The Dominican Republic is starting to feel more comfortable to me. I have settled into my room, which adds permanence to my position here. After about a month here, the novelty has worn off, kind of like breaking in a new pair of jeans. Not bad at all—quite good, actually—but it’s just not new anymore. This is not a vacation where I’ll return as soon as anything gets difficult. No—this is my life (and it’s going quite well).
On my first night here four weeks ago, I was immediately embraced by the other interns. There are three of us, and together we hauled four mattresses from the upstairs bedrooms to the downstairs living room area and watched a movie together. It was a sleepover complete with Coca-Cola, get-to-know-you talk, a movie, and Papa John’s pizza we ordered through PedidosYa! We could have been in America, except for the ungodly number of mosquitos flying in through the open window and attacking our ankles.
We had a birthday party for one of the girls during my first week here, and that was a big, beautiful day to join the New Hope family!
Birthdays at New Hope Girls are a big deal. We decorated the home in blues and whites, served cake for the girls’ breakfast, and invited all corners of the New Hope organization to come celebrate. The best part was when the yard games turned into pool games—the girls threw the caregivers into the pool!
This is the day I met all 25 girls who are residential regulars at New Hope. The other 200+ girls are a part of the outreach program. I got to meet them that same week for Campamento (like summer day camp!).
The theme for Campamento was “Generacion Luz” or “Generation of Light.” Luckily, the campgrounds are walking distance from my home, so my housemates and I walked over to begin the day.
We hosted games, danced with the girls, and tried some of my first Dominican food (“La Bandera” or “The Flag.” It is chicken, rice, red beans, and salad). Amidst all the fun and games, I also had a startling moment. Two of the kids approached the leaders and shared a piece of their stories with them. The information led to our team opening two new legal cases.
My work as an executive /editorial assistant means that I do not often see this part of our work, but it was a moment that put into perspective why we throw birthday parties and host community events like camp. Every email I send, and every text I write and review all connects to this: to a little girl going to camp for the first time, and feeling seen and loved enough to say something—It is all about rescue and healing.
We host camp because it says to this community that we see them and we are. Camp says this is how leaders are supposed to care for you. Through our actions, we say: this is who you are—a member of the light generation. You do not have to be like the person who hurt you—we will feed you, clothe you, and educate you because you are created for something more than the pain you have known.
This is the work that I have been called into for these nine months.
Campamento — Generación de luz!
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My day-to-day is more consistent.
Every morning I set my alarm for 6am and try to get up to go run at the outside track near my house. Sometimes I go with a friend, other times I circle the track with a podcast or audiobook playing in my ears. T his is a good way to start my day.
After a shower, coffee, and a toastada, my housemate and I walk to the bus stop (“estación de guagua”) for the commute to Santiago. It takes about thirty minutes and is a very enjoyable part of the day. The buses here are quite nice and air-conditioned. The people on the bus are quiet and respectful. You have to yell out your desired drop-off location to el chofer, so it’s a great opportunity to practice my Spanish!
I arrive to my bosses house / home office around 9:30am and then we work until about 5pm! It is a typical ‘9-5’ situation, and all my work is in English, so it is quite comfortable.
Right now, Joy, my boss, and I work together to strategize effective communication methods among the staff and donors, as well as work on copy material for their media outlets (blog, instagram, emailing list, etc). After lunch, we usually move into working on her manuscript, which is around 30,000 words. I am currently about 8,000 words in, I would say. There is a lot about working on the book that I really enjoy, I’ll save that for another report.
There is a simplicity and ease to my life here that I have not experienced in a while. The comfort of routine and the steady pace of work has been quite good for me. I was already a calm person, but I am más tranquilla here—island time suits me quite nicely.
My fellow intern friends!
A beautiful beach near Samana.
The sunset in Las Terrenas 🙂