When I arrived in the Dominican Republic, I was immediately put at ease by the nature of the individuals who greeted me upon arrival. Everyone was outgoing, warm, and passionate about the company and the work they were doing. The sense of community that I felt during those first few days of training was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. The level of connection that we built within just a few days of training as a group was truly remarkable, and I remember thinking how excited I was embark on such a pivotal journey.

It’s easy to think of reasons why we travel- to see beautiful sights, meet interesting people, to explore new places that inspire us and experience things we only could’ve imagined. As I sat sweating next to the van drinking some foul-smelling oral rehydration salts, not a single one of those reasons came to mind.

I returned to my country with a broader mentality, with a desire to continue traveling and get to know more places and people. For a long time, I could not leave the country because I did not have a visa, but I dedicated myself to getting to know the island of the Dominican Republic from the inside.

“A Latino kid from the Bronx? He’s not our typical candidate”. That’s how my career in travel started. Thankfully the other person in that conversation had the courage to say “isn’t that a good thing?”

Having to navigate through different languages, cultures, and daily realities promotes grit, empathy, and a sense of community. These are the lessons that students (young and old) learn when they participate in a homestay, contribute to a community impact project, or take a long drive through new landscapes.