Day 4: Dia de Comunidad

Hi everyone,

It’s Jenny and Sean Michael, Los liders de día! This morning we woke everyone up with some christmas caroling with our GGL Kristy. We sang Jingle Bell Rock, Feliz Navidad, and with the addition of “You are my sunshine”. After singing, we told everyone to be ready by 7:55 am to head to the cafeteria to have nice breakfast, per usual. For todays’ breakfast, we devoured the traditional Dominican breakfast “Los Tres Golpes” which consist of mangu, salami, queso frito, and huevos. We had other options like some yogurt and cereal.

After breakfast, we introduced a mental warm up to prepare the other glimpser for what will happen today. Some food for thought ideas were “In the Dominican Republican most rural inhabitants do not have access to medical care, safe drinking water, proper sanitation, or sufficient food.”

We got on our “magic school bus” and headed on over to “Centro Educativo Cecaini” an elementary school in Constanza. At first, I (Jenny), thought I wouldn’t get along with the kids and it would be awkward. But after some time, I felt more welcome as they proceeded to invite me to their activities. We played volleyball, basketball, tag, and cops and robber. After we got united with our families, we headed our separate ways, and began to meet , talk, and just overall get to witness, firsthand, how the families live their lives in Constanza.

As I, Sean Michael, began to see how they live, I realized how appreciative I was for my life back home. For a while, we went out back to feed the bunnies and guinea pigs. I even got to hold a baby bunny which fit in the palm of both my hands. Then after, we ate some fruit and watched Telenovelas which honestly had me sat in my seat. After watching a few interesting episodes, my group and I headed back to the school for lunch.

During lunch, Jenny and I served amazing foods made by amazing women of the community, to the group. As we gather at the table to eat, we felt like we fully became a part of the community, without language being a barrier.

After lunch, we gather back outside to enjoy our last few hours with the kids before we part our way. I,( Jenny) after lunch, decided to help the elders in the kitchen to clean up and taking part as a new member of the community. That experience of helping out the ladies made me feel like I was back home helping my mom. Then I, (Sean Michael), was able to play again with the kids and give them piggy back rides. No matter where I was, a kid was always holding my hand and asking for my “ayuda”. One kid in specific, Josue, was glued to me no matter what. Josue and I really built a deep connection, even if we had a language barrier. After we sadly parted way with the elementary school we got on the “magic school bus” to visit our CAP Discovery houses.

We headed to the houses to get a preview on what we will be working on. Although some houses were on the ground level, there some house that were difficult to traverse. There were tons of slopes and dirt that can cause people to slip, which must be difficult for the families, especially for this one woman who was 7 months pregnant. We saw the conditions of the house and we wanted to help give the families better living conditions.

After, we came back to the hotel and did a self reflection where we discuss our impression on the living conditions which these families must endure. After we ate dinner, Jenny and I realized how fortunate and lucky we are to have stable housing, proper nutrients, electricity and fresh water at our display.

– Jenny & Sean Michael

P.S. Families please be aware tomorrow 8/15/25, students will be making calls home at around 3:00pm, so please be attentive to your phone.

P.S. Hi mom and dad! I am here safely and doing well. I hope to see you soon. I love you guys! – Jenny

P.S. Hi guys, if you find this!? I’m lowkey having so much fun here like no joke😛. But I just wanted to let you guys know that I really miss you and I’m always thinking about how much more fun I’d rather have with my family by my side! And if my friends are reading this, I locked into my 🇩🇴 side ❤️‍🩹. But I really miss all of you guys – Sean Michael 🎈

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