During my time at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, I found myself at a crossroads. I had enrolled with the vague notion that a business degree would enhance my resume, and I could “figure it out” after graduation. Eventually, I settled on Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business as my major and co-major, an oddly specific yet incredibly expansive choice. This was my academic journey until one day, a professor tipped me off to a unique opportunity – an internship at a service-learning organization in the Dominican Republic. I had never been out of the country alone, had no idea what service-learning meant, and little understanding of what lay ahead. But my gut instinct said, “SIGN ME UP!” I interviewed for the internship, got it, and within weeks, I had a ticket booked for a June 7th arrival to the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, my new home for the summer.
The Decision to Jump
The decision to embark on this adventure was not without its share of nerves. I was leaving behind friends who were staying in Bloomington for the summer. I had no concept of what living in the Caribbean would entail. I imagined touristy accommodations and having my own room, but the reality was quite different. Moreover, my choice stood in stark contrast to my business school peers who pursued internships directly aligned with their majors. They shadowed at accounting firms and worked summer jobs, while I was off to the Caribbean. My mother’s apprehension was palpable, and understandably so, considering I was flying to a country with barely an address for the Lodge I’d be living in. But the die was cast, and I was eager to see where this adventure would take me.
We made it to Puerto Plata
The day of my arrival came swiftly. As the plane descended into the Dominican Republic, I could feel the hot, humid Caribbean air pressing in. At the airport, I was greeted by a fellow intern and one of the organization’s summer drivers. However, the biggest surprise came when we reached the Lodge. It was nothing like the mental image I’d constructed over the previous two months. Nestled in a small community called Las Canas, our Lodge was a world away from tourist hotspots. The offshoot road to the Lodge was a bumpy, unpaved path, and the community consisted of a mix of tin sheet structures and beautifully painted cement houses. The Lodge itself was surrounded by lush green plants, with lizards roaming freely. It accommodated up to 120 students, allowing the organization to run multiple group programs simultaneously. To top it off, the Lodge was a mere 100 meters from the ocean, making barefoot runs on the beach a daily ritual.
Culture Shock is Real
Life in the Dominican Republic brought me face to face with culture shock. Mosquitoes seemed to have an insatiable appetite for me. I wish I still had the photos I took of my legs, arms and back the first month I lived there. Bed nets became a necessity, protecting me from encounters with creatures like hand-sized spiders, cockroaches, and lizards. But amidst these challenges, I was surrounded by the beautiful sound of Spanish, a language that flowed freely in my daily life. What struck me most was the strong sense of community among the locals. Despite my limited Spanish, I couldn’t walk more than a few minutes down the community street without someone inviting me into their home for conversation, coffee, or a meal. The warmth and inclusivity of the locals left a lasting impression.
Discovering a Lifelong Passion
These experiences, from the challenges to the cultural immersion, ignited a passion within me. As a young woman searching for purpose, I found solace in sharing and learning from people with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and languages. My internship’s focus on community, economics, and resource management, and the opportunity to bridge high school students from the U.S. to a world so different from their own, further inspired me. I realized that, when approached intentionally, travel has the power to change the world. Our goal was to expose students to new experiences, new perspectives, and equip them with the knowledge and tools to be leaders in their communities, creating ripples of change.
End of a Trip, Beginning of a Lifelong Pursuit
As my departure date in August approached, I couldn’t believe how quickly time had flown. Leaving the Dominican Republic felt like leaving family behind. Yet, I was eager to return home and share my story, and the newfound clarity about my life’s direction. The experience had shifted my mindset, prompting me to ask how I could accumulate the knowledge and experience necessary to make an impact in the world of conscious travel. I was determined to facilitate meaningful experiences and create lasting change through travel.
In retrospect, my journey from business school to the Dominican Republic was a defining moment in my life. It not only broadened my horizons but also fueled my passion for travel, community, and adventure. The experience laid the foundation for my future career, one focused on telling meaningful stories and creating transformative travel experiences, as explored in the next post in this series. Stay tuned to learn how my adventures in the Dominican Republic shaped my professional journey and led me to a career where I could make a lasting impact.
