Living with Anticipation.

Applying to Beyond Borders last year meant that I was ready to go on an experiential learning adventure: to volunteer. Despite having mentally prepared myself for the trip, it was not until today that the reality kind of sank in. Today was the last day of classes. The everyday comfort of living in a routine has suddenly ended and I am faced with the eventuality of actually going to the Dominican. In fact, depending on when my flight is, I may leave in one month's time. I am beginning to live with anticipation.

With every adventure though, it is important to reflect on the journey that has brought us to where we are today. In harmony with Tim's video, I will explore the challenges, triumphs and teachings from the two terms that has brought me to where I am today. Here's to Beyond Borders!

On the first day to class, I was definitely apprehensive. What did Beyond Borders mean? Everyone accepted into the program is a leader in some way. Many have formal leadership roles and all have a reason as to why they were in the program. To be honest, I thought everyone was amazing and had a lot more experience than me--I was intimidated. Yet throughout the past two terms, I have grown to love my new found group of friends. The connections which started off as awkward hellos on the street soon became a linkage of meaningful texts, messages and group bonding sessions. Whether we were working on a fundraising idea, making cards or just hanging out, we were committed to making the experience a good one. Truly, I do believe that what you put in is what you get out of an experience and in this group, everyone put in 110%. I honestly feel that, although cliché, individuals in our Beyond Borders cohort will do anything in their power to ensure everyone is successful.

This group has truly taught me the power of selflessness, what it means to work in a group environment and has reminded me of the importance to relate to one another. I have always been a pretty independent worker. Although I did not mind working in groups, my preference was always to be in control and to do things myself. Working with my cohort, however, I have learned both to trust and to accept spontaneity: life doesn't always turn out the way we think it will, and that's okay.

Throughout the term, I have also learned a lot about development. As Brilé noted, the Beyond Borders program is counterintuitive. It truly challenges the traditional methods of pedagogy and the ways in which we view the world. What is the role of experiential learning? How is eco-tourism different from what we are trying to do? I definitely thought I had the answers to many of life's problems. Corruption is bad; we are going to help the poor. Yet the lessons and discussions amongst my peers and in class have showed me that corruption isn't always black and development work isn't always white.
Beyond Borders takes our knowledge of development a step further and asks whether or not organisations actually want the volunteer's help or do they just want the economic resources the volunteer brings. The program has challenged me immensely throughout the last two terms; I begin to look at the world, not necessarily cynically, but with an analytical frame of mind. I have come to understand the reasons behind the action.

Whether Rigoberta Menchu meant to paint a particular picture of her life in her testimony or not, her mission remained the same. There is much controversy behind the truthfulness of her work, I, Rigoberta Menchu, yet perhaps her living conditions are less important than the message she is trying to portray. The fact is, she was an advocate for the lives for all indigenous Guatemalans and she sought to expose the injustices inherent in the system. Beyond Borders taught me to look behind the apparent.

I hope that, as a result of my experiences, I will be able to understand the complexities of life within the Dominican Republic and its neighbour, Haiti. I have found a passion in understanding the implications of being stateless as a child of a migrant worker. I have begun to care so much more about the Dominican Republic than I had ever thought I would. The xenophobia and racism within the Dominican Republic stems from the colonial roots of the two nations. The deep-rooted conflict is not necessarily one that can be solved but will ultimately stay with the groups. The truth is, Beyond Borders has taught me to become passionately involved. Instead of "helping out," I have learned to work with others and understand what matters most to them. My classmates have shown me how to put 110% in everything I do.

So I currently live with anticipation. I am excited and nervous about the 3 months ahead of me. My comforts will be taken away and my classmates will not always be there to support me in my efforts. However, they have prepared me to trust in myself, trust in others and to live passionately. Our learning doesn't stop here, Sebastien did a good job and reminded us that the world is our classroom.

