This Summer, 14 students and three faculty members are traveling to the Dominican Republic to build a house for a family with the organization Cambiando Vidas. Please enjoy the blog posts below from Zara ’27, Lucy ’27, and Jack ’27 as they reflect on the power of shared laughter, cultural exchange, and hands-on service, realizing that despite language and background differences, genuine human connection transcends barriers.
By Zara ’27:
Today, I started my day with a toasted peanut butter and jelly sandwich, complemented by freshly ripe mangoes. Jose warned us that today was going to be a hard and hot day, so I made sure to wear lot of sunscreen, spritz lots of mosquito repellent, and most importantly drink lots of water. At the work site, I saw all my new-found amigos, who I look forward to talking to every day. I practice the Spanish I remember from middle school, and we all share a laugh when I make no sense, which is unfortunately most of the time. The laughs we share enhance each memory in my mind. My friend, Robert, kept asking me if I was tired every time he passed by. Each time, I responded with full confidence in my answer, “No!” He laughed knowing that I was indeed tired, but we motivated each other to keep going, despite the raging sun. My high of the day was also the most stressful part of my day. The job of the day was laying out the foundation for inside the house. My other friend, Danny, brought a new level of energy and speed to this task. Suddenly, he starts chucking buckets at me at full velocity saying “Lo siento!” after each slosh in the face. My face was completely covered in concrete, but for some reason I couldn’t stop laughing. As a germaphobe, you would think that I would find the nearest source of water and dunk myself in it, but I just couldn’t help but laugh. Danny taught me and all the other workers how to have fun when working and I think I will forever remember that. After the rigorous work done at the house, we all enjoyed a relaxing break at Jose’s cousin’s pool. I didn’t really feel like getting in the pool, but I did feel like hunting for the best mangoes I could find in the backyard. Jumping over turds from all the animals that grazed on the pasture, I picked mangoes from the ground, because I learned that if they were still hanging on the tree, they weren’t ready. I got mangoes for all my friends, and we relished in their sweet nectar. To wrap up the day, after washing all the concrete from my face, we took a long Tenguerengue drive to a dam. The view as we ate was mesmerizing, “I am really going to miss this place,” I thought to myself. We reflected on the value of this trip and why we come instead of just donating money. Our insights showed that we all came out with more from this trip. More perspective, more appreciation, and more friendships. Tomorrow will be a celebration of all the work we accomplished together, as a family.
By Lucy ’27:
Throughout the week, every single one of us has put in large amounts of effort and time, whether they be physical or mental. Today, all that exertion caught up to me, leading to me spending most of my day inside to recover from the heat. Lots of things were taking place today: we laid the floor, completed the septic tank and poured down concrete walkways. While initially I was a little upset that my then state of health was holding me back from participating in the actual building. However, I still left the worksite having one of my most fulfilling days on the trip so far.
While our main goal is to construct a house, community building and connecting with others is equally and if not more a fundamental part of this trip. Throughout the day, I stayed in the main living room and throughout the day, I observed and interacted with the many children, ranging from six months old to thirteen years old that revolved around the site. Though separated by a language barrier and my broken Spanish, we broke the ice and bonded over common interests, hobbies, and even developed some inside jokes by the end of the day. We playfully teased each other and really connected with one another. I think what made these interactions so special was that they all specifically involved just the kids. I’ve enjoyed connecting with everyone at the worksite, including teachers and masons, but there was something intriguing about no adults around, no reprimands. Just a few kids who don’t speak the same language sharing a common bond over favorite music or a game of soccer. I found it exciting and comforting to know that I could connect and feel comfortable with a child, five years younger, whom I’d never met before. It showed me how much today’s youth have in common, despite coming from different backgrounds. At the end of the day, we all have the same common denominator of being a child in today’s world and with it, developing that beautiful and natural connection with each other.
By Jack ’27:
Today, I woke up knowing that the work on the site is bound to be burdensome, as José stated over dinner the night before. However, when we got to the work site I was angered (delighted) that two of the three required jobs had been completed by the workers who had arrived earlier. Therefore, I decided to devote the day not focusing on work, but instead testing my aptitude in Spanish, by talking and spending time with others on the site. It is a Saturday, meaning that lots of the local kids were out of school, and were hanging out at the site. I connected with this little boy, who lived next door, and was friends with one of the cousins on the lot. I asked him about his favorite sports, but when he answered, I wasn’t trying to translate from Spanish to English; I was noticing his mannerisms, and connecting them to those of my sister, Emily. This brief association brought me to the realization that despite living conditions, or background, we are all related and connected in some intricate and complex sort of way. I continued to make the connection as the day progressed, noticing mannerisms in other children as well, seeing family, friends, and myself in their expressions.
Tonight at dinner, we talked about the reason why Deerfield decided to have students show up rather than just sending the money for the houses. When José was giving his final thoughts, he said something that I corresponded with, it was along the lines of this: “Using your hands is the best way to touch your heart.” I thought this was powerful, because it completely answers the question in one sentence. This quote also related to my answer to the prompt in a way, as my response was centered around the inspiration one receives from the perspective provided by this trip. I think that Deerfield made the right decision, as this trip has opened my eyes to living conditions in a part of the world which I had never been exposed to. I do believe that this ‘hands on’ work has not only touched my heart, but also the hearts of everyone involved in this project.
Nearing the end of this trip, I have been able to reflect on how living situations may have an impact on someone’s outlook on life. Something that shocked me was that despite our differences, socially and economically, the students, workers, and friends constantly had smiles on their faces. This experience has taught me a lot about judgement, and you cannot put a tag or belief on a person before you truly connect with them. I will be forever grateful for this opportunity and the people I have met through this enlightening experience. Thank you Dominican Republic.
