Final Reflection - Chase Smith

As always, this trip has made a difference in my life and the way I think of things.  This was my seventh time accompanying Carol and Christine and our teens to the Dominican Republic.  I think the number of times I have gone on this trip speaks for itself.  I do it because it gives me the opportunity to help others that need it most. 

One thing I love about the DR is no matter how little or how much you are, most men, women, and children have a big smile on their face and will forever greet you with “Hola”.  I loved seeing each of the teens that participated in the trip grow in different ways. They all gained skills they can use the rest of their life.  I would recommend this service trip to anyone.  It is a great chance to further your education, meet new people, and try new things. 

I had the pleasure of seeing a lot of my friends again and also had the opportunity to meet new friends.  I consider them all my second family and they have been nice enough to invite us in their homes.  I have also made some connections with some people and I am considering taking my nursing skills with me to the Dominican Republic some time, maybe next year or down the road, but I would love to give back and use my passion of nursing to care for others. 

  

I want to thank everyone who made this possible.  Your help it is greatly appreciated!  Also, huge thanks to Carol and Christine, without you two, the trip would not be what it is today.  Also a thanks to Rory and Lee Ann (AKA my breakfast buddy), you two made the trip so much fun.  I can’t wait to go “home” again!

Chase Smith, Chaperon, Bath Co.

Final Reflection - Lee Ann Gray

Serving as a chaperone for the Dominican Republic 4-H Service week was truly an amazing and unforgettable experience.  This trip is so well-organized and well-managed, with opportunities to really experience the culture and the people of the country.  I absolutely LOVED the 4-H day camp experience, as the campers were just wide-eyed at all the crafts and activities that we provided for them!

The resort was just phenomenal, providing a safe and fun environment for us to enjoy, which was much-appreciated after long service days. The food and activities at the resort were really great. 

I also loved that the Dominican teens were able to visit with the American teens throughout the week, establishing lifelong connections and friendships. Watching the teens, my son in particular,  grow, explore, network, serve, and connect with the Dominican people and culture was so rewarding. 

I am just so thrilled that I had the opportunity to serve as a chaperone for this trip.  I am amazed at how connected I felt to the DR after just one week, thanks to the opportunities provided by the program directors.  I can highly recommend this trip to 4-H teens and adults who are ready for an amazing adventure!!

 LeeAnn Gray, Chaperon from Alleghany County

 

Final Reflection - Niki Funkhouser

 

 

The Dominican Republic trip this year was one for the books.  This trip might have been the last trip to the DR with 4-H for me, since I will be leaving for basic training next summer on July 18^th . 

There was a great set of youth on the trip.  Everyone become friends quickly. I still talk with some of the ladies.  Since I attended the trip two years ago, it was great to see familiar faces in the Dominican.  I was pleased that the trip had some small changes then the past year.  We did the same community services, but visited a different school to deliver school supplies. The resort and beach was even more beautiful than I remember.  During the snorkeling trip, I was able to hold a baby octopus! 

I turned 17 while in the Dominican, which was the same night as the Giudicelli's party.  The day campers were a handful, but luckily, I had bilingual campers to help break the communication barrier. 

This was the last summer for my sister and I to be “kids,” so I’m grateful we spent it with continuous 4-H involvement; not only with the Dominican trip, but other camps and projects we participated in through our other clubs.

Niki Funkhouser, Shenandoah County

Final Reflection - Emilie Webb

 

During the past week, while being in the Dominican Republic, I learned more about the people. It's so easy to sit in our air conditioned homes and yet still complain about going to work the next day or having to do a simple chore. While being in the DR, I learned that the people were always just so happy. It didn’t matter to them what they had, they were all just so happy to have what they could. It really put a different perspective for me, because I was able to see how overly joyful they truly were. It taught me not to complain about what I have or have to do. But rather to be thankful for what my parents have given me. I will definitely look through another perspective while being home. Overall, the trip was absolutely amazing and I would love to go back again and see the campers and the people I met. I would recommend that anyone in 4-H should at least go one. You’ll be able to see through a different pair of eyes just how blessed we truly are.

Emilie Webb, Shenandoah County

Final Reflection - Dakota Funkhouser

This year was my third trip to the Dominican Republic. Every time I’ve gone I have gained new insight and my experiences are always different and I ALWAYS have new stories to tell. My Spanish speaking skills are very poor so I really wanted to use this trip to work on my communication skills with a language barrier. I actually learned a lot of Spanish words and ended up leaving with a lot more knowledge than what I came with.