Living in the Dominican Republic

Up to this point, my blog has mostly been about my general thoughts: how I will fit in, norms by which I live my life and ways in which I envision myself to (re)act appropriately to new experiences. I have briefly touched on the culture of the Dominican Republic but have yet to talk about its geography, the climate and other physical conditions in which I will encounter during my 3-month stay. So, here's to the Dominican Republic:

When asked to think about The Dominican, most people think of a tropical climate and a vacation spot full of resorts. They travel to the country and although they have been there, they do not truly get to interact with its culture. This summer, I get the rare opportunity to live in a host family and understand life as a local, 130 km away from the capital Santa Domingo, in a town called Cabrera. Although the region is still undeniably beautiful, my trip there will not be a trip in the park.

The People
As mentioned in my previous blog post, the people of the Dominican Republic come from a varied background. 73% of its citizens are of mixed background while its next highest population being white, accounting for about 16% of the population. What unites the country most, however, is probably its shared religion: 95% of its people are of Roman Catholic descent. Interestingly enough, though, Cabrera does not share in this faith tradition—its 39, 000 population shares in a mainstream religion of the Christian Evangelic Church.

Economy
The Dominican has mostly been known as an exporter of coffee, sugar and tobacco. However, there has been a shift in recent years and now the service sector and tourism now account for 65% of its GDP. However, despite its attraction to tourists, the nation is not as glamorous as it looks. Over 40% of the population lives below the absolute poverty line and this makes for a huge gap between the rich and the poor. In fact, the top 10% of the population enjoys over 40% of the GDP, whereas the poorest half of the population share less 1/5 of the nation’s GDP.

Although Cabrera is located on the coast and is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, La Playa Grande, it is not dependent on tourism as a main source of income. In fact, the economy in Cabrera is driven by cattle, its milk and meat, mixed with a bit of agriculture.

Climate
While thinking about the Dominican and when I am going to be there (May-August), I was afraid of its climate. Although I whine and complain about the cold weather now, I think it is harder for me to be active in the summer months. At least when I’m cold, I can wear more clothes and react accordingly. In the scorching hot heat, however, sometimes you are paralyzed and just cannot continue to work. It was to my delight, then, to find out that the Dominican’s temperature does not vary that much throughout the year! It’s temperature during the hottest season, May – October, ranges between 22-30 degrees Celsius. The main difference is that it is more humid during these months. Furthermore, the first month when I will be there, the Dominican sees the most rainfall. Fortunately, it is expected to be in short bursts followed by sunshine.

Despite the weather being ideal during the summer season, it is actually the low season for tourism. Most tourists often visit the Dominican to seek refuge from the cold North American winters.

------------

Now what am I doing in the Dominican? Throughout my blog, I have mentioned briefly the name of the project with which I will be work, The Esperanza Project. A literal translation of its name would mean The Project of Hope. The Esperanza Project is a non-profit organization, run and founded by a Canadian/British couple, that was “born out of a perceived need to provide a much needed supplementary education and extra-curricular program, giving individual students an opportunity to explore, create, and inspire, whilst empowering them to grow academically and socially, in a safe, supportive, hands-on learning environment” (Esperanza Project, n.d.).

I will be running an individual sports section at the camp with another student from the University of Victoria! I’m not 100% sure what we’ll be doing yet but we have the months ahead to plan and prepare a program that can be reused: obstacle courses, relays, team building exercises and the like. If you have any ideas, send me a message and I’ll be happy to bring a piece of you to the Dominican with me!

There is no doubt that the experience will be hard and challenging. Living in the Dominican Republic will not be a walk on the beach. I will live the life of a local, away from tourist infrastructure: very few comforts of my normal life will be present. The Spanish language, although I have studied it, will be a barrier to both my host family and myself. Yet despite all these challenges, I am hopeful. I am hopeful that I can learn and become an advocate for what happens in the Dominican. I am hopeful that I will become a trusted member of the local community and I am hopeful that my presence will be well received.

