AMAZING EXPERIENCE IN THE DOMINICAN

SO GLAD I TOOK THE PLUNGE! I had been checking out service and adventure trip websites for two years before I finally went to the Dominican Republic with Rustic Pathways. Luckily, I had a friend that had been on two RP trips before me and had amazing experiences both times. Always great to hear good reports from other people!

My program "Life in the Bateyes" was a 16-day critical issues, service intensive program. Our service was split between building (homes and latrines) and working in a camp with kids from the Dominican. In both of these experiences - we worked with the MOST AMAZING, generous, warm, curious and truly grateful people you will ever meet.

Not only did we feel safe - we felt welcomed and loved! They were so truly grateful for the work we were doing and wanted us there. Only a couple of the locals are actually employed to help with the building project - but many would just show up because they wanted to be part of it all.

I was nervous going in, got sick from some of the local pizza and had a point in the trip that I really thought I wanted to go home. But I was so glad I stuck it out. Not only did I stay to the end, I wished it were longer, am already signing up for another trip next summer and am researching colleges with service semester abroad programs.

If you're on the fence about going - JUST DO IT! And pick a trip with a good amount of service hours. Our group got really close on this trip and I think a lot of it had to do with bonding through the work. We were so happy to reunite with our families at the airport but we lingered for an extra half hour just to get through the good bye tears with this new family of friends we made on this TRIP OF A LIFETIME!