¿Qué lo qué? (That's how Dominicans say "What's up?") My name is Jessica Ricketts, and I am from Bakersfield, California. Here in the Dominican Republic, I stay entertained by singing with the church choir, listening to music, dancing, learning crochet and guitar, reading, and writing. Back home, I loved watching movies, making movies, and traveling to other countries. Growing up, I learned to speak, read, and write in Spanish from my parents, but was always curious to know what other, more authentic resources there were out there to help kids like me develop their Spanish abilities.
For undergrad, I got a degree in Liberal Studies to teach children with bilingual backgrounds. Afterwards, I got my master's in Spanish at the Southern Oregon University's Spanish Language Institute, where I received the opportunity to go to Guanajuato, Mexico every summer! It was an amazing experience, but I was still hungry for more! After graduating with my master's, I flew two weeks later to the Dominican Republic to join the Peace Corps as a Spanish Literacy Promoter. It is one of the only jobs I could find that hires Americans to teach Spanish literacy to kids! I love it here. I feel like I found a second home. I hope that by sharing my experiences, you can find things that attract you to the Dominican Republic... and that you can see something in yourselves from the people here!
Peace Corps Volunteers like me live and work side by side with community members around the world, collaborating on locally prioritized projects, building relationships, exchanging cultures and knowledge, and helping transform lives for generations. Learn more by clicking here.