I invite you to take a look into the town I will be in—I hope this blog gives you an understanding of my excitement and an appreciation that I will not be going as a tourist! Here is a link to a video that some women took passing through Cabrera in 2010:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZzC_L2HBs8&feature=player_embedded#at=515

Works Used

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/dr.html

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/dominican-republic

http://www.esperanzaproject.ca/index.php/about/

Living.

On Friday, March 18th, I had the pleasure of hearing Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire deliver a keynote address for the Art's Student Union at the University of Waterloo. Dallaire, most known for his refusal to pull UN troops out of Rwanda during the genocide in 1994, talked mostly about the international community's responsibility to protect when a national government fails to provide security for its citizens. What struck me most, however, was his question "Are some humans more human than others?"

He understood conflict and a nation's willingness to intervene politically in terms of gain. When "personal" interests are not met, one's desire to intervene dramatically decreases. Such was the situation, as he explained, in the summer of 1994. The international community was hesitant to label the atrocities within Rwanda as genocide. Terms including "tribal civil war" and "acts of genocide" were used to describe the massacres, yet these terms did not necessitate an immediate reaction from the UN to intervene. In fact, when several Belgium UN Peacekeepers were killed, the UN urged Dallaire to pull his troops out because their lives were at risk. Yet despite this sense of urgency for peacekeepers, there was no similar response in fear for the lives of Rwandans. Why is this so? Can it be, then, that some humans are more “human” than others and deserve better treatment? Fortunately, the UN General Assembly has, since 2005, adopted the Responsibility to Protect, calling on the international community to intervene “where the state is unable or unwilling to meet its own responsibility” (Evans, 2008). As a result, there is now a mechanism of response that puts an emphasis on all human life, and not only those “worth saving.”

Despite the progress towards the equality of human life, however, there are still regions of the world where someone’s life is worth less than that of their peers. Such discrimination effectively denies thousands of individuals the “right to a range of economic, civil and political rights, including their right to acquire a nationality, to education, to security of the person and to freedom from discrimination (Amnesty International, 2007). Yet as a Canadian citizen, this reality of life is foreign and is at times disheartening.

Although such discrimination is not apparent in my daily life, it may very well be this summer. The Dominican Republic has had problems with illegal migrant workers coming from their neighbouring country, Haiti. In fact, estimates say there are approximately 800, 000 – 1, 000, 000 Haitians working in the Dominican Republic, accounting for approximately 10% of its population (Dominican Today, 2010). As a result, government officials have been increasing checkpoints for identification and deporting Haitians, who may have spent the last 10 or more years in the Dominican when the cane sugar industry needed help. The result? Many children born in the Dominican Republic with Haitian parents are denied their right to a nationality, and are considered stateless (Amnesty International, 2007). The lack of proper documentation and witnesses at the time of their birth make it hard for these children to gain Haitian citizenship as well. The children are, then, destined to a life of poverty: they cannot receive education and are denied many basic services.

This is what we should have to worry about: living. It is the reality of many people in the world that they stress about their next meal and where they will find work. On the other hand, last week’s newest Youtube sensation Rebecca Black reminds us that our biggest concern is sometimes determining which seat we can take in our friend’s convertible. So perhaps it is time to pick up a book, learn about an issue and fight for something that matters. We need to start looking beyond ourselves and start seeing the human in others.

Tim notes in his blog that Canada’s 18-30 year old population represents 35% of its demographic. This is enough to make a significant change in the politics of Canada, if we take a stand and vote for the issues that matter to us. In fact, Roméo Dallaire, as a current Canadian senator, noted that our generation has the ability to form a new political party if we truly wanted to and theoretically “take over parliament”. Yet the apathy and complacency in our lives focus our attention on the immediate and what is close to home.

In a way, it is ironic that my Beyond Borders placement is in the Dominican Republic, a country where the rigidity of its borders is constantly being fortified.
I do not know how this will affect my experiences in Cabrera. Fortunately Roméo Dallaire reminds us that life is valuable and, as such, I will try my best to value life in each person I meet.

