Day One
Pre-Landing
Bright an early at 3am we step foot into the airport to board our United Airlines flight to take a pitstop in Newark and continue the Journey to Santiago. The anticipation continues as I get more excited about awaits on the ground and the comparisons and experience I will gain from the trip.
Landing
The wheels screech on the concrete and we come to a stop at the terminal in Santiago, Dominican Republic . We step of the plan and are greeted by 79 degree weather, and clear skies. We find our way through TSA and meet our tour guide Franje at the exit. We walk a few feet to the street where Alex our driver packs our bags into eh van as if they were sardines.
To the Lodge
After packing out bags into the van we began our 2 hour journey to the ecosystem lodge that was just habitat a week before we arrived. As we drove on the streets I was astonished by the difference in vehicles, many often drove motorcycles and dirt bikes, only a few would drive cars. There was no pattern in traffic and many honking of horns when passing on both sides of the street. One neat thing that I immediately noticed was how the stoplights didn't have yellow light but rather counted the amount of time left. After a little shut eye we arrived the lodge . Here we tour our rooms and immediately visited the beach where we found sand dollars, stray dogs (that eventually greeted is every morning) and of course random items. After exploring the home base we got to hear a speech from Dave the one who created the entire program and information on a medical brigade we would later take part in. Next, we ate dinner, consisting of watermelon and pineapple, fried chicken, rice and beans, salad, and some form of mashed potato. Then we finished the day by Tahaa buying us all ice cream for his birthday!
Day Two
Starting The Day
We began the day bright and early by waking up to the chirping birds the sunrising, and a homemade breakfast of Toast with an assorted jelly preserve. watermelon and pineapple, and scrambled eggs. This was accompanied with a fresh cup hot chocolate and coffee that had a hit of cinnamon.
To the Work Site
After the breakfast we took off from home base around 8am to head to the work Cite where we had the pleasure to help and build a clinic by hand. Wilson and Tony placed bricks while we mixed cement with another college (I didn't quite catch his name) For the first day of work we built up four walls!
Lunch at the Locals Home
Around 12 we were released to get a break and eat a lunch at locals house who lived up the road. She welcomed us with no hesitation. One thing that I thought was interesting though was that it's not custom to take off people shoes when entering their home which I thought was interesting. We ate lunch which included a pasta salad, a chicken curry of some sort with rice and a salad.
Headed to Home Base
After lunch we headed back to the worksite to finish up for the day and put away the tools that would be used by another group next. We headed home and everyone for the most part went directly to the beach. Here the guys made a life size tic tac toe game, where the girls adventured out to find different items/ animals on the beach and to take photos of course. We also buried Khaled in the sand!
Next up we had dinner at 6pm, this included a dish called Sancocho Dish with rice, watermelon and pineapple!
Day Three
Morning
I started off the day a little earlier this day (around 6:20am) to watch the sunrise, however I didn't quite make it in enough time. Around 7am we were greeted to a nice homemade breakfast that consisted of pancakes with honey, watermelon, pineapple, and cantaloup, and over medium eggs. It was accompanied by coffee and hot chocolate.
DUDU Lagoon
Today we traveled to a lagoon called DUDU lagoon, Here there were Cristal blue water depths of 25meter (82.02feet) deep. Here we got to experiment a cave, zip-line across the lagoon and take photos of the pretty landscape art and take naps in hammocks.
Lunch on the Beach
Around 2:30pm we headed to a beach on the way home to eat lunch. Lunch consisted of French fires, watermelon slices, rice and beans, fried fish, spaghetti, fried chicken, and of course salad. While here at the beach we got to see a beach cat that came up to Tahaa! While we finished up lunch we had a few mites to shop around at the local family own shops. Here I got two bracelets, mom's gift which was a wooden turtle and a couple of magnets. After a long while of trying to figure out how to purchase the items the owners gave everyone a gift which was a handmade necklace!
Headed to Home Base
We came home sat on the beach until diner was ready at 6pm which consisted of watermelon, what I believe was plantain, salad and a dish that was similar to Alfredo noodle and chicken.
