Day 1: Bienvenida!

Ready to roll! We tested out our group GoPro before jumping on the bus to O’Hare. Months of preparation have gone into this experience, and we look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead. Pre-departure activities have included group meetings, journaling, reading DR-related books, and creating infographics on DR health topics, all of which have contributed to our understanding of this country and culture. We are looking forward to synthesizing this information with our experiences in-country. By those expressions, can you tell how ready we were to get this show on the road?!?

A long day of travel has already proven well worth it, as we arrived in the Dominican this evening to the warmest welcome – literally and figuratively! Our in-country partner John was all laughs and smiles when he greeted us in the humid night air of Santo Domingo (pictures with John to come!). This evening, rather than heading straight to the hotel, John offered to take us on a night drive through the city. Centuries-old monuments contrasted modern restaurants, bars, and casinos, and it seemed that all the city was out enjoying the evening with friends. Locals laughed and waved at our bus as we drove by (pictures of the bus to come… it’s got character!), and John noted that this represents the friendliness of the Dominican people. Our bus rides through the DR as we travel coast-to-coast will provide ample opportunity for group bonding, self-reflection, and taking in natural and cultural Dominican beauty.

When we finally arrived at our hotel this evening, “exhausted” was the word of the hour. Fifteen hours of travel will do that to you! Having a bed to call your own can be a welcome relief, even if it isn’t your bed at Purdue. Hotel Riazor, our Santo Domingo accommodation for the next few nights, provides a fitting home-away-from-home. Colorful Dominican art and clean white sheets welcome us to our first night in the DR. Some much-needed rest will prepare us for an exciting day of cultural touring and local eats tomorrow.

This post was written by Chandler Dykstra and Sydney Rivera, the program teaching assistants.