Day 8 - Traveling back to Connecticut

 
Hi everyone, it's Will W!

Today was sadly our last day in the DR. We started off with sleeping in until 8 and going down to breakfast with our bags ready to go and all of the items we were donating to the hotel in a pile. Ms. French had us go up to the rooftop to take some pictures with a beautiful view behind us! 

By then it was time to say our final goodbyes to the kitchen staff and time to board the bus that we ended up just fitting on. We take a drive to the airport with some cool views of the ocean on the way

When we arrive at the airport, we say more goodbyes to Cafe. I ended up getting randomly selected to have my bag searched by a dog who was in training which was pretty cool but delayed us a bit. After a stop at Carl Jr's, everyone stocks up on food for the plane.

When I tried to board the plane, for some reason they didn't stamp my boarding pass at customs. Hayden offered to come with me and we ran through the airport all the way back to customs which then I had to have my bag sniffed by a dog again. Meanwhile mostly everyone is on the plane already so we end up making it back just in time.

Even though we had an extremely turbulent 3 and a half hour flight to 43 degree JFK, there were beautiful views landing!

When I think about reflecting on this experience, I would have never expected to go into any community for the first time and immediately feel at home. As I stepped off the bus for the first time into Batey 50 and the Joe Hartman school, the first thing I saw were kids coming over to everyone and hugging them like they have been waiting for this moment forever. I immediately felt this overwhelmingly warm, unexplainable, special feeling that I never knew existed. This trip proved to me that it truly isn't about wealth, it's about the people that make a community what it is. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to experience this and be able to think about and use this experience to guide me throughout life. 

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Hey everyone, its Gaby:)

While I feel very odd coming back to 30 degree weather after living in 80 degrees for a week, it feels good to be back!

This was my third year traveling to the Dominican Republic and while many things have changed throughout these three years, the sense of home I feel there has always stayed the same. The love we receive as a team from everyone we meet is indescribable. The people who I have met and worked with in the Dominican Republic are truly the happiest and most beautiful people on the planet, and their love has drawn me back every year.

I couldn’t have asked to spend these past three years any other way. For me, and for the entire DR service team, Thanksgiving has gained a new meaning. 

The holiday should not only be a reflection of what you have in your life, it should be a reflection of what you can give to others. 
On behalf of all the travelers, I want to thank everyone who has supported the team and our work, we could not have done this without you! Most importantly, I want to thank Jenni French, Rick Gemme, and Danielle Ness for leading our trip with such passion, drive, and strength!