The Dominican Republic Experience

In March of 2007, I traveled to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip. I arrived there for the first time and realized how beautiful the country was. I was struck by its beauty and overall poverty. I worked with special education children at a local school. Initially, this was not what I had expected to do. I had signed up for the physical therapy site through the group that I was going with. It was truly a blessing that I was sent to work with these kids. It meant a lot to me to be able to spend a week helping those who really needed it. It was more rewarding for me than I can even explain. Not only did I teach these children, but they taught me.

When I went to this third world country, there were some things that worked and did not work. I traveled to a foreign country, where I had never been before. It was different to be somewhere where nobody understood you. In the beginning, I just expected to be understood in English. I would learn quickly enough that this was not the case. I had to learn how to adjust to my new environment. I expanded my Spanish vocabulary in the first few days mostly because I was forced to. Physically adjusting was also a new dilemma. I would have brought more bug spray for the plethora of noseeums that I had encountered.

I learned so much as I worked as part of this mission team. I learned how to pack a little lighter, but more importantly, how to live my life well. I was changed completely by this trip. I realized my passion for working with children. I know now that I want to study psychology in college to further this passion. This trip changed my life and taught me so much about myself.