SUMMER 2023 SEO ALUMNI

How would you describe your EP to someone who has never heard of it before? For example, if this is a travel EP, what languages are you learning? Do you live with a host family? If you are interning, what company are you with, and what type of work are you doing?

In this Travel EP with Global Glimpse to the small town of Constanza in the Dominican Republic, Spanish is the most spoken language with the very occasional Haitian Creole. It is not necessary to know the language beforehand as the leaders and other Spanish-speaking glimpses will help you with the language barrier. Although we did not have a host family, we stayed at a family hotel where the staff made us feel like a part of their family. Throughout the trip, we expanded our global perspective and did community service all throughout the trip to a more rural community in the mountains of Constanza. 

What is a typical day like during your EP? 

With Global Glimpse, our days would start off with the leaders of the day getting up a bit earlier to get ready and knock on everyone’s doors, 30 minutes before breakfast. Once everyone is in the meal area, we do a head count to ensure everyone is there, we do many of these throughout the day but it is for precautionary purposes. After breakfast, we go to our first activity, return to the hotel for lunch at around 12-12:30 pm, then go to our next activity and return to the hotel at 5 pm for free time before dinner at 7 pm. After we finish dinner we would head off to the seminar room to debrief our day, pass the torch of leadership to the next leader, and see the plans for the next day. 

What was the biggest challenge of your EP?

The most significant overall challenge of my EP was wanting to pet stray dogs in the streets of DR! They are so cute and some are injured, but you can't help them as many of them have fleas and diseases. Not to mention the rabies that those animals can carry is dangerously scary. The cat of the hotel we stayed at always meowed at our doors at night, it was so adorable.

What was the biggest reward of your EP? 

The biggest personal reward that I gained from this trip with GG was knowing the impact that I made in the little community of Cana de las Palmas in Constanza. The hard work from 21 glimpses has constructed a community center for their rural area that lets them celebrate birthdays, have meetings and use the space for religious events. Even though our delegation did not finish the job, we all know that we made an impact on the community. Knowing that the following group of GG glimpses will be able to finish the job is very fulfilling to my heart and soul. 

What do you wish you had known before you went on your EP?

I wish I would have known about the money having to be paid if you break one of the big rules in the program. It is understandable why they put these strict rules since teenagers can't be trusted without their parents but I think $1500 is a bit overboard. The rules stated that if students left early, late, or had intimate relationships they would have to pay the fee, again understandable but a bit overbearing.

What advice do you have for future SEO scholars who are considering your EP?

I would advise them to be prepared to do manual labor and invest in some aloe vera. During the trip, you will have to do some hiking and in the Dominican Republic the sun burns bright and once you get a sunburn, it hurts so bad so aloe will be your best friend. Keep in mind your bug spray at all times, the mosquitos will eat you alive if you don't have a spray that has high percentages of DEET. The most strenuous work of the EP is keeping the insects away from you and where you sleep so make sure that your mosquito net is secured on your bed.