My Service Learning Study Abroad experience with SPC was truly amazing and is something that I will hold dear to my heart. This was my first time out of the country and I’m so glad that my first time was to the Dominican Republic, where my family is from. I got to learn so much more about my culture and its history. It was very liberating. This trip made me even more proud of my Dominican roots.

Teaching the Dominican children English was a beautiful experience. I never considered myself to be a teacher, but they looked at me as if I was one. It’s very heartwarming to have someone look up to you and ask for your advice and wisdom. Everyone was so welcoming. The children were so curious about everything, about my hair, my family, our SPC group, the United States, and one of them was even curious about learning time zones.

I loved how they wanted to learn about more subjects than just the five senses that we were required to teach them. Even the teachers tried to learn English. They would write in their notebook what I would write on the chalkboard. It was very interesting to see that. It shows that you can learn from anyone. Even if you are a teacher, you can still learn from someone who isn’t a teacher themselves. You can learn from someone even if they are younger than you. I learned a lot from the children. They taught me new words in Spanish that I didn’t know, they taught me how to play their many hand games, and they taught me that you don’t need the best materials and equipment to learn. All you need is the DESIRE to learn. They showed us so much love and they never wanted us to leave them when the day was through.

This Service Learning Study Abroad experience was very memorable. I met wonderful people and made new friends in the Dominican Republic and within our little SPC family. I’m so grateful to have gone on this trip. It makes me appreciate all the things I have available to me just living in this country. I most definitely will go on another Study Abroad program.