Dominican Republic: Made Lifelong Friends Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

This was an unconventional study abroad experience, but we went to a number of places and learned about the difference in organic and plantation farming and the relationships between the type of farming used and the community it affects. It was fast paced and occasionally overwhelming, but in a good way.

On-site administration of your program

Our guides had fantastic English and both our program facilitator and another student in the program were fluent in Spanish which helped a lot. Also, our guides were abundantly familiar with the whole of the Dominican Republic and her history. The only possible weakness I could see is that the trip would be much more difficult to facilitate with more students.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We stayed in a few hotels and a cabin so everything was provided. The hotel in Santo Domingo was close to everything we went to see and seemed to be in a relatively safe area. Our hotel in Barahona was gorgeous and spacious. The cabins were simple and could have used extra blankets, but were wonderful to stay in.

They were amazingly accommodating. We had a number of students with dietary restrictions, myself included and they really bent over backwards to meet our needs. The only meal I couldn't eat much of was breakfast in Barahona and only because I can't stand coconut. We were always fed a decent amount of really wonderful organic food. I especially enjoyed Mei Gui in Santo Domingo's Chinatown.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There was dancing every night and everyone was so nice. Our guides arranged for us to see local folk dancers in Barahona as well as the beaches, a beautiful park filled with waterfalls and jungle, and the shortest river in the world. We went to the museum in Central Leon and enjoyed the art exhibit as well as the anthropological museum in Santo Domingo. We saw Christopher Columbus' son's castle and went to the oldest cathedral in the Western hemisphere for mass. We planted trees in Rio Limpio and lounged on the beach in Isla Sauna.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

We couldn't drink the water there so we were given lots of bottled water. Also, driving there is insane. We had an excellent driver with lightning reflexes and we still almost got in an accident. I wouldn't recommend trying to drive if you are there long term.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Hotel
• Other

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• N/A

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• International Students

• The contact with the local people.
• The visits to the museums.
• The food and the scenery.

• Nothing I can think of.