Rep. Dominican Round 2! (Arrival)

Yuppers, that's right I went back to Republica Dominicana for the second time recently June! This time I came into Santo Domingo four days early from the camp date. I am blessed and grateful for a great opportunity to be able to see what their life is alike outside of camp.

While staying in Santo Domingo for 5 days before the camp, I stayed with an awesome and sweetest host family that is related to Paulina, one of the top Deaf School advocate in the country. Only 4 of us from America stayed with them and other 4 stayed with Paulina. We were about mile or so away from each other. They both cooked excellent foods for us and was very generosity by helping us to get around the city! While we stayed with them, we had opportunity to experience the REAL life of Republica Dominicana by tour the city and learn what their daily life is alike. Am just amazing and still speechless that I live in America not there!

Back View on the top from our Host family's apt!

Front view

Our host family in middle and rest of us who stayed with them (esp for Josiah in the back and Nicole in the front they stayed with Paulina) 
Click here for more pics from Host house!

Touring the city!
Click here for more pics!!

We were able to visit the main deaf school where our kids from camp attended in Santo Domingo. While we visit the school (on Thurs and Friday), we observed their classrooms, interact with the kids, and learn what their educate is a like. On both of those days we also were able to visit several kid's homes, this part of the trip was the most impacting experiences I've had down there. 

One best part of this experience at the main deaf school was that we got to witness their graduation celebration. Their graduation is much similar to ours here in USA. In addition, we were able to visit another deaf school that "was" in the process of establish the school on the other side of the city. The result was that there were a school that was established in different part of Santo Domingo that way more deaf kids could attend school since the main school is too far for them to travel there. God is amazing in many ways for those kids!! Looking forward to see more of God's work in those kids for their education!! 
 

Click here for graduation and school pics!!

As for home visit, as I say it was the most impacting experience for me because I visit one of the poorest part of the city compared to where I was staying at. The entire time I was speechless and was hard for me to talk. I kept on asking myself why am I in America not here. Please look through the pics the pictures explain more than I could!  

Click here for more pics from this home visit!

This experience was worth it because it helped me understand better where our kids come from and life lesson for me. It also helped me to think twice what I want on my daily basis and not to waste my food, etc. I am still grateful I was able to grab this opportunity to see the other side of the world!