The heavy focus that the Dominicans put on the environment is very eye opening. They have to be very careful about their waste because they have very limited water supply. They have environmental worries that Americans would never think about. They have to be very mindful of the materials they use and the waste they create.

One of my favorite things about the entire week is meeting and working with the Dominican teens. I think it’s very exciting to meet teens our own age who are going through the same teenage issues, but in a totally different setting. They have issues in their homes and communities that we never experience as do we. We really relate to each other and making friends with them is fast and easy. Dominicans are very welcoming, happy people.

 

This trip has influenced my decision to be a teacher very heavily. My first trip was very eye opening in the fact that I am so lucky that I live in America, but this last trip really allowed me to focus on the interactions with children at day camp. Although there is a language barrier with the kids, I still learned a lot from them. I believe that every different interaction I get with children allows me to grow my teacher capabilities. I plan to teach elementary level students in low income or poverty stricken areas.

This trip has also influenced my decision to travel after college. I would really like to get involved within the United States through AmeriCorps or, if I get lucky, get involved with the Peace Corps and travel to do service work elsewhere.

I would absolutely recommend this trip to other 4-Her’s. If a 4-Her has this opportunity and doesn’t take it, they would be missing out on an experience of a lifetime. It’s so incredible and eye opening, not just seeing a third world country, but meeting the people and seeing things they have to handle on a daily basis. Plus, the trip isn’t all work and no play. We ended every day by lounging by the pool, cooling off in the ocean, or relaxing in the hot tub.

It’s important that we keep this program alive and well because it’s the type of opportunity that kids don’t get anywhere else. 4-Hers should travel while they’re young because as you get older it gets more expensive and the possibilities become more limited. This program allows 4-H members to connect with 4-H teens in ANOTHER COUNTRY! Isn’t that what 4-H is all about? Making connections around the world and building friendships that will last a lifetime. This program demonstrates all that 4-H has to offer and really allows 4-Hers to showcase their leadership and to grow their power to work in a team and rise to new challenges.

Dakota Funkhouser, Shenandoah County

Travel home

 Our travel day home from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, was bittersweet.  It was tough to leave our new Dominican friends and to leave this beautiful country, but the 4-H teens were also anxious to share their experiences with their families at home.  We were all tired, but it was a "good" tired!


Here is one photo of us in line at the Punta Cana International Airport, which happens to be the largest, privately owned, international airport in the world.


We were lucky to have a direct flight home, which put us into Dulles Airport just after 8 pm.  All 4-H teens and adults, and all luggage, was accounted for before we all left for our respective Virginia homes.


I heard more "see you later's" than "goodbye's" from this group.  :-)


Carol Nansel
4-H Extension Agent, Shenandoah Co.

Snorkeling, Dinner and Dancing the Merengue.....but not Goodbye

Today was our last day in the Dominican Republic. We have been working hard all week and today we finally got a full day of free time to relax and enjoy the beauty of the island.

We started the morning off with snorkeling along the coral reef. When we arrived we were all fitted for masks, life vests, and flippers! We were able to see a variety of different fish and some people even spotted barracuda. The dive team also took us to an underwater statue museum where they let people take turns diving to the bottom to touch the figures.

 

 

By the end of the trip, about half of our teens and some of the adults were sea sick so we headed in to shore for stable ground.

After snorkeling, we had the day free to lay by the pool or enjoy the sandy beach. Most of our group ended up in the pool where we decided to attempt to stack a tower of 4 people on each other’s shoulders. We also got to take a lot of underwater pictures. It was a great last day full of team bonding.

We ended our evening by attending dinner at the Guidicelli’s home. They served us pork and moro (rice dish), along with mashed yucca and an avocado salad - a delicious, authentic Dominican meal.  They also taught us many Dominican dances, including merengue, the National Dance. We were also able to teach them a few moves of our own! The dancing was interrupted by the singing of Happy Birthday for Niki’s 17^th birthday. She said she was very excited and happy to be spending her birthday in the Dominican Republic.

 It was very difficult for some of us to say goodbye to our Dominican friends. One thing we all learned this week is that friends become family very quickly in the Dominican Republic.

We are all headed back to the states with a new family that lives miles away. Many of us exchanged information in the hopes of staying connected throughout the year. Many of the teens have decided the trip went so well, they are returning next year to pick up where they left off! Our 4-H group left the Guidicelli’s saying, “This is goodnight and not goodbye.”

Dakota Funkhouser, from Shenandoah County