Personal Narrative: My Trip To Dominican Republic

When I lived in Dominican Republic my childhood was the best. I was surrounded of my friends and cousins. I loved to play with them. When a woman got pregnant I always went to her house to help her. When the baby was born I passed the all day in that house with the baby. I remember when I had to take care of a baby by myself. It was a girl and her mother lived next to my house. I remember that I was so existed but at the same time nervous. Take care of a baby it a big responsibility because you don’t want to anything happen to that baby.

Returning from Haiti came with mixed emotions. I was thankful that I was able to go and experience God, but I felt empty on the inside. People had told me for years that serving others changes your life, but I did not feel that way. How could I live so extravagantly while there were people living without basic needs right across the ocean? How could I live in an enormous house while people lived in rusted shacks almost about to collapse? How could I throw out leftover food while others starved? I traveled to Haiti with ideas to fix the Haitians broken lives, but I as worked I felt useless and believed that I failed as a Christian. While I could not change the material poverty that the Haitians endured, I was able to build relationships with Haitian teens and show them love. By love, I mean God’s definition which is based on moral character that comes from Him and His teachings.

It was the beginning of my junior year in high school and there had been much talk about a school trip to Port Au Prince, Haiti, Only ten students could attend this trip, applications had opened up in November and for me a trip to Haiti sounded like just a dream, I thought I was not able to afford it. The idea for the possibility to travel to a new country and be exposed to a brand new culture excited me, I made the decision to apply anyway. In December, I received news that I had been chosen as one of the first ten students from my school to go on this new service trip. I was so excited that I was even qualified, but also worried because I knew that the price was still an issue. My teacher explained to me that there was a

Around four-forty in the morning, a lady came to the Reedley hospital to give birth. That baby was coming on their way to the hospital but just on time to give birth, was in a room. The baby was very small and chubby but was truly strong and healthy. This particular baby was soon to be named after her father, Fernando. Fernanda had no problems whatsoever therefore her parents were grateful since there were many children in this world that suffer a great deal for their problems in health.

It was a cold winter night in Upstate New York. My mom and dad were enjoying a cup of coffee, my sisters were playing video games, and I was editing a few pictures on my computer. My mom brought up the idea of a vacation. She said” We haven’t been on a vacation for a long time”. We all agreed and were hoping for my dad to also agree. Then my father said with a cheerful voice “Where do you guys want to go for vacation”. Me and my sister Rahma wanted to go to Florida, but, my other sister Selsibila wanted to go to California. Since Florida is closer and most of us agreed on going to Florida my parents said, “Ok then Florida it is” and we all ran to our rooms to pack up our stuff. My father quickly went on his computer and started looking for a rental. After we packed up all our stuff my dad said” Everyone go to bed, so we can wake up fresh in the morning and get the trip started”. So, we all went to bed. I can barely sleep thinking about all the fun were going to have. After about 15 minutes everyone was sound asleep and so was I.

Last summer I went on vacation to Puerto Rico with my cousins. We did really fun things like snorkeling, a boat ride, and eating at many wonderful places. Although all those sound really fun, I want to talk about the time I met the most cutest, most fluffiest, most friendliest, animal ever.

“I will miss everyone” were my last words before I get in the car, a sunday at 6:30 pm it was a very sad moment I didn 't have idea about when I was going to come again. The only thing I knew was that I was going to miss everyone and everything. But, I also knew that it was all for a better future and a better life.

With all the significance that this trip holds, I couldn't have been anymore paralyzed with fear. Filled with both excitement and nervousness, I almost thought my three hour trip was nonexistent. I told myself, "this is something new for you and everyone else in your family, so make the best of it". It was all so true, I was finally going to Cedar Point after tons of years. Just feeling my body tremble from amusement of fulfilling one of many childhood dreams, was something to live for.

There is one far distant memory that I can never seem to get out of my head. When I was much younger, maybe 8 or 9, my family and I went to the Hawaiian islands on vacation. As everybody else that visits the islands, we of course went to the beach. I had no idea at the time that I would have such an intense experience that would change me for the rest of my life.

There were rice plants on my left and farm animals on my right. I grew up in New York City, so you can imagine the millions of questions that were running through my head. I’d never been to the countryside of the Dominican Republic before, but when I finally did, I couldn’t be more ecstatic, despite the scorching Caribbean sun burning down on my brown skin.

As a Cuban-born woman, my expected role in society is clearly defined; my thoughts and personality have a mold into which they must fit. However, a month before my fifth birthday my family made the decision to move to the United States and in doing so liberated me from these expectations and gave me the freedom to explore my own interests and beliefs. Ten years later, they were making preparations for my Quinciañera. Due to my Cuban heritage, my coming of age was set to be commemorated by a very long and very expensive night of food, dance, and family. For the same cost as the down payment on a relatively small house, I would be given the opportunity to put on a show in a dress that restricted my airways and provide food and drink for about

I smiled gently as my feet sunk into the warm sands of the Punta Cana coast. During a short snorkeling expedition on the magnificent coral reefs, I was abruptly awoken by a loud series of bangs. Who was outside the door this time of night? As the banging got louder, my anger quickly morphed into terror. My mind began racing with the infinite possibilities awaiting me outside the safety of my bedroom. But wait, what if my parents were in trouble? In an attempt to save them from a burglar or a fire, I sprinted to the front door. To my surprise, there was no such danger: only my parents, a mysterious woman, and two policemen. After a brief encounter, my father and the woman were escorted out with a few of his belongings that he threw into a makeshift

This summer, my church took a missions trip to Puerto Penasco. It wasn 't the easiest trip to plan, seeing we only had two months to plan for it, and pay for it. Yes, this trip was spontaneous, and we worked very hard to get the money for it.

My grandfather asked me “Which one?” I respond “Let’s get this one”. Little did I know that guinea pig was my dinner. Guinea pigs or cuy are not pets but food in Ecuador.When I arrived at the airport it looked like any typical airport, but it felt as if I was in a different world. I remember seeing a whole bunch of random people at the airport. And then this whole group of people is crowding around me and it took me a while to put all the pieces together and I see my brother saying hi to everyone and then I realized holy cow this is my family. On the way to the car I was counting how many people were actually here and I had 6 uncle 's, 6 aunt 's, more than 15 cousins and 4 grandparents. I could not believe my eyes for the first time in eleven years I was with family. The first two weeks living in Ecuador was a challenge.

Going through every security checks and bag checks, I anxiously waited until it was my turn. There were thousands of people standing at the baggage claim waiting to claim their luggage and others were rushing to the gate to catch their flight. I happened to be one of those people. Sitting in the cold lounge, waiting for my flight to El Salvador to arrive, all I could think about was my mother’s last words before she said goodbye.