Challenging and Eye-Opening Experience

I spent a month at Project Restauarcion as a SIHFer. I honestly had no idea what to expect or what the conditions were like on the Haitian-DR border. I was completely taken off guard with how beautiful the region was and how friendly the locals were. I instantly made friends with my host family, neighbors, my fellow SIHFers, and even Peace Corps workers. The heat of the summer was difficult to get around, but my experience was unforgettable. We accomplished community out-reach projects focused on health and inter-personal relationships, shadowed Dominican doctors, host morning walking groups, learned about Dominican healthcare, ran blood pressure and glucose check clinics, and at home patient visits to educate hypertensive and diabetic patients. My most memorable experience was hiking to Sebastian, Haiti (a 15 mile hike). Though exhausting, I was able to witness the living conditions, daily-life, and the beautiful country-side of Haiti. There is such a great need in this region, and the people of the DR and Haiti are so friendly and grateful for what FIMRC has to offer them. This trip challenged me in ways I didn't anticipate, but I am so grateful to have been a part of Project Restauracion.