About
the Dominican Republic: A Spanish-speaking country on the Caribbean
island of Hispaniola, the Dominican Republic is best known for its friendly and
passionate people,
its unspoiled beaches, its national music (the bachata and the merengue), and its colonial history.
The original capital of the Spanish Empire in the Americas, the Dominican Republic contains
a staggering array of well-preserved architecture from the early 16th century. The island’s
geography is varied and spectacular, ranging from arid deserts to high mountains, and its flora
and fauna are equally diverse, including cacti, orchids, mangroves, American caiman, sea turtles,
iguanas, flamingos, and humpback whales. Its
coral reefs are a destination for snorkelers and
scuba divers from around the world.
The
Project: The group flies to the historic colonial capital of Santo Domingo, where students
spend one day getting acquainted with island culture and geography. The next day the group travels
southwest along the coast to a small mountain village near Barahona, where students work alongside
local people on much needed community development projects. Past projects have included building
a community center and kitchen, laying cement for a basketball court and for village homes, working
in an organic garden, and teaching English classes to local children. Conditions in the Dominican Republic
are extremely simple and our living accommodations are basic. Putney students live together in
a school building. Each day students help a local cook prepare traditional meals featuring rice, beans,
chicken, mangoes, and bananas. Delicious
tropical fruit abounds. Our student chefs
often share favorite American recipes from
home with new Dominican friends. In the
evenings students get together with friends
in the community to play baseball or learn
to dance the bachata in the open air.
Weekends: The group explores the diverse
natural and cultural wonders of the
Dominican Republic, including deserted
white pebble beaches, 16th-century Spanish
colonial towns, enticing coral reefs, the
coconut and banana plantations of Samaná,
the ruggedly beautiful Jaragua National
Park, and the rivers and waterfalls of the
lush Cordillera Central mountains.
|