A Life Changing Opportunity!

My name is Diego and I'm a rising senior from the Bay Area and I recently returned from my trip to Constanza, Dominican Republic (C2A) through Global Glimpse. The opportunity to travel to a new country and learn about a new culture was something that I could not pass on and had to experience. Thankfully, Global Glimpse made the trip very affordable to my family which was incredible because I probably would not have gone on the trip without the help of them and all the donors who support the students who want to join the program. The trip was such an amazing experience and has left a great mark on my life that I will truly remember forever. During my trip, I was able to engage with the communities in the Dominican Republic and learn about their everyday lives, something that I will forever cherish because it was so much fun but very eye-opening at the same time. Getting to play with the kids made me feel like a kid again and being surrounded by the welcoming people of the community we visited made all of us feel right at home. I was also able to learn about the immigration crisis that is going on in the Dominican Republic with Haitian immigrants who face much oppression and prejudice in the DR which really was extremely heartbreaking. Getting to hear the stories and visiting the sugar cane plantations in which these immigrants have to work was something that truly changed my outlook on the world and made me realize how fortunate and privileged my life is. My trip to Constanza also provided me with many great friends who I was able to connect with, we all came as strangers at the beginning but left as best friends by the end of our journey together. The program coordinators and leaders were incredible and made the experience so fun and memorable. They always made sure we were safe and that all of us felt included and heard. The food and accommodations were also amazing and way much better than what I was anticipating, the food was delicious and the accommodation was really comfortable and cozy. The experience I had on my trip was unforgettable and if I could do it again I for sure would. Letting go of my family was hard at first but the people who you share your trip with really help ease any feelings of homesickness that you might have on your trip. I highly encourage any student who is open to new experiences to apply and just do it because it's truly such an awesome experience! It helps disconnect you from your everyday life with social media and truly connect with the world around you.