLA gives the students ample amount of freedom in decisions regarding with whom they wish to spend their time. In regards to strict guidelines about boundaries around the campus, the mentors are rigid and no students challenge the logical rules. I appreciate the freedom given to us when we traveled to the lagoon resort. We were allowed to participate in everything the resort offered. Because I am being protected from instances that could happen if I were to venture out of the compound, but not being restricted from participating in authentic Dominican activities. I am pleased with the amount of money GLA costs. The tuition I paid not only pays for the supplies we build with, but also allows for this program to continue. I am conscious of what I choose to pay for, and I am confident that GLA is a worthy program to give your money to. Also, GLA makes each moment of time a strengthening experience. Every night we are treated to a guest speaker who is able to relate her knowledge to us. After that, we are able to participate in an activity that provides us with more information as to who we are as an individual, which enables us to effectively lead others. These activities are followed with reminders that a strong leader also needs to be able to work with others in an honorable and community-conscious way. I think the activity that sums up what GLA is all about is: we commit the 7 Aspects of Human Security to memory each night.

Making A Difference

Today was the fourth day our 10 day GLA family has been together in the Dominican Republic. The past 3 days have eye opening in so many ways. Today on day 4, we traveled on a 5 minute bus ride down the road and up a hill to a bottle building being built in your own neighborhood of the Dominican house for GLA. All of the bottle insulation had been done by previous GLA groups. Today, my whole team worked o the landscaping for the area as well as cementing most of the walls in the building, getting it ready for the contractor to come in and fix it up professionally. While landscaping we evened the land to make it self sufficient for gardening fruits and vegetables for the Dominicans to eat for free. WHen walking inside the building, the four room building is being built for little to no payment medical care for the local Dominicans. Other rooms are also being built for an English learning center and as well as a community center to meet at. Being a part of the process to help the impoverished improve their health and education is life changing. Most people are complaining at home about when they can get wifi and the new clothes and cars the want. And when you travel to a place like the Dominican Republic, where most people are hungry or sick and only have the clothes on their backs, it makes you appreciate what you have at home waiting for you every night. Being here and helping people in need is the most amazing feeling in the world when you realize, you personally, are making a change for the better.

Caraballo

Today was the third day here in the Dominican. Our group woke up at around 7 and headed to breakfast which was the usual eggs and fruit. We piled into the buses and started our hour drive to Caraballo. When we arrived we immediately headed over to the bottle school which was in the middle of the field and surprisingly large. Some people went to work with the cement making others organized the bottles and most cut the chicken wire to create the walls. I helped in creating the walls which was actually hard. You have to first measure and cut the wire, then hammer it up, and then insert the bottles between the layers of chicken wire. It sounds easy but it takes a long time and a lot of energy. Also throughout the process the locals will talk to you and distract you with games and jokes. Soon lunch arrived and it was delicious even though it was the usual chicken, rice and beans. After lunch we went back to work for a little then started to clean up the site and say our goodbyes and headed back to the compound. We got to finally go to the beach and it was amazing. The waves are the ones you wish for and the water is the perfect temperature. After dinner we are allowed time to play amongst each other and then its time for bed and within minutes of curfew everyone is asleep from such a long day.

Brison

Today was the second day of my ten day service trip in the Dominican. Our group got up at 7 AM, had breakfast, and headed out to a mountain village called Brison. We were in the bus for about an hour and a half. When we arrived at the bottom of the mountain and stumbled groggily out of the bus. Some students headed off to the local convenience store, while others went to the bathroom (a local Dona was kind enough to lend us hers). When we finally began to hike, I remember being excited and energetic. I loved the street that our bus stopped on. There were so many Dominicans weaving their bicycles around all of the cars. The traffic lessened as we went up the mountain, but soon I became so tired that all I could focus on was the hiking. This two hour hike was the hardest physical activity that I have ever done in my life. I felt so humbled when I found out that the student residents of Brison have to make this hike every time they go to school!

We’ve Arrived!

All students have arrived safely in country and are ready for an amazing program! Stay tuned for blog updates!

Headed Home

All students have departed from the DR with a smile of their face and are on their way home!

Service and Adventures!

Las Canas
Today we went to Las Canas for the second time. When we got there, the Dominican kids were already mixing the cement, so we all jumped into work right away. We all split up; some people worked on putting up more chicken wire, others put bottles in the walls, and some put cement on the façade. I did the cement for a while, but then went to hang out with the Dominican kids. They decided to teach us Spanish in exchange for us teaching them English. It was pretty interesting to hear what they can’t pronounce, like sounds “ch” and “t.” After lunch, we went back to work for awhile until it was time to go. Putting up cement is a pain because it just falls through the wall and it felt like we made no progress, but apparently we covered seven walls. After work, we chilled for awhile, and then rejoined with the people who stayed home sick and went to play kickball where the Dominicans kicked our butts 15-11, and we lost our winning title. Then we gave out donations and I noticed the Las Canas kids are much less grabby than the Caraballo kids. After we distributed our gifts, we had a dance party and the Dominicans are crazy good dancers. Overall I really enjoyed spending time with the kids at Las Canas because they were super friendly and helpful and I wish I could go back again someday.

