Soy una estudiante del Sr. Lupoli quien fue a la república dominicana este verano con LOS RAÍCES. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to go on such an impactful and immersive trip. Fue una experiencia que cambió mi perspectiva de los efectos del medio ambiente y las condiciones de las agriculturas. We learned about the environmental changes over the past thirty years and how it has affected the daily lives of the people of the DR and the produce that they are able to grow. Cosechamos vegetales y frutas para investigar y tratar en grupos un día y pudimos experimentar todo del trabajo que necesitamos hacer para ganar dinero.
We were able to learn about the daily lives of the people of the community by not only living with the families, but listening to their experiences in various activities throughout the week. Abro mis ojos de todos los privilegios que yo tengo y todo que yo tengo en comparación de otras personas: vivo con mucho pero solamente necesito muy poquito. It is incredible how only a week was able to change my perspective and teach me so much and I hope to continue to learn more in the future. Todos los milos caminando valieron la pena por las paisajes bonitas.
Me llamo Revy Godehn y fui una participante en el programa de inmersión cultural en La Cumbre este verano. Mi tiempo fue el mejor que pude imaginar y mis expectativas grandes eran pequeñas en comparación con mi experiencia. En verdad, el viaje ha cambiado mi vida- nunca he conocido un lugar tan amable, y aprendí mucho sobre el mundo y mis metas en la vida. Cada día teníamos diferentes actividades, y casi dos meses después del viaje, no puedo escoger mi día favorito. Bailamos, caminamos mucho (pero valió la pena), aprendimos, reímos y mucho más. Este programa me abrió los ojos al mundo y para mí, y muchos de mis compañeros, fue una experiencia que mostró nuestros privilegios y nos ayudó a ser agradecidos. La parte que me impactó más fue durante una día de “mapando comunitario” cuando nosotros caminamos alrededor de pueblos cercanos a La Cumbre y hablamos con la gente sobre cambios en el medio ambiente durante los últimos 30 años pasados. He aprendido sobre los efectos de la deforestación y cambio climático en mi escuela, y ya era una pasión para mi, pero ver los efectos directos de la deforestación en las personas que conocí y hice lazos con fue muy impactante para mi. Esto ha cambiado mis metas para el futuro, y ahora quiero estudiar y trabajar con soluciones sostenibles de cambio climático. En resumen, mi experiencia en La Cumbre me inspiró a ser una persona mejor. Me inspiró para ayudar a todos y saludar a todos con una sonreír, y por supuesto en la manera Dominicana, bailar cada día.
My name is Revy Godehn and I was a participant in the cultural immersion program at La Cumbre this summer. I had the best time imaginable and my high expectations for this trip were still small compared to my experience. Truly, the trip has changed my life – I have never known a place so friendly, and I learned so much about the world and my goals in life. Every day we had different activities, and almost two months after the trip, I still can’t choose my favorite day. We danced, we walked a lot (but it was worth it), we learned, we laughed, and much more. This program opened my eyes to the world and for me, and many of my peers, it was an experience that showed our privileges and helped us in being grateful. The part that was most impactful to me was during a “community mapping” day when we walked around the towns near La Cumbre and talked to people about changes in the environment over the past 30 years. I’ve learned about the effects of deforestation and climate change at my school, and it was already a passion for me, but seeing the direct effects of deforestation on people I met and bonded with was very shocking to me. This has changed my goals for the future, and now I want to study and work with sustainable climate change solutions. In short, my experience at La Cumbre inspired me to be a better person. It inspired me to help everyone and greet everyone with a smile, and of course in the Dominican way, dance every day.
Para mi, esta experiencia fue inolvidable y yo gané varios nuevos relaciones, mejoré mis habilidades del idioma, además de que gané nuevo conocimiento sobre la historia y cultura de la República Dominicana. Creo que una de las cosas más importantes que gané de este viaje son las relaciones que hice. Ahora, tengo amigos y conexiones en La Cumbre en las que puedo depender en el futuro si regreso en unos años. A través de estas relaciones, tengo una apreciación por un otro país y comunidad que nunca hubiera sido sin el viaje. Gracias a la gente de La Cumbre, aprendí mucho sobre la historia de la provincia de Hermanas Mirabal y gané un nuevo interés sobre la historia de la RD en general.
For me, this experience was unforgettable and I gained several new relationships, improved my skills in the language, as well as gained new knowledge of the history and culture of the Dominican Republic. I believe that one of the most important things that I gained from this trip were the relationships I made. Now, I have friends and connections in La Cumbre that I can depend on in the future if I return in a few years. Through these relationships, I have an appreciation for another country and community that I would ever have had without the trip. Thanks to the people of La Cumbre, I learned much about the history of the Hermanas Mirabal province and gained a new interest in the history of the DR in general.
Hello, My name is Alicia (Alessia) Iacono and I was fortunate enough to go on the 2023 Dominican Republic Trip. I was 14 the first time I heard about this trip. My older brother went with the 2019 group, and from then on, I knew that traveling to La Cumbre was something that I wanted to experience. Arriving at the airport, I could already tell that my experience was going to alter my life and change my perspective.The 23 of us who traveled together were squeezed on a small bus, embellished with blue fringe and blasting bachata music. These people I was cramped next to quickly became some of my best friends and family for the next 9 days. When arriving in La Cumbre, my host family was quick to treat my roommate and myself just like family, and my anxieties quickly subsided in the first couple of minutes I was brought to my home. During the week, not only did I gain more confidence in my Spanish speaking abilities, I also learned about the importance of community and hardwork. The residents of La Cumbre were the most genuine, caring, and happiest people I’ve ever met, and I feel so fortunate to spend my time with them.
