Day 4: Into the Mountains

Submitted by Jenny Ly:

Bright and early, our group left the familiarity of Santo Domingo to set off for a new adventure in the city of Jarabacoa. First on the agenda was a river rafting expedition down Yaque del Norte. Many of us were nervous as this was our first time doing an activity like this, but we soon discovered that the 14 kilometer trip was an exhilarating one! The rafting guides were very energetic and were eager to instruct us during the journey. One of them even cliff jumped from the top of the ridge in front of our eyes! It was also very funny to learn that they named some of the rapids after famous people and other English terms. For example, one of the largest drops was named Mike Tyson Sr. and another river split was called the Cemetery. To be a part of this experience was very eye-opening since we were able to take on the beauty of the land as well as see how the people have made this place home. When we were done, we were surprised at how much this related to our study abroad experience since there were many unexpected obstacles to overcome, but we still had a blast in the end.

Submitted by Emma Nolan:

Over the river & through the woods to Cafe Monte Plato we go!



I’ve always thought of Americans as caffeine obsessed, heavy-coffee drinkers...and then I met Dominicans. They drink their coffee strong, often, and during anytime of day. Going to Cafe Monte Plato gave us a first-hand look into the mass production of café (coffee) here in the Dominican Republic. The facility we toured today produces 1,000-2,000 lbs of coffee in just one day, and employs more than 150 people. We got to see coffee plants up close, newly planted ones and ones that were 17 years old. The plants typically produce coffee seeds until they’re 50 years old, and the telltale sign of a ripe seed is when it’s outside skin turns red (like in the picture above). Next time I’m browsing the grocery store to get my favorite bag of coffee, I’ll be reminded of the amazing process or coffee roasting and think back to our time at Cafe Monte Plato.



Although coffee is readily available and sold in almost every store, not many people know the extensive background behind how it is produced. As an avid coffee drinker, this process was very interesting to me. First, the coffee plant has to grow tall enough to where the seeds can be picked. Then the seeds are shelled, and laid out to dry for 3-4 days in large white silos called sacederos. Once the beans are completely dry, they’re called pelgamino. From here they’re sorted by size, color, and weight. During this process, workers sort the coffee beans by hand to pick out the best beans, and throw out the ones that are less than satisfactory. Finally, the coffee beans are roasted at 180 degrees and cooled for two days before being ground and packaged for export. Seeing this process definitely

made me more appreciative of the hard work others go through to produce my favorite drink, café. During the coffee tour we saw each step of the production process and had the pleasure of trying the coffee at the end. It was, as the Dominicans would say, “Delicioso!”

Submitted by Grace Smith:

After the coffee tour it was time to get back in the water. A quick hike took us to this beautiful waterfall. Not long after shoes were off and photos were being taken (which we will be excited to share when we get back!). A few of us were even brave enough to swim to the back of the falls to further explore the beautiful nature we have been driving around in all day. As we were on our way to the next adventure, a local farmer was kind enough to share his corn and beans with us, which we cannot wait to eat!

Helado anyone? John, our guide, treated us to some true Dominican ice cream. Our favorite flavors were bizcocho (cinnamon cake), tutti frutti, coco (coconut), and batata (sweet potato). Each ice cream was served in a clear plastic cup attached to a popsicle stick. What makes this ice cream so special is that the families make it in their houses and will sell it directly out of their homes. Many Dominicans know which house to go to for this tasty treat. If you ever visit the Dominican Republic, it is a must have!

Bonus picture!

Happy birthday to our lovely Sarah Rodibaugh! We hope you enjoyed your special day in the DR! Thanks for choosing to celebrate with us.