-Emma

Las Canas – First Day
Throughout the week we have been learning about differences in privilege: How Americans as a whole are on a completely different level of privilege compared to the Dominicans and Haitians. Working on a bottle community building today at Las Canas illustrated this difference. Instead of a more, if you will, “give me money” approach to us, the Dominicans in this community were more apprehensive. After the initial greetings, the kids went off on their own and gave us space while we worked. However, once I brought my camera out to take pictures of the process, interest was sparked. At first the kids tested my Spanish to see if they could have a conversation with me, but I think I passed because we were soon joking about whom was the strongest of them all. Obviously, we had to test this argument with an arm wrestling competition. (The gringos lost) Even with a language barrier, we all connected in some way or another. In one conversation, learned the sixteen year old sister was studying technology because she wanted to be involved in tv production. I also learned that John, pronounced ‘Yon’ can saw a 2 by 4 in three minutes. But most importantly, I learned that regardless of the level of privilege a family or community might have, they can still be happy just by being in each-other’s company, or by being asked a simple question such as, “Are you stronger than your brother?”

-Halle Mackert- Cleveland, Ohio

Dudu Lagoon

Already in a good mood from being able to sleep in a little later than usual, Day 5 kicked off to a great start. After the usual breakfast and loud music-filled bus ride, we made it safely to Dudu while also mentally questioning how long that feeling of safety would last upon seeing the zipline. My stomach started churning upon simply seeing the zipline, while other dare devils were already effortlessly lining up to be the first victims. Watching each new set of screams and splashes made my stomach churn even more, but after a few I finally decided to take the plunge (literally). Soaring fourty feet over the lagoon, I felt the wind rush through me and a scream rush out of me. Once I heard the shouts of “Jump, Jump!” from my fellow group members standing on the cliff above, I willed myself to let go. A good three seconds of weightless-feeling freefall was interrupted by the rush of cold water as my body sliced through the water. Though unlucky others suffered from butt bruises, I got off lucky with only a little clanking of my teeth. I couldn’t resist laughing hysterically as I swam out because of the realization of the crazy awesome thing I had just done. As scary as it had been, I ended up doing the zipline again because I craved the heart racing, stomach about to come out of my throat feeling. The zipline was a blast, but what came a second close to that were the beautiful caves on the other side of Dudu. After jumping off of a ten foot (now an absolute piece of cake compared to the zipline drop and thirty foot cliff jumping experience) ledge a couple times, a couple friends and I dared each other to swim into the depths of the dark cave. Too submerged in the beauty of it all, we forgot how scary we thought the big, dark cave was. All that cave swimming called for some hammock lounging and ostrich observing in a nearby area. We were all super bummed when the day at Dudu finally came to an end, but all those adrenaline rushes had worn us out. Don’t let the name fool you, Dudu is definitely one of the most remarkable and fun places I have ever been to and I’m sure many others think the same.

-Senior Mira Laing, Los Angeles, California

A Short But Sweet Update

Today was our 2nd and last day in Caraballo. We wrapped up putting the bottles in the wall as our service project there and almost finished building out a classroom.

The ladies of Ascension continued to braid our hair, and even some of the guys in the group had a few. We also learned how to mix cement today! It was much tougher than we thought, and all of it was done by hand. We finished one entire wall with the cement that we mixed, which was impressive given the strenuous process. During lunch, the Haitians played on drums and other instruments for us. It was really entertaining.

Afterwards, we went to their local market. We were able to buy gifts to bring back home, such as bracelets, paintings, and other local goods. We played a soccer game against their best athletes. We scored the first goal, but lost 5-3 against them. We then went to Cabarete beach, and were able to indulge in virgin Pina Coladas that were made with the pineapples, and of course, milkshakes. We also did a personality quiz, which was surprisingly really accurate and I learned more about myself that I didn’t even consider before.

First Day in Caraballo

Today was our first day in Caraballo. We did many things there that were amazing. We took a tour of the village and learned about the hardships that the people faced on a daily basis. We were able to work on the bottle school all day as well. We were glad that there was a roof on the school, because it was hot! Some of us dug a septic tank with picks and shovels. The rest of us learned how to make a bottle school. It was a really neat process and I’m glad I learned how to do it. I wish we could build one back in the states!    

A lot of the local Haitian kids helped us build the school. Some of them were very good at braiding our hair, so we were able to get that done as well. It was nice talking to the people, they all knew at least 2 languages, and I was able to brush up on my Spanish skills. Later we went to the beach to cool off. The water was warmer than what we were used to back home. Then we watched an eye-opening documentary called 11^th Hour. I learned a lot from that.

Off to a Great Start!

We’ve Arrived!

You can tell how excited everybody is by looking at the size of those smiles. Participants arrived safe and sound, after splashing in the pool and getting to wow at the wonderful lodging they will call home for the next 10 days we are having dinner, followed by orientation and we’ll have the chance to cheer the USA team at the World Cup.