Dominican Republic

Last Sunday was not only one of the best days on this trip but one of the best in my life. I felt like so much a part of the community, and there was constantly something going on. And although it was a free day, since Sundays are for resting and there was a soccer tournament, it is impossible to be bored at Batey Libertad.

At one moment I just stepped outside the moment to realize how amazing this was. I was sitting on the sidelines of the final soccer game of the tournament (that Libertad was winning of course). There were two little girls braiding my hair and chattering away and two little toddlers sitting on my lap all smiley and affectionate and I was having this fascinating conversation with Ramon Miguel about anything that had to do with the batey and I was watching an exciting soccer game and there were these beautiful mountains in the background and a clear sky. I felt so lucky to feel so comfortable there. I still feel like I don’t deserve the amount of caring and welcome we have been given.

There have been moments on this trip when I have literally broken down crying from either specific experiences or just broader realizations I’ve had. Sometimes I’ve realized the vastness of the world’s problems, especially as I notice how I have seen the exact same problems that I see here in almost every country I have been to — and that can make me feel useless. But it can also give me a greater understanding of things. I am so glad those moments happened because as much as the happy moments that inspire me, those sadder ones will also impact me forever and affect the ways I choose to try to fight poverty or whatever problem I choose to spend my life working on. Anyway, these last few days will only be more emotional.

Shara Esbenshade
University Laboratory High School
Urbana, IL