Day Four
Early Morning
I woke up at 5:30am to try and catch the sunrise before first rising started and I accomplished it this time! We ate breakfast at 7am which included I think French toast and scrambled eggs, fruit, and coffee (but I forgot to take a photo this time)
Medical Brigade
After breakfast the doctor as well as the pharmacist joined us on our journey to the pop-up clinic. Here there were 5 stations: registrations, vitals, Clinic History, Doctor, and Pharmacy. We were greetied a the gate by kids that gave us hugs as we walked up the stairs and they continuously thanked us for coming. in what was their everyday church we began to set up the multipurpose room for each station. I mainly worked the vitals station. Here we took BP for adult, temperature, heart rate, weight, and height. They had one piece of equipment for all ages and sized which was interesting to see and opened my eyes to the equipment that they don't have access to. We saw infants to elderly people come in with an aray of issues from skin irritation, to such High blood pressure the the cuff couldn't even read it to infections on their feet. It was astronomical to see the amount of people who come together and to know that the doctor we shadowed, worked with some of these patients since they were infants and was now carrying for them as they were in there mid 20's.
Lunch Break
We divided out lunches in groups of two so that way we could stay efficient with the amount of patients we could see. However for lunch we had rice and beans, salad, and pork slabs.
Closing up the Clinic
After taking care of as many patients that we could with the limited resources, I had the chance to talk to the pastor of the community. She was the one that partnered with 7 elements that gave us this opportunity to go out and shadow the doctor and help those who needed it most in the community. During this conversation ​she noted that Dr. Jodi was one of the only doctors that would do this work cheap enough that the community could afford. He was so for the community that often times he would get off his first job and head directly to this community for patients who needed to see them with maybe only 2 hours of sleep. He is so dedicated tot eh community that often if there were supplies needed he would take them from his own Clinic to provide help where needed. He often was patient and open with his patients that sometimes when he left they would cry as they were very close with him. There was even one girl that he advocated for who was being denied care from he hospital because they assumed it was a menstrual pain but rather she had appendicitis. She then talked about how without him and the help that we provide none of this would be possible as the medical brigades only happen ever so often so many don't get proper care. She even told me how they pray a lot to thank God for the donated land and building to be able to partake in such activities such as school and church, and clinic. After this we stoped by a JUMBO which is like the United States Walmart and bought little souvenirs and ended the day with dinner consisting of Fish, potato, fruit, salad and lemonade. We all joined together to at a bonfire and reflected on the day.
Day Five
Morning
We started the day out by eating a homemade breakfast that consisted of Toast with a jelly preserve, scrambled eggs with peppers, fruit and a cheese square.
Clinci Work Site
After breakfast we went straight to work, the day was similar to the second day in the Domino republic, However we finished almost all of the walls and all that was left was to poor flooring, and build 2 whole walls. While working we got the pleasure of seeing cows up close on the land next to us. After noon we went back to the locals and ate lunch.
Lunch Time
Lunch for the day included a chicken curry that had. hint of coconut with salad and rice and beans. This day everyone was tired and we took a little nap! Some pictures were taken and some laughs were had.
On Our Way Back
After working, we headed home and walked on the beach until dinner was served. Which included a soup like curry, fruit, fired, potato, and salad. Some of us walked around the local neighborhood and tried new foods!
Day Six
Morning
Began the day with breakfast after sleeping in a little, breakfast consisted of scrambled eggs, some sort of oatmeal mush, pineapple, and toast.
Ending to the Last Day
We left home base and headed towards the beach. Here we swam in the ocean, took some more photos, and ate pizza on the beach for lunch. After lunch we shopped at some of the stores, Some were nicer than others, but one thing about the shops is they love to pressure you into shopping! I bought my family the rest of their gifts and then we headed home where we played Uno, and had tacos for dinner.
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Day Seven
Morning Trip
The day began early at 2am, we headed for the airport and said our good bye's to Franje, and Alex, snapped our last minute photos and hit the road.
Drive to Airport
The windy road toward the airport was much anticipated but also sad as I loved the community we were staying in, but longed for a shower with conditioner and my bed.
Takeoff
We arrive to the airport where I hop on a flight with everyone to Newark but later get the experience of navigating though 2 different airport I had never been in. I safely get home at 7pm.