Click here to jump down to the new posts!
Thursday July 5, 2018
Part 1:
We made it! All students have arrived and we are excited to be in the Dominican Republic and look forward to the journey ahead! Stay tuned for more updates on our adventure!
Friday July 6, 2018
Our first day was a success! We woke up to a delicious breakfast at eight in the morning. After that, we took buses to the Caberete Nature Preserve to clean up garbage in the neighboring community. Afterwards, we cooled off in a body of crystal-clear water tucked away in a beautiful cave. We then rode to a pristine beach called Playa Alicia. During the scenic bus ride, we were able to get a glimpse of what daily life in the DR is truly like.
For lunch, we had our pizza on the beach, before swimming in the serene waters. We then came back to home base and were given time to shower, hang out, and recoup. We were treated to a dinner of fried fish and received an enlightening lecture about human security in the DR and abroad. Afterwards, we were given groups with one mentor and a handful of other students and were able to check in and reflect on what we have done so far.
Saturday July 7, 2018
Today we woke up bright and early at 6 am for our crazy adventurous day. We had a two hour bus ride to Mount Brisón, and hiked for three hours. On the way up we encountered many steep hills and two local families, who both shared personal stories about their lives on the mountains and spoke about the 7 elements of human security.
At the top of the mountain we met La Doña Maxima and she had ready for us a delicious lunch which consisted of rice, beans, pork, eggplants, plantains, and fresh fruit. She spoke to the group about her life on the mountain and some struggles she faces being so isolated from society. After lunch, we hiked back down and returned to home base. To wrap up the day we had a yoga session led by Ellen our mentor and a delicious meal cooked by the chefs.
Sunday July 8, 2018
We began our day working at Caño Dulce. Caño Dulce is a small community in Las Cana. We worked together to build and insulate a cement house for a family of 4. Various jobs performed we used chicken wire to make a barrier for plastic bottles, insulation, cementing, digging a hole for septic tank, and organizing bottles. Afterwards we cooled off in the pool at the home base. Finally, we split into our mentor groups and each created a hypothetical project that could improve life in a community. #Tacosunday
Monday July 9, 2018
This day went a lot faster as someone brought a speaker so we could listen to music. We completed the bottling and the base cement layer of the house. We started to apply a smooth layer of cement on top with the help of locals and masons. To take a break from our work, we went to visit a beekeeper named Johnny who lives in the area. We got to taste his delicious honey and observe his bees. At the end of the day, we watched a documentary on climate change in the midst of a storm outside.
Lots of pictures because we couldn’t choose!
-Written by the Leaders of the Day
What an amazing day at Dudu Lagoon! Today the GLA students and myself got to enjoy an excursion after days of hard work! At the lagoon, we were able to admire intricate caves and wildlife while engaging in fun activities such as swimming, volleyball, and a variation of games. My experience at Dudu Lagoon was truly something I will never forget! Tomorrow we will return to Caño Dulce to continue our work in the community!
