Community Day
Student Trip Blog
Today was a packed day full of energy and reflection about what it means to learn about culture and identity. Aika, Lucy and Venby began the day bright and early waking everybody up at 7am then helping with breakfast and a mental health warm-up. We incorporated art into our day and learned about culture beyond the textbook by making Taíno statues from our instructor Gato, and also immersing ourselves into the world of bachata and salsa through a dance lesson. Throughout the travel day moments were constantly filled with laughter but also moments to where we learned about each others languages.These moments where culture was shared strengthened our bond by allowing us to learn about one another beyond the surface level. It took some trials and errors but we believe it was the ability to be open minded that struck with us because people were willing to take time to learn how culture is a gift and how important it is to share and preserve.
In our next activity we watched a documentary about the Haitian and Dominican Republic conflicts regarding immigration. Culture is not just absorbed through language and arts but also history, glimpsers were able to reflect on the types of societal problems related to what we witnessed in the documentary and personal anecdotes. We appreciate how everybody involved,glimpsers, GGLs, and PCs continue to foster a environment of inclusion and space to be vulnerable, it has really been satisfying to see fellow glimpsers so empathetic and eager to help the local community here and at home. YOU WILL MISS US but hope not too much! (LOL!)
¡¡¡¡Nos vemos pronto!!!!
Aika, Lucy, & Venby
Comments (39)
Wael Abdelatif
Salam loaai I’m very happy and proud of you and have good time with the group I appreciate and thank everyone organizing the trip God bless waiting for more pictures enjoy your time.
Thanks
Wael
Rehab
Salam Loaai,
We missed you so much! I’m glad you are having so much fun and I love your smile. Can’t wait to live through your adventures with these photos.
Make new friends and have fun!
Love,
Mama
Yukimi Taylor
What an amazing experience!!!
Aika, keep going and enjoy every moment in DR with all those amazing people!
When you come back, you have to teach me bachata and salsa 😉
Aisha
Hi Saffiatou! Happy to see you’re having a good time!!! Today’s your favorite sisters birthday lol.
Irina Matyukh
Dear Nick, I hope you are doing great! Your sister misses you (she just told me to write it!), but of course we all miss you a lot! Your Spanish Regent score came out, it’s 77. I’m very proud of you and all your achievements. Love, mom.
Madison Stone
AWWW YOU GUYS LOOK LIKE YALL ARE HAVING SO MUCH FUN!!!! I see yall are playing basketball, Sophia dont break their ankles too much lmao. But I’m so proud it looks like each day yall are getting more and more comfortable, especially you Olivia! Yall better be wearing sunscreen my little white babies I love yall so muchhh❤️
Isabella Thompson
sophia and olivia! you guys look like you are having the most fun!!!! love to see all the smiles! sophia you better show them how to play basketball (even tho u suck lol). i can’t wait to hear about everything you’ve learned and done, and i can’t wait to tell you everything we’ve done back home! like madison always says, WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN GUYS! i love you both 💕
Justin Adamson
Hey Lucy, love you and so proud of you. Praying for you and the whole group have an amazing rest of your trip. Look forward to seeing more of the things you are doing and learning. Don’t take for granted this amazing opportunity to travel, serve, and learn more about other cultures.
Love,
Dad
Madison Stone
I hope you guys took photos of the clay sculptures you guys made ☺️ using my digital camera…. right Sophia
Rehana Radha
Ayesha
You guys look great miss you baby!
Do well and help others as always
Anyelina Padilla
Anyelica de Jesus me Allegra mucho esta Nueva experiencia que estas teniendo ahora. compartiendo y conociendo tus raises. I miss you so much.
Ashley Figueroa
yay venby!!! looks like ur having fun 🇩🇴🇩🇴
Bridget Gallardo
Hi Sophia and all of you wonderful people!! Stay safe, healthy and make memories for life!!!
Danneli Moran
This sounds like such in incredible day!! Lucy you’re gonna have to fill me in on your new dancing skills!! I’m so happy you’re able to go on this adventure because you deserve it. I know your leadership and big heart will shine so much through the friendship you are building and also the impact you are making through this project. Don’t forget to try a yaroa!! Te amooo
And to everyone I also hope you guys are having a wonderful time, I’ve been reading out you guys and you all sound like a great group. YOLO!!
But you guys will have return Lucy back to me lol
Your favorite Dominican
Danneli
Danneli Moran
This sounds like such in incredible day!! Lucy you’re gonna have to fill me in on your new dancing skills!! I’m so happy you’re able to go on this adventure because you deserve it. I know your leadership and big heart will shine so much through the friendship you are building and also the impact you are making through this project. Don’t forget to try a yaroa!! Te amooo
And to everyone I also hope you guys are having a wonderful time, I’ve been reading about you guys and you all sound like a great group. YOLO!!
