Sworn In: Reflecting on My First 10 Weeks of Peace Corps

Some of life’s most meaningful moments are born out of uncertainty. For me, this journey began with a leap of faith.

I have officially finished Pre-Service Training (PST)!

Although I felt confused, scared, and underprepared when I started, I’m now incredibly proud of what I have accomplished during training! After 10 weeks of full day technical and language trainings 5 days a week, — plus four presentations, three language proficiency interviews, two readiness-to-serve assignments, and one separated trainee, I’m ecstatic to say that as of October 30th, my cohort and I have officially sworn in as Peace Corps Volunteers.

PST Training: A Rollercoaster

The Peace Corps has been a lot different from what I expected, — and so has the Dominican Republic. When I applied, all I envisioned was the work I would do. I imagined working with children and living simply in a small beachside community. I didn’t grasp how challenging and hectic training would actually be. I’ll be sharing a more detailed blog about all the ins and outs of PST (Stay tuned!), but here’s the gist:

Two months ago, 40 of us met in Miami, Florida, for a quick two-day pre-orientation conference. From there, we flew to Santo Domingo, where we stayed one week at a remote religious retreat center. After that, we moved to our community-based training site. This is where we learned everything about being a PCV and started practicing what we’ll be doing in our respective communities.

Living in Mamá Tingó: Life in the Campo

For two months I lived with a host family in Mamá Tingó, a campo about an hour north of Santo Domingo. My host mom, a lively 30-year-old, and my adorable three-year-old brother welcomed me with open arms, making my transition much easier.

I got lucky with my housing—I had running water and generally stable electricity and Wi-Fi due to my family’s generator. Others in my cohort? Well, they’d become experts at bucket showers and adjusted to the concept of daily power outages.

Not to say it’s been all sunshine and roses for me. I’ve gotten used to the constant mosquitoes, flies and millipedes, as well as the occasion spider, rat, or lizard. Add in the unbearable, can’t-sleep-can’t-think heat and a new diet, it was quite the experience. Training days were also gruelingly long and jam packed. We had technical trainings and language & culture classes every weekday, and often times were preparing to give a presentation at the local school. Many nights I found myself exhausted, stressed, and questioning if I could keep up.

Looking back, I now understand why they do it that way. They pushed me to my limits, but as a result, I’ve learned more than I ever imagined. I’ve discovered about myself, what it means to be a PCV, and what I can do to help the youth of the Dominican Republic. Having faced and grown through so many challenges, the swear in ceremony felt that much more rewarding.

Lessons from the Dominican Republic

Living in the DR has been quite an adjustment. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.

1. Say goodbye to American politeness: Pssting and staring is completely normal, and they’ll call you exactly how they see you—gorda, flaca, morena, rubia, negrita.

2. Public transport: From metro transfers to squeezing into carro públicos and guaguas, I’ve learned how to navigate the chaos.

3. Vanilla and citronella as mosquito repellents— trust me, you’ll need those.

4. “Si Dios quiere”: Religion is deeply ingrained into Dominican culture. The phrase is used when talking about future plans and means that nothing is for certain.

5. Cooking fritos and empanadas: Those are my favorite foods and I’ve learned how to make both! If you come visit I’d love to whip some up for you.

New Beginnings in My Permanent Site

I’m very fortunate to have been placed in a site that feels for me. Due to Peace Corps security guidelines, I can’t share exactly where I am — even though I wish I could! However, I can say that I live in a small, tranquil town on the northern coast. My house is situated right above the ocean and I fall asleep to the calming sounds of the waves crashing against the shore. I also get along well with my new host family! I’ll be teaching at a specialty school that hosts students from pre-k all the way to the 8th grade, as well as organizing youth clubs and after school activities. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Right now, my only job is to integrate and to become at home in my new community.

I can’t wait to update you all once I’m fully settled in! I know this journey won’t be easy, but I’m incredibly excited for what’s to come. This experience has already taught me so much; I’m grateful for every challenge that has shaped me during these first 10 weeks. Growth, I’ve realized, truly lies in discomfort.

Until next time,

La Morena Gringa


P.S., A special thanks to my family for sending me off, keeping me company abroad, and giving me something to look forward to! I miss you all dearly.