Personal Narrative: My Service Trip To The Dominican Republic

As kids we look up to our parents and dream of one day being an adult like them. While we are always striving towards adulthood, it can be hard to tell when it is actually happening. There are, however, those moments or achievements significant enough that you can feel the shift in yourself from childhood to adulthood. I experienced one of these moments when I went on a service trip to the Dominican Republic last summer. The service trip helped me to mature by pushing me outside my comfort zone through language barriers, demanding physical labor, and cultural differences. I had to apply what I had learned in Spanish class to real communication with the Dominicans. Communication was made much more complicated by their thick accents and use of slang that was different from what we learned in class. The communication barrier forced me to focus and work diligently to get to know the people. This work included listening to …show more content…
Only a few of the families had any of the technology that is normal to us, and, if so, it was very outdated. They grew most of their own food, tended livestock, and often had open air rooms in their homes. People in the US complain over showers being too cold or having the wrong water pressure; The Dominicans didn’t have running water and took ice cold bucket-showers. What surprised and impressed me was how their lack of material possessions had no effect on their happiness. These people who had none of the luxuries we are so used to, were the kindest, most hospitable, and happiest people I had ever met. Through both the people I stayed with and an experience away from our affluent American society, I learned to appreciate the circumstances I have in my life. More importantly, I learned the value of living simply, and finding happiness and God in all things. These are values I believe will serve me well in my adult