Work Cited


Amnesty International. (2007). Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the United States: protect rights, reduce statelessness. Retrieved from http://web.archive.org/web/20070422232810/http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR270012007

Dominican Today. (2010, June 29). Dominican immigration: number of illegal Haitians jumps 15% to 1.0M after quake. Retrieved from http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/poverty/2010/6/29/36162/Dominica n-Immigration-Number-of-illegal-Haitians-jumps-15-to-10M-after

Evans, Gareth. (2008). The Responsibility to Protect: ending mass atrocity crimes once and for all. Washington D.C.: Brookings Institution Press.

Living Truthfully

One of my favourite companies recently released their new company logo. For its 40th anniversary, Starbucks removed the "Starbucks Coffee" around their logo and made the Siren the focal point of their logo. The company's decision, aside from aesthetics, was due to the fact that they no longer wanted to be "limited to coffee" despite its success stemming from its coffee roots in Seattle. To be honest, I thought it was dumb and I did not like it. What I have learned to love is now different, although it's the same. Yet the more I think about this, I wonder how much this has to do with me: a fan of Starbucks--which I even refer to as "Starbs." In fact, the company's decision has nothing to do with me. Starbucks, as an entity, felt the need to express itself differently and I think that's the key point I was missing.

Much like Starbucks, this summer I have the opportunity to re-invent myself. In all honesty, I could be whoever I want and no one would know the difference, aside from Carissa and Brittany with whom I am travelling and are a part of the Beyond Borders crew. I have come to the realisation that Starbucks' new logo has less to do with pleasing others than to being true to itself, as a company. I am not saying I will try all the things I've been too scared to do and wreak havok in the Dominican Republic but there are aspects of my life which I would like to develop.

One such aspect of my life is sports. Personally, I don't think I am necessarily bad at sports but I'm also not going to say I'm very well coordinated and skilled. I think, in a way, sports have become a scary part of my life; it is an opportunity to be vulnerable and to not be good at something--to look stupid. If I'm being honest, I sense more pressure in performing well in front of male peers, with whom I would normally play, and perhaps I am "bad" at sports because I am too scared to even try to be good. Yet this summer, I have signed up to run the Individual Sports station with the Esperanza Project. I guess my hopes are to be comfortable with my skills, regardless of what the are, and to inspire the youth to be okay with trying hard even though the results aren't necessarily what we want. Most of all, I hope to be a positive role model who is okay with being who they are.

This week, I also had a marked change in attitude towards going to the Dominican Republic. Finally, it seemed real. In addition to getting my shots about a week and a half ago, we had to look at the concrete risks of the Dominican Republic and we also had a session about packing and what to bring!
I learned about the risks of worms and parasites, the likelihood of earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis and the dangers of taxis in the Dominican. Yet despite all these dangers, I think what changed me most was my conversation with Carissa and Brittany this past Saturday.

We decided to meet up at William's to discuss some of our fears, expectations and what we're like under stress. It made me think, again, at the person I want to be and who I will have to be when we're in the DR. Normally, I try to avoid conflict. It became evident, however, that frustrations will be a regular part of our life simply because of our situation. Although I have an intermediate level of Spanish, language will no doubt cause conflict: whether they arise from misunderstanding or total non-comprehension. Secondly, after thoroughly discussing our dislike of bugs, it seems like I may need to get over my squirmish self and take one for the team! Although something like dealing with bugs might seem small, it still puts me outside of my "normal." I will be challenged to live out my fears, to live in response to others and to test my limits. Yet my desire to avoid conflict and please others puts me at risk. Living truthfully will be a challenge--I hope I will live true to my limits and only be "the man" that tries to "help" the girls.

I hope to re-invent myself yet I hope to acknowledge my limits. From volunteering, I think I've had this sort of expectation for myself. WASL is a great place to connect with others, "do some good" and try new things. My first two times there, I was definitely "trying to fit in." However, I am much more comfortable there and am not afraid to be myself. I honestly hope I remember how that feels so I can connect with others and not be afraid to show who I am.

Living truthfully is liberating. I invite you to show your true self too.

