Taking it slow
The past two weeks in San Pedro have unfolded at a slower, more deliberate pace than usual. With most of my coworkers, including my boss, out of town, I’ve had the rare opportunity to experience this space more independently. While…
Country Dominican Republic
Love beyond barriers
I’m just a few days away from my one-month mark here, and life is moving fast. There’s so much gratitude in that—because each day brings me closer to reuniting with my loved ones—but it’s also bittersweet knowing that one day…
Mucho Gusto, San Pedro
I can’t believe two weeks have already flown by in San Pedro. Honestly, I don’t even know where to begin. When I first landed, I walked off the plane with this expectation that my time here just had to be…
Cae Goes Global !
I remember packing my carry-on suitcase and stepping out on faith to attend Belmont University in Nashville. Four years later, I have graduated with my degree in Communication Studies and Global Leadership Studies. What once felt like an impossible journey…
Final Report – Coming Home from the Dominican Republic
It has been two months since I moved out of my island bedroom. Since then, I signed a lease for a duplex in a new part of Nashville, got a full-time and a seasonal job, completed my Lumos presentation requirement…
“I Am Joy” and 14 Years of New Hope Girls!
On March 8, 2025, we celebrated fourteen years of New Hope Girls, International Women’s Day, and the book launch of “I Am Joy!” We threw a big, bright, colorful party for our staff, girls, and friends. Every year, they celebrate…
Mi Cumpleaños Número 23
When I arrived back in the DR from my trip home, I slipped back into a rhythm of midday work and evening walks to the estadio in the days leading to my birthday. Books edit suggestions consumed my thoughts most…
Home for the Holidays
I overslept my alarm. My roommate woke me, explaining that the Uber driver I scheduled the night before and New Hope Girls’s driver, JM, were both waiting for me. The night before, I planned for an early rise: collecting my…
Navidad en el Verano
When I entered the gates, I felt like I stepped into a game show. TVs, microwaves, coffee makers, and other appliances lined the porch of the small breakroom house adjacent to the three-story workshop. Green and red balloons flooded the…
An Eagles Victory
After Thanksgiving, I went to a DR baseball game, and my roommates invited me to their Lazemiento. It is an event that “announces” their graduating class by performing a dance routine, complete with a full stage production with music, videos,…