It has been a little less than a week since returning from Cabarete. I had a chance to share my amazing experiences with my family and friends. I was able to reflect on the experience with myself too. I honestly miss the kids a lot and not to mention the warm weather. I left the Dominican Republic with the sense of growth within myself. This experience taught me a lot about what it is like to communicate with people who speak another language. I think that this was good be to a part of because now I have experience when it comes having to do this in the States with the Hispanic population living in the Buffalo area who attend the Buffalo Public Schools. I may not struggle to communicate with Spanish speakers who attend the Buffalo Schools now.
Not only did I learn about how to communicate, but I was able to reflect about my future and what I wanted for myself. I found this trip to be very informative and interesting, I was in love with my surroundings every single minute. I learned that I may not be meant to live in Buffalo all of my life and this gave me the motivation to work hard during my last couple of semesters at SUNY Buffalo State in order to obtain a teaching job out of New York or out of the country. This motivation was brought out when interacting with the kind people of Cabarete, and many of the people who currently live in Cabarete, but have taught overseas.
The town of Cabarete has a different dynamic. The people who I came into contact with and got to know on a personal level in Cabarete are unlike anybody else in Buffalo. I will most definitely not forget these individuals and I appreciated it when they were able to share their stories of hard work and motivation for a better life for not only themselves but for their families. The type of people living in Cabarete are different--it is a mix between natives and people who stay for a short period of time. This means that I was given the opportunity to meet and speak with natives who worked hard and are continuing to work hard for a better life. I also talked to people who were just passing through and these were the people that truly are motivating me to continue to try and explore. Listening to their stories of helping people and the different places that they have been to sounded like something that I would love to do.
I am coming back to Buffalo with the intent of exploring so many more different places in the world. I will not be content until I can learn from all different types of people. The Dominican Republic was just my first stop and I am excited to see what else I can do with my abilities to teach others.
Not only did I learn about how to communicate, but I was able to reflect about my future and what I wanted for myself. I found this trip to be very informative and interesting, I was in love with my surroundings every single minute. I learned that I may not be meant to live in Buffalo all of my life and this gave me the motivation to work hard during my last couple of semesters at SUNY Buffalo State in order to obtain a teaching job out of New York or out of the country. This motivation was brought out when interacting with the kind people of Cabarete, and many of the people who currently live in Cabarete, but have taught overseas.
The town of Cabarete has a different dynamic. The people who I came into contact with and got to know on a personal level in Cabarete are unlike anybody else in Buffalo. I will most definitely not forget these individuals and I appreciated it when they were able to share their stories of hard work and motivation for a better life for not only themselves but for their families. The type of people living in Cabarete are different--it is a mix between natives and people who stay for a short period of time. This means that I was given the opportunity to meet and speak with natives who worked hard and are continuing to work hard for a better life. I also talked to people who were just passing through and these were the people that truly are motivating me to continue to try and explore. Listening to their stories of helping people and the different places that they have been to sounded like something that I would love to do.
I am coming back to Buffalo with the intent of exploring so many more different places in the world. I will not be content until I can learn from all different types of people. The Dominican Republic was just my first stop and I am excited to see what else I can do with my abilities to teach others.