Living Outside the Circle

Reading this post, you may have noticed its title: Living Outside the Circle. It's funny because, in a way, it's a joke that a friend and I have in reference to 'Thinking Outside the Box'. However, for us to truly think outside the box, we feel it is necessary to not even think in terms of boxes and hence 'Outside the Circle'. In order to make any radical change in the world we live in, we have to think critically from a mindset different from that which created the initial problem. I am going to talk about the problems we face as a result of the language we use.

The power of language is truly remarkable. The tone in which we speak and the words we choose to use can change a situation drastically: we can make an inclusive environment or we can threaten the safe space that exists. Tim pointed out in his blog "I'll Make a Man Out of You" that we live in a world defined by gender stereotypes and are defined by specific words. Heaven forbid someone says that you "throw like a girl" because girls... are inherently unable to throw? Why is "you act like a sissy" an insult? The words we consciously, or sometimes unknowingly, use have an impact on the lives of those around us. Similarly, guys often feel the need to "act tough" or perhaps withhold their tears. Why is this so? Tim pointed out very well in his blog that these because we associate certain words and actions with being masculine or feminine, and we do not want to act any differently, it would make us weird. "Men" actively make fun of chick flicks because... I don't even know why. Does it threaten their masculinity? How do such remarks affect those around you, who may enjoy chick flicks? It is time to pay attention to what we say and the impact words have.

The image above was found throughout the University of Waterloo campus not long ago, near the end of the Federation of Students (FEDS) elections. Posters were set up on campus over the face of a female FEDS Vice-President candidate. Although no physical harm was done, its effects resonated throughout campus and threatened the security of several university groups. The Women's Centre and GLOW were closed in order to protect its members and visitors. Other groups had forums to discuss the events that occurred as well.

Although these events did not demonstrate the culturally engrained gender bias/stereotypes in society, the sentiments of hate outline, once again, the power of words. As Cher says in her song If I Could Turn Back Time, "words are like weapons, they wound sometimes." Words can damage an individual's dignity and their sense of self. This fundamental human identity need is a vital part of one's self-worth. To an extent, I think it is more harmful to unconsciously use biased words on a regular basis than to explicitly make your views public once or twice , like the poster defamer did. I am, in no way, trying to make light of the situation on campus but I urge everyone to think critically of what we say. In every day interactions, I personally avoid the use of profane words. I am not sheltered enough to be bothered by the use of swear words yet I consciously worked "What the poo!" into my everyday vocabulary repertoire. The way I see it, such variety provides a bit of comic relief while I avoid making other people uncomfortable. We can make efforts to change the way we live, and live outside the circle:

- Embrace emotions. Cry if you need to, it is a natural part of life.

- Don't come out if you're straight. A mentor of mine consistently says "Me & my partner" despite being in a heterosexual relationship. It simply creates a more inclusive environment and does not portray heterosexism.

- Challenge yourself and engage what is typically feminine or masculine (depending on your gender) and try to like it! It may be cheesy, it may be ridiculous but do not write it off without giving it a chance.

- Be aware of the words you use and what they mean/imply. How does saying "Hey guys" to a group of all girls come off?

Words have power. Yet, I also want to raise an issue with being over-sensitive. It is not uncommon for me to hear my friends having difficulty choosing the right words to describe someone. For me, it is okay to call someone "black" or "oriental" if you are trying to differentiate them from someone else, as a descriptive adjective. Alternatively, if there is a value judgment associated with the statement, that is when the issue becomes sensitive.

In the Dominican Republic, machismo acts as a cultural code of interaction where both men and women see all this behaviour as normal. It will even be harder to be cautious of my words in a different culture when I go abroad. Reading pre-departure material has advised me to find myself a copy of a Spanish Phrase Book. I only hope my inclusive behaviours resonate with others and can be interpreted correctly and respectfully in my experiences.

Please join me in doing so!

Living on the Road

Reading week is among university students all across Canada and many of them, oddly enough, don't read. If you talk to my friends, they plan on going home, relaxing, are travelling or, in my case, road tripping down to Mississippi to volunteer with Mennonite Disaster Service.

