The OA students and teachers, Ms. Annunziato, Ms. Marro, and Ms. Van Riel, departed for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Thursday, February 15th. All 21 of them met in front of Oliver Ames at 3am, most with their parents. Before boarding the bus to head to Logan Airport, the group said goodbye to their families- as well as themselves; for when they would return they would come back as new people- wiser people, stronger people, and people connected by an unforgettable experience.
Upon landing in Santo Domingo, the group was met by their tour guide, Gabriel, whom they would all come to love and trust. Once introductions were out of the way, the group marched to the bus where they met Domingo – the quiet but fun loving father figure of the trip – and headed to the hotel where they would be staying for the next 8 days.
Every day was filled with new adventures – some of the most notable being white water rafting and snorkeling outside of Catalina Island. It wasn’t all fun and games however, as the students did a hefty amount of community service work as well. Students helped repair the coral reef by attaching live coral to wire rehabilitation domes upon which the coral would grow. The group also collected mangrove tree samples and replanted them in areas where the mangrove forests had been previously destroyed.
At the end of each long day, the group would meet with their tour guide, Gabriel, in their hotel and participate in a group activity, “Reflection”, during which the group would sit in a circle and reflect upon the day. The students and the teachers- and even Domingo and Gabriel- would open their hearts and share their experiences, fun memories of the day, and hopes for the next. To some, Reflection was a vital part of the entire experience because it reminded them to look back and appreciate how far they had come- something that perhaps we should all integrate into our own lives.
“Giving back to the community and the environment was what I enjoyed the most out of the trip, and to see the kids grow and blossom was awesome,” said Ms. Annunziato.
At the start of the trip, the group were 21 strangers. By the end of the trip they were new people, and a part of a new family.