Back home in Connecticut, I have my mom, my dad, and my two younger brothers Hank (21) and Charlie (17). I also have tons of friends from my hometown town Wethersfield, from my high school, East Catholic, and my college, UConn. While we can text, talk on the phone, and FaceTime, it’s not quite the same as getting to be with them the way I used to be, and for that reason, I miss them very much.
Another thing that is not always easy is that I can’t always understand or be understood the way I’d like to be. Spanish is, of course, the national language of the Dominican Republic, so I spend most of my day speaking exclusively Spanish. Unless I’m talking on the phone with a friend or family member from back home, there are days when not a word of English leaves my mouth. In the long-term, this is a rose because it allows me to experience the culture more authentically and improve my Spanish skills immensely! I honestly love speaking Spanish and having the chance to communicate with Dominicans in their native language. However, in the short-term it can be hard to fully understand certain conversations or to express myself the way I want to.
It is also hard to see the way that many of my community members go without basic necessities. Here in Ojeda, we have inconsistent access to electricity, water shortages, and a lack of affordable healthcare. The power goes out for hours at least three or four times each week, running water is rare and inconsistent, and the closest doctor is about an hour bus ride away. There are aspects of this reality that I have grown to appreciate and that have shown me how lucky I am to have grown up where I grew up, but I wish it didn’t have to be the permanent reality for my neighbors and friends.