At our first meeting as travelling group, students of Conrad Grebel University College went around and shared reasons for why they wanted to go on this trip. Answers ranged from having heard about a successful and fun trip two years ago, to glorify God or to really just having nothing else to do. I am fortunate enough to have taken part in the previous trip to Diamond, Louisiana and decided to go on the trip to Mississippi as well. But why did I choose to come? Ultimately, my reasoning was to have a good time and to connect with other Grebelites. Having taken part in the trip two years ago, I was mentally prepared for the trip down and I had thought it would be very much the same -- I was not expecting to learn much.

Since the start of our two and a half day trip this past Friday, February 18th, I had been struck by the capacity for human compassion and the power of gratitude.

Being in a car with the same people for 12 hours a day is not easy. It forces you to get along with one another. You start to notice the little quirks of one another and sometimes, you need your own space. Schedules are mixed up and you must eat on the schedule of the group: you lose autonomy of your life. Yet despite all these minor setbacks, there is a bit of magic in all of this. You really get to know your peers beyond the superficial. You learn a bit about yourself and how you react under stress and to an extent you learn about how others change in situations of stress. However, what is most touching for me is that 43 different individuals chose to spend their reading week to serve others. They chose not to go to a resort but instead they chose to spend their time to help rebuild a stranger’s home.

Two events stand out in my mind thus far. First is our attendance of a local church in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a group of close to 40 individuals, the church could have easily denied us entry into the church. However, they welcomed with open arms, introduced us and wanted to hear our stories. In fact, one woman gave all of us candy! The energy from the congregation was uplifting and its members went out of their way to shake our hands and greet us. Although we did not know these individuals, their capacity to welcome us into their community showed me first-hand how I want to life my life. The simple act of greeting others openly and lovingly is so powerful. To recognize and appreciate others is a gift, and although it is sometimes difficult to do, ought to be lived out more frequently.

Secondly, as I wrap up my first day here at Pass Christian, Mississippi, I appreciate more the power of compassion and its effects. I will only be here for 5 days but there are long-term volunteers that have served for months at a time over the last 4-5 years. Their desire to serve without compensation is remarkable. Throughout my day of scraping and painting, the future homeowner of the house passed by to greet us not once but three times. Each time, he greeted us with gratitude for the work that we are doing. He came to chat with us and told us the story of how he lost his past two houses since Katrina. But despite all the tragedy in his life, I could see the hope in his eyes. His thankful attitude towards all the volunteers truly reminded me of the impact little actions can have.

Often, when we think about “doing good”, we think about saving the world and changing it. This experience has really brought me back down to earth and reminded me that it is not necessarily the “big” actions that matter. Simple everyday interactions can have a lasting effect on the attitudes of others. The painting of a house is simple labour yet it serves as the backdrop for someone’s home. It is important, then, to not forget about the small things in life and to live out a life of positivity every day.

To be honest, I was hesitant about the work I would be doing in the Dominican Republic this summer. The Esperanza Project is a noble cause yet I kept thinking of it as summer camp. To me, its work could be done almost everywhere and to have two others with me at the placement seemed to make the placement even less special. However, the last three days has reminded me that it is not the big things in life that make the most impact. This lesson, for me, is important to me and encourages me to own my experience in the Dominican and change lives through inspiration. I, now, absolutely cannot wait to meet the children, the volunteers and my host family in the Dominican!

Check back soon for pictures from my trip to Pass Christian, Mississippi!
.

Living Acceptingly

As a part of the current Beyond Borders group fundraising initiative, we have been asking for donations from the St. Jerome's church community at their weekend mass services. Our fundraiser involves giving donors appreciation cards that we have made as a small token of our gratitude. The cards, with themes ranging from the philosophical to a birthday wish, can be given to loved ones while it spreads the word about the Beyond Borders mission. Natalia and I ended up going to mass last night, intending to make an announcement at the end of mass and 'selling' our cards.