But you guys will have return Lucy back to me lol
Your favorite Dominican
Danneli
Nancy Saavedra
My Christopher, I am so happy to see that you are enjoying yourself and doing well. I look forward to your return soon. I love you.
Victoria Gorczyca
OLIVIAAAA MY NOODLE! Hope ur having fun but remember when u come home u have 2 weeks worth of dishes to make up for 😂😂😂😂😂😬😬😬😬. And a lot of snap chat vlogs to open. I go to pa w mom dad AND LEO 🐈. Wear sunscreen dude it’s mad hot ok bye have fun😝 it was 102 today in bk I almost melteddddddd ok now bye 🫰🏻🫰🏻🫰🏻🫰🏻
laisa perez
Hi Lucy!!! I miss you so much already, it looks like you’re having so much fun! Praying that everything continues to go well for you. Keep on making beautiful memories in that beautiful place ( where you should be really from lol 🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴⚾️) I can’t wait to hear all about it!!
love, Laisa!!
Danneli Moran
I love you Lucy!! Also I’m not sure if you know what Spain won today!!!
– Izzy ( she wanted me to tell you!)
Andrea Ramirez
God bless you Aby, hope you are having fun. Love this for you sissy. We love you, from the kids and me!
Nicole Block
We miss you Anna!! Looks like you all are learning a lot. Can’t wait to hear more! Love you!
Isela Gomez
Chita, my beautiful baby sister! I love you and I’m so happy you got to be part of this awesome experience!
Have fun, be safe, absorb it all in and cherish every moment, Tyson and I miss you!
Te amo mi nina, may God bless and be with you at all times❤️
Love, chela
Mateo Rodriguez
HI ANNAAAAA It’s so good to see you smiling and in these group photos. Idk how you’re gonna see this, maybe with magic? THE GATHERING????????? Either way just know I’m thinking of you constantly and I got the message from your mom. I can’t wait to talk to you tomorrow! Good luck and have fun until then!!
– Mateo (Rodriguez) (The one that’s your boyfriend btw) (ok bye bye)
Ashley Milani
Great job sophia lauren!
Barbara Block
Hey Anna, hope you’re having fun. Mila just got her drivers license and I’m almost done with my book. Can hardly wait to see you. Love, nana
Justin Saavedra
Hey Chris, I’m happy for you! Enjoy your time over there and learn as much as possible! You’re the first one to visit DR! See you soon!
Auntie Camille
Claudia,
What an amazing way to experience more of your very own heritage! Be that proud amongst your peers. 🇩🇴 😎
I am excited for you and proud of you! This experience could have only made you that much better of a person.
Keep climbing sweets! Love you lots! 🩷💖
Sammi Weissman
Saffi! I hope that you are happy and having a great time! The location looks beautiful and I’m looking forward to hearing all the details when you are back!!
-Ms Sammi
David Block
Amazing pictures! Anna, I miss you very much and am very proud of you! From your smiles, it seems like you’re having a good time. Can’t wait to hear all about it when you come home.
Love Dad.
George Block
Miss you Anna! Happy to see you’re having a good time. Can’t wait for you to get back home!
Kimberly Rosales
It looks like you guys are having the best time. Im so happy!! Kaycee we miss you and love seeing you in these pictures!!
Nicole Block
Hey all! I just wanted to send up a flag that we can’t click on the latest blog post, “Immigration Day”. Every time I try, on my phone or computer, it redirects me to the main student blog post page. I hope we can get this fixed — I love to read the blogs and see all your faces!
Love you Anna! Love to everyone else too.
Nancy Saavedra
Christopher, I hope you and your friends had an excellent day today and continue to enjoy yourselves to the fullest. 👏 Congratulations! ❤️
Manuela Gomez
Love and miss you Abby, happy 4th of July!
Mom & Dad ❤️
Keyli Rodriguez
Hiii Abs,
miss you so much!! you’re doing great stuff keep at it, i know your incredible. Missing your positive vibes but am happy for all the new people who are able to meet and get to know you!! Love you ♾️
– Becca
Manuel Chimbo
Hi Christopher, good morning. I hope you’re doing well, having a great experience, and learning what life is like outside our country. Take care, and see you soon! 🥰🙏
Margarita Gallardo
Sophia
You’re probably too busy having fun to miss home, but just know home misses you! 😂 Love you and enjoy another great day.
Love, mom ❤️
Yanira Ginez
Hi Jeremy
I’m very happy to see your smile on this pictures😍 hopefully you improved your bachata moves 😄! It is very nice to read you are leaning about all the culture around there, I can’t wait to hear everything about this special moments,
We love you and miss you very much I hope we could talk to you over the phone at least 5 minutes every night 🥺
Brittni Ortiz
Saffi!!! I hope you’re having fun and I can’t wait to hear about it 🙂 stay safe!! – Ms. Ortiz