Hola, me llamo Alicia (Alessia) Iacono, y tuve la suerte de ir con el grupo de 2023 en el viaje de la República Dominicana. Tenía 14 años la primera vez que escuché sobre este viaje. Mi hermano mayor fue con el grupo del 2019, y después supe que viajar a La Cumbre era algo que quería vivir. Al llegar al aeropuerto, ya podía decir que mi experiencia iba a alterar mi vida y cambiar mi perspectiva. Los 23 estudiantes que viajaron juntos eran en un pequeño autobús, adornado con franjas azules y música de bachata a todo volumen. Estas personas en mi grupo se convirtieron rápidamente en algunos de mis mejores amigos y familia durante los 9 días en la República. Cuando llegué a La Cumbre, mi familia fue rápido a tratarnos a mí y a mi amiga como si fuéramos de la familia, y mi nerviosismo se fue rápidamente en los primeros minutos que me trajeron a mi casa. Durante la semana, no solo gané más confianza en mis habilidades para hablar español, también aprendí sobre la importancia de la comunidad y el trabajo duro. Los residentes de La Cumbre fueron las personas más genuinas, cariñosas y felices que he conocido, y me siento muy afortunada de pasar mi tiempo con ellos.
My name is Gio (Gustavo) Cacciato, and I was gladly a part of the 2023 cultural and spanish language immersion trip to the town of La Cumbre, Dominican Republic this past June. Naturally, I had some anxiety about signing up to come on this trip. I had never been away from my family for over a week– let alone in a completely different country. I am happy to say that those nine days I spent in La Cumbre were some of the most calm and relaxing days of my life. Not because we lounged around all day– trust me, each day was filled with exciting activities to get to know the town, the people, and some of the challenges they face– but because of how much love and joy I felt from the people that surrounded me. It isn’t often that one gets to experience a completely different culture guided only by the hands of those that live the culture everyday. What truly impacted me the most was the acceptance of a group of nearly twenty-five outsiders with little knowledge on the culture by the entire community. From day one, my host brother told me the community was all very united, and this was something I saw to be true each day I spent in La Cumbre. This sense of unity was so quickly extended out to us that it made me, and many other members of our group, question the way we accept foreigners in our local community, and on a larger scale, in our country as a whole. The Dominican people were glad to lend a helping hand to each of us, no matter what it was. My host family shared their food, their home, and loved Pablo, my housemate, and I as their own. I will never forget the Dominican response to saying thank you: “always;” they were more than happy to provide for us just as they would provide for their family.
After nine days in La Cumbre– a town that speaks only spanish– I am also glad to say that my Spanish speaking skills have improved. Beyond learning some Dominican sayings, my ear for Spanish is better than ever. Before this trip, I was unsure about continuing learning Spanish in college; let’s just say those doubts are gone. I have created so many amazing connections with the people in La Cumbre, so forgetting the Spanish language is something I would never want to happen. Just over a month later, I still find myself texting or calling my host brother on WhatsApp to see what he’s up to that day.
As I’m wrapping this up, I’m listening to a playlist of some of my favorite Dominican music which has been on repeat since I got off the plane in RDU. My experience in the Dominican Republic is one that I will never forget, and it’s one I never want to forget– my host family, the food, the nightly fiestas, the hikes, the music, the dances, and most importantly, the friends I made along the way.
¡Hola! Me llamo Alejandra y yo estuve parte del viaje a la República Dominicana en 2023. Tratando de explicar cómo esta experiencia cambió mi vida es casi imposible. Yo quise ir en este viaje antes de empezar la universidad porque yo pensé que sería importante a crear un nuevo mentalidad antes de un cambio tan grande en mi vida. Todas mis expectativas fueron superadas- Esta comunidad realmente es una de las más increíbles en el mundo. Las personas de La Cumbre, y realmente cualquier ciudad donde nos fuimos, tienen corazones muy especiales. Cada persona tenía los brazos abiertos para nosotros. En este viaje, yo aprendí humildad, y cómo las cosas que yo pensé fue necesarias en la vida realmente no tienen mucho valor. Yo hablo con algunas personas de La Cumbre cada día, casi dos meses después del viaje. Para el resto de mi vida, yo siempre tendré amor por todos de las personas quien yo encontré..
Hi! My name is Alexandria and I was part of the trip to the Dominican Republic in 2023. Trying to explain how this experience changed my life is almost impossible. I wanted to go on this trip before starting college because I thought that it would be important to create a new mindset before a big change in my life. All of my expectations were surpassed- This community really is one of the most incredible in the world. The people of La Cumbre, and really any city we went to, had really special hearts. Every person had open arms for us. In this trip I learned humility, and how the things I thought were necessary in life really don’t have much value. I talk to some people from La Cumbre every day, almost two months after the trip. For the rest of my life, I will always have love for all the people who I encountered.