Again, life shows us that it is funny and that we can not expect what we expect. In fact, we should expect the unexpected. What Natalia and I ended up doing was reading all 8 announcements and bringing up the gifts for communion. I was nervous and uncomfortable but I was fine with it, I am trying to make this term about experiencing new things. I have heard previously, though, that other students forgot to bow before bringing the gifts to the alter, simply because they did not know they had to do that. I had a similar experience. I ended up bringing the basket of offering behind Natalia and the regular mass-goer as I was told. However, as it came time to hand off the offering basket, I was somewhat confused: I was told to put the basket on the floor in front of the alter. Firstly, I was surprised it was to be put on the floor and secondly, I was shocked because I didn't know what to do when I got up there: the priest was standing where I was supposed to put the basket! I finally ended up handing the basket to the priest and upon my return to the back of the room, I noticed the regular mass-goer bowing before walking back. So, I quickly turned back around, did a quick bow, and proceeded to turn around again to leave. My delayed and sporadic actions were awkward but I did not want to seem disrespectful. Since then, I have replayed the event in my head and the impact of different customs and cultures.

As I move forward towards looking at travelling to the Dominican Republic this May, I recognize the sense of pride and joy a cultural custom may bring. From the Olympic Anniversary Special on CTV that I am watching to Nicole and Brilé's posts about volun-tourism, I see how a collective experience can hold a community together yet my presence in a different culture may be threatening and detrimental to its existence. How can I integrate myself into the Dominican Republic culture without harming what is already existing? Can I be respectful and follow customs and not impose my own values? I really hope so.

I will be living with a host family in the DR. My lifestyle will change drastically and I will have to live by the rules of the family. According to a Kwintessential, an online website outlining different country's culture and customs, these are a few things I should keep in mind:

1. Loyalty to the family unit is the most important social relationship; even above business endeavours. Additionally, family (including the extended family) often live close together. Often, family members of different generations live in the same house.

2. The people of the Dominican Republic pride themselves on hospitality and will go out of their way to make sure their guests are comfortable.

3. It is customary to maintain eye contact upon giving a hand shake. Eye contact is important as it indicates interest.

4. Upon visiting guests for dinner, it is appropriate to bring gifts of chocolate or pastries. Gifts that are black or purple are avoided as they are avoided as the colour of mourning. Additionally, gifts are opened when they are received.

5. Punctuality is a good thing but in the DR, arriving 15 to 30 minutes late for a social gathering is considered on time.

6. There is generally a saying, "Bueno provecho" ("enjoy" or "have a good meal") to invite everyone to start eating. (Kwintessential, n.d.)

These are only a few of the customs and rules of etiquette regarding to the Dominican Republic yet they will be challenging to adapt to. I think for me, the greatest challenge will be to be "punctual" and have everyone else be late. I hate showing up late and sometimes even get stressed if I am going to be 1-2 minutes late. Also, another key point for me to note is that the those receiving me will pride themselves on their hospitality yet this is not what I want. In contrast to eco-tourism and only seeing the good/easy side of life in the DR, I want to see the dirt and grit and what makes life happen. I truly hope I can be worked into the culture and become "one of them" while being mindful of being unique and individual. Mass this past week has showed me that I need to ask the vital questions to solidify my understand of the processes that are to ensue. Yet although I was not fully aware of my mistakes at mass, the priest was comforting and encouraging with my actions. I only hope that this will be the same in the Dominican Republic as I try to become an advocate for their lifestyle, hopefully by living acceptingly and openly to their culture and customs.

My goal is to live more like the family in the picture above and not take the easy road and enjoy the simplicity of volun-tourism.


Sources:

Kwintessential. (n.d.) Dominican Republic - Language, Culture , Customs and Etiquette. Retrieved on February 13 from http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/dominican-republic-country-profile.html

Photos:

http://media.photobucket.com/image/dominicano+republico+familia+/La_Familia_Wilson/100_1421.jpg

http://www.esperanzaproject.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/banner_volunteer.jpg