The transition to the Dominican Republic has been an interesting one. Living in a country categorized as ¨under-developed¨ has opened my eyes to different ways of life. It seems as though people here do so much with so little, and those of us, who are fortunate with a surplus of the necessities, continue to want more and more. Never achieving true satisfaction. Everyday on the way to the university, I pass the United States and Spanish Embassies. It's not uncommon for there to be long lines of people with hopes of obtaining the opportunity to support a better life for them and their loved ones. The people here work very hard. It's not unusual for the average person to put in 10-12 hours for pay that may be considered unacceptable. In addition, I think of the number of citizens in my own country that work just as hard and seem to never see the fruits of their labor. I often wonder, will there ever come a day when people really get what they deserve?

Posted by Erica at 04:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

The Dominican culture is very family oriented and often reminds me of my own family. Whether they have the means to do so or not, they try their best to make sure each member is taken care of. My host family includes a Doña (the woman who is the head of the household), her three nieces, who attend different universities in the city, a domestic, who makes sure we´re fed day in and day out, and any other member of the family who decides to visit for a day or two. When the nieces aren´t busy with their school work, they do not hesitate to help their aunt with her catering business. When things get a lilttle tough and I start to miss my family, it´s refreshing to see that there are other people in this world who cherish and recognize the value of time spent with loved ones.

Posted by Erica at 03:52 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)